DualShockers
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I trust DICE, I think they're a great developer, and I have no doubt that six months from now when all of the promised content for Battlefield 5 has finally made its way into the game that this will be one of the best multiplayer shooters on the market. But at this moment, it simply feels like more of what we've already seen before with some slight tweaks that only series veterans will truly appreciate.
We may all be different, speak different languages, have different educations, but we all have Tetris. Seven small blocks called tetrominoes that make lines. It's so pure in execution, people sometimes call it Tetris when they stack their groceries perfectly in their trunk. Tetris is a great equalizer. I think that is Tetris Effect's greatest accomplishment. Showing me that anyone can play, just like my grandmother did all those years ago. She would have loved it, just like I do.
If you are like me and missed out the first time around, Valiant Hearts: The Great War is an absolute must-play for puzzle-adventure games and history enthusiasts.
With this garden variety of irreverent zaniness under its belt, Mutant Football League offers a tantalizing alternative for football fans that are tired of Madden or fans of arcade titles looking for some quick action. Mutant Football League sticks an irreverent spike into football's vanilla veins; it gives the sport's tired metagame a much desired shot in the arm. While I doubt those that are genuinely uninterested in football will enjoy Mutant Football League, players with a passing interest in the sport will most certainly find something to enjoy.
I'm really eager to delve into this "platform" of Hitman 2 as it evolves. Like the first game, "Elusive Targets" will be made available, with their missions only playable once per player, whether you succeed, fail, or miss it entirely. Even with the existing content, there is so much to extrapolate from. The game encourages players to "master" each level, complete challenges, do all the story missions, and come with new ways to approach these situations. You are rewarded with new starting points, items, and other useful trinkets and perks. Unlike most games that are dense with content, I actually want to take advantage of it all, rather than quickly getting through the story through brute force and never stopping to smell the roses like I do in many open-world games currently on the market. As I write this Hitman 2 review, I am super antsy to finish it up, because I just really, really want to play more.
First impressions can often leave you feeling like it's a slow, groggy mess with too much to manage and too many tough survivors working against you. But once you get deep enough into the game, only then does it start to feel more enjoyable, which sadly isn't how it should be.
I had the feeling while playing through The World Ends With You: Final Remix that with some more time, Square Enix might have made a combat system that utilized those darn buttons that the Switch has while still fitting everything on a single screen, which is wider and clearer than the DS button screen. Final Remix eventually became a physically exhausting chore to play—just try to find a comfortable position for long, extended sessions. The graphics and sound made the hassle all worth it, but by not taking full advantage of the Switch, the beauty of Final Remix runs the risk of only being viewed through YouTube walkthroughs.
GRIP: Combat Racing is a fantastic love letter to a game that has been long since forgotten by most players. Although it's not a true sequel, it would feel right at home as the third installment of the Rollcage franchise. Everything from the blazing speed to the level of concentration needed to process each turn will make you grip your controller tightly as you plunge into the outrageously fast vehicular combat. It's a non-stop thrill ride of tense turns, gravity-defying stunts, and ruthless rivalry; all while hurtling down tracks at breakneck speeds. It never lets up. Instead, the raw aggression of the game increases as you progress creating an incredible experience that's not for the faint of heart.
Wonder Wickets is firmly one of the better mini-golf games you are going to get on PC. While I don't see this as a game that will revitalize the genre, if you are looking to scratch an itch after playing Golf Story, this will be your game.
Windjammers is a fun and fantastic multiplayer arcade game and the Nintendo Switch version takes advantage of that strength. The classic Neo Geo game passes that aforementioned 10-second rule while still giving the player more to learn after they know the basics. However, if I didn't have anyone to play with, I don't know if I would want to play at all. This is meant to be played with others, in the same room, playing on a couch screaming at the TV after a long and intense volley. If you know some people interested in that type of experience, purchasing Windjammers is a no-brainer.
I'm ultimately sad to see that I have grown out of a franchise I once loved, with underlying problems that I may have not noticed as a child building on top of one another to make LEGO DC Super-Villains much less enjoyable than I thought it would be. I may still return to LEGO DC Super-Villains in the future if I'm in the mood for some DCAU voice acting or want to play the TV show and movie themed DLC, but at this point I can tell that I'm done with the LEGO franchise as a whole, which is a shame.
While some parts of Luigi's Mansion may be beginning to show their wear, by and large the game is still just as much of a quirky, experimental romp as it was 17 years ago and a completely fun experience for players new and old to enjoy. Releasing just in time for Halloween, Luigi's Mansion captures the essence of the season in a delightfully creepy way that will make it enjoyable for younger players, while also giving older players a chance at rediscovering the GameCube cult classic. With Luigi's Mansion 3 on the way for Nintendo Switch next year, 3DS owners now have the ability to play the series' first two titles in one place, and even though it has a few blemishes, Luigi's Mansion is still worth a return trip…just don't mind some of the residents while you visit.
Overall, the Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle is a great collection of arcade games tied together in a neat package for modern audiences. Though not every game brings something necessarily new or unique, there is definitely something in here for every beat 'em up fan. With multiplayer and save states, this bundle brings all the aspects of modern age gaming to these arcades that will keep you and your friends coming back over and over again.
Gwent became a means to an end by the finale, a necessary thing to do to unlock the next story segment, and something I would avoid when possible. Its a shame because Thronebreaker does some good work modifying the familiar Gwent rules, they just get easily overshadowed by the main storyline and the various decisions you can find along the way.
While there may be plenty of things I'd like to change in Gal Metal, the core of the game is an unmistakably fun time. With so many heavy hitters on the market in 2018, sometimes you need to just sit down, unwind, and out-play alien invaders with electrified versions of classical music.
Halloween Forever is a much-needed counterbalance to the striking harsh situations put forth by other titles that are popular at this time of year. Unlike many other games that wrap a retro aesthetic over a deep, complex, combat system like a well-tailored costume, Halloween Forever is more than happy being itself, and it's just perfect at it!
Red Dead Redemption 2 may just signal the dawn of a new era for open-world games, and it's an experience that I have no doubt players will be investing tens (if not hundreds) of hours into its immense, deep world and completing its story full of action, suspense, and deeply investing character moments.
I think ultimately, this game will boil down to what each individual player is looking for. My Hero One's Justice falls in between something casual and competitive, a game that can be fun to enjoy with friends or played competitively at a much lesser level than other games in the fighting game community. On that note, I'll leave you with a saying from the greatest hero of all time… PLUS ULTRA!!!
The Nintendo Switch version has noticeable technical faults, which does make it the weakest version of Valkyria Chronicles 4. Fortunately, outside of annoying menus the rest of Valkyria Chronicles 4 is so solid I am more than willing to overlook those flaws. Due to its likable characters, engaging plot, and fun and unique as ever gameplay, Valkyria Chronicles 4 has definitely cemented itself as one of my favorite strategy games in recent memory.
The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep is definitely for a specific crowd of hardcore RPG and series fans, and for those, it caters wonderfully. It features a fascinating world and one of my favorite turn-based combat systems in recent memory. That being said, it may not be as appealing to a mass audience due to its complicated nature and glitches. For a franchise that hasn't been seen in 30 years, that may not have been the wisest decision. However, I do hope The Bard's Tale series sticks around because the core experience is great, making the game one of the most interesting RPGs I've played in 2018.