GamingBolt
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Pikmin 1 and 2's Switch ports might not be much of an upgrade in a technical sense, but the games themselves have stood the test of time wonderfully well, thanks to their timeless game design, addictive loop, intuitive controls, and healthy dose of charm.
AEW: Fight Forever offers the perfect combination of simple, fun gameplay that can be learned in a couple of minutes, but has incredible depth. Pair that with an excellent roster, a fun career mode, and an incredible amount of match types and unlockables, and the game ends up being a dream come true for fans of the fun, arcade-styled wrestling games of the past.
Aliens: Dark Descent is one of the most unique takes on not only the strategy genre, but the survival horror genre as well. Despite a middling story and a terrible tutorial, it's one of the most interesting and rewarding games out there.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective isn't looking to overhaul what made the original version so memorable. It offers sleeker HD visuals and rearranged music while retaining the same great music, writing and characters. Some of the newer features feel superfluous, but the game's core is still strong.
If you're a fan of Crash Bandicoot, then you might owe it to yourself to consider giving Crash Team Rumble the old college try. The platforming you love from the series is ever-present, but mixed in with a healthy dose of competitive multiplayer action. With several maps, powers, relic summons, and all manner of chaos at your disposal, Rumble is thrilling, fun, and engaging. However, it does put all of its eggs into one basket with its solid, but sole game mode. For longevity, Rumble could use a smattering of other modes or potential options to alter the current game mode to stave off rapid burnout.
Sonic Origins Plus is a complete and thrilling collection of Sonic's heyday, at least if you stick with the core four remastered games. Because the addition of a couple of playable characters and 12 inconsequential Game Gear games with the Plus expansion to this package doesn't necessarily move the needle, it's impossible to boost the rating from the review of the original base game.
Trepang2 doesn't really care about its setting and story. Instead, it just wants to give you some guns, the ability to slow down time, and just set you loose on some corrupt corporations and a shady cult. It features fantastic gunplay and some excellent enemy AI to play around with, and despite the visual clutter, you'll quite likely find yourself having a good time.
Park Beyond delivers a fun and addictive theme park builder and management sim experience, and elevates it with its delightful impossification mechanics. Some technical issues and console-specific problems do hold the experience back somewhat, but this is still an easy game to recommend for fans of the genre.
Greyhill Incident is a frustrating slog through the cornfields and farmlands of the fictional town the game is named after. Stealth combat is plodding, robotic, and frustrating. The dark visuals only contribute to the problem. While the idea is intriguing, Greyhill is severely underwhelming and undercooked. This is one alien invasion you should probably avoid altogether.
Layers of Fear is gorgeous to look at, but its beauty is skin deep. From rudimentary, repetitive gameplay to predictable attempts at scaring you, this definitive reimagining of Bloober Team's horror franchise stumbles too often to be able to make a meaningful mark.
F1 23 is the pinnacle of the Formula One series to date. If ever there was a jumping-on point for new racing fans, this latest entry from Codemasters in the long-running licensed series is it. This F1 simulation manages to innovate the most prominent and constructive aspects of what came before. Using a controller as input never felt better in a racing sim with highly responsive and precise movements, and elements that used to be unnecessary, such as F1 Life in F1 22, have been upgraded into a multi-faceted progression system worth your time and effort. F1 23 is a remarkable package for fans of the sport.
We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie is an absolute blast to play. Its gameplay is addictive, the story is hilarious, and the soundtrack features music that will end up haunting you for days.
Diablo 4 will provide dozens, if not hundreds, of hours of entertainment for those seeking a solid action RPG looter. However, some may be left wanting by the story, power fantasy and some of the endgame.
Amnesia: The Bunker is Frictional's best entry in the series since The Dark Descent. Its environmental design and mechanics offer multiple solutions for problems, and its use of darkness leads to some genuine dread. Just don't go in expecting a very long experience.
With heavy doses of action platforming, a dash of Metroidvania and some striking visuals, Convergence: A League of Legends Story provides a compelling side-story for Ekko.
Forspoken's In Tanta We Trust feels like an earnest attempt at addressing criticisms the game got when it was first released. Its writing is much improved, the smaller scope helps make the DLC feels like a more focused experience, and the game's combat is improved quite a bit with the addition of new spells and abilities. The only real downside is that you'd have to play through the story of Forspoken for the DLC to make much sense.
The System Shock remake is the best way to experience the original System Shock in all of its glory. While this is a largely faithful remake, the changes it introduces, like the modernized interface and controls, are a welcome change and make System Shock an absolute joy to play.
Street Fighter 6 is more than the sum of its individually excellent parts. It's a return to form for a franchise that's been on the back foot for years, and a stellar fighting game as a whole.
Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 is a game that will appeal to those looking for an accessible tactical RPG, but it sticks too close to the rulebook of the original for its own good. Fans of the original game are in for a great time, but those disappointed by Melodies of Steel wouldn't find much redemption in this sequel.
Blasting the demons of the dark into pixelated piles of bloody mush never felt so good. With a vibrant world, an engaging gameplay loop, and an ever-expanding arsenal of catastrophic weapons at your hands, you, too, will find glory in taking out those pesky demons.