Saving Content
HomepageSaving Content's Reviews
Gear.Club Unlimited isn’t a terrible game by any means. It just falls short. I’ll be honest in that I was expecting something more polished from the studio behind the far better Test Drive: Unlimited. Maybe if this sells, a sequel would follow that formula more. At $50 bucks though, I would pass. The game has it’s roots too far into its mobile sibling and even removing all the timers and microtransactions, $50 doesn’t feel like a good deal. Can the game be fun, sure, and being that it’s the only game of its kind on the Switch right now it’s serviceable. My recommendation though, go download the mobile version and see if you enjoy the physics. If they resonate with you then I would say give Gear.Club Unlimited a shot. Just maybe wait for a sale.
L.A. Noire is a game that feels better on this current generation of consoles over the last. The ability to replay cases gives plenty of reasons to get perfect ratings on each one. The investigations are deep, and rewarding as you solve each one. L.A. Noire has been given a second chance, and while flawed it is like nothing else out there today. Whether you are returning to 1940s Los Angeles, or starting new, L.A. Noire being remastered for PS4, Xbox One, and Switch is worth every bit of the experience, like a modern day adventure game.
Outcast Second Contact is a neat idea and one that I wish brought Outcast updated mechanics and controls. Instead of being something that can bring in new fans, it feels like an attempt to just update the visuals and that’s it. New updates to all these features, new voice acting, and perhaps some more ease of use and quality of life improvements could have gone a long way to making this more than it is. As it stands, it’s a fascinating look at an old game with new visuals and that’s about it. The game hugely impacted and helped shape and mold what we have known to become open world games, but it’s not caught up yet with all the new improvements in today’s standards for this release. If a sequel does ever see the light of day, I’d love to see how they can actually refine and perhaps mold new open world games into become something more. If the first game could help start a genre, let’s see if a second one could improve and rejuvenate it. Outcast Second Contact is an experience most will likely want to leave in the past, new visual upgrades or not.
I still enjoyed Call of Duty: WWII, more so the multiplayer over the campaign, but it had its moments that kept me invested throughout. The multiplayer feels "back to basics" like what Modern Warfare Remastered did last year that I really enjoy. It's easier to keep track of people and removes a lot of the verticality the latest entries has introduced, for better or worse. Call of Duty: WWII feels like a much-needed reset for the genre-defining series.
Tower 57‘s old school approach to twin-stick shooters in the modern era failed to impress as a complete package. Parts of it on their own like the visuals, physics, upgrades, and elemental properties are all really cool, but the core combat and traversal of Tower 57 really ruined the experience. Pixwerk is comprised of two individuals, one a veteran and one newcomer to game development, and there’s some really great ideas trapped behind retro ideas. I like what’s on offer here, but it comes cautiously recommended.
Harmonix, the fine folks who brought us some of our favorite rhythm games over the years, has a brand new title available on the Nintendo Switch. A cute family friendly rhythm game that brings the rhythm genre to its basics; a fun and easy one to hop into that the whole family can enjoy.
Nioh: Complete Edition is worth every penny and hour of time you put into it, which will be over 100 hours of playtime. No matter how often you die, or what you do, you’re making progress. That second boss is still way too hard, but everything that comes before and after it is so good. This is the most refreshing take on the Dark Souls style of game, and is well executed. The use of historical figures and supernatural abilities create for a unique atmosphere.
Offering more of the same, but for the better, Hand of Fate 2 is more of what you liked, none of what you didn't over the original. Defiant Development have done exactly what you need to do for a sequel, improve and cut out the fat. The improved missions and importance of character creation and development make it feel more personal and like your story, rather than playing someone else's. Hand of Fate 2 offers a lot of variety you would have to play several other games to get in the quality that's available here.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus has a campaign I highly implore people play. The pacing is all over the place, but its quick emotional shifts are to the game’s benefit – one moment has you seething with what you’ve just witnessed, and others have you laughing at the well-timed humor in contrast to a world so wrought with evil. Bethesda has resurrected the most iconic first-person shooter franchises, and MachineGames have elevated the genre with Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus.
I found Spintires: MudRunner to be an improvement over the original, but not enough to come fully recommended. The physics and simulation that goes into the game puts Euro Truck Simulator to shame. It does seem that Saber Interactive really went through the list of complaints, even adding a model of a driver to the barren cockpits of the prior game. But it seems no matter the improvements, the game is only as good as much as you enjoy the challenge and desire to make it to your destination – if the terrain lets you.
