Forbes's Reviews
NHL 18 is another strong entry from an underrated sports gaming franchise. EA has delivered a more rewarding franchise mode, added new ways to play, while at the minimum, sustaining itself in other modes. That's a formula for success, but the lack of progress in customization, single-player modes and presentation keep it from being a monumental step for the franchise.
For all intents and purposes, Mark Cerny's sequel is one of the most 'gamey' video games I've played in recent memory and stands as a reminder of what I still consider to be the Golden Years of this industry. You bought a disc, you popped it in, you pressed 'Power' and damn it, you had fun.
It may not get all the hoopla that more popular titles in the genre receive, but F1 2017 is one of the most complete sports video games released in awhile.
Overall, Sonic Mania is probably one of the best Sonic games ever made and is a very carefully and thoughtfully crafted game.
The pacing, as always, is impeccable, moving between climbing, combat and puzzle-solving at just enough of a clip to keep things engaging, ending with an impressive set piece that rivals the series' best on both a technical and visual level.
This is a really good football game that you will probably enjoy, but you will also likely still have some gripes. Madden 18 takes noticeable steps in gameplay and depth, but it's still teasing us with true greatness.
Agents of Mayhem is a strange game. I did enjoy much of my time with it, but I kept wishing it was a fully-fledged Saints Row sequel, not some alternate universe spin-off with less content. I didn't expect all that much going in, but by the end, I wanted more than I got.
Ninja Theory, you moved me. Hellblade's gameplay is polished, the writing is fantastic, the acting is superb, and the ending managed to make me cry. But even then, all of this pales in comparison to everything this art piece truly represents.
This Namco Museum release on the Switch is as good as its precursors and brilliantly accentuated with the local multiplayer focused Pac-Man Vs. but it is currently overpriced and I hope this is not a new trend when it comes to future retro gaming releases on the Switch.
Even if you are not a fan of Gundam or even mecha games, Gundam Versus is a unique and complex multiplayer game that stands up on its own merits and if you play it enough, you may even end up a Newtype.
The gameplay and options are on an elite level in TGC 2, but the graphics and presentation are still a step behind.
ARMS is a unique, fresh take on the fighting genre that's simple to learn but tough to master. It's not going to be for everyone, but it's fun to see Nintendo try something so new.
If you have been a fan of the Dirt series prior to this release, you'll be happy with this game. If you're new to the series but have played other racing games, you'll likely find some things you like and others you don't. However, it's hard to imagine any gamer with a taste for racing titles finding major fault with Dirt 4.
If you want arguably one of the best iterations in the Street Fighter series on the Switch, then Ultra Street Fighter II is definitely worth getting but bear in mind that it is definitely overpriced.
Prey has come out of relative nowhere to be a truly great campaign experience that succeeds despite some of the game's more muddled aspects. I'd recommend giving it a shot.
This is a fully licensed two-on-two NBA arcade title that does most things right. It'll be interesting to see what's in store for fans of the game via updates, patches, and DLC.
What Remains of Edith Finch is filled with excellent writing, striking visuals, and a significant sense of place, of people, of life's ephemeral nature and our relationship to it. And I do hope you'll play. When you're done, and while we're privileged enough to still be here, we can talk about how strange, fleeting, and frustratingly beautiful existence really is. There will be cheese, there will be wine and there will be the unfathomable reality of our own bright-but-brief short stories.
This is the best Mario Kart game ever made, expanding an already great Wii U title into a near-perfect racing game. Even so, players who have the original on Wii U may want to wait for a sale.
While there are some real qualities in OTH, the deficiencies in gameplay and relatively low replay value make it a hard sell even for the virtual hockey fan who is looking for a knock-down, drag-out, arcade hockey title.
There's lots of little things about the game that are surprising. In Mario if you fall as you move across a level, you'll fall to your death. Here, however, you'll fall into a water level. It's just such a quirky, different game than many of its more famous counterparts.