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.
Super Mario Party Jamboree is the ultimate return to form for the Mario Party franchise. While there's some stuttering while playing online and the process of unlocking boards may seem a bit tedious, the game is incredibly fun to play, especially with friends and family. The boards are the best they've been since Mario Party 8, the minigames are incredibly fun and addicting, and the variety of different modes will keep you hooked if you're looking for a new experience.
Alan Wake 2: The Lake House highlights the best parts of the base game. While there are some frustrating choices with certain enemies and weapons, the gameplay loop, narrative, and visual design are all brilliant. Further, the fantastic thesis statement at the heart of the DLC, as well as the numerous allusions to what the developers have planned next, will keep many fans hooked from beginning to end.
Fear The Spotlight is a great first showing for Blumhouse Games and Cozy Game Pals. While the horror elements never quite create a feeling of long-term suspense and dread, the great narrative, endearing characters, and challenging puzzles more than justify the 20 dollar price point and the six-hour runtime.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed is a broken mess. The story lacks the depth of most other entries in the franchise and the gameplay constantly stutters leading to a nauseating experience. Further, the loading screens are egregiously long and because of the lag, the game became completely unplayable. All this combined with a rough visual style makes Mutants Unleashed is an experience that is impossible to recommend.
Apartment Story is a game that falls short of any and all expectations. There is a lack of any true tension in this horror game due to an uninteresting antagonist and lackluster resolutions, the gameplay is glitchy and gives the player no room to experiment, and the story is uninteresting due to a short runtime and a lack of any character development for its characters. As such, it is unable to fulfill its potential as a thrilling narrative experience.
Persona 3 Reload Episode Aigis -The Answer- is a complicated expansion pack. The narrative is brilliant and continues the series' fantastic character writing. However, the gameplay loop of the DLC is far more monotonous than the original release. Further, it's price of $35 is hard to justify compared to other examples in both the medium and the series. As such, it may not be worth it for many players unless the price drops or they're a hardcore Persona fan.
Mouthwashing is a magnificent horror game that accomplishes so much in spite of the limited resources. Despite its short runtime and few gameplay sequences, the sequences that are there create so much tension and add great depth to its main characters. Further, its visual style is filled with surprises that will constantly keep players at the edge of their seats. Mouthwashing is a must-play for any fans of the horror genre.
Hollowbody is a brilliant tribute to horror games released over the past thirty years. Despite some small glitches, a short runtime, and a gameplay/story that doesn't quite reach its full potential, the game manages to create a modernized spin on the survival horror genre with smooth gameplay, a horrifying atmosphere, and a premise that is likely to draw any longtime horror fans into its rich and terrifying world.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II is a fantastic PvE shooter with a great story, brilliant level design, and multiplayer options that will keep you engrossed long after you beat the main campaign. The customization options are intricate and incredibly detailed and the game serves as a great jumping off point, regardless of how much you know about the broader Warhammer 40k universe.
Gundam Breaker 4 has a really frustrating gameplay loop, a wide variety of bugs, and a story that often feels cliched and predictable. While the characters are interesting and the customization options are brilliant, the entire experience feels far too monotonous and clunky to be worth paying $59.99 for.
Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure is an addicting and fun title with a beautiful art style and a near flawless performance, regardless if you're playing on docked mode or handheld mode. Despite the short runtime, a lack of any content for completionists, and puzzles that often feel obtuse, Arranger is bound to at least put a smile on your face, even if you're just a casual fan of the puzzle genre.
If Night Springs is indicative of the quality that can be expected for Alan Wake 2's future DLC expansions, then the future is undoubtedly bright. While the DLC is a bit short, running for approximately three hours, each episode of the TV show-themed DLC is unique and feels like an entirely separate game. The effort put into Night Springs alone makes it more than worth purchasing Alan Wake 2's twenty-dollar season pass.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a great remake that brings one of Nintendo's best RPGs to modern consoles. With a litany of new quality-of-life updates, great writing, an addicting combat system, intriguing characters, and a stunning world, The Thousand-Year Door is a near-perfect game, save for a few frame drops and the frustrating use of backtracking.
While Mario vs. Donkey Kong has a charming concept and visual direction, the twenty-year-old puzzle platformer shows its age through frustrating level design, bizarre controls, and very little content that improves upon the original. Further, with its $49.99 price point, it's hard to justify purchasing the remake unless you're a die-hard fan of the original GBA title.
Persona 3 Reload is a JRPG masterpiece. It has an incredibly moving story about the value of life, a fun gameplay loop, great graphics, dynamic characters, and a satisfying conclusion. Plus, with the short playtime, it is not as intimidating as other games in the genre, with very little filler padding the runtime. While the remake may seem simple compared to other recent examples, Reload is a reminder that Persona 3 is still relevant even after eighteen years.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a fantastic introduction to the Metroidvania genre. Despite a predictable story and graphical oddities, the game's accessibility options, unique gameplay, and thrilling level design make it a great choice for anyone hoping to get into the Metroidvania genre for the first time.
Snowman Story is a short and sweet game where players go on a journey as the titular snowman, Chris. Despite the lackluster gameplay, the game boasts a beautiful art style and with its heartfelt story, it's the perfect way to ring in the Holiday season and pay tribute to the "most wonderful time of the year."
Alan Wake 2 is a visual and narrative marvel filled with beautiful environments and horrifying moments that had me on the edge of my seat. The game is only held back by some lacking gameplay and bugs, along with missing features and the lack of a physical version. Despite that, the game is one of the best this year, with moments that any long-time Remedy fan and newcomer alike will enjoy.
Spider-Man 2 is one of the best superhero games ever, with an incredible narrative, addicting gameplay, and stunning graphics. Despite some occasional bugs, I was never bored playing Spider-Man 2 with its moment-to-moment gameplay improving on a formula that has stayed the same for twenty-five years. Only time will tell what Insomniac has planned for the franchise, but I will watch with great interest.