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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition doesn’t change the game a whole lot. Which is pretty much what we expected, although it is still fun and entertaining. If you want a mindless bloody, expletive filled game that is great when you are tired of Call Of Duty or sports titles, than this is the game for you.
While we may be waiting on the jump to new platforms for future entries, Atlus brings together a greatest hits package in Etrian Odyssey Nexus for its farewell outing on the Nintendo 3DS, which is the definitive version of the series to date.
Even without the series' signature tag mode, Dead or Alive 6 is still a blast to play with a large roster of characters and enjoyable game modes like story and the brand new DOA Quest. The tantalizing nature of DOA may show a little restraint as well, but it is still ever present in Dead or Alive 6 for those that are looking for it.
Even though it doesn’t bring anything incredibly new to the table, Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition is without a doubt the best way to experience this RPG classic that is still well worth playing today.
All in all, Insurgency: Sandstorm is a competent, exhilarating tactical shooter. Even after countless hours of capturing objectives and eliminating aggressive AI, each battle maintains its high level of tension. The weapon behavior and audio work beautifully in tandem to provide an offering that is difficult to find elsewhere currently. The small flaws that crop up occasionally do little to detract from the overall experience, although they don’t go completely unnoticed. New World Interactive has crafted a quality FPS that builds emergent war stories in every battle. Here’s hoping they someday release the cancelled single player/co-op story mode. One could only imagine what their advanced grasp of sound design could do in a structured, nail-biting narrative.
While LEGO games rarely change much outside of the characters and setting, LEGO DC Super-Villains does try some new things that manage to work out. This isn't going to be the game that changes the minds of those who already do not like the LEGO formula, but LEGO DC Super-Villains is still one of the best LEGO games to release in the last few years.
Building on the good and fixing some of the worst from recent entries, WWE 2K19 finally breaks through and gives us our first legitimately good WWE game on current generation consoles.
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.
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.
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.
Onebitbeyond has crafted something special here. It rips one of the early 90’s most iconic titles and brings it into the modern era with meaningful additions to the beloved formula. The world is rife with an intoxicating personality and entertaining adventure, beautifully wrapped in eye-catching imagery. The Swords of Ditto does require commitment and acceptance of failure to see through to the end, but it is worth the investment.
Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition brings the renowned installment to the PC in stunning detail. The all-inclusive offering is easily the definitive version of the title, stepping above the console counterparts with its platform-specific enhancements. The game has evolved not only the series, but also itself since release thanks to added content and cutscenes that help the narrative feel more cohesive. Because of this more realized form, there has never been a better time to experience Final Fantasy XV.
Burnout Paradise offers all the excitement and crashes you remember from the original release. Now the game is upped to 60 FPS support and 4K, which adds to the experience. It wasn’t a whole complete overhaul of the 2008 release, but the opportunity to return to Paradise City and it’s accompanying Big Surf Island is one that many won’t (and shouldn’t) pass up, especially if you plan on bringing a few friends along for the drive.
Musou style games often struggle to stand out from the rest of the pack as a result of the similar gameplay and mission structures. Dynasty Warriors 9 goes against this trend by managing to expand on the typical musou formula with a big open world experience for the first time in the series that pairs well with the familiar gameplay and story, which all combine to make a very enjoyable game that are built for veterans and newcomers alike.