GamingBolt
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The paper-thin melee combat doesn't take away from the polished and satisfying stealth that Steel Seed so brilliantly excels at. Thanks to snappy controls and intricately crafted level design featuring an array of mechanical obstacles, the 3D platforming is very fun and varied throughout this post-cataclysmic indie title. The narrative is surprisingly decent too, especially with how it encourages exploration through the collection of various data logs hidden about. If you're up for some fun platforming, well designed stealth, and sci-fi vibes, Steel Seed is well worth diving into.
While it may not reside in the upper echelons of Metroid-style games or Souls-likes, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is built on competent foundations and could grow into something special with more fine-tuning.
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is a worthwhile follow-up to Garou with its fighting system and gorgeous visuals, but there are plenty of rough edges to address.
Tempest Rising is a wonderful throwback to a genre that often feels forgotten in the modern age. With two well thought-out factions and great gameplay, it feels like the modern incarnation of Command & Conquer that has been missing in the modern gaming landscape.
Bionic Bay is one of those surprise indie gems that happens to excel in not just its art style, but gameplay as well. As a mix of physics-based puzzles and precision platforming, Bionic Bay has a dynamic platforming identity that is easy to love.
Forever Skies offers a fun narrative survival adventure with a unique spin on how your home base operates. Sadly, its survival mechanics feel unnecessary and its combat is quite boring.
Even with revamped visuals and combat, Crashlands 2's take on the genre sits comfortably next to its predecessor. It doesn't particularly innovate, and some elements feel rough, but it can offer a less intense sandbox experience.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an essential experience for any action-adventure fan, regardless of platform.
Commandos Origins does an admirable job bringing the real-time-tactics gameplay to a modern era. There's a lot to love in the level design and tactical toolkit afforded. I just wish some of the bugs and performance issues were ironed out so I could enjoy them more. Unless you're a patient gamer who enjoys real-time-tactics games, or a long-time Commandos aficionado, you might want to wait for one or two updates from now to try this out.
This latest entry in the niche Supercross series is being billed as a reboot-thanks largely to its Unreal Engine 5 overhaul-but it hardly feels like one. Despite the visual upgrades, the same stiff rider animations and shallow Career mode make it feel more like a seasonal refresh than a true reinvention. I came in hoping for another fun, adrenaline-fueled bike game, but inconsistent physics and underwhelming features left me cold, especially considering the franchise's rich heritage and unique concept.
With an eye catching aesthetic, unique setting, and a refreshing lack of bloat, South of Midnight is an enjoyable narrative driven action-adventure romp of the type we get all too infrequently in the age of live services and open worlds.
The PC release of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is the definitive version of the game.
This unapologetic soulslike punches well above its price tag in the areas that matter most, providing a deep and satisfying combat system that sustains through its 30 hour runtime. While AI Limit certainly supplies ample value, its limited budget shows in several less crucial areas.
Karma: The Dark World is a fun interactive story that has you explore the darkest reaches of the human psyche with excellent surreal horror and an interesting story to uncover.
Dollhouse: Behind the Broken Mirror features an interesting premise but just about every aspect of playing it makes it a monotonous experience.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition lives up to the name and delivers the best version of the legendary game, with almost across the board improvements.
The developers deserve credit – it would have been far too easy to do the bare minimum and call it a day. However, Bleach: Rebirth of Souls is a legitimately compelling and well made arena fighter, that allows for some very thrilling fights. While other parts of the package are weaker and drag it down, this is the rare anime adaptation that can be recommended even to those who may not already be fans of the property.
The First Berserker: Khazan nails its combat and presentation fundamentals but skimps on the narrative, loot and Khazan himself. Not terrible, but it could have been so much more.
Atomfall concocts an engrossing story in a world full of intrigue and whimsy, while delivering a gameplay experience that is defined by strong world design, rewarding exploration, and an impressive emphasis on player agency. Utterly gorgeous and wonderfully eccentric, Rebellion's post-nuclear dystopia is well worth checking out, even with some issues in combat and stealth.
MLB The Show 25 may not impress hardcore fans expecting deeper changes and better visuals, but it's still a polished effort and the definitive baseball game.