Gears of War: E-Day is a fantastic experience from beginning to end, regardless of whether you are a fan of the series or not. The storytelling is deeply compelling thanks to the great cast of characters and aptly bleak tone. The gameplay is brought together by satisfying combat and gorgeous visuals. Despite the frame drops, if this is the quality fans and newcomers can expect from Gears of War going forward, then the future of the franchise is bright.
Marvel's Wolverine is a frustrating mess. The narrative is ruined by poor pacing and character writing, even with the brilliant voice-over for those characters. As for the gameplay, while it is one of the best parts of the overall experience, the lifeless combat and overt handholding made for a title that was more obnoxious than fun. This is an undeniable blemish on Insomniac's time with the Marvel license and one that I have no intention of replaying anytime soon.
Control Resonant is yet another brilliant work of art from Remedy Entertainment. The story more than makes up for the 7-year long wait time, thanks to both the new and returning characters, as well as the great writing and performances. Additionally, the gameplay is consistently fun due to the compelling world and thrilling combat loop. While the occasional bugs, lack of answers to certain mysteries, and often overwhelming difficulty may be frustrating, they are not enough to detract from one of Remedy's best games to date. I cannot wait to see what the developer does next.
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a game that feels unsure in what it wants to accomplish as a remake. While the overall gameplay and visuals are great in a vacuum, the new bonus missions are lackluster due to the uninteresting characters and frustrating dialogue. Further, the choice to use dynamic music and remove PvP multiplayer helps to strip away a fundamental piece of Combat Evolved's identity. Even if I had a lot of fun with the game, its low points make me unsure about Halo Studios' future with the franchise.
Splatoon Raiders is the Splatoon gameplay experience perfected. While the narrative and visuals take a backseat, and there are moments where it does not feel like a Nintendo Switch 2 game, the emphasis on character work, charm, customization, satisfying combat, and replayability more than make up for these shortcomings. Even if Raiders does not recapture the magic that I felt with the very first Splatoon, if this is the foundation that future entries will build on, then Splatoon 4 is in great hands.
DOOM: The Dark Ages - Revelations is another incredible addition to the series from id Software. The narrative is great, focusing more on the Slayer while being filled with both callbacks to the past and hints towards the future. Further, the new gameplay additions make combat absolutely thrilling, in part thanks to the sizeable post-game and incredible soundtrack. While the level and enemy designs are sometimes lackluster, Revelations further cements The Dark Ages as arguably the best entry in the modern Doom trilogy.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is an absolutely fantastic remake. Not only does it maintain what made the original so great in the first place, but every new addition only builds upon its foundation, each of which lends itself to a gameplay loop that never gets old and a visual style that frequently had me stunned with awe. Despite some problems here and there, this is still an absolute must-play, regardless of whether you are a new fan of Assassin's Creed or you've been following it since the beginning.
Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition is one of the worst Nintendo Switch 2 ports to date. The visuals are rancid and ruin the best parts of the original game, like the exploration. Worse still, it makes the worst parts of the original even more frustrating, as the combat feels monotonous at best and unresponsive at worst, alongside the overabundance of technical issues. Considering the lack of an upgrade pack and new features, it's hard to think of any reason to buy the Definitive Edition whatsoever.
At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the prospect of a chapter that took a step back from the high stakes that both Chapter 3 and 4 introduced. Yet, once I realized that this was to be the last reverie that both the characters and players would be able to experience, I appreciated the change in tone even more. I have no idea what’s going to happen next in Deltarune‘s story. I don’t know where certain characters are going to end up or the solutions to all of the game’s mysteries. However, considering all of the quality we’ve gotten from the Deltarune story thus far, I can confidently say that when it finally ends, we will be left with a game that can only be described as “generational.”
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a great love letter to the Caped Crusader. Certainly, the story adapts the movies at the expense of the comic source material, the gameplay is a near replica of the Arkham games, and there are numerous technical issues and limited content. However, the story's overall charm, the fun gameplay, and the numerous costumes and Batmobiles to chew into mean that this is a must-play for hardcore Batman fans and younger audiences alike.
