GamingTrend
HomepageGamingTrend's Reviews
Ever Oasis offers a surprising amount of content in a fun, accessible game. Challenging yet forgiving battle mechanics mean that beginners can hack and slash away, while masters can focus on strategy and speed running. A diverse cast of characters with numerous abilities encourages playing with diverse parties, and the warp system enables lots exploration, creating replayability while making long slogs across maps a thing of the past. Easy to pick up, hard to put down, and overflowing with features, Ever Oasis really is a diamond in the desert.
Get Even is a respectable first-person shooter, sure. But despite finishing the game eager to start a second playthrough to experience the story with new perspective, the lack of player choice was a considerable disappointment. I felt duped for hunting down every piece of evidence during my time with Cole Black, because it didn't influence the truth that ultimately emerged. This omission reduces Get Even from an imaginative game to a passable one that made me feel I was watching a thriller film more than playing a game.
The Golf Club 2 follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, providing an unrivaled golf simulation that still lacks surrounding content to keep it relevant for months to come. The new career mode leaves a lot to be desired, but few sports games can compete with how solid the on-course gameplay is within The Golf Club 2. Societies is also a welcome addition that golf-loving friends will really appreciate. The Golf Club 2 is still a ton of fun to play, but it's clear that HB Studios needs to revamp some of the side activities heading into The Golf Club 3.
Dark Rose Valkyrie doesn't blow the doors off the hinges, but it does serve as a much improved JRPG over what has been a largely tepid series of releases from Compile Heart and others. The story is fine, the battle system is fun and unique, and exploration is a large part of the adventure. While there are some cliches and rehashed elements throughout, Dark Rose Valkyrie represents what a top end-formulaic JRPG can be.
Cars 3: Driven to Win is a surprisingly refreshing racing game. While it does come with a few speed bumps here and there, the novel approach to Cars 3's tie-in game is simply high-octane fun.
The Nintendo Switch version of NBA Playgrounds is probably the most inferior. While an entertaining romp with fun mechanics, a lack of content and fundamental patches keep this from being a slam dunk.
Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy is an incredibly well done remaster from the ground up and shows that while the first Crash Bandicoot may have aged poorly, Cortex Strikes Back and Warped are incredibly fun games, and being able to play them all with stunning new visuals and as Coco is the cherry on top to a fantastic collection.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind is a dream come true for many diehard Vvardenfell fans, and does an admirable job in presenting something new and fresh in a way that also makes sure to pay homage to the past. The game expands ESO to include a new 4x4x4 arena mode, and offers hours of new content to enjoy. Any players who are already enjoying Elder Scrolls Online should be expanding, and any fans of the original Morrowind who have held out on ESO may want to consider giving it a try now.
Mighty Gunvolt Burst is everything that Mighty No. 9 should've been last year. Its excellent retro style, deep customization features, and rewarding progression system pave the way for a fast-paced, fulfilling experience.
Rising Storm 2: Vietnam is a unique and brutally realistic multiplayer shooter meant to showcase the ugliness and unpredictability of a notorious war. Although it may cause monitor-smashing rage quitting at times and won't win any awards for eye candy, there's nothing else out there that provides a more nuanced, visceral, and intense jungle or urban fighting experience. At only $25, it's tough to turn it down. And hey, who doesn't enjoy some Creedence Clearwater Revival?
There are plenty of engaging moments, despite the annoying puzzles, that make this game worth recommending. It's also a great representation of mental illness, portraying the patients not as cackling sociopaths, but as victims of tragedy. While it's not for everyone, especially those who want a more "in-your-face" kind of horror, the historical setting and creeping dread make for a very memorable experience.
Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada is a fun and heavy slasher game, where you'll mow down thousands of enemies in the spirit of war and blood letting. The game captures so much of what makes the Samurai Warriors series well loved, while bringing in a few new features and environmental adaptations that allow the game to stand on its own. Several issues with balance and presentation betray an otherwise solid game.
If you've been following the series this far, it might be worth checking out just to have a save file ready for when season four comes out. Just be aware that the finale is pretty disappointing on the whole.
ARMS is a shallow yet approachable experience that could have used just a bit more depth, detail, and personality.
Vanquish gets another shot at the limelight fixing its presentation flaws from the first time it was released. With possible 4K resolution and an unlocked, constant frame rate during its high paced action sequences, the PC version of Vanquish is the definitive version.
Beholder: Blissful Sleep is an interesting prequel wrapped up in the package of DLC. Other than having more dialogue and changing one mechanic, it's essentially the same gameplay as the original. That doesn't bother me in the slightest, though, because I love the narrative style with its subtle humor and overarching feelings of hopelessness under an oppressive government.
Black & White Bushido is a very fun game to play with a group of friends, but doesn't deliver any enjoyable content for gamers who would rather play on their own. While some of the spawn points in the game can come off as unfair, most of the time the game delivers as an entertaining and exciting battle arena, that I can definitely see being a hit at parties.
Finally joining the fray for PlayStation 4, Tekken 7 is an excellent blend of action and detailed characters. With deep mechanics and fun gameplay, it's a worthy installment to one of the most prolific fighting series in history.
There are very few things that Randall gets right: The platforming is sloppy, the combat is dull, the story and writing is unintelligible, and the boss fights are unbearable. When they work, mind control abilities are entertaining, but poor game design and game-breaking glitches make Randall a thoroughly unpleasant gaming experience.
Thumper is a terrifyingly difficult game, but don't let that deter you from experiencing its rhythm violence firsthand. The Switch port takes advantage of the system's features quite well, and its speedy performance and killer sound design will rock your world.