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In a lot of ways, Watch Dogs: Legion gets the open-world game just right. There are seemingly endless things to do, outfits to try on and people to help. Some modern features give players the opportunity to remove annoying aspects like driving, making it a bit more accessible. Toss in a wide variety of tactics and there is something for everyone. Outside of some cumbersome mechanics, confusing prompts, and needless options, there is little to dislike here. So, if you want an open-world game to hold you over until the next major release, I strongly suggest looking into Watch Dogs: Legion.
Here is the challenge with Wonder Blade. It's fun, easy to play, has a decent length, and enough going on to easily see value in it. However, it's so closely inspired by Castle Crashers, which honestly does several things better despite being over a decade older. If I were, to be honest, unless you absolutely want new content, this is a game that doesn't invoke that feeling you want to progress and see what is next, as much as reflect back on how awesome another game was. In more ways I wanted to play Castle Crashers Remastered over this, making it a hard sell. Yeah, it's fun, cute, and a lot of great things, but it is also basically copying a proven model. For some, that is fine, especially if you just want more Castle Crashers, but for anyone else, it brings very little to the table.
In so many ways I want to like Mad Rat Dead. It has an art style I love and the music is so good I legitimately want the OST, it just isn't fun. Most stages come down to trial and error, to the point where you basically need a practice run before doing a real one. People more in-tune with the concept will do better but for most, it can be frustrating. I still think there is a good enough game to warrant visiting and enough side content to get past those hurdles, there is just no denying these shortcomings prevent Mad Rat Dead from being as enjoyable as it could be.
Odds are if you're reading this review, you know what to expect from Onee Chanbara Origins. It's Dynasty Warriors with fewer characters, smaller stages and instead of historical figures, it's zombies and cute girls. This is enough to make it fun and give the experience value, though it's hard to really suggest it to anyone else. Between the lack of story and limited content, there isn't much really much of a reason to check it out unless you want to get into the series or already love it.
So much of the success of this expansion hinges on the second part, so we're cautiously optimistic. The story is building to interesting things that we would like to see, it just depends on how well they capitalize on the momentum. As for the content we did see, it's basically more of the main game, so if you want to fight even more intense waves of the same seven or so enemies, you'll love this expansion, whereas those who struggled with the base game will likely be underwhelmed.
Despite some shortcomings, this is still a fantastic JRPG that remembers what made players fall in love with the genre. You have a wondrous story that is topped with engaging gameplay that is more than enough to keep most people engaged. Toss in a wide variety of mechanics not even mentioned, exploration and so many details and it's easy to understand why so many people love this franchise. And while newcomers are better off playing through the other titles, the recap is robust enough to either remind you what happened or explain so many were excited about the conclusion.
Enjoyment hinges on what you're looking for in an RPG. If you want a great story that has tons of metrics to pay attention to, this really isn't that. Torchlight III is essentially a basic RPG that has a lot of extras if that is your thing, behind engaging gameplay. What makes more to you will differ but if you really just want to run around killing stuff, it's a good choice.
Perhaps the best way to explain Foregone is like this. It's a really fun game, one that I could mindlessly play for hours and feel like I got my money's worth, but there are a lot of generally lackluster ideas thrown in. Most players won't have to worry about most things, will be fine rushing through, and just having fun. For this reason, it's still easy to recommend Foregone, especially if you like the core non-roguelike elements of Dead Cells, you just need to keep in mind it works best if you just go with whatever your luck dictates.
The struggle with Robotics;Notes Double Pack is rather simple. It's a goofy game with a neat concept, but it takes a while before it catches you. The sequel does a better job of handling this, plus adding Daru to the cast is enough to get fans of Steins;Gate involved, though it's a big ask. If you're willing to invest in a new adventure that is more slice of life and less the gripping narrative of previous adventures, you'll probably enjoy it, otherwise, you might be better off skipping to the end.
For the most part, Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time might not redefine the game or get every detail just right but it does a fantastic job of modernizing the franchise. Story has enough going on to be invested, new mechanics offer a different take on what you might expect, costumes are fun and there is something for everyone. Even if it can be challenging at times, it's the type of experience where you can learn, improve and ultimately master, either through watching a tutorial or trial and error. So, with this in mind, if you're looking for a new take on a old platformer, it's hard to say no to Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time.
