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Playground Games could have put out a near carbon copy of Forza Horizon 3 with a new setting and fans would have been happy, but they were not satisfied with simply doing that and instead provided us with the most ambitious and best entry in the series to date.
The idea of an online focused Naruto game seemed like a good idea, but a mostly bare bones approach and small scale feel holds Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker back from being a great game. If Soleil can refine many of the game's elements and build upon it however, a sequel for this could be very interesting in the future.
Not even the Mayan Apocalypse can scare off Lara Croft this time as part of her darkest outing to date. Though the gameplay is very familiar, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is an action packed adventure that does a fantastic job of wrapping up the first trilogy for reboot Lara Croft.
Destiny 2 has been trudging along, kept alive by the weekly log ins of its most faithful Guardians. Forsaken makes Destiny 2 fun again, giving more meaning to those log ins. The Tangled Shore and Dreaming City are visual treats and the Barons make for deserving recipients of those new Supers, but it may be the hefty collection of smaller changes that accompany Forsaken that make it feel all the better. The weapon slot revisions, return of random perk rolls, and other back-end modifications bring Destiny 2 closer in line with what it was expected to be from the start.
Even though SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy brings together some of the best and most popular females from the SNK Universe, a creepy story mode that lacks content and an overly basic combat system relegates this game to the lower end of the fighting games of recent.
The Messenger is easily one of the best indie games in recent years where you can see the passion of the developer in nearly every aspect of the gameplay, complete with some unique twists along the way.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is the culmination of the greatest parts of the franchise. Utilizing Yakuza 6: The Song of Life’s Dragon Engine and physics-enabled combat pairs beautifully with the high stakes tale born on the PlayStation 2 over a decade ago. I might even go as far to say that this recreation could be an even more fitting send-off for Kiryu before the series embraces its new protagonist. Simply put, Kiwami 2 is the peak of Yakuza.
We Happy Few is a brilliant concept in a world I’m dying to explore. However, the game’s mechanics and performance problems work against that which Compulsion Games have spent so much time crafting. The run-of-the-mill survival mechanics bog down the flow of the campaign and make uncovering the narrative’s answers feel like a chore. Still, underneath it all, it is hard not to find something lovable. Given time, tweaks, and patches, We Happy Few could rise above and become the game it was always meant to be, one that would not require a Joy pill to cover its blemishes.
Even without any new stages being added outside of Angel Island Zone, the inclusion of Encore Mode and two new playable characters with Ray and Mighty make Sonic Mania Plus arguably the best in the series' history from both a quality and content standpoint.
Those who have played LEGO games in the past pretty much know what to expect from each subsequent game and LEGO The Incredibles does very little to break the mold. Even so, LEGO The Incredibles is a perfect segue for kids who have just seen the latest movie and want to jump even deeper into the world of The Incredibles.
The insanely difficult platforming found in the collection certainly won't be for everybody, but there is no doubt that Crash is still every bit as charming as he was back in the day in the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. If you happened to miss out on this one last year due to the PS4 exclusivity, there is no reason not to check it out this time around.
Taking inspirations from other series, Shining Resonance Refrain returns the long running Sega franchise to the West for the first time in over a decade. Mixing a cliched story story full of enjoyable characters with a simplistic combat system, Shining Resonance Refrain can provide you with hours of fun, but certainly is far from a must play game in the genre.
United Front may be the most packed DLC for Call Of Duty: WWII as it not only offers one map, but essentially three zombie maps that function as an entirely new experience. The multiplayer maps are somewhat lackluster except for well put together set pieces. It’s standard fare. It functions how players have come to expect without trying to re-invent the wheel. The same sadly goes for the War Mode map, Operation Supercharge, which had the most momentum coming off a stellar experience in the previous DLC outing. If you are a fan of Nazi Zombies, United Front could very well be a must have for you and your friends for the challenge alone.
Call Of Duty: WWII’s second DLC helping, The War Machine delivers in content and diversity in more ways than the previous one. It offers the always entertaining zombie mode a new map to run around and play in, but also manages to introduce new elements into the already fresh War Mode with the latest map. Coupled with events that seem to occur every few weeks and a wonderfully varied array of multiplayer map, fans will be coming back to The War Machine’s content again and again.
The original Unravel surprised many people when it originally released and Unravel Two is an excellent continuation of that game. The game may feel quite similar to the first one, but there is still plenty new here to enjoy for both those that played the first or those who didn’t and just want a fun new puzzle platformer.
Those who have played a Quantic Dream game before should know somewhat what to expect from Detroit: Become Human. However, there is so much more to be found in the game with the excellent narrative that you have complete control over.
Onrush takes an established genre and drives it down a new path. It creates an experience that is distinctly its own, but that includes a number of flaws. The Burnout-lite experience blends class-based gameplay in a handful of modes, and does so semi-successfully. Onrush has a strong premise at its core. If it adapts over time to focus more on its strengths, it may catch up to the competitive titles it set out to challenge.
State of Decay 2 is a moderate upgrade from its predecessor, providing an expanded environment and the heavily-requested cooperative play. What begins as a genuine care for the community of unique individuals assembled under an ever-developing roof quickly becomes a tedious venture to endure glitches that are more frightening than the undead wandering the streets. Staying one step ahead of the game’s issues becomes more of a focal point than actually enjoying what the game set out to do. After some much needed tender loving care from Undead Labs, State of Decay 2 may eventually become a zombie apocalypse simulator worth your time.
TERA is a solid MMO with a very enjoyable combat system. However, it fails to impress when it comes to traveling and the lack of quest diversity. There is still plenty to enjoy, especially in the endgame. And the constant support the game has received thus far is promising for the future. En Masse is definitely in it for the long haul on consoles with new dungeons being added and double XP weekends. With a zero dollar entry cost, TERA is an MMO worth diving into.
Even with very little being new in Dragon’s Crown Pro, it still manages to be the same great game that it was before. For those looking for a fun beat-em-up with a twist for your next party, Dragon’s Crown Pro might be just the game for you.