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Children of the Sun doesn’t have barriers to progressing, as you can either brute force or cleverly solve any given level. Where it succeeds is giving you the power to find your own solution, as there are many. Being able to destroy a cult completely is a more than enough motivation. As you unlock new powers and begin to execute them with calculated precision is unmatched. The leaderboards are a great way to incentivize competition among friends and strangers. Children of the Sun is such a pleasure to play, whether you’ve got 10 minutes or several hours.
The core game is extremely well made and improves so much over the original game. Where Forbidden West is lacking, the Burning Shores DLC makes up for to give the game that fire that was needed. While this game doesn’t recapture the same mystery or have the same revelations as Horizon Zero Dawn , Horizon Forbidden West has a compelling narrative that takes you to new places in its world you have to see for yourself. I stand by the fact that Sony’s games are better on PC with all the additional bells and wheels, and this is yet another shining example, because Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition is easily one of the best ports and open worlds around.
Sons of Valhalla may be a Kingdom-like on the outside, but it’s one of the best to follow that formula, while also surpassing it in every way once you peel back its layers. The developers at Pixel Chest clearly love the Viking Age, and this era offers a lot of cool things you’re in total control of. Everything about the game feels handcrafted, except you’re given the tools to craft your own destiny for a fantastic adventure. Sons of Valhalla excels at being a fully fleshed out game where strategy, combat, and role-playing come together to form a viking voltron for the ages.
House Flipper 2 is a worthy successor to the original game, offering an enhanced and more polished experience for fans of the genre. This gaming experience is as rewarding as it is enjoyable. Its stunning visuals, engaging gameplay mechanics, and charming emails will delight both newcomers and returning players alike. So, if you’ve ever dreamed of flipping houses or indulging in extreme home makeovers, House Flipper 2 is the game for you. Just be prepared to lose track of time as you immerse yourself in its addictive gameplay loop.
I feel like even in trying to explain all of the things that have me so excited about Dragon’s Dogma 2, it fails to convey the magic of actually experiencing it. These are just words on your screen, the translation of my excited babbling about some cool shit I did or saw as my best attempt at explaining to you that this game absolutely rules. I’m leaving so much out, forgetting to add so many “oh and this”es, because it’s kind of impossible to actually tell anybody what it’s like to play Dragon’s Dogma 2. Instead, consider this my unequivocal assertion that Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a game that is not just worth your time, but something that you must play so that you can understand how special it is.
WWE 2K24 delivers an electrifying wrestling experience that will satisfy fans of this series. With its stunning visuals, refined gameplay mechanics, and a wealth of content to explore, it’s clear that Visual Concepts has pulled out all the stops to deliver a championship-winning performance. While the game isn’t without its flaws, including occasional graphical glitches and lackluster AI, these issues are minor in the grand scheme of things. With its extensive roster, robust creation suite, and dynamic career mode, WWE 2K24 offers something for everyone. While it’s not as fresh as last year’s entry, WWE 2K24 really feels like the pinnacle of the simulation series.
More importantly, for all of its scope, Infinite Wealth is an absolute joy to play at every moment; nothing is wasted, nothing is throwaway, not one aspect of this game is extraneous and everything there is to do will reward you in some fashion both in terms of gameplay benefit and your experience with the game itself. I’ve only become a fan of the series in recent years but I am a die hard one and y’all, Infinite Wealth is just an absolute blast to play. It’s a privilege to get to experience every new entry in the Like a Dragon series and for my money, Infinite Wealth is by far the best offering yet.
The first game was neat for it’s time, and the remake breathed new life into the series. While I’m not sure we needed a sequel, there’s some really neat ideas, quests, systems, and ways of traversing I haven’t quite experienced. There’s clearly a lot of secrets to uncover and things to do in this open-world adventure we’ve seen before, but in a new way. This really feels like a throwback game from a different era mixed with new ideas. While not every component of Outcast – A New Beginning comes together the way it should, it’s still very entertaining and captivating.
Expeditions: A MudRunner Game isn’t a game that has mass appeal, it’s niche in design and executes on that well. The off-roading and simulation systems are second-to-none, and the lack of co-op at launch will disappoint many. The positioning of this entry being more science-focused keeps things fresh for the series that could have gotten stale or too familiar otherwise. Expeditions: A MudRunner Game is sure to challenge you, but rewards patience, and offers an adventure like no other.
At no point was I rushed or pushed towards a linear path. Islands of Insight respects your time, and ensures that you take your time. The way puzzles are introduced feel organic, and it has its own way of ramping of difficulty in each area. So that when you reach even the third or fourth island, you’re still starting fresh, and not dealing with near impossible puzzles. Lunarch Studios have made something special here, and being able to do that in a shared open-world with others is a delight. Islands of Insight is joyful, peaceful, and a relaxing experience that’s absolutely worth it.
I certainly like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League more than I did Gotham Knights, but only just. There’s a good game here, but it’s best moments are in the opening hours, and what follows is live service tedium that takes its own life. There are some laugh out loud moments via the cutscenes and quips said throughout the game, but it doesn’t save it from itself. This game feels forced, more so than WB’s desire to make “Suicide Squad” a household name, and cheer for the anti-hero. No amount of endgame content is gonna change my mind on what should have been finite, self-contained story. Instead, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is an infinite crisis of mundane content.
