GamingBolt
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The addictive gameplay loop of going on expeditions for exhibits and maintaining existing ones provides newcomers enough tools to tackle objectives, and veterans the kind of in-depth skill ceiling they clamor for. I just wish the controls for the PS5 version were a bit more responsive and efficient. While Two Point Museum doesn't reinvent the wheel of management sims, that characteristic Two Point charm and smooth gameplay loop make it a solid entry in the series.
A pretty straightforward remaster of an excellent 90s shoot-em-up set in the depths of the ocean. The enhanced visuals of the deep sea stages look vibrant and faithful, though a classic graphic toggle would've been nice. A new mirror mode, some added cheats, and a preconfigured submarine loadout screen are nice additions and all, but the lack of save options or online co-op is a missed opportunity. Still, what's here is solid stuff, especially if you like a well-earned challenge. This is a strong recommendation for fans of the game or shoot-em-up enthusiasts, but the $20 price tag might be too much to swallow for others.
Monster Hunter Wilds is a fresh start for the franchise, even as it channels a respectable chunk of Monster Hunter World. The endgame could use a lot more, but it's still a top-tier action RPG with some incredible moments.
Warriors: Abyss is an excellent mash-up of a roguelite structure with the core gameplay of the Dynasty Warriors franchise. There is plenty of content to unlock, and the level of variety in creating builds for each run is incredible. Just be ready to skip through a lot of poor dialogue.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is an extremely unexpected outing for the series, but the developers have largely stuck the landing, and delivered a fun pirate adventure that I am sure will remain a fan favourite for many years to come.
Even if Tape 1 won't immediately grab you, Lost Records: Bloom and Rage is off to a decent start, thanks to its intriguing characters and plot.
Avowed doesn't reinvent the wheel and it isn't the most deep or complex RPG, but thanks to strong writing, storytelling, world-building, combat, and exploration, it succeeds in delivering an engaging experience that fans of the genre will want to check out.
Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is just about everything fans could have wanted. All the great quality of life features from I-III return here in addition to new restored content for Tomb Raider VI. While this remaster doesn't completely fix the problems with the black sheep of the series, Tomb Raider VI, it does make the experience much better. Like the first collection, IV-VI Remastered is a huge value for what you get and is a must-buy for fans of the series or classic games.
The latest addition to Falcom's long-running RPG series isn't a complete disaster, but it's far from a triumph, and the new features barely raise it above the underwhelming story.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a polished open-world RPG that outdoes its AAA competition at every turn. Some of the realism can bog down the gameplay, but the intricate dialogue choices and perk tree compel me to forgive some of the returning irritants. And the story, just wow. I can't say enough great things about the characterizations, dialogue, story twists, activities, and cinematography packed into KCD2's main quest; it's simply the best in the genre.
While Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is able to surpass its two predecessors in just about everything from gameplay to story, the PC port is in desperate need of optimization patches.
Boasting a rich and imaginative sci-fi setting, stellar writing and storytelling, and addictive, choice-driven gameplay, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector improves on its excellent predecessor to deliver an even more memorable experience.
Mixing elements from Breath of the Wild with Shadow of the Colossus sounds amazing on paper, but Eternal Strands somehow renders it a merely average experience. The gameplay loop is fine, but slightly held back by backtracking and some noticeably absent features common to the genre (like a minimap and compass). I wanted to love the story considering this has some old-school Bioware talent behind it, but the lack of a hook in the plot and some very dull characters made me want to skip dialogue often. I like Eternal Strands well enough, but there's plenty of other similar games that offer a more compelling experience.
While this remaster doesn't do justice to this game's significant legacy, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is still a good way to play a very addictive game.
Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap's new rogue-lite mechanics add some interesting twists to a classic formula, but the tower defense aspects are the true star of the show.
Sniper Elite: Resistance delivers more of the excellent tactical stealth shooting action that Sniper Elite 5 boasted three years ago. It might be a familiar experience, but for genre fans, it's still an easy recommendation.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black isn't the most definitive version of the classic but it will remind you why it's so well-regarded in the first place.
A promising set-up and gorgeous art direction aren't enough to mask the shortcomings of Odd Bug Studio's sequel.
Synduality: Echoes of Ada is an extraction shooter that, while really easy to get into, might be difficult to stick with considering its bland art style and simplistic gameplay that ends up not having enough depth.
It's good this game is cheap because there's not a lot here worth really digging into unless you're a hardcore Star Wars game fan or have a friend to burn some hours with. Despite the many irritants embedded in the game's core design, this remaster has polished some of the rough parts and even added a slew of new playable characters. Even though I don't strongly recommend this particular Star Wars title, I laud the effort to preserve classic games for newer hardware.