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Seventeen years after its original release, Final Fantasy IX continues to bring lovable characters full of whimsy.
As somebody who's played each entry in the series, I couldn't help but feel a little slighted by Marvel. Despite this, I still really enjoyed the game. It's mechanically sound, and performs incredibly well online. At the time I sat down for this review, the game had almost completely overcome my objections. While it may not be my favorite fighter, it still has me reaching for the controller for more matches.
NASCAR Heat 2 is a huge disappointment and massive collapse of the promise given by the decent predecessor, NASCAR Heat Evolution. The game's controls are loose and worse than ever, and the problems of the first, including some patently stupid glitches and exploits, are still fully present. The game looks fine, but it does not play well at all, and represents what may be a sign that NASCAR just won't ever translate well to the video game world.
Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire delivers exactly what anyone could hope for from it: more environments to explore, more things to do, and more ways to do it. For established players, this is must-have purchase already.
Tekken 7's Ultimate Tekken Bowl is only worth it for season pass holders or die-hard fans of the original Tekken Bowl. Other than some cool extra costumes (which are only usable in the main game), there really isn't much here to get excited about.
Time Recoil isn't going to redefine the cyberpunk genre, win awards for its writing or make players philosophize on the ethics of time travel. It's a satisfying blitz that wants to chill you out and challenge you, and that's enough.
Minecraft: New 3DS Edition is a surprisingly competent version of the game despite its obvious limitations. However, the draw distances are terrible, multiplayer isn't available at the beginning, and it won't stack up to the console versions. If you truly want Minecraft on the go and own a Nintendo Switch, I suggest buying that version instead as it is the same price and, unlike the New Nintendo 3DS Edition, it will be receiving the Better Together Update this Winter.
If you have friends, Ark: Survival Evolved is a fun survival game, with options such as PvP or PvE servers to make every player happy. If you primarily play alone, however, this game will require a heavy set of grinding and repetition, turning off any players hoping to just get a taste of some dinosaur action.
Drive Girls is a hack and slash slog where you quite literally drive girls who transform into cars to fight evil bugs. It is every bit the stupid, ridiculous, freaky fun game that it sounds like, and has some guilty pleasure elements that can endear it to players even while they recognize it is a total wreck. Battles are unique, but ultimately boring, and a bad story and lackluster look makes Drive Girls a mostly forgettable mess.
Pokken Tournament Deluxe is a knockout fighting game that's perfect for the Switch. With new characters, revamped game modes, and the ability to take the game anywhere, this is one Pokémon game you should fight for this fall.
Destiny 2 is a massive accomplishment, and a huge step in the right direction for the franchise. With a more focused narrative, more activities to do than ever before, and enormous quality of life improvements to the Destiny sandbox and economy, there isn't much to dislike about Destiny 2.
While the lack of tutorial and clearly defined goals can potentially lead to frustration and some difficult first starts, Kingdom's simple controls lead you right into an incredibly engrossing game. The gorgeous pixel graphics shine on the Switch's screen, and the changing of day to night, and summer to fall is not only visually stunning, it's an ever present reminder that winter is coming. Based upon the principle that nothing lasts, with each new game Kingdom asks: How long can your crown survive?
While Knack remains an uninspired protagonist, Knack II's gameplay more than makes up for his bland character. Vast improvements in combat, visual fidelity, platforming, and the addition of cooperative play realize much of the potential the original Knack was meant to achieve. Knack II is a fine example of how a sequel can improve on its predecessor in nearly every way.
If this sounds like a bit of a love letter, it is still underselling just how fantastic Samus Returns has turned out. Stunning animations, a fantastic soundtrack, and awesome cinematic moments come together to remind us of the amazing roots of this series, while updating it for a fresh audience. Metroid: Samus Returns is one of the best Nintendo 3DS games of all time, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Despite some minor frustrations and inconsistencies, Darkwood is a journey of masterfully deceptive madness that will drag you in whether you like it or not.
The Horns of the Reach DLC for Elder Scrolls Online is small, but it gives some decent gameplay and a new set of items, objectives, and a few other scarce elements that will help players at any stage of gameplay. Many players will get this full release automatically as part of their ongoing subscription to the game, but casual players of the game may want to wait and see before jumping in.
League of Evil has its faults, but it more than makes up for them through its robust and accessible level editor. While it's a six year port that shows its age, it's still a great way to get your twitch-reflex platformer fix.
At its core, Sneaky Bears VR is a wave-based shooter, but that doesn't account for the excellent writing and genuinely funny premise. Sure, it's a little short, but if you own a PSVR, this is a great title for younger audiences, as well as VR newcomers.
I really can't offer a clear, concise explanation as to why this ridiculous game is so much fun, all I can say is that sorting cats has become the new competitive hobby in my office. Cat Sorter VR has somehow combined the adorable, the absurd, the repetitive, and the high pressure of a continually moving assembly line to create an inexplicably addictive virtual reality game which you really have to experience yourself to understand. It may not be a purrfect game, but it's more than worth the price tag.
Whether you like the old Sonic games or the new ones, or even if you've never played one before, Sonic Mania holds plenty of fun for everyone.