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Yakuza Kiwami follows hot on the heels of the prequal and save for a much more compact narrative nothing is drastically different and that's perfect. Yakuza is still the undisputed king of punching bad people in the face very hard and with more Yakuza games potentially on the horizon, it's never been a better time to flex Kiryu's muscles.
Zero Time Dilemma seems to be brimming with good ideas. Unfortunately, between the increasingly insane, shark jumping, plot revelations, and the never-ending dialogue strands, someone forgot to put a video game here. When the player does get to do something aside from making decisions, the game improves markedly but since the design of the game can make even these sections few and far between, it becomes harder and harder to forgive as the run time of the game continues to tick along.
Sonic Mania is quite possibly the best blue blur experience in over twenty years. What Christian Whitehead, Headcannon, and Pagoda West Games have accomplished is nothing short of breathtaking, and it most certainly steers the Sonic franchise back on course. Now, we can only cross our fingers that both the flawless quality and overwhelming success of Sonic Mania will result in a series of future franchise entries within this style.
Hellblade is not fun in the way that a triple-A game is expected to be—even when it dives into pure horror—but it is a game that brave players will relish the opportunity to experience, even in its slower moments.
Monomi Park hit a mine of gold slimes with their debut title. Slime Rancher is a simple yet incredibly fun game that can keep one entertained for well over ten or twenty hours.
Hey! Pikmin is stuck in a weird place that hinders its fun-factor. There’s no real challenge during the entire adventure, puzzles require no thought whatsoever, and levels seem to repeat the same ideas over and over again.
There are some games that aren't meant to be taken seriously. Miitopia is one of those games. It's consistently fun, lighthearted and silly. Focused on character creation and interactivity instead of deep gameplay mechanics, Miitopia stands out as an easygoing alternative to the traditional RPG.
Splatoon 2 is superior to its predecessor in almost every capacity. More content out of the gate, novel, new concepts like the Salmon Run mode, better balancing, gorgeous visuals and portability courtesy of the Nintendo Switch; Nintendo has provided much more than just a fresh coat of paint to its latest, beloved IP.
There’s no doubt that the title has a public who loves everything about it, but those expecting something akin to a broader Stardew Valley will be deeply disappointed.
It's a shame that Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped is such a dreadful experience because the first two games in this collection are absolute gold. Vicarious Visions has succeeded in making Crash look completely contemporary, however, the level design and structure has remained unchanged. This is the best way to introduce new gamers to the orange marsupial, however, it's his existing fans that will enjoy it the most.
While it certainly has its fair share of flaws, ARMS absolutely nails the fun-factor. It's a simple game that offers so much depth for players willing to put in the work, and while the content is fairly limited, there is enough for both casual and hardcore audiences.
If you're a hardcore Strategy-RPG fan and have a Switch, Disgaea 5 Complete is a godsend. The amount of content here is incredible and frankly a bit intimidating. The depth series veterans cut their teeth on is fully intact, and the game works perfectly as a portable experience. This is immediately one of the strongest titles for the Switch and sets the standard for what third party support for the system should look like going forward.
Despite its clever concept, quality combat, enjoyable ARPG gameplay, and attractive art direction, Ever Oasis gets buried beneath a series of small but grating missteps. Another engaging adventure on the 3DS, but one that'll quickly be lost to the sands of time.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia brings a lesser known chapter in the franchise's history to the forefront. Its compelling gameplay, top notch presentation, and captivating cast of characters make it one of the best entries in the 27-year-old franchise.
A valiant attempt at the 'Dark Souls' formula, but ultimately fails to be anything but references to better games.
It's hard not to think of Tacoma as a game or even a narrative piece, but the truth is that Tacoma is an interactive experience. It might not reward you in the same ways as other games, or books, or even plays. It's a different kind of medium, where you get out of it what you put into it. I say play Tacoma, it might not tickle you in the same way it does me, but if you enjoy Sci-Fi and digging through people's personal lives, you'll dig Tacoma.
A beautiful fighting game with an incredible depth to the mechanics. Stylish, compelling, and above all fun, 'Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2' hits all the right marks. The depth of the content and tutorials allow both seasoned fighting game veterans and those completely new to the genre to dive in to the world of Guilty Gear.
NBA Playgrounds takes inspired elements from its predecessors and re-purposes them for the current generation. While it's far from perfect, the game's mechanical inconsistencies are easily outshined by its simplicity and precision. Not as beginner-friendly as expected, but addicting fun for the dedicated player.
Even with its flaws, World to the West is a fun adventure game that has plenty of clever moments. The characters are enjoyable all the way through, the environments are a joy to look at, and the puzzles are a blast to solve. Each of the main characters' unique abilities are used to their fullest potential as well, meaning that there is enjoyment to be had with each one. It’s just a shame that the combat is only fun with one of them. Fans of classic Zelda titles will not be disappointed, however, as this world is certainly worth exploring.
Psychologically scary as it plays on the fears from your childhood. Visually beautifully, wonderful use of music and sounds, with a clever message lurking within it. Gentle, but sometimes tricky puzzles, though the lack of variety of puzzles means gameplay doesn't remain challenging throughout the game. However, a beautifully crafted game which doesn't rely on thrills and gore to create horror.