Ars Technica's Reviews
Nintendo's Clubhouse Games wins out by being a rarity in the console-gaming universe.
If you're a fan of the core dated gameplay within C&C:TD or Red Alert, the QoL content spread across C&C:RC is for you: the vocal, 25-years-later contingent of Westwood's RTS roots, who arguably favor the military stylings and '90s-rock bombast of the series' first two games over the insane balance and actions-per-minute madness of StarCraft or WarCraft III: The Frozen Throne.
It's priced right for a clever, family-friendly alternative to Diablo. If you're looking for a new co-op game, buy.
SoR4 is easy to share with friends and easy to get hooked on.
You get to do a lot in this game's runtime, which is why its 35-plus hours feel as hearty as classic JRPGs of twice that length.
If you want a memorable action video game, RE3 Remake will deliver—albeit briefly. If you want that action coupled with cheesy, relatable humanity, on the other hand, RE2 Remake is a better bet, if not a dive into your favorite binge-worthy zombie TV series.
The masses may not rush out to buy a VR set to play Half-Life: Alyx. But anyone who loves video games should look at this game as a next logical step in the possibilities of dramatic, interactive storytelling. Bravo, Valve. Bravo.
Doom Eternal is a thrilling return to form and a high-water mark for fast-paced twitch shooting. Buy it.
Animal Crossing games have always delivered a compelling version of self-quarantine, and this one overflows with quantity, without sacrificing quality, to do so at a scale series fans have never seen.
A beautiful, difficult, and masterful swan song for 2D platforming on the Xbox One. Buy it if you have any interest in the genre.
I struggle to recommend SC5VR to anybody who owns PlayStation VR. The worst part is that the game's solid core gameplay is a clear sign that its dev team could have made an excellent and unique VR rhythm game instead of rushing this scant disappointment out for [money]
An absolute VR mess - yet somehow momentous
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has incredibly good elements, and they play out exceptionally well in its first three hours. Force-power diversity, combat animations, beautiful opening zones, clever puzzles, and Jedi-salvation stakes could lead anybody to believe they were in for a Star Wars single-player epic worth investing in. The trouble is, the game begins to run on fumes after those three hours.
The short version of this review is that Sword and Shield are fun, good-looking Pokémon games with a solid story mode and some welcome changes to the game’s mechanics.
PC-VR headset owners should buy. Quest owners might want to wait for a performance patch.
Death Stranding is definitely a game that stands out from the crowd, but on balance, I’m not sure it stands out for good reasons.
Luigi's Mansion 3 revolves around your bond with the triumphant vulnerability of the company's most maligned mascot. The result is a Pixar-caliber hero that you'll want to spend a full 18 hours exploring with.
It's not perfect. It's not for everyone. But it's probably for you.
Great if you like tough tactical games; a harder sell if you're merely a fan of the films.
You won't find more pure whimsy in a 2019 game.