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NBA 2K21 next gen is a much better game than NBA 2K21 current gen. I instantly felt differences in almost every area I checked out. In saying this, there are still some areas of improvement needed. Some of the things were out of everyone's control due to the current pandemic around the world and a tight development schedule. Some areas of improvement definitely sit on the 2K team to correct, and some of them have been areas of concern for several years now. Let's hope that changes for the better are made to improve the next-gen experience for all.
Speed 3: Grand Prix is available now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch. The game also can be played on next-gen consoles by simply downloading it to the console, but they are not optimized for either the PS5 or Xbox Series X. This review was via an Xbox One version of the game provided by the publisher.
As far as indie games go, Lonely Mountains: Downhill remains one of my absolute staples in my library and Eldfjall Island just adds to the experience. The physics-based experience almost always fills a void most other games can't for me. The need for patience and touch and care around every corner make for a white-knuckle experience, crossed with the unimpeded joy that comes from an absolutely flawless art design. Lonely Mountains: Downhill remains one of the best games on the market, and for $19.99, it should be a holiday buy this season.
Lastly, while I know that the relationship between EA and Nintendo has not always been the best - especially when it comes to sports games - the inability to find a way to get NHL 94 on to the Switch at this time feels like a crime against humanity. If ever a game was meant for the Switch, NHL 94 is the one.
As I mentioned previously, NFS isn't incredibly deep and has no real storyline other than progression and automobile unlocks/rewards. However, if quick feverish races and takedowns are your thing (still), then adding NFS: HP is a must.
Dirt 5 will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Series S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows and Google Stadia. As I mentioned before, if a next-gen upgrade is a concern, Codemasters has you covered. Owning an Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 with a disc drive will mean that you can redeem your free next-gen upgrade, whether you purchase Dirt 5 physically or digitally for current-gen consoles. If you purchased the game digitally, your new console will automatically receive this information and make the next-gen version available to you. If you purchased Dirt 5 on disc, insert the disc and follow the platform's instructions to get the optimized version.
There are some issues that I spoke about previously, like no monetary system, no real free-agent system and what I consider a basic draft at best. The good news is that the developer is always listening and implementing community ideas as often as possible. There is a lot of fun to be had with PSF '21 and with a price tag of only $19.99 (USD) the return on investment is solid.
I expect to see a couple more NFL text-based simulations pop up over the next couple years. But as far as I’m concerned, there’s only one game at the top of the mountain right now, and while you can make a case for some of the other games on the market, Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 2021 gets my vote.
NHL 21 has taken strides forward in some areas that lagged in the past. Be A Pro received much-needed changes and is the first innovative offline mode in the series since the implementation of the expansion draft. It may still end up feeling repetitive, but it feels fresh and could rejuvenate that aspect of the game. Franchise mode’s new coaching options are a good update, but they’re only a superficial change. However, the new interactions on trade deadline day are enough to satisfy me.
You can buy the game on Steam now, and you will be able to buy it on Xbox One at the end of October and the PS4 in November.
In the end, Ride 4 is the type of game that offers up something for everyone and is the type of motorcycle racing title that can grab my interest for hours on end. Being as it’s sort of the Gran Turismo of motorcycle games, it might be the title that can do just that for you as well.
A divided community (offline vs. FUT) and those competing priorities leave the future of FIFA in doubt. Will FIFA make strides in the future towards being a simulation or will it be a flashy card game? We might never know, but the FIFA 21 I'm playing today is simply not good enough.
Doug Flutie's Maximum Football 2020 is available digitally on the Xbox One & PS4, and possibly PC at a date TBD.
Regardless, when you're engaged in long rallies against opponents online and trying to outfox them with the variety of shots at your disposal, it all begins to feel like real tennis in a way that was sorely lacking the first time around, particularly online.
So would I recommend this game? Well, it depends what you want out of a WWE game. This would probably be a really fun game for a parent to play with their young son or daughter. I also think it could be a fun budget title if you just want a party game to trot out with some wrestling buddies. Overall, it's not a bad game, but it doesn't feel as special as something like WWE All-Stars either.
Had the 2K team decided to pull an eFootball PES move and patch NBA 2K20 to NBA 2K21, I think I'd have felt a little better about the product we currently have. Instead, we were given a slightly improved but underwhelming current-gen game. If you were on the fence about getting NBA 2K21 for current gen and are getting yourself a PS5 or Xbox Series X, wait it out for the extra month and a half and see what the game looks like then.
Unfortunately, all of the positives that stem from better gameplay are diminished a little by stale modes and lackluster online play. If you enjoyed eFootball PES 2020 last year, you'll have some fun with this update as it improves on gameplay. However, if you skipped last year's game and have to pay full price, I'd probably pass. There's just not enough improvements off-the-pitch to warrant $60.
With its quality visuals, easy-to-learn controls and captivating story mode, Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions is a throwback to what video games should be about: fun.
Tony Stewart All-American Racing comes as close to conjuring up memories of Dirt to Daytona as any game has since its initial release in 2002, and provides a surprising amount of depth, fun and longevity, especially considering the price point of $29.99 (USD).
Full disclosure: Maximum Games provided us with a review code for this game