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Farming Simulator 19: Platinum Edition is the latest to come out of the Farming Simulator series; that is until 20 inevitably comes out for PC next year. I’ll be reviewing this game as a whole as we don’t have a standalone review for the base game. The Farming Simulator franchise has been around for over ten years now. That formula hasn’t changed all that much. Which depending on the type of player you are, it is either a good or bad point.
Manifold Garden delivers a unique, exciting world to explore with some mind-bending environments that tightly integrate with its puzzles and play systems. While it doesn’t reinvent the genre, it experiments in some exciting and playful ways that make it a memorable experience you’ll hang onto long after you’ve finished.
I will always enjoy these types of games, constantly trying to chase the high of me pouring hours into titles like ThemePark or Zoo Tycoon. Planet Zoo is another sim management game that I can wholeheartedly recommend. It may not be for the casual player with how much the game asks of you in regards to management, but to everyone else, it’s a heck of a good time. Maybe we’ll get lucky and see some Aquarium stuff out of Frontier Developments next, I’m crossing fingers here.
The story is no slouch either with a great set up premise and some interesting turn of events. It might not blow anyone away today the same way it did then but this is still one worth enjoying for its 25 to 30 hour duration. Overall, Star Ocean First Departure is an excellent remade classic RPG preserved and now available to more players than ever before. It might not be a revelation in RPG gaming by today’s standards but it’s a great look back on an RPG from long ago. Switch players have yet another great RPG to check out they shouldn’t miss. I was completely smitten during my time and had the biggest JRPG smile on my face when playing.
With Spyro Reignited Trilogy, you have the rare chance to plunge back into a world you may have spent countless hours exploring as a kid, with all the fit and finish of a present-day title. It’s sure to please longtime fans of the series, and newcomers will find plenty here to enjoy. There’s never been a better time (or a better way) to play Spyro.
The combat is intense, frenetic, and never bogged down by the managerial aspects. The story is solid, and the characters are okay, but the BattleTech lore that begins to unfold throughout steals the show. MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries captures the essence so beautifully of what made the MechWarrior: Mercenaries games so great two decades ago. It’s a welcome return for a singleplayer campaign of this storied franchise. MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries skips all the pretenses, and lets you manage the finances and the intricate details of your own mercenary units to stomp around the galaxy at your leisure.
The best part about Bee Simulator is just how unique of a concept it is. The game has a definite sense of style and by that I mean, it feels like the player is truly in the world we know but so much smaller. Running around and popping balloons with my stinger gave me the best sort of smile every time. The game also teaches players about bee’s and other interesting facts making this a game for the entire family. I don’t think Bee Simulator is going to blow anyways away, but at the same time I can see a lot of families and kids really enjoying this one. It’s just a simple, smile inducing title that stands out unique enough to give players something different to experience.
They really don’t make games like this one anymore. The game immediately connects you to another era, and gives you the chance to experience something that just doesn’t exist in today’s market. In doing so though, it serves as a demonstration of why games have moved away from so many of the design principles on display in Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD. For some, this will be a fun and convenient way to revisit a beloved old game. For most though, the best case on offer is an auto-retrospective experience, unflinchingly showing you all of its best and most mediocre parts.
The shift from random sniper dude who I don’t care about to shadow sniper with cool tech is a big step in the right direction for the series. As is the segmented contract system, which is something I want to see a lot more of in DLC or sequels. Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts is inventive and rewarding, with so many ways to tackle the contracts, challenges, and bounties – this is a game that celebrates its replayability. While there’s rough edges, this is the most satisfying game about being a sniper for a modest price. Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts executes with enough precision to reach its target.
I love a good western game and one with creatures and monsters is even better. I knew little going into Ritual: Crown of Thorns and was probably better off because of it. The name doesn’t exactly resonate well with the theme and I wouldn’t be surprised if people had no idea this was a western game to begin with. Overall, if players are looking for a fun, challenging time, with a great theme, Rituals will be the game to play. It feels a bit more old school in some ways but there is nothing wrong with that. So if a challenging, arcade like, top down shooter sounds enticing, give this undead six shooter a chance.
