Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is a great re-release for a game that has aged quite poorly. You can now toggle a third-person perspective instead of the original fixed-camera, yet there are still major issues with the combat and some significant glitches scattered throughout the game. That said, the new quality-of-life features and the addition of cut content and lost media make this a must-buy for fans of the franchise, regardless of any shortcomings.
Crisol: Theater of Idols is a deeply polarizing game. While the game utilizes Spanish folklore to create a fantastic story with great characters, and is filled with fun mechanics that make its gunplay feel great, the issues with the frame rate, repetitive exploration, and lack of tension are enough to undermine the overall experience. As such, while I definitely recommend playing the game for yourself, it's not one I'll be replaying any time soon.
Demon Tides manages to balance both style and substance extremely well. While there are some minor issues with the presentation, controls, and exploration, the expressive character designs, charming narrative, fantastic soundtrack, and gameplay that emphasizes player choice above all else are enough to offset these issues. This is a great, must-play 3D platformer, regardless of your interest in the genre.
REANIMAL is a beautiful horror journey that uses subtlety to its advantage. The lack of dialogue and cutscenes is traded for worldbuilding, while the gameplay highlights more thrilling chases rather than action-packed combat. Both are used to great effect, even in spite of some major issues with exploration and a few glitches here and there. If you're a fan of the horror genre, Little Nightmares, or have a friend to play with, though, REANIMAL is a must-buy.
Cairn is a magical zen journey into the world of mountaineering. The story is quite compelling with its subtle nature, the visuals utilize the cel-shaded art style beautifully, and the gameplay is perfectly satisfying, making the mechanics of climbing and managing your health feel challenging and fun. While there are some physics glitches, these problems are minor compared to just how good the overall game is.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is a huge disappointment. While I did have fun with the overall gameplay mechanics, and the Neo-Noir narrative is a massive treat, the lack of the dynamic immersive sim features that made its predecessor so special means that it lacks the same sandbox and freedom that the immersive sim genre is known for. Unlike other entries in the genre, I sadly have no desire to replay the game any time soon.
TR-49 is an intricately complex puzzle game, for better and for worse. On the one hand, the overabundance of dialogue that relies on exposition, plus obtuse puzzles that emphasize trial and error rather than the deductive reasoning said to be the game's core, is often really frustrating. On the other hand, the satisfaction you feel when you solve a puzzle all on your own, the multiple endings, and the affordable price make it a game that I'm excited to play again at some point down the line, in spite of my frustrations with it.
Code Violet is the worst game I've ever played. The narrative lacks any substance, and all of the characters are devoid of any personality. Further, all of the female characters are written to be mere objects designed for nothing more than sex appeal, which goes double for the protagonist. The gameplay and presentation are also extremely lifeless and boring, with neither having any redeeming qualities. Considering the game is $50, all I can say is this: do not buy this game.
BrokenLore: Unfollow is a short and sweet horror title all about the ills of social media and parasocial relationships. While it doesn't exactly introduce any bold new ideas and the frequency of jumpscares are a bit infuriating, the great portrayal of a theme that has been done to death, unique concepts in the narrative and gameplay, fun exploration, and replayability make it a great time for any fans of the horror genre.
Big Hops is an experience rife with frustrating flaws. While it has elements that work well, such as the gameplay mechanics and narrative premise, it is undermined by a lackluster presentation, worlds that feel barren and empty, and numerous technical glitches. Further, because of these problems, I never wanted to find any of the collectibles. At the end of the day, it pales in comparison to other 3D platformers, whether indie or AAA.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a truly generational game. It improves on all aspects of its predecessor, Breath of the Wild. The narrative balances various tones and progresses the character arcs of its major protagonists, while introducing new and compelling NPCs. Further, the gameplay only enhances one of gaming's greatest sandboxes with a new fantastic line of abilities, activities, dungeons, and boss fights. Everything about Tears of the Kingdom is perfect, and as far as I'm concerned, it's one of the best games I've ever played in my entire life.
Despelote is a great autobiographical narrative that will likely strike a chord with you if you grew up watching events such as the World Cup. While the repetitive gameplay and strange controls are frustrating, the presentation, story premise, and charming moments are more than enough to immerse you in a specific and unique era in history. Plus, with the short runtime and small price, if you like short and sweet games and have a passion for football/soccer, then this is a must-buy.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is still a masterpiece, even after eight years. While the shrines, lack of proper dungeons, frustrating difficulty with the DLCs, and odd choices with the Switch 2 version can pull players away from the immersive experience, the narrative, gameplay, extra content, and improved visuals on Switch 2 more than make up for any low points. The legacy of Breath of the Wild has persevered for nearly a decade, and for good reason. If you haven't played it for yourself, then you owe it to yourself to play a genuine contender for one of the best games of all time.
As its name implies, Milano's Odd Job Collection is an odd game. On one hand, it succeeds in its goal of localizing a game from 1999 for modern audiences. However, due to its age, certain elements of its design, such as the repetitive gameplay and a lack of variety in extra content, can often create an experience that is more tedious than fun. For only $15, though, and considering its importance in preserving an older title, these issues are somewhat negligible. If you're a fan of life sim games, you will likely get a kick out of this game.
From beginning to end, Skate Story is a fantastic experience. The great narrative premise, a charming list of characters, beautiful visuals, a brilliant soundtrack, and addictive gameplay strike the right balance between style and substance. While I wish there was more content to experience once the credits roll, I will never forget the time I spent with Sam Eng's near-masterpiece.
UNBEATABLE is a frustrating mess. While there's a great gameplay and narrative premise, it's often undermined by frequent glitches, strange writing, and a focus on random minigames, exploration, and platforming instead of the core rhythm sections. Even if all the bugs are fixed, I struggle to recommend this game for other players
ROUTINE is a perfect example of how experimenting with the horror genre can pay off fantastically. While the lack of a map and a proper pause screen can be frustrating, the difficulty makes each gameplay set piece feel far more uneasy. Additionally, the subtle approach to storytelling helps to enhance the atmosphere and aesthetic, creating a truly memorable experience despite the short run time. If you're a fan of unique horror games, then ROUTINE is a must-play.
After years of waiting and a divisive fan reception, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is finally here, and I couldn't be happier with the finished product. While there are some issues with the overabundance of dialogue and certain elements of exploration, the overall approach to gameplay and the narrative does a great job of evolving the series while staying true to what made it special in the first place. As someone whose wanted to get into the series for years, I am pleased to say that Prime 4 has finally succeeded at making me a proper Metroid fan.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion continues Marvel Games' effort to experiment with the beloved IP. The use of fan-service and both obscure and iconic characters in the narrative is so well done, the gameplay mechanics are extremely fun to play around with, and the art style is a treat to look at. While there are problems with the game's difficulty spikes, limited replayability, short runtime, and lacking soundtrack, the strengths of the overall experience far outweigh its weaknesses.
Kirby Air Riders is absurdly challenging to get into. The controls are complicated, and the process of unlocking things is a mess. But when you eventually understand the gameplay mechanics, the sheer amount of content, the thrilling races, and the modes like City Trial and Road Trip, will keep you engaged no matter how long you play. Masahiro Sakurai has done it again!