Gaming Nexus
HomepageGaming Nexus's Reviews
In this brave new world of Destiny, a new saga begins, and major shifts and changes alter the very systems on which the Guardians stand and progress. Unfortunately, these are changes I'm going to have to sit out until they get dialed in over the coming weeks and months. This game has been a constant in my rotation for nearly 10 years. But it now demands time that I just don't have to give, offers rewards that aren't worth the heavy investment, and promises to reset the clock and devalue that commitment every six months. The shooter part of Destiny is still excellent, but I'll check back in December and see if they've worked out the looter bit.
An overall bland cyberpunk combat racer with a cool aesthetic and soundtrack that stalls out due to lackluster gameplay.
Sure, Mafia: The Old Country has guns and cars, but the more important pieces are the awesome story, great performances, and beautiful setting. Cinematic in all the ways that most games only dream of, The Old Country delivers a nuanced and thoughtful story full of thrills. I couldn't tear myself away from it.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is great. I don't know how they got the controls so tight, but it's magic. Bonus points for tying up a story for a game I still loathe to this day. And more Kumori please.
Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition is a minimal preservation effort. At least it's not abandonware anymore. Higher resolutions and controller support make it playable on modern PCs and now consoles, but old bugs and dated assets remain. It's still a richly layered D&D adventure - with all the charm of its 2006 origins.
Ready or Not's grounded, gritty gameplay is one of the best tactical experiences on console. It requires you to take it seriously to be successful, but that's what an elite tactical shooter will do. If you're into this sort of thing, I highly recommend it.
Just as Super Mario Odyssey cemented the original Switch as a must-have platform, Donkey Kong Bananza smashes it's way into the Nintendo hall of classics, bumping the Switch 2 from "really nice" to "must buy" status. Don't let the smashing mechanics fool you, this game is just as smart, deep, and clever as any of the Mario or Zelda titles. Nintendo has set up and intricate and beautiful playground, and then releases the player into it as a wrecking ball. Fun doesn't get much more fun than this.
Clutchtime: Basketball Deckbuilder is a novel concept, translating basketball into a deckbuilding card game rather elegantly. The gameplay isn't the issue, but using difficulty to gatekeep entire game modes is. To put it in basketball terms: they've dunked the ball but have been called for a technical foul for hanging on the rim and taunting us players.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 is a great game that is packed with content that will keep players coming back to it for a long time long after finishing both campaigns. While on its own it is just as good as 1+2 in the gameplay department, the soundtrack consisting of mostly new tracks along with the removal of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4's original career mode will make this game probably not hit as hard in the nostalgia department as the first game did. On its own Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 is very good, but as remakes of the original 3 and 4? Not as good.
College Football 26 is a significant refinement from last year, particularly in terms of realistic gameplay and an authentic college football experience. But you'll have to contend with a troublesome Wear and Tear system, and occasionally braindead AI in specific modes.
Golden Tee Arcade Classics is 6 Golden Tee games, a bowling game, and a shuffleboard game. It has the same exact feel as the arcade. The controls feel wonky without a trackball, and there is no online play. A faithful recreation, which makes this a little dated, and a little under par.
Sadly, R&A does not deliver the experience I have been dreaming about for so many years. What is here is a very promising technical demo of parkour in video game form, which is great in terms of the technical accomplishment, but it lacks the game experience. Instead, it becomes a test of your dedication and patience to walk away feeling anything but frustration.
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S seems like the game version of redundancy. If you have the first sequel, there is simply no good reason to get this one. This could be the worst thing that's happened between Sega and Nintendo since the "Genesis Does What Nintendon't" commercials.
Ruffy and the Riverside is both an homage to classic platform games and an entirely new take on the genre. Its fantastic texture swapping mechanic lends itself to a stunning variety of environmental puzzles, many of which offer a high level of head-scratching satisfaction. Ruffy and the Riverside has sleeper hit written all over it.
Firebreak could be 2025's most underrated shooter - if it can hold players' attention long enough. But Remedy isn't punching above its weight anymore. It's pacing itself, for better or worse.
Hideo Kojima once again proves to be a singular creative force in the video game industry, crafting a sequel in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach that is not just essential for fans of the first game, but an essential experience for all gamers.
Starlight Legacy is a 16-bit JRPG that gives players a lot of options in terms of how to progress. From choosing which order to tackle the four main provinces, to customizing a character's weapon and item loadout and changing their elements, to even turning random encounters off and on or changing how much experience is rewarded after a fight, there are plenty of ways to either make the game easier for new players or make it more challenging for seasoned JRPG veterans. There are a few quirks that some players might have issues with, but Starlight Legacy is a fun classic-style RPG that's worth checking out.
There is a lot of jank to CarX Street, yet the game is miraculously still pretty lovable. Don't go into it expecting it to make much sense, and you'll likely have a good time. With design that is bordering on anti-player, the game forces you to pay to refill your gas tank while constantly ramming you off the road with cross-traffic. But somehow, someway, it's still pretty fun.
Deck of Haunts is a quick and fun deck-building roguelike. Building out the haunted house is the most fun part. Just know that this is also one of those games where you will be at the mercy of the RNG, where failing to get a specific card you need to save your run may lead to your demise.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma confidently advances the life sim genre while still keeping one foot comfortably in the past. With streamlined farming and town management mechanics, deeper yet-still-accessible combat, and the usual great writing and character work, Guardians delivers a consistent good time for new and old players alike. This beautifully animated game is a great way to break in that Switch 2.