USgamer's Reviews
The indie space is full of roguelike Metroidvania titles, but no one pulls it off in the same style as Sundered. Beautiful hand-drawn animation, some cool environments, and great sound design combine to create a haunting, lonely tone for the game. It's definitely a combat-heavy game though, so if you prefer more exploration instead, this might not be for you. If you want a challenge though, pitting yourself against murderous waves of foes and giant bosses, Sundered is for you.
Gigantic is a game that looks and plays great. The cast of characters is colorful and lively, with each playing very differently. The core gameplay mode is fast, while still retaining a strong strategic layer. The problem is Gigantic is a shallow experience: one gameplay mode on three maps. The game may become broader eventually, but right now it needs more. That said, being free-to-play means it's still worth your time to try it.
Hey! Pikmin is an interesting reinvention for the series, but it doesn't really go deep enough to be an interesting and rewarding puzzle platformer. It winds up being an adequately executed collect-a-thon—a time-waster that offers a new take on a familiar formula, but fails to take it in any bold new direction.
Nioh, simply, is a game that throws more at you than you really need, something I've said before. It's nice then that Defiant Honor feels as though it was made to be something smarter, not necessarily bigger.
Pyre's strengths lie in a lot of things: its beautiful visuals, amazing score, multi-branching tale, gameplay that somehow marries the best of sports games and tactical RPGs. But it's wrapped in an expansive story that doesn't quite earn its keep over its many hours, and fails to flesh out the endearing characters you meet and spend time with all along the way. In the end though, Pyre's a quest worth taking if you're up for the challenge and the inevitable dread you'll feel when you lose sometimes.
Splatoon 2 doesn't add much to shake up the splat-paint-everywhere formula, but I wonder if it needs to at this point. Splatoon 2 is a much stronger game at launch than its original ever was through its whole lifespan, and for that, is easily one of the best games one can own on the Switch.
Episode One of Minecraft: Story Mode - Season Two draws from both halves of Season One. The episode feels like a complete journey on its own, but it also points towards a larger, grander story. Some of your cast favorites are incognito and the pacing grinds to a halt in one section, but Minecraft: Story Mode - Season Two is still off to an enjoyable start.
Final Fantasy XII has really managed to get its hooks into me this time around, which I credit to Square Enix's excellent remaster. If you missed it the first time around (and you probably did), then now is the time to give this underappreciated gem a second chance.
Master x Master is not the best at any one thing, but it offers such a variety that you can't help but find something to enjoy. Combined with a free-to-play model isn't too harsh and you have a damned good time. The progression system could use a bit of slimming as it's rather complex, but that shouldn't turn players off completely. Master x Master is definitely worth a shot.
DLC for the best of the best. Most of DLC Pack 1 is wrapped up in Master Mode and the Trial of the Sword. I welcome more options for players of Breath of the Wild, but I'm surprised there's not more here for the casual or mid-level player. If you're not as adept at the game, The Master Trials are probably not for you, leaving you to wait for the story-focused DLC Pack 2.
Valkyria Revolution tries valiantly to weave a tale of political intrigue, but it's undermined by repetitive mission design, poor menus, and an anonymous cast. If you were hoping for a worthy successor to Valkyria Chronicles, you will be sadly disappointed.
Truthfully, I don't know that anyone was really asking for the untold story of Prompto; but now that we have it, I find that I like him a lot more than I did. And of course, more Aranea is always welcome. If you're not already sick of Final Fantasy XV, it's a very fun two hours
Final Fantasy XIV just keeps getting better. Stormblood stands as an improvement over the great Heavensward, with a strong story grounded in people attempting to free themselves from oppression. There are some stumbles here, but when Stormblood is on, there's an excellent adventure, great characters, and some awesome enemy encounters. Stormblood is the ongoing foundation of something magical for MMO and Final Fantasy fans alike.
Light and breezy, Ever Oasis makes for a pleasant little snack while waiting for the next wave of 3DS RPGs. Some of its core concepts could have been taken further, but it's still a well-executed RPG from a long-standing veteran of the genre.
Arms has a lot to love, and unfortunately, a lot to forget too. After a year of planned updates, I imagine the Arms we see a year from now will be a drastically different game. A more fuller one, at that. In the meantime though, while it has potential with its layers of depth, the core game simply doesn't have enough variety among its many arms and fighters to keep the experience feeling fresh for long.
Telltale's The Walking Dead continues with its third season, A New Frontier, which shifts the story to a new character and a larger scope. Unfortunately, our new hero spends time fighting for the spotlight with series mainstay Clementine. In addition, the pacing is fairly fast, giving characters little room to breathe. Telltale reaches farther with this season, but stumbles in equal measure.
All of the changes Zenimax Online has made to Elder Scrolls Online since its 2014 launch culminate in the Morrowind expansion. Returning to a classic Elder Scrolls region, the expansion stands a great update to old environments. The writing is excellent, though the overall presentation can feel a little dry at times. The new Warden class needs a second look as well, but overall Morrowind is an excellent welcome mat for new and returning players.
Tekken 7 is a fantastic fighting game when taken on its sheer fundamentals. People who are already well-versed in the genre will find a lot to chew on here: nuanced gameplay mechanics to learn, lots of characters to try out, and lots of neat cosmetic upgrades and historical extras to unlock. But if you're coming at this game fresh-faced -- or even as a 2D fighting game player making the jump to a 3D game -- you won't find a lot of in-game aid to explore its complex mechanics, and you're not likely to learn anything beyond button-smashing to get through the game's short and thoroughly underwhelming story mode, either.
On Tokyo 42's website, the developers boast the game as a beloved blend of Syndicate and Grand Theft Auto, and honestly, they couldn't be more wrong and right. It's both those games in spirit, but twists them into something wholly its own. Tokyo 42 is an isometric cyberpoppunk action-shooter with a city that's worth getting lost in.
Crusade is everything that an expansion should be. It takes Galactic Civilizations III, sands off the rough edges, and adds new options for a deeper, more strategic experience. The new Citizens system offers more late-game options, espionage returns, planetary invasions are more tactical, and alongside the three new races, there's a new Civilization Builder letting you craft your own. If you're a GalCiv fan, it's an instant pick-up. If you're not, this might be the time to pick it up.