Overall, Tennis World Tour 2 is far better than the 2018's Tennis World Tour. Big Ant Studios improved on the gameplay, and the character models actually look decent here. That said, the game is still not as polished as Top Spin or Virtua Tennis. It's still worth playing though if you are a hardcore fan of the tennis sport.
For the most part, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is an amazing looking game that tells a rather interesting story. It follows an interesting arc that unfortunately will lead to a rather easy to figure out a conclusion. Gameplay relies largely on point to click elements and a rather fundamental strategy RPG, which might be a dealbreaker for some, but it is worth it if you like anime/manga series like this. It might not be perfect but the fundamental elements are there to make it interesting enough to, if nothing else, give it a serious look.
What makes Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck difficult to review is, the core game is obviously fantastic and the dialogue makes it fun, yet it really isn't that impressive of an expansion. Familiar locations and expected storytelling take away from the journey, as does the need to play so many things safe. It is fine as part of the season pass or an additional bonus adventure, it just struggles to make the journey worthwhile. At least when compared to the other expansions, which had more to say, do and experience than Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck offers.
Overall, Kingdoms of Amalur Re-Reckoning will appeal to a certain demographic over your average fan. If you didn't play the first one and wanted something like Elder Scrolls, it's a solid buy. It's also great for anyone looking for an RPG that isn't an MMO that you can invest a lot of time in and just enjoy the world. The combat does make it a bit more open, as it's less tactical and more reflex driven but also has the depth if you want it. Once you get past the rather dated look, it's still a pretty good experience.
To be perfectly honest, I could probably write another 1,000 words explaining just how hollow this experience is. When you figure you have a bland indie fighter, set in largely linear stages, that has, at best, three modes to play, it's not an attractive experience. Toss in stiff animations, extremely frustrating stages, underwhelming characters and it's hard to find something redeeming in Bounty Battle. Heck, I unlocked every costume and can only seemingly use them in one mode, which brings into question why even bother. The really unfortunate thing is, a lot of the problems can be fixed and likely was the goal when it got delayed sometime back but in its current state I struggle to find something positive to say and that is really unfortunate.
In its current form Iron Harvest 1920+ offers a solid RTS experience, which brings an incredible alternate universe to life. It doesn't break from the norm in terms of gameplay but it is the narrative and setting that sets the game apart from the rest.
Marvel's Avengers has a good campaign, and I'm surprised by how much I liked the overall game. Sure the gameplay can feel repetitive, but I enjoyed playing as many different characters. The main thing that disappointed me though is the lack of offline multiplayer and the repetitive endgame content. Aside from that, I still enjoyed beating up bad guys as the Avengers.
As a whole, Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions is a somewhat enjoyable soccer/football game if you're looking for an alternative aside from FIFA and PES. While the gameplay isn't perfect, I can see fans of the manga liking this game more than anyone else though.
Perhaps the hardest thing about this expansion is that it fits in a weird place. The new weapon and locations don't add a whole lot, with limited new gameplay elements. It really relies heavily on bringing the worlds of Control and Alan Wake together and introducing a new boss that seems far more threatening than he actually is. As a result, enjoyment really relies on what you enjoy about this franchise. If it's the overarching story and seeing the conclusion of various storylines, you'll probably be disappointed, unless you care about a now even larger picture. Those looking for more things to shoot and toss stuff at will probably have fun though. Regardless of where you stand, I will say if you loved what came before, I would suggest it just because it says so much about where the series is going. Whether it will succeed or crash and burn like some players are expecting has yet to be seen but it is a journey I am excited to take.
Despite being a relatively simple game, No Straight Roads has more than enough charm to stand out. Mayday and Zuke are a cute pair that made me smile on more than one occasion. The soundtrack is also really good, one that prompted me to move away from my usual sound system in favor of some nice headphones. Its unfortunate combat isn't overly deep but everything else comes together so well it's easy to overlook that.