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To say that The Anacrusis is better with friends is an incredible understatement, as it’s less like a different experience and more like a completely different game. Everything just feels more cohesive with co-op. Teamwork and communication make objectives and combat more exciting, while death feels less like a chore. This is the type of game that is meant to be played one way and one way only, but when it’s that much better, there’s nothing really wrong with that, and The Anacrusis is well worth anyone's time if they can put together their own team to tackle it with.
God of War’s PC port is a must-have for fans of games with seamless combat and gorgeous graphics. Kratos’ story and character development as a father and mourning husband presents players with a heartbreakingly beautiful tale accompanied by vivid depictions of Norse mythology. Its visuals create immersive arenas to battle the living and the undead in over 40 hours of story gameplay. Whether fans are experiencing God of War for the first time or are weathered veterans of the franchise, nearly everyone can enjoy God of War’s PC port.
When comparing the two versions of Monster Hunter Rise, the Switch version only has the upper hand in terms of its local play option. It's the kind of game that would excel in a setting where people bring their consoles together, which hasn't exactly been an easy thing to do since the launch of Monster Hunter Rise. The PC version of Rise has the upper hand in every other aspect. Monster Hunter Rise looks better on PC, runs better on PC, has more control & online options on PC, and arrives with more content at its respective launch. Rise was one of the best games of 2021, and the improvements to the performance in the PC version are so pronounced that they make it hard to go back to the Switch version.
Rogue Invader can be a bit of a grind at first, since players will likely play through the opening area quite a few times before they can gather enough resources for a good loadout. Even players who put together a solid build will likely see their efforts swiftly undone by a sudden death. All the same, the game contains plenty of retro charm and challenge for players willing to push through the intense difficulty level.
It’s a comparison born of Dead Cells’ tradition of fond inclusions and references to other games in the past, all spun through its irreverence and charm. The persistent attention to detail seen through each of its iterative updates is present in The Queen and the Sea; for instance, eagle-eyed players may spot allusions to The Queen’s protectors in a late-stage level of the main game. The Lighthouse fight is absolutely the centerpiece of this DLC - and one of the most thrilling engagements in the wider game itself - but it all boils down to must-own material for longtime fans.
Despite its somewhat one-note premise, The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk - Splat Jaypak's Arenas is a solid addition to the game and undeniably addicting as players practice and perfect their strategies to lead the party to glory, just as The Ranger dreams.
Even as the final moments occurred, which also felt like it came out of nowhere, it didn't feel like the player was a hero. Given the wonderful mechanics, design, personality, and narrative intentions of Scarf, the confusing storytelling is unfortunate but, thankfully, doesn't make the game any less enjoyable. While it's never fun to push story to the sidelines, doing so will let players get lost in Scarf's beautiful worlds and have an absolute blast during its short but sweet playtime.
Annihilation Line doesn't solve the issues with Terminator: Resistance, such as its slightly clunky overall feel, but those fans who overlooked its lack of AAA polish won't mind that. Instead, the DLC refines what came before and doesn't have the same amount of technical problems that the core game had at launch. As such, for fans of the Terminator series who enjoyed Resistance, this is certainly something to enjoy.
Players can move through each area cleaning up Gunk, defeating the Gunk creatures, and exploring to gather resources and discover secrets. Along with traveling across the planet, Rani will also run into a few combat encounters. She can use Pumpkin to grab and throw enemies or damage vulnerable spots on them. Battles are far and few between, but they still help to break up exploration enough that the game doesn't get boring. The Gunk offers players a fun experience with consistently entertaining gameplay.
Square Enix did an amazing job with the port of FF7 Remake on PC. The game runs like a dream and can exceed the console versions in terms of visuals and performance, with a beefy PC. The keyboard controls are functional, but the game was originally designed with a controller in mind, so there's only so much that can be done in this regard. FF7 Remake on PC is the total package in terms of content and performance, and the people who have waited patiently for the game can be assured that the PC version is a high-quality offering, with a more complete version of the story than what was available in the PS4 version at launch.
