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Gran Turismo Sport is a departure from the usual Polyphony Digital affair and presents a heavy focus on the online, one of the few aspects that is fully realized and delivers so far. The single player is what was damaged the most by the developer’s shift in priority. That is not to say it isn’t a decent game. Online players will enjoy it for months to come, especially if they plan on taking on championships and tournaments. For the rest, the tacked on single player will leave them disappointed, especially since provides a wonderful driving simulation experience. For a full retail priced game, it is hard to justify the purchase unless you know right away that you are going to be dedicated to the online mode. That is the only area wherein you will see the title’s true potential. For now, we are left hoping that a more traditional Gran Turismo installment manages to find its way on to the PlayStation 4 in the near future.
Most players know what to expect from Telltale Games by now and they have delivered for the most part once again with Batman: The Enemy Within Episode 2 – The Pact. Being given only one real puzzle in the episode is certain a letdown after past episodes. The introduction of new enemies from Batman’s rogues gallery and another suspenseful cliffhanger that brings back a familiar character from the first game though will leave you awaiting the next episode after finishing up Batman: The Enemy Within Episode 2 – The Pact.
Many were starting to get worried about the F1 series, but last year inspired hope yet again and now F1 2017 takes that an improves on it just enough. You certainly won’t find anything overly groundbreaking, but the new vehicle management setup and classic cars do just enough to get you back in that car for a victory lap with F1 2017.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War plays to the strength of its predecessor by doubling down on the Nemesis System. In a lot of ways, this works in the game’s favor. Creating rivalries and forced companionship out of the wildly eccentric hordes under Sauron is an absolute joy. Whether Talion is attacking strongholds or defending his own, these personalities punctuate the action. The height of this achievement quickly reveals the areas of Shadow of War that have fallen short, such as the narrative that dips into a monotonous grind and the overly cluttered systems present in the menus. Still, Shadow of War‘s attention builds itself around the Nemesis backbone and it succeeds more than it fails by doing so for the majority of this adventure.
Wolfenstein II is a beautiful blend of classic and modern first-person shooters. It masterfully combines emotional distress and comedic relief with unrelenting violence. You would be hard-pressed to find a more stellar FPS on the market than the comprehensive offering contained here. Single-player is alive and well; MachineGames have proven that.
Mario is as synonymous with Nintendo as the company is to gaming and Super Mario Odyssey is the best adventure yet for the red and blue suited plumber. Exploring the masterfully designed kingdoms is a pure joy and how can you go wrong with possessing a giant T-Rex? Super Mario Odyssey is yet another system seller for the Nintendo Switch already and is honestly one of the greatest and most joyful games I have ever played in my life.
Assassin’s Creed Origins is raw in its brutality, but refined in its delivery. This is a new era of Assassin’s Creed and one that could serve as a strong basis for further RPG-focused installments in the series. It has re-emerged wearing the same trappings as other video game masterpieces while not losing complete sight of its own image, for better or worse. We have been reminded of the Brotherhood’s place in gaming and we are eager to see where this revitalized journey goes next.
Nioh: Complete Edition houses some impressive gameplay designs and mechanics that are partially undermined by its development choices. Depending on your preferred control scheme for PC gaming, Nioh will either mark an addictive addition to your library or the very bane of your existence. Assuming you can forgo the use of a mouse, this comprehensive Nioh package has plenty to offer that manages to rise above its faults to deliver a memorable offshoot that is able to define itself in a world where the “Souls-like” label usually engulfs all identity.
Call Of Duty has made a commendable return to the franchise’s former roots in what could be considered the best entry this generation with Call Of Duty: WWII. Players are given an array of choice in the multiplayer and a solid single-player outing. The reformatted multiplayer creates something special that will hopefully carry on into future iterations. Much like the campaign, the Nazi Zombie mode introduces a much more cinematic experience that adds to the enjoyment. The release of Call Of Duty: WWII has solidified Call Of Duty as the go-to multiplayer game once again in a sea of new ideas and competition.
There are very few games out there that can still be re-released time and time again and still be worth giving another shot. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, however, is one of those very games. Following up on the release last year in remastered form, the game is back again with not as great of visuals and a lack of mods, but new motion controls and the ability to take it on the go. Especially for those that missed out on the game the first few go arounds, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is definitely worth taking a look at for Nintendo Switch owners.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 is a very strong case for doing your own research before buying. Going in, you must know that the unlocking system in-game is pretty rough and we’ll likely see microtransactions return as some point. On the other hand, the brand new campaign and multiplayer options in Star Wars Battlefront 2 are a lot of fun and personify what makes Star Wars great.
While Team Bondi may be no more, L.A. Noire still lives on with this remastered version. It may not get the 4K support that is available on Xbox One X and PS4 Pro, the Nintendo Switch version brings the portability factor while still looking very good itself. For those that missed out on the original release, you should definitely look into investigating L.A. Noire on the Nintendo Switch.
While definitely a bit of a letdown after how good the first game was, there is still plenty to enjoy in LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2. The best part is unlocking the more obscure characters that really dive into the long history of Marvel, giving you plenty to do alongside the enjoyable main story as long as glitches don’t get in the way.
Need For Speed Payback is a step in the right direction in some departments, but a few poor choices where it counts sets the game back overall. If you are looking for an adequate solo affair and don't mind grinding for speed cards to upgrade all the vehicles in your stable, than it is possible to find something worthwhile hidden behind Payback's misguided structure. If thrilling online races and roaming with friends in endlessly customizable cars is more your style, you are better off looking elsewhere.
For those that already played through Doom on other platforms, getting the game for Nintendo Switch isn’t a must buy in the way that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was. Even so, this is a very admirable port that gives Switch owners another AAA option to pick up just in time for the holidays.
It was a very good idea to try and do something new with Doom VFR instead of just porting Doom 2016 straight to VR platforms. While it’s not as good as it’s regular counterpart, seeing the familiar and classic areas alike in full VR is a great experience, even if it can be greatly hindered at times by its controls.
Verdict If you have played Job Simulator and had a thought of what would it be like if renegade fruit started attacking while you did your tasks, Shooty Fruity might be right up your alley. As long as you go into Shooty Fruity with an open mind, you should have a pretty good time.
The Red Strings Club manages to craft a point-and-click adventure that can, at times, be edge-of-your-seat engrossing. The game’s simplistic presentation gives way to deeper systems at play, creating tension in creative ways. Given that most of the game develops in a static bar location, with only a handful of departures from the setting to explore snippets of a well-realized world, it is a testament to the developer’s skill at keeping the player engaged through an endless barrage of text boxes broken up by entertaining bouts as a charming information broker with a knack for mixology. The questions laid before the player will stick around long after the credits roll, which will sadly happen long before you are ready to part with the game. The Red Strings Club rarely fails to impress, but given the brief runtime those short-lived areas may be felt more than they should. Still, this is a notable success from Deconstructeam.
The Nintendo Switch has been the perfect landing spot for many indie games, and now Super Meat Boy has proven even older indie games have some life on the console as well. Coming with the new Race mode this time around, Super Meat Boy is yet another must own title for those looking for new games on the Nintendo Switch.
Those who were hoping to see a full fledged sequel with tons of new features in Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth Hacker’s Memory are likely going to be disappointed, though it’s hard to complain when we get more of what was already a very fun game. The classic style combat is still solid and the large roster of Digimon to obtain and raise is just as fun in Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth Hacker’s Memory, but just make sure you temper your expectations going in.