Explosion Network
HomepageExplosion Network's Reviews
Even while I got lost in the narrative's reliance on drawing from the encyclopaedic franchises' past, I got caught up in the human story between Master Chief and The Weapon. Halo Infinite features an addictive campaign that moves from one objective to the other, and muttering "I'll stop after the next mission" is almost always a lie.
If you're able to practice your martial arts, breathe in and have patience and persistence, you'll find a deep combat system, rewarding fights, and moments that make you feel like a flawless kung fu master.
Lo Wang's return is a joy to play, with all the systems combining seamlessly. Movement, weapons and well-designed arenas are the centre marks for this experience, an experience that would be enjoyed best over a day or a weekend.
Stray is a vibe, starring a cat that'll go down in hiss-tory. I fell for the feline companion and the strange, wonderful world it tumbles into in a heartbeat.
Motive Studio has created an experience for new and returning fans of the series that goes beyond the expectations of a remake.
I was surprised at just how tightly the narrative in A Space for the Unbound grabbed me, and it's sure to be either one of the indie hits of 2023 or one of the most under-played gems.
A quick shortlist for one of my favourite games so far in 2023, Wild Hearts is a thrilling action RPG that's bound to scratch an itch for Monster Hunter fans while providing something alternative for fans of the genre.
Returnal is the latest of Sony's first-party games finding a new audience on PC, and it feels right at home on the platform through a solid port. The fluid and swift movement is a pleasure to control with a keyboard and mouse, and the port coming without some of the teething problems of the PS5 release makes Returnal an approachable proposition.
There's little to dislike about Quill and Moss outside of how short it is, especially now that the technical complaints are cleared up. This is a beautiful entry into a VR series that'll hopefully have more than just one sequel, and Quill is a wonderful character who deserves more players to get to know her.
Everything in Octopath Traveller II coalesces in a way that makes an enjoyable classical style of RPG.
Combat feels more lively from the get-go, with Cal already able to use plenty of force abilities and feeling like a Jedi; the narrative is much more exciting thanks to a clear focus in the opposite direction of the upcoming events of the films, and instead into the secret untapped potential at the feet of all Star Wars storytelling.
As the credits rolled for Venba, I began thinking about how this would be someone's favourite game of 2023 and maybe one of their favourites of all time.
The cast of characters here is super-likable and is the most I've enjoyed a High School cast in a video game since Life is Strange: Beyond the Storm. KO_OP may have taken a long time to get Goodbye Volcano High out the door, but it's been more than worth the wait for this final product, which is one of my favourite games of the year.
I largely do not have a lot to say about American Arcadia other than it's excellent. Out of the Blue Games has served up a well-rounded narrative puzzle adventure that largely succeeds in all areas.
I appreciated having Read Only Memories on my Switch to play it as a portable. The pixel art looks great on the screen and you're not losing any detail not playing docked. The INTEGRAL version doesn't add much to separate it from the many other versions you can pick up, but of the portable versions available (Vita, iOS, Android) I'd much prefer it on my Switch and the game is best experienced as a portable book to pick-up as you wish.
Old Man’s Journey is a heartwarming, sad, and intriguing story unfolding in a world that feels magical with its always eye-opening impressive visuals. A journey well worth your time.
Oh, and you can make all your Bat-Gadgets purple: plus ten points.
Ruiner ticks a lot of boxes for what I love in video games: fun gameplay with a degree to master it; an interesting story with characters I’m intrigued by; most importantly though, this art style and music -- I’m an admitted sucker for it. Fortunately, it is more than just art and music; it’s also fast-paced combat that requires thinking and reflexes with a story that belongs in the worlds it feels inspired by, which is a compliment. Ruiner is, most definitely, another kick-ass game published by Devolver Digital, where you just so happen to play as a guy wearing a mask (it's actually a helmet.)
Even if the nostalgia of the objects littered throughout the islands is before your time the emotional resonance of The Gardens Between should work for everyone in some regard. Memories from being younger, simpler times. The ending is bittersweet, but the journey there is every bit rewarding through interesting mechanics and subtle story-telling.
Life is Strange 2 is a brave choice for DontNod who had a hit with the first season. They could have done much of the same again here but chose to do something very different with the story of Sean & Daniel. I applaud it. Judging from the premiere episode their story is going be an interesting, hard and emotional one in ways I may not be prepared for and yet, I can't wait for the next episode.