GamingTrend
HomepageGamingTrend's Reviews
Whether you want to call it a rogue-like or an RPG, Skeletal Avenger is held up by top-tier combat that is challenging but never feels unfair. Unfortunately, runs in the core game don't last long enough for builds to really 'take off', and bland bosses and environments hold the game back from reaching the highs of similar games in the genre.
Hot Wheels Unleashed is a competent enough racer, but lacks anything to make it unique compared to previous games. It's generally very bland, relies on loot boxes, and the AI rubber bands constantly.
Metroid Dread is yet another fantastic return to form for Samus. ZDR is an absolute blast to explore with secrets everywhere and satisfying bosses to fight. However, the game is held back by some strange design decisions, areas that blend together, and controls that are far too complicated.
Tinytopia is a casual city builder that hits all the fun notes without asking too much of the architect. About a dozen hours of pure fun, only a few bugs, and an easily-gamed happiness meter hold it back. It's good city-building comfort food.
Everything you wanted from an Outer Wilds DLC in a package you never thought to expect. Echoes of the Eye puts its own twists on the base game's formula without a single misstep.
This title is not a AAA space sim, but it is enough to occupy you in short sprints of intense Space dogfighting action. The maneuverability and ability to hop into the next big battle or next mission in bite size easy to pick up and put down ability make this a great addition for those who do like space shooters but don't want to commit a massive amount of focus or attention to play. Just pick it up and save the galaxy!
Far Cry 6 is the next iteration of the Far Cry universe, and you can see some of the blending from other Ubisoft properties here. While the formula may be a little more visible than we'd like, and the AI could use a shot in the arm, what is here is a thrill ride adventure sure to give fans of the franchise exactly what they are looking for.
Bear's Restaurant appears cute on the surface, but tries to tell a dark yet heartwarming story. Unfortunately, inconsistent presentation and a bad translation fail to capture what they were going for.
Castlevania Advance Collection sets the standard for how older games should be preserved and presented to a modern audience. There are many quality of life features to make the games more accessible while keeping everything that made them special in the first place.
NEO: The World Ends With You lacks everything you would expect from a PC port, such as mouse support or useful graphics options. While the game itself is incredible, unless you desperately need the maximum resolution and framerate you're better off sticking with the console versions.
I can't pretend like I didn't have any fun with Metallic Child and honestly I should probably give it more credit for getting me to play it to its conclusion, even though I usually skip games of this genre. But it has a repetitive nature, game breaking bugs, and heavy handed poorly paced story.
Alan Wake is a gold standard when it comes to telling an incredible story, and nothing has changed with that in Alan Wake Remastered. The gameplay still feels pretty awesome, even if it sometimes shows its age, but nothing about that detracts from one of the best games of the last decade which feels at home, for the most part, in 2021. Visually, this game is taken to new heights, and even if it doesn't look or play as good as Control, Alan Wake Remastered, like the Bioshock Collection before, will leave players remembering that wonderful day in May of 2010 when they dove into Cauldron Lake for the first time. Or is it an ocean?
Art of the Revolution, Eastern Memories and Western Memories, feel like great companions to one of Final Fantasy XIV's less appreciated expansions. The art is much more varied than any of the other art books and uses much more dynamic posing for characters. Seeing how they converted this bold artwork into in-game models is very interesting, although I still would have liked more commentary from the artists.
Despite the few framerate dips and noticeable visual downgrade, Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom Prince's Edition is still a solid port of a great game that provides Switch owners a chance to experience the title to the fullest extent.
Diablo II: Resurrected delivers on the promise of a rebuilt original, without tampering with the soul of what made it amazing in the first place. With completely remastered graphics, all-new cutscenes, and console cross-progression, Diablo II: Resurrected takes us back to Hell, and it's every bit as amazing as it was when we played it 20 years ago.
Like some sort of peasant Animal Crossing, Medieval Dynasty casts us in the role of mayor of Dysentery Village. You'll slowly grow from labor-intensive shacks to a semi-self-sufficient hamlet through the sweat of your brow, building a dynasty that will last generations. You'll just wish your peons would pitch in and carry their own water...and stop eating the buckets.
In Sound Mind is a psychological horror game which borders more on tense than scary, and proves to be a unique look into the minds of struggling individuals. Having each tape/patient provide a different world, with the patient's inner torment essentially lashing out as the level's boss, is a unique twist on the genre. The juxtaposition between the monster trying to hurt you, but also expressing its doubt and fears, all while Desmond attempts to calm it and show that he wants to help, felt surprisingly fresh – and gave me much more reason to continue than a simple good versus evil fight would have. A sense of humor, large levels, and a variety of puzzles make In Sound Mind a game worth picking up for those looking for a new twist in an overdone genre.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is just as fun and infuriating as I remember. It's a content-complete package that celebrates the series. It can feel a bit too limited, with no online play or unlockable characters in minigames, but it's still a unique experience you can't get anywhere else.
Steel Assault brings back the arcade feel with tremendous accuracy and care. Its brevity nicely contrasts with how difficult it can be, and the bosses are fun and distinct. The grappling hook is a great addition with unique uses, though it's a little unreliable at times. If Steel Assault were to cost 50¢ per play, I probably lost $20, and I don't regret it.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot on Switch is a stunningly uncompromised port of last year's massive RPG. It looks and runs fantastically, while also including all three DLC chapters in a perfectly portable package.