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It's nice to see Madden NFL 18 taking risks and experimenting, with good results like the Longshot mode. Hopefully the franchise will continue to refine what works, and iron out some of the technical imperfections and lackluster game modes.
Nidhogg 2 is a solid multi-player title that is bogged down by a handful of issues. The online play is currently a mess, the single player is lackluster at best and the new weapons do more harm than good. It's a testament to how rock solid the gameplay is, though, that the title is still worth checking out if you have friends willing to embrace its weirdness. For now, I'll stick with the original, though.
Everybody's Golf is a solid arcade title that seems to do everything right in recreating the sport itself, and providing a carefree and welcoming atmosphere. But unfortunately, some jarring design decisions make this an overly restrictive and tedious experience that few casual players will want to slog through.
While Mages of Mystralia might not live up to its full potential, the game has some charm and is fun enough to be worth a look. The $20 price tag is also pretty solid.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is very charming and the whole aesthetic is a labor of love. However, pesky gameplay shortcomings and a nasty difficulty spike halfway through hamper this Nintendo love-letter.
Rule with an Iron Fish is a decent offering if you're looking for a mobile-like experience on PC and don't mind the price tag, with a focus on simple and repetitive gameplay with subdued presentation.
If Double Dragon, Final Fight, Streets of Rage or Golden Axe were your go-to coin-ops on childhood trips to the arcade, 99Vidas might well resurface some fond, pre-millennium memories. But alas, nostalgia only gets a game so far, and once the thrill-ride is over, there's very little reason to return for a second playthrough.
It may not consistently live up to the standards of Volition's recent pedigree, but Agents of Mayhem's cackling supervillains, destructive vigilantism and satisfying combat make for a jolly good open-world adventure nonetheless.
Peregrin's simplistic puzzles, technical quirks, and uninteresting combat hold back an adequate tale of a hero's desolate journey into a lost and fractured land.
Despite some superficial similarities to other recent multiplayer focused games, LawBreakers is ultimately its own beast with challenging, deep gameplay that succeeds thanks to the unique movement system, low-gravity combat and fun, varied classes.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is a great standalone entry and is exactly what you'd hope to get from the first single player expansion in the franchise. It does almost everything just as well as a full price release with great visuals, solid gameplay, and varied multiplayer. Whether or not you've played Uncharted 4, this is an adventure worth undertaking.
Matterfall is a game filled with ideas and mechanics that seem fine on their own, but contradict and conflict with each other when added together. The experience is so short and stifled, that even with some enjoyable moments along the way, it's hard to recommend.
Unlike its unique predecessor, you largely know what you're getting into with this third person ink shooter sequel, but that's not a bad thing. Shortcomings aside, Splatoon 2 still just might be the best multiplayer experience on the Nintendo Switch so far.
Observer features remarkable trips through fictional minds that unsettle and terrify without relying on excessive jump scares. The nightmares contrast wonderfully with an atmospheric and detailed cyberpunk world that is always fascinating to explore.
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is every bit as vicious, epic and dramatic as its predecessors in the Ninja Theory library, but interweaving a delicate storyline through simple, yet ruthless mechanics makes it one of the most visceral portrayals of psychological turmoil in recent video gaming.
Slime Rancher successfully taps into the addictive nature of farming simulators, while managing to make the gameplay loop more engaging and instantly rewarding. Seasoned vets of the genre may find some aspects to be lacking, but if you've never really found the appeal in maintaining your own virtual farm – this may be the game to change your mind.
Sundered is a sight to behold, and has a unique world that I loved exploring. However, the controller-smashing cheapness of the combat, and iffy technical performance make it tough to recommend for those unwilling to embrace the grind and conquer the challenge.
The lean gameplay and mechanics don't gel with the unfocused narrative, and it's a singular flaw that Tacoma can't overcome. There's plenty to like in the game, but it struggles to find a cohesive theme that brings the experience together.
Sadly, YANKAI'S PEAK is yet another in a long line of mechanics driven puzzle games. Its goal is simple, its execution is sound and it provides a hefty amount of individual challenges to keep you engrossed to see it through to the end, but it never does anything more to remain in your mind.
Pyre definitely suffers from structural issues, and doesn't solidify into a truly great experience until its later half, but on the whole it's another fascinating entry from Supergiant Games - and that second half is worth it. Somewhat flawed, but recommended nonetheless.