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Sonic Mania Plus gives fans an authentic experience in a new way by taking Sonic's roots and elevating its gameplay.
Assassin's Creed Rogue is an often-overlooked entry in the series. It's a fun compilation of all prior releases, and it has a cool story and strong characters. Its remastered version, however, doesn't add anything significant and falls flat since it doesn't offer any improvements to Shay Cormac's Assassin/Templar story.
Your enjoyment of Mothergunship is going to be dependent on how much you liked Tower of Guns. Even though other games are starting to adopt the style, the fast pace is still refreshing, and the enemy variety could be better. Players will have tons of fun trying to make up new and ridiculous guns, but they'll also curse the game when it becomes so hard that they lose all of the parts they worked so hard to get. Mothergunship looks and sounds great, and with new modes and items coming in from future patches, there's still some enjoyment to be had after defeating the game. For shooting fans, Mothergunship is well worth checking out.
Deluded Mind is good and entertaining, but it had so much potential. It had an asylum, random giggles, and a little emotional turmoil, but it always just missed the mark. I love a good asylum thriller, and this game had me guessing at nearly every turn. If you like a good thrill, try it out but use a notepad because there are several clues to keep track of. Word of advice: Never underestimate a good jump-scare. They will happen, and they will be random, and you will jump.
Overall, Shape of the World provides a relaxing virtual playground for players wishing to create their own world. Gorgeous visuals and soothing ambiance make the game perfect for those wishing to kick back and relax with an incredibly chill explorer simulator. Being able to construct worlds with a variety of seeds gives players a reason to explore each area and come back for more. Multiple levels with their own flora and fauna give players new sights to explore. While walking can be slow at times and some visuals actually hinder progress, Shape of the World makes up for these shortcomings in a memorable sandbox experience that's perfect for casual play.
While Bleed 2 offers all of these points of nostalgia, it still lacks the flourish to establish itself. It's a fun game, but it suffers from being pulled in two different directions — appealing to an older, nostalgic audience while adding new game modes and variants to keep it fresh and replayable.
Sonic Mania Plus is a must-have for gaming fans of all types. If you're a fan of the Genesis games, this is exactly what you've been waiting for. If you're more of a new fan, Sonic Mania Plus shows you why the series was so revered in the first place. If you already own the main title, the DLC is an excellent add-on at a reasonable price, especially for the amount of stuff you'll get.
One of the most notable developer notes found within the loading screen is that Infernium started out as a salsa dance simulator. Given the title's choppy gameplay and a major lack of direction, the game should have stayed as originally intended. In order to sum up Infernium in the best way possible, I quote the most memorable developer note, "If you play this game with the developer at your side and you ask him something about the game, he would tell you, 'I don't know, I've never played this game before.'" While the game has tons of personality with an interesting concept, a fun challenge in some areas, and even a New Game+ feature that adds new surprises, it's ultimately a Frankenstein's monster of other games cut together. If leaving players lost and confused in Hell is Infernium's goal, then it has succeeded.
In spite of its faults, Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a fantastic follow-up to an already great game. It improves upon the formula of the original title while offering a fascinating look into two of the series' most captivating characters. Beautiful, charming, and devastating, Before the Storm is a must-play for fans of the series and a phenomenal way to tide players over until the release of Life is Strange 2.
All in all, The Lion's Song achieves what is intended at a very high level. It masterfully tells and blends three separate stories about culture, creativity, and social influence into a cohesive story to paint the picture of an early 20th century Vienna. It's a niche project that won't appeal to everyone, and it has a few pacing issues and an undesirable control method for an adventure, but it is a good game that knows its strengths and plays to them.
With Ubisoft's newfound focus on making singular games into long-standing experiences, there is hope that The Crew 2 gets better. In the here and now, it is a very difficult game to recommend. The use of multiple vehicles and presence of different disciplines is grand, but it doesn't help that the physics and handling for some of the vehicles feels off. The open world remains impressive but less so when there's barely anything fun to do. Although it's designed for constant online play, good luck trying to find someone who stays long enough for you to engage with, let alone someone who can witness the sweet decal job on your vehicle. It may get better in a year's time, but for now, The Crew 2 is more of a chore than an enjoyable experience.
Ripples can be a divisive episode for some. The big reveal doesn't seem so grand, and the switch from somewhat realistic to something more fantastic can be jarring. Some of the events show that the game isn't playing around when it comes to having choices matter, and there is some intrigue in regards to where things will go next. Let's hope the game performance doesn't regress further.
Yoku's Island Express is a game that you'll encourage others to check out the minute you start playing. Aside from the gorgeous aesthetics, the use of pinball mechanics is inspired, and the execution of the mechanics is done well. It's a relatively short experience, but it feels packed with tons of side-quests if you can deal with the backtracking seeming to go on a little longer than usual due to the pinball mechanics. Overall, Yoku's Island Express is a brilliant game that adventure fans need.
Blazblue: Cross Tag Battle isn't Arc System Works' crowning achievement. The graphics could use some cleaning up, especially on the characters, and the reduction in modes for offline play will hurt those who are used to the series being rich in that area. The fighting is solid both online and offline, and it's easy enough for players of all skill levels to enjoy. It really is the DLC plan that's a big decision point for players. With no timetable about when all of the fighters will be released, the smart move for the more casual set would be to wait until everything is out first and see if the company will release a more complete version later on. Otherwise, if you can't wait, you're in for a solid fighting experience.
The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy offers three fun platforming classics that have been re-created from the ground up, and only minor adjustments have been made for the Switch.
Provided you keep expectations in check, City of Brass can be fun. The game is set up well for those starting out with roguelikes, and the various tweaks ensure that everyone has a chance to see the ending. For the hardcore, it can also be tweaked to be tougher, and that'll be necessary if you want any kind of challenge. This doesn't feel like a long-lasting experience, but the presence of leaderboards will be an incentive to those who might want to speed-run through the game. If you don't mind a few of the aforementioned flaws, then give this title a chance.
With a rich atmosphere, solid puzzles, good platforming, and a story that unravels in your mind as you play Inside is one of indie gaming's best titles. It's short and sweet, and it should be experienced by everyone who loves atmospheric and dystopian narratives.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle: Donkey Kong Adventure is a very well done side story to the main game. Everything that made the base game so enjoyable is practically unchanged here, while the new characters make the game a blast to play for those who have already beaten the main campaign. It would've been nice to change out characters, and it also would've been neat to see Rabbid Peach's progress carry over between campaigns, but fans of the original should pick up this DLC.
Fox N Forests isn't going to be an instant classic. The constant need for backtracking for little level deviation can sometimes turn the game into a slog, the restricted move set can be bewildering, and the finicky controls can be infuriating. The game nails the look and feel of an old 16-bit game quite well, while the platforming is solid and the boss fights are enjoyable. It's fun enough that retro fans should give it a chance.
With so many highlights like collectibles, skills, skins and additional story chapters, Aragami: Shadow Edition has much to be enjoyed. At its core, Aragami is a game about redemption and choice that is reflected throughout. Those qualities make it a worthwhile experience for any players in search of a compelling story and attention to detail.