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The levels are once again only available when past the Femington hospital, though unlike the Bigfoot DLC the challenge posed makes this more sensical – with this being the first time I had struggled to keep a hospital profitable. Simply put, if you are looking to extend the base game's awesomeness and have a new challenge then Pebberley Island is the location you should travel to!
Overall, there is little wrong with Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Some of the sections have a trial and error feel, meaning you might lose and that will cost you progress, though the overall game achieves what it wants. As a fan of those games, I got a similar impression of this as I did with Castlevania: Harmony of Despair. If you're up for looking around every corner, work on your moves and invest in the story, it's hard not to see the value of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.
In the end, I stand by it being one of the best titles last generation and strongly suggest it to anyone, especially those troubled by the looming threat of adulthood. For what it is, there are few games like that and this more than makes up for a bad choice here and there.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne isn't perfect but it adds a lot to the franchise. The new monsters, gear and difficulty is the kick in the pants players need to start hunting again. Between new monsters, gear and skills it's hard to say no and you get a great deal of value for the price of the expansion. Even if it could do a bit more, by giving less skilled players a bit more to look forward to, this is an absolute must for anyone who loves Monster Hunter or just wants a harder experience.
Two decades following its original release, playing Final Fantasy VIII again in its remastered visuals and gameplay enhancements bring all the nostalgia and made me remember once again why it's considered as one of the best Final Fantasy titles to date. Sure, it is dated, especially with the battle system and gameplay, but what holds up until now is the story and the characters that made this game a classic masterpiece.
Despite its age, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch remains a charming adventure. Since it's a straight port, there is nothing for returning fans besides the ability to play on the go. Even if you opt for the PS4 version, the only difference is performance and visual fidelity. Of course, newcomers should not sleep on this title and see why so many people enjoyed the original.
It's easy to see The Outer Worlds was inspired by Fallout, though it's so much more than that. Where it might not be as vast as Fallout: New Vegas, clever writing and a choice-based narrative more than makeup for it. Combat feels similar, which can be viewed as a downside, though it is certainly not a deal-breaker. Flaws aside, The Outer Worlds is a fun RPG that offers a fair amount of replayability. Between comical and fun narratives and plenty of RPG elements, it feels like the spiritual successor of Fallout: New Vegas and that is certainly alright.
Luigi's Mansion 3 is yet another game that makes the Switch worth owning. Returning fans will have a wide variety of elements, both new and old, that deliver a spooky flare. This does not come at the cost of enjoyment, as it's just as charming and fun as ever before. For the third time in the row, Luigi has proven that he can be the star in his own game and more than just Mario's brother.
Despite lacking online multiplayer and giving players a lot of different ways to do the same thing, it's impossible to not find value in Fight'N Rage. There is enough diversity between paths to warrant at least a couple cycles and gameplay is complicated to the point of giving you something to work towards. It is the fight beat'em up in a while that I felt like I could play for 10+ hours and not get bored and that is an impressive feat at an extremely fair price.
While the frequency and duration of loading time in Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire is painful at best, the superb writing, extraordinary voice acting, and immersive soundtrack makes this one that should not be missed. There is a reason Pillars of Eternity 2 was nominated for over a half-dozen awards in 2018, and any cRPG fan worth their weight in salt owes it to themselves to add masterpiece to their collection.
The more you play Nioh 2, the more you understand its charms. Often times the problem isn't the game, as much as you're playing the wrong way. Even if I just want to chop up every enemy with my sword, there will come a point where you need to use bows, guns, items and everything else to come out alive. Sometimes it will be hard, a few stages rely heavily on specific tactics but it's fun, rewarding and fascinating if you're willing to give it a chance.
The best praise I can give DOOM Eternal is that it feels exactly the way I thought it would be based on the trailers. It's fast, crazy and you can go from slicing demons head off to chainsawing an enemy in half in the span of four seconds. The campaign does a good job of highlighting these mechanics, with Battlemode offering plenty of replayability, making DOOM Eternal an easy choice for anyone looking for an action-packed adventure or something to unwind with during this stressful time.
There is no denying Animal Crossing: New Horizons won't appeal to everyone. However, given how so many things have changed, it's nice to have a routine and other mundane tasks that give your life a sense of normalcy. Not only is it relaxing in general, it's the kind of escape that is perfect in a time when things are everything but. It might not be the best in terms of pacing, but anyone willing to invest in this adventure and give the simple charms a genuine try will likely be surprised by just how fun it can be.
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.
For those who have a PC, the Xbox version that you purchase digitally will give you access to the Windows 10 version of it as well. It also has the Play Anywhere feature meaning you can continue your progress whether you are playing on an Xbox console or PC. Sadly, I've experienced several crashes when playing on PC but it certainly looks the best on PC running at max settings on an RTX 3080.
Despite Ys IX: Monstrum Nox having some faults, it still provides a fantastic experience. Once you get past the dated graphics and simple combat, it's an engaging game that has a fascinating story. It's the type of thing where mindlessly killing enemies is fun but the world is so interesting you'll want to see what secrets it holds. Add in some cute characters, interesting mechanics, and plenty to do and it's hard not to see the value in Ys IX: Monstrum Nox.
One thing that makes Monster Hunter: World so hard to review is there is simply so much here to see and explore. With a variety of different weapons, plenty of monsters, some free upcoming content and countless secrets, there is little to dislike. Sure, the online system could be a bit better and the story sucks, but it is easily forgotten once you get a team together to hunt. So, if you're looking for a deep, thoughtful and beautiful game, you can't go wrong with Monster Hunter: World. However, if you're not interested in learning the mechanics or get frustrated very easily, this one isn't for you.
It goes without saying, Disco Elysium – The Final Cut is going to be a divisive experience. Some people are going to love all the dialogue, options, and role-playing elements. Even returning fans will flip at the voiceovers that really make the experience immersive. This just won't appeal to everyone. Some players will want to do more or possibly get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of dialogue, which totals over 1 million words, though for those this appeals to, it will really appeal to.
Guilty Gear Strive brings out some of the best elements of Guilty Gear Xrd and combines them with what Arc System Works learned from Dragon Ball FighterZ.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset does a good job of giving everyone something to be excited for. Crafters have jewelry, solo players have more of the usual things, guilds get a new trial to grind and world event chasers have a new challenge and world bosses. This, plus the beautiful world of Summerset make for a fantastic experience. Sure, the trial could be harder and some other minor things but overall this is a solid expansion that will make many happy.