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The Coalition have changed what it means to be Gears of War. The ambition, drive, and execution on all fronts is to be applauded, this is a Hollywood blockbuster at its finest. Gears 5 has an exceptional campaign that needs to be played. Once you factor in its versus and cooperative modes, this is a package of quality above its value. Gears 5 is absolutely best and most important game in the series across all modes. Do not miss this one.
I’m not really sure whether the Switch port of Friday the 13th was a good idea given the player economics of niche titles, but perhaps the strength of the movie franchise and the game’s promise (if not its execution) is enough to garner sufficient interest. In fact, it clearly must be, as I have been able to find lobbies to play in (albeit with wait times of up to 1-2 minutes), and they’re usually full, so if this is where you want to play this game, you can definitely do so. That being said, Friday the 13th on Switch has the deck stacked against it for a host of reasons. Yes, it is the same game as the one on PC, and yes it “works,” and yes, most of the charm and authenticity that makes the game feel like a proper homage to a much-beloved horror series remains intact (sh-sh-sh-ah-ah-ah!). Unfortunately, much of the magic is lost in the compromises made to get the game running on the Switch hardware, and playing it feels more akin to controlling a lumbering corpse than a spry teenager.
As a fan of the Cold War era, there’s little to love here. Men of War: Assault Squad 2 – Cold War just doesn’t do enough to warrant its own existence. It’s a game that’s rewarding in its own right, but frustrating for too many reasons to recommend. Men of War: Assault Squad 2 – Cold War is a disappointing effort that’s elevated by its core real-time strategy features that you don’t see in other RTS’. Among the crashes, lackluster presentation, and disappointing execution, there’s almost no reason to play this.
There are only so many ways I can say that I love this game. It has so much to offer and executes so well on all of its ideas, and while it may borrow heavily from some heavy hitters from the last several years, it does so skillfully and respectfully, and it is simply not an experience you can afford to miss. Go, play this game, see for yourself how much fun it is.
KT Racing paid special attention to authenticity while allowing you to play how you want. If management and driving is your thing, then Career is for you. If not, then Season mode will more than satisfy. WRC 8 FIA World Rally Championship feels the best it’s ever felt, and the weather effects look so good. WRC 8 takes such great strides forward for the series, offering a true reflection of the motorsport.
I found Automachef to be incredibly addictive and thoughtful. It was enjoyable to try and create assembly lines and tickle my brain to try and make it better. I must admit, there were a few times where I had to browse the internet for tips on making my kitchen more efficient. I mean, it’s all just a learning process in the end.
Hunt: Showdown is Crytek’s finest work to-date. The gameplay loop is equal parts exciting and dangerous, never feeling at ease in any given match. This is the best the CryEngine has ever looked. Hunt: Showdown is an evolved multiplayer shooter where the horror elements permeate throughout. Hunt: Showdown is an absolute gem for all the genres it plays a role in.
It’s a strange thing to be able to return to both Hotline Miami games on the Switch, of all systems. Nintendo’s colorful handheld isn’t exactly the system that comes to mind when you think of grimy game worlds and graphic violence. On the plus side, these are extremely faithful conversions that run perfectly on Switch and bring another classic franchise to its ever-expanding library of indies. This package isn’t for everybody; it’s hard as hell and is over the top with its violence, but there’s no denying the importance of Hotline Miami as a touchstone within gaming culture. If the Switch is a platform for collecting as many games from as many generations as possible, Hotline Miami and its sequel feel like essential additions to its catalog.
MXGP 2019 sees a lot of improvements over prior installments, mainly showing signs of the series developing a personality. The history of motocross and supercross has yet to be explored in this series, which has many stories to tell. The graphics and physics lead the game, but the audio takes an unfortunate backseat. MXGP 2019 – The Official Motocross Videogame is backed by a fantastic simulation engine making it all the reason you should play it.
Fans of single player games who love shows like X-files, Twin Peaks, and the sort,this is a must play. It’s refreshing to get a superbly crafted, story driven game, with no multiplayer and no micro transactions in today’s market. Fans of the genre need to have Control in their sights and I truly hope Remedy has a bonafide success on their hands. Control is one of the weirdest, fascinating, and most intriguing games I’ve ever played, a wild ride for sure. I’ll be there for the future DLC and a sequel if one ever comes.
RAD is stylish, quirky, and above all else, a Double Fine game. What that means, is that it’s really enjoyable, funny, but not without its rough edges. It’s a game where you literally have to adapt and overcome. The game is either too punishing early on or too short that makes either end of the experience feel shallow. RAD is “another one of those” with a cool aesthetic, a great soundtrack, and has enough going on to keep you coming back after each unceremonious death.
