Niche Gamer
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I don’t think Serious Sam 4 is necessarily a bad game, I just think that its disappointing in a lot of ways. It has been almost a decade since the last game, so I was expecting something that was a little more polished, refined, and well-thought out, even if it was “just another Serious Sam game.”
Alan Wake is not the most scary horror game, but it is highly entertaining and engrossing. The ambiance and attention to detail make it an impressive production, over ten years later. The surreal and metaphysical narrative makes it an unconventional, yet fitting game to play during the fall and Halloween season.
Ultimately Dead by Daylight is the best at what it does. It’s a competitive hide-and-seek game with a gruesome polish on it. Not even Behaviour Interactive themselves can outdo Dead by Daylight, their own game Deathgarden closed down its servers earlier this year.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 has the most minor shortcomings for an incredibly generous and enjoyable package. The core game is an incredible rush, and the density of modes and unlockables constantly beckons for replaying. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is highly recommended and is a perfect example of doing a definitive remake that replaces the original.
Replay value is high if you have the guts and stamina to earn almost 30 skins, and to acquire all the relics. It’s About Time might run a bit steep for what is effectively a meaty PlayStation 1 game with Pixar graphics, but this is the core ethos of Crash Bandicoot. If you enjoyed the N. Sane Trilogy, you will adore this.
Overall I had a lot of fun with Sense: A Cyberpunk Ghost Story. It’s not a game that I’d usually play, but I’m so glad that I did. It does a tremendous job of getting that horror atmosphere right from the point that everything goes south.
This was the chance for these three titles to get definitive versions, but instead these are mostly alternatives to the originals. In spite of Nintendo’s low-efforts, the quality of the games themselves are high enough that make them worth your time. Super Mario Sunshine especially is noteworthy since used copies are usually cost-prohibitive and Gamecube controllers are getting harder to find.
Crystal Chronicles is fundamentally broken in its current state. The overall package feels rough and unfinished for a remaster and patching in local co-op won’t fix the dull and boring gameplay or the anemic story.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is absolutely a must-play for fans of story-driven adventure games. This one especially has some legs to it; getting immersed in the mystery is easy to do thanks to the writing, and beautiful art and animation.
There is some enjoyment to get out of Marvel’s Avengers. The single player campaign has some enjoyable sequences. Unfortunately, the constant barrage of cues to grind or buy in-game currency is extremely alienating and off-putting. At its highest highs, Avengers is generic.
Despite limited resources, Bombservice is able to deliver a worthy entry in the catalog of indie Metroidvanias.
Ultimately, Ary and The Secret of Seasons is a tragically rushed title. I honestly wanted to like this game; I like the genre, the aesthetics, and the characters that are actually voiced. It’s a lighthearted action platformer with a unique plot, big adventure, and interesting bosses.
Moon: Remix RPG Adventure is an extremely esoteric game that won’t be for everyone. Despite its quirkiness and unconventional design, it flawlessly execute’s the designer’s intentions. Everything is seemingly very deliberate and confident in its design. It may not be an RPG, but it is almost as long as one.
This is a very chilled out game. It’s also one that I can see myself playing through multiple times. There’s so much to unpack, and for the price it really is a no-brainer. Don’t waste your time with other survival games, Windbound is all you need for years.
Overall, Wasteland 3 is a perfectly fun and enjoyable RPG, and is able to run smoothly on PC. Fans of the original Fallout games will find a lot to enjoy with the mix of turn-based combat and classic CRPG exploration. With it’s voice-acting cast, musical score, visceral combat, and engaging plot and dialogue, there’s not much to complain about.
Battletoads 2020 is for fans of Rick and Morty, and for those who enjoy insufferable hipster humor. The joke is that Rash and the boys are outdated, and the writers constantly reinforce this agenda of theirs; robbing Battletoads of its identity and making it indistinguishable from the endless dreck that oozes from Adult Swim’s sewer.
Despite the flaws it might have, Skully is still a very competent puzzler, and that should be enough to convince you to play it.
Ultimately, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout manages to be a refreshing and whimsical take on the battle royale genre. While it might be a stretch to consider it a battle royale game, it’s not difficult to imagine that the success of such titles may have spawned the concept of the game.
Fairy Tail manages to be little more than a mediocre JRPG. While definitely worth serious consideration for fans of the series, it is an irrelevant release for everyone else.
The gameplay is functional. It isn’t grossly offensive, it just is the bare minimum to get by. It does suffer greatly from the obtrusive narrative and forced walking sequences which are far too long, frequent and unskippable. There is new game plus, but the experience just fails to hold attention after the first time.