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Akka Arrh is a resurrected version of a game that never existed. And if you don't know the lore, it's ok. It's colorful chaotic nature will keep you at bay for a few hours. You can get those high scores, and win, but it won't be easy. If you want that Atari pain, this is a little less hurtful than usual, but mastering it will still take a while.
There's not a lot of negative things I have to say about Mad Head Games' Scars Above, but I don't have a lot of positive things to say either. It's an aggressively average experience brought down by performance issues and lack of important accessibility features. Even where color is present, this game drowns in dullness.
The Last Clockwinder is a must-play for VR owners – full stop. Even beyond VR, it simply doesn't get much better than this. If you're like me, and are experiencing a new reality for the first time, this is a fantastic gateway game that I can't say enough great things about. A few minor technical hiccups are present, but that's borderline nitpicking at this near-perfect package.
Townsmen VR takes classic city-building mechanics and aptly converts them to the VR space, resulting in a well-made and delightful VR RTS/city-builder experience. Well designed interactions and smooth VR features make for a very fun and satisfying experience. Newcomers to the format might want to check this out just to see a different take on what VR can do well. An extremely entertaining, well-made delight that will eat hours off of your afternoon.
Roller Drama is a short visual novel that has a lot of neat characters and interesting ideas that unfortunately don't all come together in the end.
Hi-Fi Rush is a light-hearted game about comradery and taking down corpo, mixing fantastic animation, amazing character development, larger than life bosses and more charm than a bassist after getting props for a gig. If Bethesda is doing games like this in 2023, hand me that guitar pick. I'm ready to rock!
I absolutely adore Theatrhythm Final Bar Line as it's a loving celebration of both the Final Fantasy franchise and its music. From the cute little chibi depictions of characters and the impressive catalog of songs to the extensive accessibility features and impressive role playing elements, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is a masterful rhythm experience.
A competent first-person shooter set against the fascinating backdrop of an alternate history, technologically advanced Soviet Union. Atomic Heart wears its gaming inspirations on its sleeve, but never comes close to their greatness.
There is no getting around the fact that Zen is the best in the business when it comes to creating (and recreating) pinball tables in the digital space. The new Pinball FX is a solid package with several new ways to play your tables. That said, this is a platform, not a game, and your experience will vary depending on your level of investment in tables. New modes and interfaces are nice, but the game still aches a bit from what could have been.
While it is appreciated that Flying Wild Hog has addressed many of the concerns surrounding Shadow Warrior 3 and even added a bit more content, there isn't a justified reason to repackage the entire game into a Definitive Edition. Can't complain though, because it's still a fun time with Lo Wang and best of all, it's free for existing owners!
It's been nearly a decade since Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! released exclusively in Japan, but RGG Studio has finally brought it over to the West in the form of Like a Dragon: Ishin!, and it does not disappoint. Not only does Ishin! touch upon an important part of Japanese history, it does so by excellently balancing ridiculously fun over-the-top action with engrossing narrative pacing and mature character development. It doesn't quite meet the bar of a full on remake though, so that's something worth considering.
If you're into Metroidvanias, Elderand is a fantastic entry for the genre.
WILD HEARTS marks the emergence of a worthy new AAA franchise. While the game suffers a bit from some minor technical issues on PC, the core gameplay is astoundingly strong. The mixture of wildly creative Kemono monsters and player-built karakuri creates a strong, addictive cocktail of fun. The challenge level is high, but victory feels triumphant. Highly recommended.
Pharaoh is a throwback in the best possible way. Harkening back to a time when city management games were actually manageable, Pharaoh will still present players with a good amount of challenge. There is a ton of game here to enjoy, and it continuously pushes the player to find unique ways to solve interesting problems. It is worth mentioning that there may be a gators hiding in the Nile right out of the gate upon release, but one can expect those to be cleaned up in short order; there is nothing here that should stop prospective players from starting their own Egyptian empires. Fun and addictive.
It's without a doubt that Wanted: Dead is oozing with style and glamor thanks to its immaculate art direction and addictive hybrid combat system. The cherries on top are the included shmup, claw machine, and karaoke minigames that simply add more drip to the overall experience.We don't get enough games like these nowadays and I'm all for it. Unfortunately, there's just a ton of technical performance issues at launch that need to be addressed immediately.
The bottom line is that Hogwarts Legacy is fun. Exploring the school, Hogsmeade and the surrounding hamlets is rewarding. The spells feel like they've come alive from the pages of the books. Combat is exciting and very challenging on the higher settings. But it's not without some faults. Glitches are encountered frequently, and some parts of the game can be frustrating. On PS5, Hogwarts Legacy looks and runs great. If you're really into the world of Harry Potter, or open world games in general, you are going to love Hogwarts Legacy.
Motive has done a bloody brilliant job with their faithful reimagining of Dead Space, ultimately setting the new standard for future remakes. Everything you remember about the original is here, but better, with visceral combat encounters, intricate puzzles, and an extended narrative. This is not to mention the beautifully terrifying visuals, immaculate atmosphere building, and excellent technical performance that act as cherries on top. It's without a doubt that this is the definitive way to enjoy one of the best survival horror experiences of all time.
The World War Z Aftermath next-gen update brings new visuals, fixes old audio issues, and introduces an expanded Horde Mode XL that packs more zekes on-screen than ever. The game is entirely predicated on the uninhibited good time that mowing down waves of onrushing enemies presents itself. Unfortunately, that's both where the game starts and ends. It's a rush, over and again, but when you want to look for something different, you have to go elsewhere to find it. A great gameplay loop to be sure, but a one-trick pony never the less.
If you're worried about Persona 4 Golden showing its old age, don't, because it maintains its allure and sparkle even after being buried away on the PlayStation Vita for over a decade. Atlus has managed to make the re-release of a re-release of a game that came out in 2008 feel like a fresh new experience. Persona 4 Golden is an absolute must play for any Persona fan, with its immaculate soundtrack, colorful cast of characters, and addictive gameplay loop.
It ultimately feels like a missed opportunity that Atlus didn't combine the features of both FES and Portable to create an official definitive version of Persona 3. Nonetheless, bringing Persona 3 Portable onto pretty much all modern platforms is appreciated, as the game maintains its charm despite its age. However, it's a little hard recommending this specific title to newer fans of the series especially with 5 Royal and 4 Golden already out there, as Portable suffers from some outdated design choices and cut corners. The soundtrack still slaps though.