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Overall, F1 2021 is an excellent entry in the series, with a number of additions and tweaks that make it feel refreshing to play. With one of the most comprehensive Career Modes available in a sports game and enough options to make it accessible to anyone, F1 2021 is enjoyable for newcomers and veterans alike. Fans may want to keep an eye on outside influences on Codemasters as time goes on, particularly with cosmetic options, but F1 2021 still provides the incredible thrills and deep choices of how to play that the series has become known for.
Nevertheless, Where the Heart Leads is worth picking up and playing as soon as possible. The story it has to tell is carefully crafted, emotionally vulnerable, and will stick with players long after the final lines of dialogue fade from the screen.
Sniper Elite VR may not be as polished as titles like The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, but despite this, VR may be Sniper Elite's ideal eventual home. Concepts and mechanics that may have felt overdone in a standard console shooter are reinvigorated by the VR format. Sniper Elite VR has some rough spots, but it's easy to look past them when the end result is as fun and immersive as it is. This a must-play for fans of Sniper Elite and VR enthusiasts alike.
From the moment that Boomerang X's demo hit Steam, it was possible that DANG! and Devlover had a hit brewing, and the full experience delivers on that promise. No occasional difficulty spikes can get in the way of this exciting mixture of retro FPS movement and stylish action, and Boomerang X will likely remain a contender for one of 2021's best indie titles throughout the rest of the calendar year.
This one small change from anonymity to recognizability makes Watch Dogs: Legion - Bloodline a vital addition. It's the best story content in the series since Watch Dogs 2's main campaign, and it effectively redeems the story of the original game by acknowledging the cognitive dissonance of Aiden Pearce's rampage through Chicago. Anyone who jumped on with the second game likely won't get a lot out of these revelations, and it's still probably not a great idea to spend 40 hours with 2014's vision of a hacker just to play this DLC, but anyone who's been with Watch Dogs since the beginning will find a lot to like here.
. If Monster Hunter Stories 2 allowed the player full control over the party and made it more about customizing a team, then the overall experience would make it an excellent entry in the franchise. Even without, it's a very good turn-based monster collector with broad appeal that's worth a look for fans of the genre.
Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood is a solid expansion to ZeniMax's popular MMORPG, explaining the rise of Mehrunes Dagon and introducing new mechanics that can be expanded upon in future chapters. Fans of Elder Scrolls Online are likely to find something they really enjoy about the Blackwood zone and story despite some of the drawbacks, and new and solo players can have a much better experience diving in and facing challenges if they start with Blackwood, thanks to the new features.
Secret Agent HD is the type of game that some will see as worthy while others will view as unplayable for the exact same reasons. It has lots of video game style and this rerelease comes packaged with not just more than the original, but the ability to make even more than that. Secret Agent HD is ultimately a mixed bag of “NES hard” clashing with modern sensibilities, while still always managing to show how legitimately fun it can be to play the super spy infiltrating the bad guy’s lair.
A Tale of Synapse: The Chaos Theories is a mixed bag overall. Visually it's extremely impressive, and when the player is able to focus on the game's puzzles it's an immersive head-scratcher. However, its struggles with platforming and combat, alongside its camera issues, means that the title ends up as a good idea not entirely successful in its implementation.
Overall, though, Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! shows that the original game has lost none of its power. Those wishing to visit the game again will find its new content deep enough to warrant a replay, and its excellently-told story will still hold weight with newcomers. Go in spoiler free where possible and enjoy its twists and turns.
Shipwreck Escape feels like it's actively fighting against the mechanics that it promotes. Some of the puzzles are actually pretty good, but even the best puzzles are overshadowed by the fact it takes 5-10 tries to figure out what it actually looks like. There are some other non-gameplay issues such as not saving key mapping when exiting and reentering the game, so it has to be changed every time the game opens. Puzzle games are supposed to balance being challenging but fun, but Shipwreck Escape just feels frustrating and unfair.
Overall Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is an excellent experience no matter what system it is played on. The Nintendo Switch version of the game is a little different, with a few limitations on what the game is able to achieve thanks to the hardware, but it remains enjoyable throughout. The Switch port of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is ideal for the who wants to play in handheld mode on the Switch, but those who will be mostly playing from their couch on a television will want to pick up a different version if possible.
Overall, DC Super Hero Girls is a very solid kids game. Nothing is new or revolutionary, but the game feels incredibly well put together. The story is enjoyable, the voice acting is exceptional, and the world feels fleshed out. With so many recognizable heroes and villains in a high school setting, it's hard not to enjoy some time with this happy slice of the DC Universe.
Destroy All Humans! is beat for beat a remake of the original title with the exception of one new mission that manages to blend right in with the rest of the game. The biggest concern with this port is that it crashed a number of times and there never seemed to be a consistent reason for why - hopefully this is something that will be addressed in early updates. While it's awesome to see Switch players get access to this cult classic and all its new content, it would be better to purchase the port on another console if possible, as doing so will likely provide a more consistent and enjoyable experience.
In a genre where many feel that they've seen it all, Curved Space succeeds in providing something new. The titular curves may not be a huge innovation, but the game borrows enough from its procedural cousins to make its shooting feel refreshing. Curved Space likely isn't going to win over anyone who prefers something more than a high score chase, but anyone cruising a list of ROMs more than a digital storefront will probably want to give this one a look.
Sumire is the type of game that anyone who loves story-telling and visually stunning environments will be drawn in by. It doesn't reinvent any of its inspirations - and in some places, like its puzzles and its replayability, it's noticeably less impressive than some of its peers - but the experience as a whole exceeds these individual qualities. GameTomo delivers on the promise of its premise, and Sumire is an easy recommendation for those who enjoy visual novels or memorable narratives.
Sea of Thieves: A Pirate's Life is by far one of the best additions to Sea of Thieves in recent memory. The crossover with Pirates of the Caribbean is a natural fit, and it feels like the two IPs work together rather than vie for supremacy. The new enemies also feel appropriate, bringing much-needed variety to the lineup of foes players may face both in and outside Tall Tales. The beginning homage to the Disney Parks ride is a subtle and effective touch fans are sure to appreciate, and Jack Sparrow himself is exceptionally crafted. Rare has created something special with Sea of Thieves: A Pirate's Life, and it will be exciting to see how these new mechanics lead to future growth for the pirate-themed co-op.
Lumberhill is a great party game to break out when friends come over or for parents who want to game with their younger children. The unresponsiveness of its controls can make the game frustrating to play at times, but those who are just playing casually shouldn't have too many problems. Those who need a chaotic multiplayer title could do a lot worse that Lumberhill's goofy lumberjack antics.
Ultimately, Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny is a surprisingly accessible entry into a franchise known for its complexity and tactical prowess. It achieves this accessibility without sacrificing its depth, too, which is a major boon for veterans of the series. In spite of this, an overall lack of innovation in the user-controlled battles and some dated graphics and dialogue make for an uneven, though at times great, experience. Even with its more inviting approach to newcomers, Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny will likely be most enjoyed by those who already love the franchise, and anyone who has a low tolerance for anime tropes or standard tactical fare will likely want to give this one a pass.
Because of the way choices affect the outcome of the story, Mythic Ocean is highly replayable. This narrative-style game is excellent for fans of immersive visual novels, or those who enjoy the risk of choices impacting gameplay. Mythic Ocean is a high-stakes game without the need for combat or skill-trees to help players become invested in the world, and despite the issues with controls, is an engaging and magical adventure.