Worth Playing
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Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is an easy recommendation for any fighting game fan. Even though Capcom Fighting Evolution isn't that great, the rest of the lineup ranges from solid to stone cold classics. The online performance is quite good, and each individual game is deep enough that they'll keep anyone busy for a long time. Unless you only like a specific type of fighting game or dislike Capcom's output, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a must-have title.
It's all very disappointing because every facet of #DRIVE Rally is something that really could've been something special had it been thought through or fleshed out more than it was. The only strength is the game's presentation and art style, but when the remainder of the package is an arcade-style rally game that has no progression and a series of rough edges, it becomes impossible to want to keep playing for very long.
Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is a game with a ton of potential that suffers from feeling half-baked. The first five to 10 hours of the game feel fantastic, and after that, it seems to suffer from being rushed and unpolished, culminating in a particularly lackluster final area and boss. The bones of a fun game are there, but there are enough flaws that it's worth waiting to see how it looks after a few patches.
In the end, Revenge of the Savage Planet is a good follow-up to Journey to the Savage Planet. The concept of exploring new, absurd worlds remains novel, while the expanded tool set and mobility tweaks strengthen the gameplay. The worlds are large and packed with loads to discover, and the game offers up a good amount to do even after you've seen the credits for the first time. For those who love exploring, Revenge of the Savage Planet is well worth checking out.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn't just one of the best RPGs I've played in ages. It's an easy contender for game of the year. It shines in every area, and any complaints I had were nagging at best. Whether it's the compelling story, exciting gameplay, or beautiful soundtrack, no area of the game felt lacking. If you're a fan of RPGs, you really owe it to yourself to give Clair Obscur a shot.
There's no getting around the fact that just about every aspect of La Quimera is bad. From the story to the gameplay to the presentation, there's barely anything that seems to work as expected. Even the game's short runtime is tarnished by the fact that it abruptly ends. Unless the game gets a major overhaul when it eventually gets released, steer clear of La Quimera and play almost any other first-person shooter instead.
Monster Energy Supercross 25: The Official Video Game is specifically for the hardcore motocross fanatic. Those fans will love things like the ability to play a current season of the sport and the presence of tangible track deformation. For everyone else, this is a difficult game to recommend. From the high difficulty level and steep learning curve to the bare-bones campaign, there's not enough to entice interested players to give this a try. At this rate, your best bet is to wait and see if this game or older entries in the series will reach Game Pass, so you can see if you can gel with this title.
Despite its age, Forza Horizon 5 is a fantastic open-world, arcade-style racing game. The car handling is superb, there's an overwhelming number of events and races, and the large number of secrets ensures that you'll spend a ton of time driving around and exploring every nook and cranny. The structure and flow are so good that the only game that could match this is Burnout Paradise, a remake of a PS3/Xbox 360 game. Even if your only exposure to this type of game is The Crew: Motorfest, you owe it to yourself to grab Forza Horizon 5, even if you're only a casual racing fan. At the moment, there's really nothing else like it out there.
Despite a few missteps, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves remains a solid fighting game and a worthy entry in the series. The fighting system remains good, and the new additions solidify what worked back in Garou: Mark of the Wolves. The various offline modes add lots of material to the game, especially Episodes of South Town, and online play works quite well. The guest characters could've been implemented better, and there are a few presentation-related nitpicks, but overall, fans of SNK fighting games will be pleased with City of the Wolves.
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is an absurdly ambitious, delightfully over-the-top and genuinely enjoyable game to play. It captures the same raw insanity of Danganronpa but has a level of raw excess that makes it stand out from the shadow of its big sibling. It does have missteps, including some content which is a tad too uncomfortable for its own good, and the RPG elements end up subsumed by the visual novel gameplay, but if you're a fan of Danganronpa, then this spiritual successor is well worth a look.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is about as ideal of an Indiana Jones experience as you can hope for, and it's easily one of the best adaptations of a film franchise. It captures everything that made the best parts of the franchise shine, while avoiding the pitfalls and missteps of its weaker parts. It's a love letter to everyone's favorite whip-wielding, fedora-wearing adventurer, and the game shows why he still has a place in video games, even among the Nate Drakes and Lara Crofts. Only some slightly weak stealth elements bring down the game a tiny bit. It's a cliché, but ... well, this game belongs in a museum.
If you can live with that issue, then Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate is a solid title. The original game remains a fun beat-'em-up since it tries to do something different from its contemporaries. The additional characters make the game lean heavily toward being goofy, but few will complain when it also means expanded online play for all. For genre fans who want something breezy, this is well worth checking out.
Lunar Remastered Collection is exactly what it needs to be: a comfortably nostalgic revisit to a comfortably nostalgic pair of games. Neither breaks the mold, but they remain charming and fun enough that they don't overstay their welcome. The remastering is done with a light touch, and there are times when I wish it had gone further, particularly with the translations. It does well enough to make it the best version of the games to pick up. Sometimes you just need an adventure, and Lunar delivers that in spades.
Monaco 2 isn't too different from the first game, but it remains a delightful experience. The presentation might be a little divisive for those who loved the first game's simpler approach, but the addition of character voices makes the game more charming. The new gameplay additions make the game more approachable, while the addition of randomization gives the game some real legs. Monaco 2 is loads of fun in both co-op and solo play, and those who love a good lighthearted heist will really enjoy this title.
Overall, Promise Mascot Agency is a charming combination of small-town drama and Yakuza crime politics. The absurdity of the setting gives it a flavor all its own, and it neatly threads the needle between ridiculous and serious. The actual gameplay is by the numbers and mostly serves as a delivery vehicle for the story, but it does well enough. If the game sounds appealing, you'll enjoy it quite a bit. Just make sure not to tick off Pinky. She's scary.
Blue Prince is a fascinating game. The premise is enticing for those who like card-based board games, and the bits of randomization help the game feel difficult without being outright unfair about it. The slow trickle of story information might seem frustrating at first, but it helps give one motivation to keep going, especially when you solve a puzzle and everything starts to fall into place. Those who love environmental puzzle titles will get some real joy out of Blue Prince.
Pinball FX VR is a solid pinball game for enthusiasts who want the facsimile of an arcade experience. The idea of building out a virtual pinball arcade experience in your home is neat, but the game thrives on nailing down an overall pinball experience that's close to real life. The only question is whether Zen will follow through to make this into a platform instead of another one-off game, but those who aren't hung up on that debate will find this to be a good addition to their VR game library.
I didn't have high expectations of Assassins Creed: Shadows, as I've really struggled to become engaged with the most recent entries in the series. The setup in Shadows takes a little while, but the resulting payoff is worth it. The gameplay is engaging, but the plot and characters really drive things forward. It must be challenging to develop a game within such a long-running series and have it still feel like something fresh and new, and Shadows is the closest that a game has come to that in quite some time.
Everything about The First Berserker: Khazan is entirely competent. It's a fun and well put-together Soulslike that would serve well as someone's first dip into the genre, especially if the stereotype of high difficulty usually frightens them off. At the same time, Khazan doesn't do anything particularly new that makes it stand out from the crowd. This isn't necessarily a problem, especially if you're a fan of the DFO universe, but it means you need to be in the right mood and mindset to play Khazan.
Atomfall is a fascinating yet familiar game. The story is mysterious, even if the ending might not be that conclusive. The freedom that lies within is very appealing, as is the predominant use of melee versus firearms. The presentation is fine, and while other elements of the game (like stealth) are flawed, those issues are outweighed by the previously mentioned positives. Atomfall is well worth checking out for those looking for a very different experience.