With all these new systems, it distracts from how great Forza is to play and how gorgeous it is to look at. The dynamic weather is magnificently done and the night races are a hoot to race in. You can feel the road surface changing to the weather and your car responding accordingly. It’s such an amazing game to drive. It’s sad that there are now credit draining hoops you have to go through. New level restrictions placed upon you; creating this vision of a roadblock keeping you from playing a Forza game your way. Not something Turn 10 has forced upon players in the past. Then there is the ever looming threat of those pesky loot boxes. Forza Motorsport is my comfort food, my mac and cheese if you will. It always has been. It’s sad that I have to tear into extra layers of packaging before I can enjoy my meal this year.
Raiden V: Director’s Cut is very accessible for those who have yet to play a shoot’em up, and while the series is known to be rather challenging, the many difficulties it offers will ease players of any skill level right in. And those looking for a high level of challenge will still find it here, as the hardcore nature of the game has not been diluted. The story is mostly forgettable, but the way it gets presented during gameplay is a huge step forward for the genre. Raiden V: Director’s Cut is simply a must have.
The Mummy Demastered has small issues that are appropriate for the era it recalls, but they are quickly overshadowed by the excellent gameplay and feel of exploration and discovery amid blasting your way from room to room. The Mummy Demastered is wonderfully executed and full of surprises. WayForward didn't just make " another one of those". There are real and meaningful changes to the formula you wouldn't expect, and flipping them on their head is well worth the price of admission.
Rogue Trooper Redux is a nice throwback to an era that’s long since passed, but despite its updates, is still held back by the limitations of the original design. Though, I can’t discredit the mechanics and systems throughout the campaign, and the updates done to bring it to the modern era. It does not look like a PS2 game by any means. If you haven’t played it before, it is worth seeing the innovations and mechanics that this carved a path for others to follow. Now, I would rather have seen a sequel, but I think the sales of this are likely to justify whether that cliffhanger ending is worth following up on.
Destiny 2 is definitely more Destiny, and it’s Destiny done well. The story is fun and more engaging, the worlds are gorgeous albeit tighter than I would like, and having the ability to hop to another world from anywhere is a huge improvement. There’s plenty of loot to find while playing any of the campaign missions, side-quests, and community events. If it weren’t for the shader system, Bungie would have hit a grand slam, but for right now, I can settle for a home run.
Heat Signature is such a surprise to play. It’s freedom, and cycling number of missions allow you to take the tools which you’ve been given and craft and experience all your own. The incredibly smart integration of your Steam friends finding their way into your game adds reference and value to the tasks you’re given. Heat Signature is easily one of my favorite games of the year.
When One Piece originally debuted it wasn’t to a huge reception and bringing it to the Switch seems like it was a simple enough of an idea to provide a portable version on Nintendo latest console. That could have been a selling point but it having debuted portable on Vita and 3DS, maybe not. Which really just makes this release seem all the more weird. It’s a mildly entertaining game for players looking for something anime like to play, ad a bit more for those who are actually fans of the franchise, yet were still looking at a bare bones port that most likely no one was really asking for. Only the most diehard of fans will most likely grab it again.
Runic Games has something special here and every facet of the game reeks of quality aside from one element. System performance on PS4 has a ton of stuttering or slow down moments. They have already updated the game a few times since it launched and the post support seems great, but this issue is literally my biggest and only issue. In an otherwise fantastic experience, captivating in its grandeur, this always took me right out of the experience. That blemish aside, every time I played Hob, I just got lost in its world, exciting to see everything the game would throw at me next. Exploration, combat, and the world all merge together in such a cohesive thought with almost no frustration, it’s just a sublime experience even with its performance issues.. Hob wasn’t on my list of must play games, or even known games for 2017. Don’t make the same mistake I did, Hob is definitely worth playing and a huge surprise.
I can't begin to think of the monumental effort that went in to making this game over the past several years. Cuphead is a challenging gameplay experience that is at odds with its whimsical-looking animation. I never found the difficulty to be off-putting, but it rather forced me to be more mindful during each encounter, which then led to every victory being so sublime. Be forewarned at it being a hard game, but know that Cuphead is a masterpiece worth enduring such hardships.
In all regards Heat 2 is an upgrade over last years game but the change to the Career Mode is a big sting to the game overall. What should have been a bigger and more fully fleshed out Career turned into a revamping and starting over. The racing is still fun and you can easily have a great time in NASCAR Heat 2, but it’s not without its flaws.