Mixtape is a beautiful love letter to music and friendship. The narrative is handled really well; in spite of its similarities to other coming-of-age stories, the characters are realized fantastically thanks to great dialogue and voice acting, and the music choices are incredible. While the gameplay is limited, the mechanics are peppered throughout to perfectly accompany the respective story beat. Even though the visuals are lacking on the Switch 2, Mixtape is still a phenomenal experience and an easy recommendation.
SAROS is a fantastic experience from beginning to end. The narrative delivers a brilliant cosmic horror narrative with a great cast of characters, brilliant performances, a rich and intriguing world, and incredible representation thanks to a great South Asian protagonist. Further, the gameplay is a non-stop thrill ride throughout, that never feels too difficult despite the occasional spike in challenge. While there are some issues with the post-game and build options, this is a must-play for any PlayStation 5 owners and an early game of the year contender.
Invincible VS is a fantastic experience, regardless of whether or not you're a fan of the fighting game genre and the original series. While the limited roster and bare bones story mode are disappointing, the satisfying gameplay, rich mechanical systems, numerous single-player and multiplayer options, and brilliant netcode will hook you right from the start. I can't wait to see what this game's future brings.
REPLACED is a genuinely brilliant cyberpunk platformer. While it occasionally suffers from major glitches, frustrating mechanics, and pacing issues due to the combat, puzzles, and platforming, the gameplay's high moments, incredible narrative, and gorgeous presentation more than make up for these issues. If you're a fan of the cyberpunk genre, then this is an absolute must-play. The five-year wait was worth it after all.
TAMASHIKA isn't an experience for everyone. The visuals are often too abrasive, and the lack of any story or unlockables means that you're paying for a game without any progression to speak of. However, the gameplay is so delightfully fun, the little hints of secrets are intriguing, and the soundtrack helped me reach the flow state that it expected of me. Overall, this may not be an experience you are drawn to, but if you're a fan of movement shooters, then TAMASHIKA may click with you more than you think.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits for the Nintendo Switch 2 is a fantastic port of an underrated game. The visuals still look gorgeous, even when played in handheld mode, and the gameplay feels great despite the "lesser hardware." I wish there were more performance/quality options, a few new features, and the base game's lackluster narrative is a bit noticeable. However, this is a must-buy for those who haven't played the original game and are looking for a new action-adventure game to sink their teeth into.
People of Note is a delightful experience from beginning to end. The story captures the vibe of 2000s Disney Channel musicals alongside some charming characters and nods to pop culture. Further, the gameplay combines the rhythm and RPG genres excellently, and throws in some extra strategy for you to master while you're having fun exploring. While there are some glitches and issues with the musical sequences, these aren't enough to completely detract from just how great this game is.
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance unfortunately falls flat in continuing such a cult classic franchise. While some of the writing and visuals still match the quality of its predecessors, the narrative feels forced, and the gameplay is often deeply frustrating and rife with issues. Overall, if this is indicative of the direction that the Legacy of Kain series could go in, then perhaps the series is better off being forgotten.
Marvel MaXimum Collection is a great attempt at preserving classic 90s Marvel games that were once lost to time, even if it puts the issues of said games into focus. There are plenty of cases of frustrating difficulty and input delay; however, the new accessibility options and bonus features make this game a must-buy if you're a fan of Marvel or classic beat-em-ups.
So far, Marathon is an absolutely fantastic multiplayer shooter. The narrative manages to be compelling, even without a single-player campaign; the presentation is a treat to look at, and the gameplay still has me hooked. While I fear for its ability to deliver consistently good content in future updates, Bungie's care for the game thus far and the fact that it already has a committed fanbase have me hopeful and even excited to see how Marathon continues to grow in the coming weeks, months, and years. If you're a fan of multiplayer shooters, then this is a must-play.