Jumanji The Videogame is a huge disappointment. What could have been a fun, fantastic action adventure co-op game with comedy is instead turned into something terribly mundane. There is little challenge, little variation, and little reason to actually play through it. Even for a game aimed at a younger audience, there is little reason or depth to want to continue playing this. The price range being $39.99 makes it even more puzzling and makes me wonder if the funds went toward mostly licensing the likeness of characters then making a decent game. The mechanics work alright, the core idea is solid, but this is the most basic, short, and lacking game I’ve played in a long time.
I sincerely enjoyed my time with Autonauts and could see anyone from a pro programmer to someone with zero experience having a good time with this game.
Need For Speed Heat is bathed in neon while offering a great sense of speed, fantastic customization, and generates a great level of tension when being pursued by the cops. The car selection covers a wide variety of eras and types that’s never boring, and there’s more than enough to satisfy everyone. Between the actual races and roaming around challenges, there’s hours of things to do you’ll never tire of. Need For Speed Heat is the best racing game of the year, hands-down.
NASCAR Heat 4, at its core, is still an amazing NASCAR experience. The physics are tight and what you expect to feel when driving. The A.I. seems smarter, and even if it isn’t, they still do a great job of reacting to your presence on the track. But even with how good the core is, the game is still plagued by a career mode that needs some more work if it wants to hold my attention for longer and get me into the Cup series.
There isn’t much here to complain about. What players get is a charming, funny, and challenging platform game that feels like a combination between an Indiana Jones like adventure mixed with elements of exploration and Mega Man like gameplay, minus the blaster. It’s a title I absolutely loved digging into and I feel anyone that’s a fan of retro games definitely deserves to check this one out. It’s a hidden treasure for sure.
Thief of Thieves: Season One is interesting, but on the Switch is hampered by a myriad of issues on every level. The story comes to a satisfying close, but the inevitable tease to season two is an exciting setup. I look forward to being around these characters more, and performing more heists with them. Thief of Thieves: Season One is fun, intriguing, and tells a great interactive story. You should just do so on any other platform but the Switch.
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is exactly what it says it is. For all the effort that’s gone into this, it’s kind of insane to get all this game for a mere $20. It plays incredibly well, looks even better, and hasn’t aged a day. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is next to perfect. It’s time to strategize like it’s 1999.
It should come as no surprise that Unity of Command II surpasses the original in every way. Its one-screen UI is still the one to beat, and reflects the original in all the right ways. There’s a lot new to the game, and it offers so much depth where there’s so much to talk about. I adore the strict turn-based time limit, as it gets you to think in a different way. Unity of Command II is wargaming at its finest.
While it doesn’t break boundaries or define this generation, it is extremely refined to be the best version of itself. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare offers an engrossing campaign along with a multiplayer suite you can’t quit. It’s a game that’s heartfelt and genuine in its presentation. I’m so terrifically excited for what’s next for the story, and the multiplayer is calling my name. Infinity Ward has cemented the Modern Warfare series as the best of Call of Duty, and this is one not to miss.
Song of Horror has been an extremely long wait for me. So much that I almost didn’t know if it would finally release. It’s with great pleasure to say that the developers absolutely nailed what they were attempting to do here. Creating a classic feeling survival horror game with some unique elements and permadeath. It’s tense, it’s creepy, and while it might be a bit slow for some, if players can allow themselves to get absorbed into the experience, they are in for a treat. I was reminded of Alone in the Dark and Eternal Darkness during my play through, and I couldn’t be happier. The first two episodes are live now with the third going up in December, fourth in January, and the fifth and final in March. If the first episode is any indication of the rest of the games quality, consider me signed up and ready for any forthcoming console ports. Song of Horror left me terrified in the best ways possible.