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Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl crumbles under the weight of its own ambition.
Lego Horizon Adventures isn't a perfect fit, but Sony's charmer snaps together where it counts.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake gives an NES classic the royal treatment it deserves.
The Rise of the Golden Idol makes a great mystery series even better.
Unknown 9: Awakening is a promising start for a new series once you learn to love its combat.
Slitterhead is the most creative action game that I've played this year, but it's also deeply flawed.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership puts some creative new spins on an old formula to make for the duo’s biggest RPG to date. Though for all its inventive combat tweaks, Brothership finds the series getting even further away from the strengths that set the Mario & Luigi series apart from everything else in the Mushroom Kingdom. Even with some bright spots, it can’t escape a continued downslide for a series that can’t help but trade in clever writing for dull gimmicks.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a return to form for this once-lauded RPG studio that should satiate Dragon Age fans quite well after a decade-long wait. But returning to form and perfecting form are not the same thing. BioWare has plenty of room to regrow as it gets back on track making the kinds of games RPG fans want them to create.
Despite these ever-growing microtransaction woes, Black Ops 6 is a step forward in other ways for a franchise that has felt half-dead for a while now. By combining an unexpectedly inventive campaign with some worthwhile changes and improvements to its multiplayer, there’s a lot here for longtime fans to feel optimistic about, even if many of Call of Duty’s most significant problems still loom large with no signs of changing anytime soon.
Max Caulfield’s journey resonates with me deeply, and Deck Nine has demonstrated that it can give that character the respect she deserves. I may not love every aspect of its gameplay or ending, but I’m glad Max’s story continued. I can’t say whether or not Double Exposure will feel like it was made for you, too, but I can affirm that the Life is Strange series can still capture that feeling.
Sonic X Shadow Generations represents the true future of a series that's finally ready to grow.
Batman: Arkham Shadow isn't just a great VR game; it's one of the best Batman games ever.
As a work of throwback video game horror, Fear the Spotlight passes, but only with partial credit. It’s a concise creepshow with a dual narrative twist that digs into the psyche of both of its teen heroines. Its attempts to look and feel like a PS1 game miss the mark, though, as it can’t shake the feeling of a modern indie game in a stage costume. The tonal discrepancy dims the spotlight around what’s otherwise an impressive passion project for a two-person development team.
MechWarrior 5: Clans is a towering behemoth of action and storytelling worthy of its massive BattleMechs. It pays homage to its story-driven predecessors by exceeding them in nearly every way. While there may be a few cracks in the armor when it comes to pilot customization and presentation elements, the total package is excellent. This is the definitive MechWarrior game.
Super Mario Party Jamboree’s core board game is still as fun as ever, and made even better thanks to some clever new maps. Its signature minigames, though, are a little more inconsistent as some of Nintendo’s best ideas are almost exclusively saved for hit-and-miss side modes. It’s a multiplayer package that spreads itself thin, but there’s enough fun content here to keep the dice rolling for another turn.
Neva may not be the most complex 2D platformer, but it still might make you cry.
In many ways, Metaphor: ReFantazio feels like the next mainline entry in the Persona series in all but name. In others, it carves out an identity all its own. The strategic turn-based combat system is just as satisfying as ever, while Archetypes and globe-trotting put a new perspective on an otherwise familiar experience. I could see the plot twists coming a mile away, but the endearing cast of characters made the journey worthwhile. It’s not perfect, but Atlus has earned my vote of confidence. Consider me a follower.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero delivers thrilling fights, but its disjointed story mode doesn't hold up its end of the bargain.
Silent Hill 2's remake is a faithful tribute to a horror classic that hardly holds anything back.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom only feels like the beginning for what could become a great Zelda saga.