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There's fertile ground in this new direction for Yakuza; Kasuga and Co are worthwhile characters and the new RPG mechanics have potential. Still, this entry feels stuffed with forced mediocre side content, and like a rough draft of what's possible in the future.
DIRT 5 takes the series back to a more arcade style but the career lacks variety, the vehicle handling is often sluggish, and the basic multiplayer setup is a discouragement. Without a rally mode, the only strong feature is the ability to make and share tracks, but that is not enough to stave off some technical issues.
The blistering fast-paced action of Ghostrunner will almost certainly appeal to gamers looking for a fresh take on the first person platformer. However, the brutal difficulty can make sticking with it after dozens of deaths a tough pill to swallow.
Fuser is an amazingly accessible music mixing tool that will shine in the hands of aspiring DJs using the Freestyle mode. Sadly, many of its old-fashioned game design elements undermine the core of the experience.
The Dark Pictures: Little Hope is a stronger second offering in the standalone horror game series. A more engaging story and interesting setting help overcome the shortcomings in gameplay.
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales offers a fun story in a streamlined adventure that builds on the great foundation of its predecessor, despite a few performance issues on the PS4.
Being able to Play As Anyone in Watch Dogs: Legion is impressive at first, but it becomes a detriment to the core experience that's in need of revitalization. The hacking and stealth infiltrations haven't changed a bit, and with repetitive mission design and numerous technical issues, this latest chapter finds DedSec in an identity crisis.
Amnesia: Rebirth is a step back for Frictional Games. It offers little substance in the way of puzzles, exploration, survival, or psychological horror. Aside from an excellent sequence within a spooky fort, the rest is an uninteresting mess that relies too much on scripted detours.
As the final entry on the current console generation, NHL 21 underwhelms. It plays a decent game of hockey, but with very few changes on the ice, and the new Be a Pro leaving something to be desired, it doesn't offer much to be excited about for returning fans.
Torchlight 3 is a passable action RPG with decently crispy combat and satisfactory classes. But the workmanlike boss runs, unexciting gear, dull story, bizarre Fort design, and multiplayer issues all keep it below both its predecessors and competitors.
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is a fun RTS. Historical Battles are a highlight and it's an easy game to grasp for newcomers with tutorials and the Art of War mode. However, bugs, lack of variety and a grindy level system hold it back.
FIFA 21 offers a wealth of content and authenticity, and the new gameplay tweaks make a positive difference. However, this year's game is uncharacteristically bogged down by AI issues and technical hiccups.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time succeeds in bundling together a charming story, addictive gameplay and an N. Sane amount of content, resulting in what is without a doubt Crash's greatest adventure yet.
Filament is a fun puzzle game with wonderfully detailed environments to explore. Despite some storytelling issues, it should keep puzzle fans entertained for some time.
Star Wars: Squadrons is a tightly designed experience with satisfying space combat gameplay at its core. Although it could use a bit more content and there are some issues to be ironed out, the title manages to remain engaging and entertaining with each new battle.
Few games can offer something quite as weirdly creative as Paradise Killer. Exploring the island, talking with the suspects, piecing the mystery together, and holding the final trial is a thoroughly enjoyable ride in this open world crime mystery.
CastleStorm 2 tries to keep many of the same elements that made the original game fun, but it just doesn't come together this time around. The new mechanics and expanded campaign design feel shallow and almost unnecessary.
Troy is a good addition to the Total War franchise with an interesting setting. However, it does not capture the imagination or attention like previous entries in the franchise.
Hades is a phenomenal effort from Supergiant. Dripping with the stylish substance we've come to expect from the studio and centered around brilliant gameplay, this is one action roguelike that you'll need to check out.
Although WWE 2K Battlegrounds is a way more pleasant experience then last year's wrestling debacle, the franchise still has a ways to go. The title sets out what it wanted to do, which was a provide a light, arcade-like take on the WWE. However, between the lack of depth and intrusive microtransactions, I'm not sure how much staying power it has.