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Overall, Tales of Graces F Remastered is an almost perfect remaster of a highly beloved title that provides an excellent gaming experience despite its few flaws.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a solid recreation of the original game, offering improved visuals and additional features. While it stays true to the challenge and feel of the original, some minor graphical issues and the high difficulty level may deter some players. Overall, it's a must-play for fans of the series and newcomers alike.
Eternal Strands is a big game with some big guts. It's awesome that this small team can make a game that stands tall on its own against other big names from the industry. Eternal Strands is entertaining, clever, and spontaneous. The game's different mechanics fold nicely into each other and produce a grounded gameplay loop that is super addicting. Exploring the extensive and differing lands never gets tiring and the voice acting that guides you are magnificent. Climbing is clumsy, controlling your character is incongruous, and multiple art design choices reads wrong, but everything woven together fabricates a game that is meticulous and endearing.
Sniper Elite Resistance is another solid entry in the Sniper Elite series. I was thrilled to learn that it was coming out and I hope the franchise continues. We now know we aren't locked into one character, so the options for different times throughout the conflict and different experiences open up.
That's about all there is to Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana. It's a faithful port of the 2005 classic, with a couple of nice-to-have features such as multiple soundtracks and artwork updates. The original featured some questionable design in places, most notably some of the bosses have very repetitive mechanics and as such aren't very fun to fight, but beyond that Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a great RPG.
Overall, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is still an amazing JRPG, and Its PC version elevates the experience it provides in all the right ways.
Everything about this remaster is incredibly true to the original, so while it may look cleaner and more crispy than the previous versions, it still plays the same. The framerate is better, character models aren't as low res, and the game looks brighter overall. While sticking to the source material is good for a lot of reasons, it is also bad for other reasons. Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles is a taxing game in a lot of different ways. The stiff controls are cumbersome and the game would feel a lot smoother if they were more snappy. Not only do unfair gameplay moments provide you with no challenge, but they also make the game incredibly boring to go through when you are losing in arbitrary ways. Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles has a decent amount of content and nonsensical entertainment with the co-op modes, but I find my lack of motivation to play this game disturbing.
Even though I love Donkey Kong, having the only games starring Donkey Kong released on the Switch being rereleases of older games is disappointing. Not only that, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD has the least amount of extra content to it compared to games like Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Mario vs. Donkey Kong. That doesn't dismiss the fact that this game is extremely fun and still has a great amount of content. If you haven't played the Wii or 3DS version of Donkey Kong Country Returns, then the HD Switch version is a must-play as it is one of my favorites in the series, but returning fans might not care for the touch ups that much.
Now is a good time to be a fan of VR. Arken Age has finally proved the point of why gamers should get into VR gaming. Phenomenal graphics, captivating combat, enthralling audio, and a passionately detailed world makes being involved in VR in this way a blast. A dull story and languorous music doesn't stop Arken Age from being any less entrancing or gratifying due to its engrossing gameplay. Arken Age is the pinnacle VR experience and is easily one of the best VR games to date. Tether to your headset and become untethered in this remarkable VR showpiece!
The next-gen update to Predator: Hunting Grounds unfortunately doesn't fix the core issues that the gameplay has. Long matchmaking times (presumably due to a small player base), limited gameplay options and the inherent problems present in asymmetrical multiplayer games (that one person who quits immediately if they don't get to be the Predator, you know who you are) are all still here.
Batman: Arkham Shadow is a real achievement for the team at Camouflaj and a milestone in VR superhero games. With a reach story, challenging yet seamlessly coordinated combat, and decent stealth scenarios, Batman: Arkham Shadow is the perfect place to feel truly in the cape crusader's cowls.
I really enjoyed my time playing Epyka. The puzzles are creative, the characters are amusing, and the story is interesting even though it's a little "book by numbers". I really wish I had more time in this world. Some puzzles felt too short; it was like right when I understood what I was doing, the puzzle was over. If there were ever a sequel to Epyka, I would be looking forward to how the mechanics and gameplay design might expand. Even if the game is a bit on the shorter side, Epyka is debuting at only $10, so you are getting a lot more bang for your buck here in this virtual escapade of uncovering the mysteries of the world and yourself.
It might not do anything spectacular or innovative– it’d be fun to have an opponent to spar with, or even a punching bag to see bounce off each hit– but it gets a sweat up and your heart pumping. It’s boxing and it’ll keep you fit, simple as that.
Issues I had with the controls aside, SPRAWL is a solid shooter with a fantastic soundtrack and aesthetic. When you get into the flow of chaining together wall runs and jumps, sliding around, and taking down enemies with precise headshots, it's a fun time. The story isn't anything to write home about, but it does what it needs to do and at under $20/£15 at full price, it's worth taking a look at.
Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition is a surprisingly enjoyable game with satisfying combat mechanics and intriguing puzzles. With all enhancements released so far, the title looks and works well – even by today's standards. If you haven't played it before, the free current-gen upgrade gives you a good chance to do so.
Battle enemy empires and traitors as you seek allies and fight to rid the lands of the Silence.
An enjoyable box to the beat shooter for those looking for a quick VR fix.
Project your mind into a drone in order to control a tank in an area humans can't go... sound weird? It is... but it's fun!
Alien: Rogue Incursion is a mandatory game to play and a perfect representation of a quintessential VR experience. It has an intriguing narrative that fans and newcomers can easily enjoy, incredibly fun and smooth gameplay, jaw dropping graphics with audio to match, and it does all of this by actually putting you within its domain. The horror elements are enticing and even if you are scared, the game makes you determined to keep playing and have fun without effort. Being in this world is comfortable and you will have a hard time putting this face hugging adventure down. Big things come from small beginnings, and as the most recent access point into the franchise, Alien: Rogue Incursion is definitely a big deal and a must play.
A great brawler brought low by baffling design decisions.