DualShockers
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The developers of Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles went above and beyond in not only recreating the feel of the original game but also upgrading nearly every aspect of it. It’s hard to improve upon a masterpiece, but Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles accomplishes just that, and I hope that it doesn’t get ignored come awards season, in such a stacked year full of great releases.
Topping the original Hades was a damn near impossible feat, but Supergiant Games pulled it off. While it still has some of the accessibility issues of its predecessor, Hades 2 manages to improve upon the combat, world-building, and content of the first game, making Melinoe’s journey stand out. It may not surprise or shock Hades fans with originality, but it upped the stakes in a way that makes it a must-play game.
You'll painfully wander aimlessly for hours. You'll cringe hard at the "humor" that gets way too gratuitous, gross, and vulgar completely unjustifiably. This becomes a mostly mean-spirited game that even wants to drive you insane with the soundtrack. Laugh and watch someone else experience it if you want to, but do not play it yourself.
Silent Hill f is completely distinct from any other entry in the franchise, but also firmly committed to being faithful to Team Silent's visions, and it carried out those visions wonderfully. Not only is the game a horror masterpiece, it's a Silent Hill masterpiece, finally giving veteran fans the long-awaited relief we've been craving. While being a commentary on feminine fears and oppressive societies, Silent Hill f gives much for players to chew on, and even more to swallow, in the most visually striking and grotesque entry the series has seen yet. The first new Silent Hill entry in over a decade is everything fans could ever hope it to be and then some, cementing itself as an instant classic not just for the franchise, but for survival horror overall.
Without the shadow of multiplayer balancing looming over things, you have gameplay that is likely to stay the same until FC 27 inevitably comes along. I've been having a blast with the current implementation, and was quick to uninstall FC 25 after a single match. If you like to play it slow, pass around, and fist-pump after tight wins, this is the football game for you.
Towa And The Guardians Of The Sacred Tree is sadly a frustrating, repetitive, poorly balanced experience. It's a shame, because there is a decent amount of heart present, backdropped by beautiful designs and a stellar soundtrack. Unfortunately, the gameplay loop quickly becomes completely mindless, combat is a chore, bosses feel cheap, and your game clock counter just keeps going up while the emotions of the story never hit. There are some nice ideas here, but the execution and implementation still does not lend itself to an enjoyable Roguelite title at all.
"In a space where Mario Kart has been the only kart racer worth talking about for what feels like eons, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds stands tall as a worthy competitor. Beyond the flashy dimension-hopping, the gameplay doesn't reinvent the wheel, but offers enough quentessentially Sonic-style fanfare to appeal to veteran fans, while offering accessible, chaotic racing that will appeal to casual fans looking for a cross-console alternative. The rather uninspired multiplayer modes, the lack of satisfying unlockables, and the focus on a steady stream of paid content make me doubtful that this game can achieve long-term success. But, as far as kart racers go, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is right up there with the best."
Much like Kyle Crane's return, the series has also returned to form with Dying Light: The Beast. Although not a true sequel, it's a meaningful entry that dials down the tone to a much more sinister and grimier one. It's a reminder from Techland of why fans love the series in the first place—a gnarly yet technical combat system, over-the-top gore, and the thrill of freerunning all composited with a decent enough story, one that's sure to invoke the hope to live and die another day. You can effortlessly mow down enemies with a barrage of new unhinged artillery or viciously tear them apart with Beast Mode—it's your playground here, and it all adds up to make it perfect for veterans to experience while offering a slice to newcomers of what makes Dying Light feel so special. The Beast is awake, and so is the franchise once again.
The icy hellscape of Frostpunk 2 translates surprisingly well to Sony's sleek console. The PlayStation 5 occasionally has hiccups, and the DualSense controller is far from ideal for a strategy game this intricate, but the game does a brilliant job patching over these issues to let you enjoy a strong narrative experience. I got to build what I thought were thriving civilizations, and then watch them fall apart through my own shortsightedness. Frostpunk 2 is a beautiful, honest depiction of how far humanity can go when survival is the only ambition, and it makes my multiple political downfalls worth living.
Formula Legends is simply fun. The racing is exciting, the attention to detail and depth is a welcome surprise, the love for F1 is charming and hilarious, and I just can't stop playing it. Still, it's probably not as feature-rich as some might desire. It desperately needs multiplayer functionality, the modes are fairly sparse, and there are some visual hiccups. Regardless, at the end of the day, I'm having an absolute blast with this game. This is an arcade racer I plan on working into my regular rotation of long-term gaming titles.
Back in the day, Trails in the Sky hinged on its story and world-building to make up for its other lacking characteristics. Twenty years later, Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter not only brings back the full heart of what made the original a classic, but it can now stand tall beside any other heavyweight JRPG. The visual presentation is beautiful, the mix between real-time and turn-based battles is a blast, and the quality-of-life additions adhere to present-day audiences. I can confidently say that Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter is a quintessential JRPG that should be cherished by every fan of the genre.
It's difficult to review a game like Strange Antiquities as most of the pleasure and pain it derives will depend on if you click with the style of puzzle it presents. But if you're looking for a slightly cozy, slightly dark world in which to inhabit as the nights get longer, then I'd suggest at least checking out the demo of this game to see if it works for you. If it does, there's almost no better feeling in the world than getting that eureka moment as you solve a particularly tricky puzzle.
LEGO Voyagers is quite easily my favorite LEGO game ever. It's a super short, but endlessly sweet co-op journey that will tug at your heartstrings by the end and stick with you long after the credits roll.
The sheer diversity of characters, gear, and ways to have fun is never-ending, and the open-world format is a surprisingly welcome addition to this amazing co-op FPS. Borderlands 4 is a leap in the right direction, and I can only hope that this trend continues upwards for the rest of the franchise.
Overall, while I was originally quick to put down Little Problems: A Cozy Detective Game as a basic and naive attempt at a game, I was quickly won over and truly believe it’s a game which people should give a chance. It’s got scope, both in mechanics and story, for a sequel and I can’t wait to see what the studio does next.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is an incredible game, only held back by a couple questionable decisions. When the game is at its best, it's far beyond any game I've ever played, near-perfect in its design, and a masterpiece that I can't put down. The combat feels incredible, the visuals are stunning, the story is engaging, and the soundtrack is lovely. At its worst, though, it is extremely punishing, forces you into repetitive segments, and feels occasionally purposefully irritating. I love it with all my heart, but if you aren't willing to put up with intense difficulty, it may not be for you.
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion isn’t ready for launch. The performance and balance issues sour what could have been an excellent mecha experience. There are a few bright patches, interesting ideas, and a ton of potential for the game. It could be, and maybe it will be better in a few updates' time, but it’s not worth checking out at launch.
The presented modes feel bare bones, the lack of custom player creation is a bummer, and the stock characters are largely annoying. Fans of the franchise should stick to the classics, or 2017's Everybody's Golf, which is clearly superior in nearly every facet.
Despite its slow start, Quartet is a JRPG with strong gameplay concepts and a mature narrative. It'll appeal to genre afficionados, but is a hard sell if you don't like old-school vibes or lack the time to slog through the early game. To my mind, the game's undeniable strengths struggle to lift Quartet from a tedious early game. Once aloft, Quartet is elegant and enticing—the kind of flawed jewel which may well attain "niche classic" status in 10-20 years.
But, in a genre where established games rule the roost, Bloober Team has just muscled into the conversation, as Cronos is good enough to rub shoulders with the horror greats."