Bahnsen Knights features less “going through the motions”, and features more gameplay to chew on. LCB Game Studio really has something special here in Bahnsen Knights, and the entire trilogy of games must be experienced, even if they are crafted as standalone experiences. I think the connective tissue that binds these games together is well worth it. I appreciate a game that doesn’t waste your time, and the short story presentation is absolutely killer. Bahnsen Knights will leave you satisfied, but is an uncomfortable and tense ride until it’s credits roll.
“Risk of Rain Returns” has its own flavor while staying true to what made the original special. I might not agree with the chaotic nature that longer playthroughs become, but with so many positives, so many hours already pumped into it — and many to come —, it’s hard not to fall in love with it. If you manage to fall in love, I recommend checking the original game if you haven’t and its sequel. But, a fair warning: I won’t be responsible for the hours you might spend in each game. Whether this goes to the dozens or to the hundreds. What I can say is: buckle up, it will be one hell of a ride, and one I’m happy that it exists. I’m happy that “Risk of Rain” is “back”, I’m happy that I’m having a great time with it. I hope you will too.
All in all, Lake: Season’s Greetings is a solid choice of prequel DLC that takes everything I enjoyed in the base games and gives me more of it. I found the new characters entertaining while enjoying learning more about the characters I came to know from the original game. But mostly, the short runtime does the DLC a solid by not making your time in Providence Oaks feel like a slog. As I mentioned earlier, if you enjoyed the original Lake, you’ll undoubtedly get some warm and fuzzy feelings playing Season’s Greetings. If you want that nice and cozy experience, do what I did: grab some fuzzy socks, a mug filled with hot cocoa, and deliver some mail. The only way the experience would have been better is if snow was falling outside my own window.
There is, undoubtedly, a good game buried in here somewhere. There are certainly moments where you can tell care was taken. The models for each character are quite good. The voices give the models life. The stages help you feel at home in the world. The couch co-op experience leads to lots of fun moments. But, the games has too many other flaws for it to earn my recommendation. It’s got too many rough edges in areas that a fighting game of its nature should have spent far more time polishing. I really, really, wanted it to be good. I’m sure they’ll figure it out by Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 3.
Call of Duty HQ needlessly complexes the game loading process, as switching between games and modes requires relaunching a different executable. The campaign is hurried along in an unenjoyable way with open mission design that takes away from what makes the series great. Zombies mode is completely forgettable and a rehash of DMZ, which is not included or playable in Modern Warfare III . Multiplayer does the heavy lifting, and really only stays strong through nostalgia of the original Modern Warfare 2. While the maps hold a timeless appeal, it doesn’t feel fresh or new as an experience. This is a game that barely stands on its own. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is unlike other games, it’s not broken, just bad and lacking any redeeming values.
Dungeons 4 hasn’t changed a whole lot, but it is far more refined. Realmforge Studios have really found their stride here. The game balances challenge with power fantasy that just works so well. It continues the wonderful escapades of underground excavation with the best of real-time strategy – and that’s turtling to steamroll the enemies. Dungeons 4 does Dungeon Keeper legacy proud, and is a devilishly good time.
GUNHEAD is a fine game on its own, because it contains all the pieces that made CRYPTARK so good. That said, GUNHEAD feels surprisingly unambitious as it plays just like its forebear, albeit through a different lens. I’ll say that if you didn’t like the 2D side-scrolling shooting of CRYPTARK , then the 3D first-person shooting of GUNHEAD is probably more appealing. It’s unfortunate that the 3D space is hard to gain awareness of approaching dangers, and the fact it resembles the prior game so much that it doesn’t feel new or fresh. GUNHEAD contains the formula of a great a tried-and-true roguelike that you should at least try before you buy.
HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED 2 – Turbocharged is the kind of game to bring friends, siblings, or others together and play for hours on end. Then when they’re done, go into their closets and start playing with real Hot Wheels sets. The sophomore entry hasn’t changed much, so it’s more of the same, but it’s more of a great game. Milestone is a great fit as the developer of this series, and it’s a good time for all. HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED 2 – Turbocharged features wonderful locations, action-packed racing, and a virtual collection to rival all collections – there’s so much to love in the sequel.
In a year that’s been packed full of incredible games, Alan Wake II is yet another strong contender for Game of the Year and is an experience that’s not to be missed, whether you’ve played the original game or not. It fully delivers on the promise of what Remedy has been building towards for decades, and sets a new high bar for what games can and should be. If horror isn’t necessarily your thing, turn the difficulty down to “Story” mode and get in there anyway; it’s an amazing game that will take you on a ride you will never forget, and I’m willing to bet it’ll make a Remedy fan out of nearly anybody who plays it. This is a truly special, genre defining, studio defining game that only comes along once in a very long while. I cannot overstate just how good this game is; whether you are a longtime fan, or if this is your initiation into the universe of Alan Wake, this is an absolute must play game that will leave you thinking about it long after you reach the ending credits. Alan Wake II is Remedy’s masterpiece, and it is glorious to behold.