Expansive's Reviews
A lot has happened in ten years. A decade is a long time, but in the case of Tales of Vesperia Definitive Edition, it’s fair to say that it’s all been worth the wait.
Battle Princess Madelyn is never subtle about its inspirations but that’s ok. Because it really does capture the heart and soul of what made those games so great, a rare find in the ‘modern masterpiece’. It’s not perfect nor the best representation of a side-scroller or Metroidvania, but the clear passion of the developers, as well as the charm and style of the game continually win me over. Even when I’m constantly lost and effortlessly overrun.
Pang Adventures is just good – solo or co-op – old-fashioned retro arcade fun that is perfectly suited to handheld play. There’s nothing different from the Switch version compared to the rest, but it's a fair argument to say that this is the definitive edition.
While Silver Lining is certainly a concluding arc to this chapter of game development, it never feels like an ending. The over-familiarity will wane on you, but it’s clear there’s much more to come from this franchise. Even though Silver Lining has plenty of optional extras to mop up once the final credits roll, it’s hard not to be more excited about the future. In that, the DLC has served its purpose perfectly.
Turf Wars definitely lacks the spark of The Heist. Not only is it short and a bit lacking in ideas, it genuinely feels like a middle-of-the-road DLC that bridges a thrilling beginning and what will almost certainly be an exciting end.
Below is very self-aware of the pace and tone it’s going for. This is a confident game that has clear nods and winks to titles that have inspired it but also brings them together in a way that feels fresh and unique. 2018 has already had some incredible gaming experiences and with the quality of a game like Below, it’s clearly not over yet.
The Forgotten Sanctum is a DLC that meets both of its predecessors in the middle, and often feels like a bit of a hodge-podge, conflicted and unsettled about the approach it takes to reach the end-game. Fortunately, that same end-game leaves multiple, interesting questions open for the future of Pillars of Eternity, and speaks to Obsidian’s future ambitions for the series. It’s just a shame the road to get there is quite often disrupted and ever so slightly unsure of itself.
Gris is a wonderful, mystifying, and everlastingly beautiful end to an unforgettable year of video gaming.
Pokemon Let’s Go is enchanting, refreshing and delightful. A few design choices and slight concerns aside, this is one of the easiest recommendations I’ve made this year.
For the most part, Luigi’s Mansion is a great and welcome port on 3DS with many neat new features and additions to enhance and add longevity to the overall game.
Black Ops 4 is one of the best and enjoyable all-in multiplayer experiences out there right now and arguably the best COD in a good many years.
The Heist strikes a good balance. Offering a thrilling start to this exciting Season Pass, while giving us lots to look forward to in the coming weeks. Slight Street Crime fatigue aside, The Heist easily ranks up there with the best DLCs this year with its quality in narrative, generous offerings, and its ability to continue iterating on an already excellent game.
Isle of the Dead is a good DLC with plenty of reason to replay a few times in order to collect and claim everything, but the limitations of online only co-op, with an already diminishing community, have already started to shine through
Okami HD on Switch is the definitive version of a classic
Dead Living Zombies is the worst piece of DLC in the Season Pass yet and throws up more frustrations than fun
Lunar Great Wall Studios have crafted a thoughtful and lasting experience that defies convention and pushes new boundaries. A fantastic achievement
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is a real treat and should be the game that finally solidifies the reputation of the franchise in the West among the very best RPGs ever made.
Yakuza games are always a joy for to review. They iterate just enough each time to differentiate themselves but they always stay true to a core focus and never try to break apart an already winning formula. As it turns out, Yakuza Kiwami 2 is the best of the bunch.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition is phenomenal. It strikes a balance few other RPGs have been able to achieve, successfully marrying up accessibility with complexity, while amazingly offering a world full of depth and substance. Undoubtedly, it’s one of the finest RPGs this generation, but it will also go down in history as one of the greatest of all time.
Strange Brigade is an entertaining online experience, seperate from most other games in the genre with such a strong focus on puzzle solving. Its gameplay and level pacing works well and Strange Brigade looks lovely, but it’s a game that becomes overly challenging solo and can feel a bit repetitive in long blasts. Splitscreen co-op is certainly missed, and characters don’t vary too much, yet Strange Brigade remains one of the best online co-op games this year with its witty charm and fun gameplay.