With a less memorable story, and a short campaign that still feels longer than it needed to be, Fatesworn is a victory lap for hardcore Amalur fans who want to spend more time in its world. While it does not live up to the original, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning: Fatesworn is still enjoyable, which is a testament to just how well the combat and systems of Amalur hold up today.
It's impossible to experience the greatest moments of GTFO without a group of friends, but the launch version of the game makes it worth the effort. 10 Chambers has developed a content-packed co-op shooter where it's exhilarating to succeed - and, crucially, it can even be fun to fail. There's just enough horror and action to satisfy a wide variety of players, but finding those players and gathering them on a regular basis can be a hassle. Still, anyone willing to do so will see that GTFO has a huge chance for success in the long term, especially if the developers continue to crank out more highly refined nightmares.
It’s a regrettable time when a game is simultaneously extremely fun and extremely broken. The potential for greatness is obviously present, but Trash Sailors holds itself back thanks to poor circumstances. With that being said, should Trash Sailors receive the kind of tech support that it needs and finally lives up to its potential, it would be more than a fun time for any group of friends.
Playing Lucky's Tale in VR on the Quest 2 is a fun and delightful experience with a story about friendship. The extra activities that unlock after completing the story mode in each level increase the replayability of Lucky's Tale and break up the otherwise repetitive gameplay. With Lucky's Tale, players can enjoy a few hours of platforming and guided exploration as they make their way through each chapter and complete their quest to save Piggy.
Overall, Life Is Strange: True Colors is such a good quality story that its technical shortcomings can be forgiven. This isn’t the best platform for the game, and players who really care about a top quality graphical experience will likely want to turn to another device. However, for Switch owners who don’t have access to a PS5, Xbox Series X, or high end PC this is a must-play.
The arcade aesthetic, fast-paced platforming action, and gradual drip-feed of unlocks in Firegirl make for an entertaining gameplay loop, especially when considering its subject matter. The game is still rough around the edges and its technical faults can act as annoying setbacks during play, but Firegirl still offers a fresh take on the roguelike genre, with its endless procession of towering infernos putting the skills of even the sharpest platformer fan to the test.
While less carefree than simulation titles like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley, the casual pacing and nonchalant nature of the main character make Wytchwood a great pick for relaxing exploration-style games. It is also a great choice for those who enjoy crafting and survival games, but prefer to have questlines to follow instead of self-governed gameplay. While the 2D art style is fun and reminiscent of storybook illustrations, this game is likely not the best pick for younger players due to questlines dealing with horror elements, as well as graphic depictions of animal death when using traps and lures. However, fans of twisted fairytales and creepy magical plotlines will likely find Wytchwood an enjoyable and spine-tingling experience.
Overall, Aeterna Noctis is a solid experience with some notable flaws that aren't deal-breakers, but could definitely benefit from a bit more refinement. What it does do quite well is find where its two genres intersect and craft a world and gameplay loop that highlight them quite well. For fans of these kinds of games, Aeterna Noctis is definitely worth picking up.
It's not often that a falling block puzzler can capture the imagination, but Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon finds a buried nugget of novelty in this well-worn ground. Even though it's possible to blast through the adventure, most players will find that savoring the gameplay and enjoying their time with the noble knights is the right call. Pocket Dungeon feels of a kind with Nintendo's various Mario spinoffs and should be an essential purchase for not just fans of the series but puzzle gaming aficionados everywhere.
Although After the Fall can be repetitive, it shines in its multiplayer capabilities and cross-platform options. Players can connect with their friends in VR to take out hordes of Snowbreed and challenge their skills against enemies like the Smasher, a massive Snowbreed monster with ice armor and a hammer-like arm. After the Fall is reminiscent of Left 4 Dead or Back 4 Blood's gameplay, but with an added level of immersion in VR that makes it a thrilling zombie-fighter experience.