GamingBolt
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Assassin's Creed rises to the occasion once more with Assassin's Creed Shadows, an expertly crafted entry that blends the strengths of the old and new styles of Assassin's Creed title alike to deliver one of the best outings this long and storied franchise has ever had.
While WWE 2K25 tries to be more than just a yearly roster update thanks to its new features, the game tends to trip over itself with its ambitious new stories, while also hamstringing the PC release with strange decisions like hard-capped frame rates and locking cutscenes to 30 FPS.
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories and the Enlightened Land is far from the best entry in the series for newcomers, but it's certainly the largest and most accessible.
If you want a break from Valorant, Bad Guitar Studio's FragPunk is an entertaining distraction. Just don't count on the same level of tactical depth.
Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars brings the two beloved classics to modern platforms with smart and sensible updates that only reinforce all the reasons the series was so beloved in the first place.
Rise of the Ronin's PC release is marred by performance issues which should hopefully be fixed through some patches focused on optimization. Underneath, however, there's still a game with excellent combat, albeit with a bland story and quest design.
Even if I can't fully piece together what kind of an experience Everhood 2 wants to be, it's a rhythmic odyssey of bizarre proportions.
PGA Tour 2K25 is a strong return to form for the franchise, even when it's hamstrung by terrible progression.
Split Fiction pretty much nails it on the gameplay front, but falters regarding its predictable and flawed story. The one-dimensional villain and cliche character dynamic between Mio and Zoe can't be ignored due to their presence through the adventure. Don't miss the Side Stories, as these supply some of the game's most memorable and charming moments.
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.