For a fan of the series, this isn’t a terrible title to pick up. In fact, it seems to be the best of the bunch. But I wouldn’t recommend this game to anyone else, they just wouldn’t enjoy how the trucks control. Whether casual or really into racing, it’s not a title I’d pitch to them. But if you like big trucks and big air, hop on in.
Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is very much its own thing, taking the best parts of the prior game and putting it in a new perspective. It evokes Privateer and Freelancer vibes, with the look of X-Wing spectacularly. It’s an accessible arcade game that has a lot of repetition in its loop, but that gameplay is really fun. There’s so many secrets to discover, and places to explore, that even dozens upon dozens of hours I haven’t seen it all. Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is one of better games I’ve played this year.
Metal Wolf Chaos finds new life on PC, PS4, and Xbox One with Metal Wolf Chaos XD. And while it’s not a full remaster, it does more than enough to become accessible for the first time in its existence. The work done to bring this to modern systems and give people a chance to finally play it by removing the complications of obtaining the original Japanese game and hardware, is so appreciated. Metal Wolf Chaos XD is bonkers from start to finish, only getting crazier by game’s end. It very much feels like an unearthed time capsule, but Metal Wolf Chaos XD offers much in the way of replayability and absurdity that I couldn’t help but love its zaniness.
It's been a long time since Age of Wonders III was released back in 2014, and Age of Wonders: Planetfall reminds me what makes this series so great. This is a strategy game that feels like classic Age of Wonders in every respect, but thrust into the future with a renewed energy. There's essentially two games here that work in concert with one another, and Age of Wonders: Planetfall demonstrates how to do this flawlessly. The missions feel handcrafted, rather than "make your own fun"; the planets are colorful and vibrant, teeming with life, and the factions are unique, silly, and fascinating. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better strategy game than Age of Wonders: Planetfall this year, or in the past few years.
That’s about it for the game; it’s all a loop. The end goal for most is to buy your own vacant home and fix & furnish the way you like. But even that will begin to wear thin. With that said, there is something inherently relaxing about the whole ordeal. To me, something is soothing about doing menial tasks like cleaning. It must be something to do with there being a definitive start and endpoint. Add in the fact that they throw in a percentage meter letting me know when each room has been 100% cleaned, and it’s Viscera Cleanup Detail all over again for me. House Flipper is the perfect game to play when you need to distress from the day and one that is good to chill with. It may not be the most engaging game, but it sure is one that hit my inner needs.
While I complain about Wolfenstein: Youngblood, the issues I have with it center around the inclusion of RPG mechanics that don’t really find their place in this game, and hurt it in the long-run. Arkane’s influence to level design makes these places feeling more lived in, and more interesting than any of the locations in The New Blood, The Old Blood, or even The New Colossus despite the populace having been displaced due to the occupation. As a primer for the events of Wolfenstein III, it’s well worth the price of admission. You can still be a turbo killer as one of the Terror Twins, by murdering Nazis with reckless abandon with a shitload of heavy weaponry — and that’s more than enough for me.
After thousands and thousands of bugs killed, the infestation is seemingly never-ending. Rebooting the series with EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5 is likely for the best, making it an excellent entry point, but also a familiar place to return to. It feels right out of a Syfy movie, but its lack of gravitas is what makes it all work. Sure it’s a little unbalanced, a little uneven, but it’s a whole lot of fun. Whether EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5 is your first or fifth time with the series, you’re in for a great time.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is an excellent game in so many ways. It delivers on its promises and sets the stage for what I hope is more content to come in this new incarnation of Igarashi’s masterpiece formula. There has been a lot of outcry about the Switch version of the game, and it definitely isn’t perfect, but it’s playable for the most part. Would I recommend it over other platforms? Probably not, unless being able to play on the go is a priority for you. If Switch is your only system, then you should still absolutely play Bloodstained, but set your expectations accordingly. If anything, Bloodstained is a strong enough game that it is still worthwhile despite the technical issues it has on Switch, which is a testament to the highs it can achieve.
Depending what difficulty setting you select, Blazing Chrome can either be too easy or too hard, thankfully it is endlessly replayable alone or with a friend. Blazing Chrome is my favorite from JoyMasher yet, and it is on-par with the challenge of their other releases. This is a 16-bit game with an 8-bit challenge that makes for an instant classic. In turn, it stays authentic to the era in terms of difficulty, presentation, and feel. In Blazing Chrome's case, this is an exciting game that nails the era with an 80s and 90s feel that's perfectly complimented by its gameplay and even end-credits song.