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Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is a wonderful return to form for a franchise that has been dormant for a very long time. Its unique mission structure that encourages experimentation, coupled with an insane level of customization is one of the game's major highlights, and while its story takes time to get started, no two missions ever really feel the same thanks to varied objectives and excellent encounter design.
It's disappointing that Rockstar has not accorded Red Dead Redemption the respect it deserves, but for now, at least the game is playable on all modern consoles. The Switch version is particularly recommended if you have never played the game before, or want to revisit it in the portable format.
Motorbike racing fans will no doubt enjoy the bulk of what RIDE 5 offers. It's an improvement visually with excellent haptic feedback for PS5 players, and quality racing simulations. However, it may be a bit harder to convince newcomers or players content with RIDE 4 to spend their hard-earned dollars on RIDE 5 without a more expansive or engaging career mode. RIDE 5 lacks the push in great modern sports games to create more value for the fans behind simply simulating the sport.
Though light on engaging gameplay mechanics (and gameplay in general), Fort Solis is an accomplished narrative experience. Boasting a compelling story, an atmospheric setting, and excellent acting performances, it's an accomplished first outing for indie studio Fallen Leaf.
While it remains an incredible game, this re-release of Red Dead Redemption is not worth paying $50 for today. Wait for a price drop.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre differentiates itself well from other horror multiplayer titles, channeling the brutality of the films with some unique gameplay despite the various issues.
Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is an excellent game. With its wonderfully realized fantasy pirate setting, it instantly pulls you into its world, and with a combination of tight and perfectly implemented mechanics, excellently designed stealth sandboxes, and a colourful cast of characters that's an absolute blast to play as, it delivers a consistently fun and inventive adventure where the stealth, tactics, and experimentation never lose any of their charm, right up until the credits roll.
Quake 2 Enhanced Edition is an exceptional remaster, turning a beloved classic into one of the better old-school shooters available for what's essentially a steal.
Moving Out 2 is a great game that excellently builds upon the strengths of the original and adds even more creative levels to the mix that will constantly challenge you in new and interesting ways. The story is weak, but that doesn't mean much when you're causing all sorts of chaos with your friends.
Even after a year of major updates and new regions, Tower of Fantasy still has fundamental issues which hinder it to a painful degree.
30XX carries with it the legacy of the Mega Man X franchise in its aesthetics and general gameplay, but its more modern features like a level editor and its randomly generated levels add more replayability to the game. The core gameplay might seem simple at first, but its superbly designed levels and boss fights will quickly demand that you get familiar with its movement techniques as much as possible if you want to make any sort of progress.
Atlas Fallen has legitimate strengths in its quick, snappy sand surfing, its fascinating setting and worldbuilding, and deep and flexible progression mechanics, but with clunky movement, inconsistent combat, lackluster storytelling, and just an all-around lack of polish, it ends up being weighed down by far too many issues to be able to live up to its proper potential.
WrestleQuest takes the classic idea of a video game based on pro-wrestling and flips it on its head, giving us an RPG instead of the typical fighting game. It also has tons of fan service for those who might be into classic wrestling, and tells a few interesting and heartwarming stories along the way, all wrapped up in a fun aesthetic.
Like Divinity: Original Sin 2, Baldur's Gate 3 redefines what a role-playing game can offer in character-building, combat, story-telling and choice. It's a compelling experience that simply shouldn't be missed.
If you're craving more Atomic Heart content with all its underwhelming dialogue and iffy gameplay, Annihilation Instinct may be worth checking out, but even hardcore fans may be left wanting.
Racing fans will have their hands full with F1 Manager 2023. Racing aside, there's a lot of work behind the success of a team, and this management sim proves it. While the game might be a niche sub-genre only for the most devout fans who thrive in the managerial atmosphere, F1 Manager 2023 absolutely achieves the core vision of providing a well-rounded view of the life of a team principal in the Formula 1 world.
Disney Illusion Island is a charming, enjoyable, easygoing Metroidvania platformer that should appeal to everyone regardless of how familiar you are with the genre or how skilled you are on the sticks.
While the core gameplay behind Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is still as fun today as it was when it first came out on the PS5 two years ago, the fact that this is the first time a game in the franchise has been playable on PC is definitely worth noting. If you can manage to jump over the proverbial hurdle of needing a decent gaming PC to play, Rift Apart is definitely worth your time and money.
From the arcadey '80s through the modern day, beat 'em ups are a dime a dozen. But the best of them offers a satisfying gameplay loop with thrilling co-op and unique visual stylings. Double Dragon Gaiden gets some of that right. It's not the worst beat 'em up game you could spend your time on. But it's most definitely not the best, either.
Pikmin 4 is well worth the long wait, and the best iteration of Nintendo's unique and charming strategy series to date.