GamesNight's Reviews
Crimson Desert is a once-in-a-generation video game. Its expansive open world is breathtaking and one I can get lost in for days thanks to its beautiful visuals, enchanting music and in-depth, meaningful gameplay systems. It’s not perfect, with some obtuse design choices, an underwhelming story and a very slow opening. But the more you peel back each layer of Crimson Desert, it all begins to click, and you realize this is truly a fantastic achievement in video game design.
Rollick N’ Roll is a clever and thoughtfully designed puzzle game, taking a childhood memory and translating this into a rewarding gameplay loop. Add some great looking minimalist visuals and a solid lo-fi soundtrack, and you’ve got one unique addicting puzzler that’s very hard to put down.
Project Songbird is a self-healing journey that speaks to both psychological horror fans and struggling artists with a tolerance for the horror genre. It delivers profound storytelling and exceptional artistic design, merging several creative media into one passion project. However, its simplistic gameplay mechanics, weapon upgrades, and low-stakes supply management may be disappointing if you are looking for something more, without having to risk your entire playthrough in permadeath.
Pokémon Pokopia is a game I didn’t know I needed, but I’m so glad we have it. It’s a fantastic tribute to the Pokémon series and the 30th anniversary, fusing the cozy genre with the thrill of finding new Pokémon, full of intuitive progression and thorough, brilliantly designed systems. This is a beautiful, addictive, hard to put down adventure.
Resident Evil Requiem is a great survival horror, whether you’ve been here since the beginning of the series or have just arrived. It does know how to cater to its audience, offering a fresh start while simultaneously not forgetting about its heritage, making it one of the few long-running franchises that figured out how to strike a rare balance.
Apopia: Sugar Coated Tale is a remarkable blend of a nostalgic homage to classic cartoons from our youth, coupled with its own unique themes and perspectives, culminating in a tale that is as thrilling as a rollercoaster, with its peaks and valleys. Despite a few minor hiccups here and there, I can say confidently that this game is well worth your time.
Reanimal is a haunting, grotesque adventure full of disturbing imagery and ambitious mechanics that really let Tarsier flex their creative freedom. However, a short runtime and abrupt ending coupled with confusing early pacing issues stop Reanimal from becoming the ghastly monsterpiece it has the potential to be.
I’m not the biggest God of War fan, but I respect and recognize the significance of this franchise to PlayStation and gaming itself. I feel that if this game came before God of War (2005), my perception, expectation, and general feel of Sons of Sparta would be better since I would get that this is a start or attempt to start a franchise. However, when a franchise is already this established, Sons of Sparta leaves a lot to be desired. The story, characters and experience pale in comparison to other entries in the franchise.
If you want a game that isn’t as time-consuming as the Witcher games, Reigns: The Witcher is a good experience. If you’re looking to rekindle your love for The Witcher, then this game is an obvious choice. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, nor does it try to. Instead, it captures the essence of the Witcher world and successfully condenses it into a new, more accessible experience. As Geralt once said, “Time eats away at memories, distorts them. Sometimes we only remember the good. Sometimes only the bad.” So make sure you remember the good and leave the bad behind.
Demon Tides is the definitive platformer experience. It’s a love letter to the games that popularized the genre and to the players who made memories while playing them. Crafted with care and love, it excels in nearly everything it set out to do. Despite a few missteps, I can confidently say: They did it again, and Beebz proved to be not only the queen of demons, but also of the entire platformer genre.
My Hero Academia: All’s Justice is a game I would recommend to any fan of the anime. It’s the definitive experience of a My Hero Academia game if you are looking for an excuse to spend more time in Horikoshi Kohei’s heroic universe. However, as an arena fighter, it lacks many of the features that would attract lovers of the genre long-term, even with its improved gameplay and larger roster of characters.
Code Vein II offers polished combat and deep characters, but drowns its potential in a dull, repetitive open world. Despite Go Shiina’s stellar music and a strong finale, the scripted story, tired anime tropes, and recycled enemy variety make this sequel feel more like a boring chore than a breakthrough.
Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven is a chunky addition to an already stuffed base management/roguelike hybrid. It knows how to appease its community with a ton of new things that justify coming back to your old save if you have been gone since its hype back in 2022. If you haven’t had a save and are into both genres, you have plenty to look forward to here.
Constance isn’t just another Metroidvania released this year; it’s the Metroidvania of the year. It’s a game made with love, purpose, and heart. It’s a game that made me forget about the review and dive into its world, unable to tear myself away from the screen. In the end, I thank the developers for delivering my game of the year on their first attempt.
Dispatch is a decent choice-based game for fans of the superhero genre and others when it comes to its story. Basic as it may be, the true standout comes in its well-portrayed protagonist and unique gameplay mechanics that make it a standout when put side by side next to its genre contemporaries.
MARVEL Cosmic Invasion is surely recommended to fans of the genre and those who want a fun-stuffed retro experience. It’s simple, nostalgic, and offers hours upon hours of replayability, without asking for much commitment.
Skate Story is an excellent game that blends exciting gameplay, storytelling, and world-building. Although it can be rough around the edges, the highs are very high, and the lows can easily be remedied with a post-launch update. For a debut title, I can’t wait for Sam Eng’s next game, and I’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on it.
Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 are fantastic titles and some of the best Nintendo has ever created. But when it comes to these changes and the price point, does it warrant a playthrough? Only if you are new to the titles or are a diehard Mario fan; otherwise, these changes aren’t enough to justify jumping back into this galaxy spanning adventure.
LEGO Party! is a casual game you can pick up anytime and requires little skill; although some minigames are a bit harder to learn than others. The multiplayer experience is really where this game is maximized to its full potential. Quirky dialogue and that ’90s game show feel fit the game perfectly.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A offers enough innovation and new ideas for any Pokémon fan to experience. Full of great Mega Evolution battles and a real time battle system that show Game Freak can rethink the core of a Pokémon experience. However dated visuals, empty feeling side quests and a run of the mill story show that not all elements of the Pokémon formula have evolved. Pokemon Legends Z-A is a promising step for the franchise, if other aspects can be fully realized.