DOOM: The Dark Ages is a fantastic new beginning for the prolific franchise. While the sound mixing is lackluster and the soundtrack fails to reach the same heights as previous entries, the narrative and gameplay make up for it. The story is a thrilling blockbuster that will have you grinning and on the edge of your seat from beginning to end, and the gameplay, while more grounded than DOOM Eternal, is extremely fun due to the great gunplay, new weapons, unique mech and dragon segments, open levels, and melee focus. Id Software has delivered once again, and I can't wait to see where the franchise goes next.
Monster Train 2 is a very fun roguelite. It manages to balance the genre with elements from tower defense games and deckbuilders while still being cohesive. The story, while simple, is engaging and has its own unique flair compared to similar titles. Plus, the moment-to-moment gameplay is exciting and filled with numerous opportunities to experiment with different playstyles. While the game might be a bit daunting due to its difficulty and lack of accessibility for newcomers, if you're a fan of roguelites, deckbuilders, or tower defense games, then this is the game for you.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is a fantastic entry in the broader Ninja Turtles universe. The story, despite its simplicity, does a great job of paying tribute to the history of the franchise. Plus the gameplay is extremely fun and filled with great opportunities for experimentation. While the glitches, forgettable soundtrack, small cast of playable characters, and lack of any unique qualities that separate it from other entries in the genre, it's still a great game if you're a fan of the iconic heroes in a half-shell.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is a small, yet flawed, step in the right direction for the series. While the story, characters, visuals, music, and main gameplay mechanics shine, the lack of development for the protagonists, the boring side quests, the continued emphasis on combat instead of stealth, and the frustrating action RPG mechanics severely hinder the experience. Unfortunately, it's not the evolution of the series that many fans were hoping for, and it pales in comparison to other games that have handled its formula far better.
South of Midnight is a fantastic representation of the Deep South and its folklore. It has great visuals, engaging characters, a charming story, and music that will leave your jaw on the floor. While there are certainly flaws with the repetition of the combat, the frustrating platforming, and the lack of development of certain characters, these issues pale in the face of just how well Compulsion Games managed to execute this great work of art.
Lunar Remastered Collection is a mixed bag. On the one hand, both Lunar: The Silver Star and Eternal Blue have great characters, a charming narrative, and some beautiful visuals. Plus, the new additions to the collection, such as voice acting, the ability to speed up battles, and improved visuals, are much appreciated. However, the repetitive battles, overemphasis on grinding, constant random encounters, and absurd dialogue puzzles are enough to make you wonder why you aren't playing another RPG available for $50 or less.
Snow Bros. 2 Special doesn't earn its return after over thirty years. While the game has a unique premise that is somewhat enjoyable at first, the lack of any meaningful gameplay adjustments, an uninteresting story, and insufficient replayability options make it more infuriating than fun. Combined with the lack of any interesting additions, a three-hour long runtime, and a $30 pricetag, Snow Bros. 2 Special is a hard game to recommend.
Koira is a magical experience from beginning to end. While the simple story and gameplay mechanics may not appeal to everyone, the fact that the game manages to tell a charming yet heart-wrenching narrative without any dialogue is very impressive. Despite some bugs and a few instances of crashing, you should definitely play Koira, especially if you're looking for an adorable and calming adventure to play during the Spring season.
Despite Obsidian's incredible history with the RPG genre, Avowed unfortunately comes up short compared to their previous games. Even if the gameplay foundation is very addicting, the lack of any meaningful story, dialogue, narrative decisions, and an overabundance of necessary XP grinding and technical issues lead the game to embody the worst parts of the genre. Sadly, it fails to stick out in comparison to games such as Cyberpunk 2077 or Baldur's Gate 3.
Sorry We're Closed is a beautiful horror game that opts not to use the terror that players would expect. Instead, it focuses on crafting a beautiful story focused on the concept of love, plus creating characters, gameplay mechanics, and an artistic direction that will stay with you long after the credits roll. Despite the lack of emphasis on horror, the game is still an unforgettable experience that I will be thinking about for a long time.
Between the fun gameplay and unique narrative, there's a lot to love in Everhood 2, but the apparent input delay and nauseating visuals leave me feeling mixed overall. It never feels like Everhood 2 does enough to distance itself from either its predecessor or similar games, but maybe that's exactly what some players will look for.
Turbo Overkill, despite its great visuals and gameplay loop, is constantly stuck in the shadow of the media that inspired it. The story is unremarkable, the references to other entries in the genre become distracting after a bit, and there are several issues with the sound, pacing, and visuals, alongside frequent crashes. As a result, you may find yourself asking why you aren't playing another boomer shooter instead, despite the game's few exciting moments.
The Stone of Madness is one of the most frustrating games I've ever played. Despite its beautiful art style, great characters, compelling narrative, and unique gameplay, the obtuse puzzles, absurd difficulty, lack of accessibility, and numerous technical glitches make this experience absolutely not worth it unless you want to feel as stressed and insane as the game's characters.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a fantastic experience set in one of the most beloved media franchises ever. The story is worthy of the series, plus the performances, especially from Troy Baker, are great. Further, the moment-to-moment gameplay of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat is unique, varied, and fun. Plus, the use of a first-person perspective is a great choice. I hope that MachineGames does more with the franchise in the future.
Marvel Rivals is one of the best multiplayer games I've played in a really long time. Thanks to varied and unique characters from one of the most beloved franchises in history, the roster is fantastic so far and filled with potential. Further, the moment-to-moment gameplay and unique approach to balance is a great change of place compared to other hero shooters. Hopefully the game manages to build on its momentum in the coming months.
Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a fantastic remaster that manages to resurrect a cult classic in a way that is respectful of the source material while updating it for modern audiences. The story is still great even after fourteen years. Plus, the visuals and gameplay have been tuned to near-perfection. While you can't help but wish for more additions to the story and world, the quality-of-life changes to gameplay and replayability make this the perfect way to play this underrated platformer.
While Among Ashes has a great premise and takes advantage of it through interesting gameplay choices, the bland story, excessive puzzles, and numerous glitches make for a flawed experience that I wouldn’t recommend spending money on until some of the issues are fixed.
Antonblast is an incredibly fun time. The premise is unique, the gameplay is incredibly addicting, and the visuals are beautiful. Further, the inspirations that led to its creation are honored respectfully and are used, not to create a cheap nostalgic response, but to create an experience fun for all players. While the game has some bugs, difficulty spikes, and control issues, I highly recommend it, regardless of whether or not you're a fan of the genre.
While Threshold doesn't do too much to justify its short runtime, has a misleading genre label, and has a few bugs and glitches that may break your immersion, the overall experience is fantastic. The unique premise, addicting gameplay loop, and dreamlike visuals will have you hooked from beginning to end. Plus, thanks to its multiple endings, you'll likely be going back to Threshold over and over again to find out everything it has to offer.
The remake of Silent Hill 2 is a genuine masterpiece. While there are some technical issues here and there, Bloober Team did an exceptional job with the resurrected title's story, voice acting, gameplay, and visuals. Additionally, the attention to detail on display throughout the entire experience makes it a must-play for both returning fans as well as those who are playing Silent Hill 2 for the first time.