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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
While the episode may not be quite as good as the first, Life is Strange: Before the Storm Episode 2 – Brave New World is another excellent addition to the Life is Strange series. If you enjoyed the first and can't wait to see more come from the Chloe and Rachel relationship, this new episode is a must play for you.
The implementation of water guns on the surface in Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash may make you think that this is a Splatoon style ripoff, but the combat is far from that. Instead of territory based missions, the gameplay actually feels like traditional Senran Kagura mixed with water guns, which fits right with the other the top nature of the series we’ve come to expect in Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash.
The Evil Within 2 offers plenty of variety and freedom within its horror-filled town of Union. Sebastian Castellanos’ second outing is a much more fulfilling affair, filled to the brim with some truly inspired design. In a lot of ways, The Evil Within 2 feels like a spiritual successor to Resident Evil 4, giving us the horror experience that other developers had forgotten for a while. An unrefined stealth system and stiff voice over from the rough-around-the-edges ex-cop do little to diminish this terrifying treat, leaving it on the precipice of being something truly outstanding.
Most people that are interested in wrestling games know what they are going to get gameplay wise, and WWE 2K18 does not let us down in that aspect. The disappointing MyCareer and lack of any real advances in the gameplay keep the game from really rising to the top this year, but the match options, along with an extensive roster of wrestlers, make WWE 2K18 one that wrestling fans should still enjoy.
With 21 years of being on the air, South Park: The Stick of Truth was the first game that truly captured the spirit of the series and that is continued with near perfection in South Park: The Fractured But Whole. Even if you never got around to playing The Stick of Truth, South Park: The Fractured But Whole is the very epitome of South Park at the very top of its game.
Final Fantasy IX has sadly always been the most overlooked of the PS1 era Final Fantasy games, but now you have the opportunity to give it a try with its definitive version on PS4. For anyone looking to go back and play the game or give it a try for the first time, Final Fantasy IX on PS4 is definitely the way to go.
Hob is Runic Games’ first, and only, departure from Torchlight. And by most accounts it is a success. Hob packs so much personality into its world despite never uttering a word, letting every carefully placed object and interaction speak for itself. The game loses itself in moments where its camera works against its own goals and the ease with which a player can become lost before grasping the layout. However, the competent combat and engaging puzzle solving save Hob and make it a notable platformer to lose yourself in.
If you’re looking for the open world experience that Playground Games’ Forza Horizon series brings to the table, Forza Motorsport 7 may not be for you. But if you’re looking for a more racing focused experience that boasts an insane number of vehicle options and the best visuals in the genre, you will not want to skip Forza Motorsport 7, especially if you’re going to be getting an Xbox One X.
Cuphead has looked like something unlike anything else on the market since it was first unveiled. While it took awhile to get it, it has certainly delivered in both gameplay and visual style, proving that there is still plenty of life in this genre on a larger scale. If you enjoy platformers and don’t mind a steep difficulty curve, do yourself a favor and give Cuphead a try.
RUINER is a competent cyberpunk shooter, dripping in stylish presentation and teeming with ruthless engagements. These components manage to provide enough of a reason to see the journey to the end, filling the void left by the all-but-absent narrative, and enjoy the time spent doing so. RUINER is an exceptional, adrenaline-filled diversion bathed in neon lights that is sure to please as long as you don’t expect to find more under the surface.
While Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was a must buy even for those that owned the game on Wii U, Pokken Tournament DX falls in a little bit different territory. It is still a lot of fun and is easily the definitive version of the game, but how much you enjoyed the original is really going to be the deciding factor on if you want to return to the world of Ferrum with Pokken Tournament DX.
2K Sports seemed to get really greedy this year with the implementation of VC in MyCareer, overshadowing the new Neighborhood layout in the mode. Regardless of this major flaw in the game, fanatics that focus more on online leagues or general play are going to absolutely love what NBA 2K18 has to offer.
There are many resource gathering and survival based games on the market and ARK: Survival Evolved almost feels like it has officially jumped in a little too late after finally leaving Early Access. If you don’t mind spending hour after hour of doing repetitive and tedious tasks, you may find some fun in the later stages of the game. However, if that doesn’t sound worth it, ARK: Survival Evolved likely isn’t going to be for you.