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Yooka-Replaylee is, by and large, the same 2017 game you know and (hopefully) love, with just an extra layer of polish, less bugs, and more content to enjoy. I might not agree with all of its features, as well as how easy the game feels when compared to the original, but there’s no denying that this is still one hell of an entertaining platformer, with some incredible level design, amazing music, and outstanding visuals.
I love a game where you can literally pick up and play for a few minutes and put it down without consequence. I love being able to sink close to an hour at a time, doing the same rewarding actions, and then walk away without needing to get another move, another turn. It’s the most ideal way to casually enjoy a game, and Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition keeps players locked in for the most viciously enjoyable cycle that I could imagine. If you loved it the first time, you’re going to adore it the second.
Angry Video Game Nerd 8-Bit is part tough-but-fair NES game, part brand new (and highly nostalgic) AVGN episode. Even if it’s painfully short (again, it’s actually a game that can be played on a console from 1985), and even if some deaths felt cheap, I kept playing it with a dumb smile on my face all the time. More than just cheap nostalgia for one of the most famous and important internet celebrities of all time, this is purely and simply a pretty solid 2D action platformer.
Enthusiasts and collectors will want to grab the physical version of Sonic Wings Reunion, and players determined to make it to the top of the leaderboards first are probably already in poll position when the game goes live on console. But, for the choosier player, the shiny graphics and silly nature of some elements might not be enough to retain engagement, at least not at launch. It’s a decent shooter, but I’ve played dozens of decent shooters, and my memories of enjoying an SNES title isn’t going to keep me hooked into something that’s just “decent.”
What you have here is a very stripped down basketball game. It’s not detailed, doesn’t look amazing (though it runs at a phenomenal framerate), but for the intended audience, I think NBA Bounce is a pretty good entry port for newcomers and kids. What really matters is that it’s easygoing, responsive, completely devoid of microtransactions, and great to pick up and play.
It might be completely based on Mario Party, but there are enough gameplay elements included in Lego Party to make it feel like an actual proper competitor, and not just a mere clone. To be fair, it actually borrowing a lot of elements from its famous source of inspiration actually made it stand out from the myriad of failed clones released over the past few decades, with just enough of the right innovations added to the mix.
Candy Rangers falls solidly in the middle when it comes to on rails shooters. It’s got plenty to do and it’s inventive in the execution, which kept me locked in for exciting fights and the arcade mode. But needing to repeat myself simply to justify the lack of margins of error was exhausting and, frankly, unfun. I’d much rather do a level again because it was thrilling or because I want to challenge myself, not because the game won’t let me go out to play until I clean my plate.
To put it bluntly, Silent Hill f is one of my favourite entries in this once long-dormant survival horror franchise. Marking the first full brand-new entry in years. Moving away from the titular town to a remote Japanese village was a risky move and one that paid off incredibly well, thanks to a narrative that compels from the moment you boot the game up to the second or even third time you roll the credits. However, it’s not perfect, and some repetitive combat could do with some additional work, but the creative creature and environmental design more than make up for it.
Make no mistake, by no means is Wizordrum a bad game. The game features some good level design, and it’s simply impossible to mess up a gameplay loop inspired by Heretic and old-school Doom. But this is the issue: it’s just a very derivative game, whose main appeal (it being heavily inspired by Heretic) feels less impactful after the release of Nightdive’s Heretic remaster collection.
This could have been an interesting title if there were actually puzzles, goals, and something else of substance for you to do. Instead, what we have here is something that feels more like a tech demo. Minimalist in design; mechanics that are sound and work well, but are never realized to their full potential; a really short duration that, still, somehow, manages to overstay its welcome after a short while.
While the actual players look good, there’s a lot of visual issues. The music choices are eclectic, but primarily not up my alley and I have no control over that. There’s a very predatory approach to microtransactions and being able to be even a little competitive in ultimate team. Overall, with the $70 price tag and the amount of extra money that seems expected of you to spend to be able to really enjoy the game against other players, it would be cheaper for you to get a season ticket and just go to the games yourself.
I still don’t think this is a game changer in the franchise, or in football gaming as a whole, but after years of diminishing returns, seeing the slightest of improvements instead of just more of the same is already enough to make me recommend EA Sports FC 26 over a good chunk of its predecessors.
Microids seems to be finally finding their stride with these Agatha Christie games, and I couldn’t be happier! The story is compelling, even if it felt overly padded at times with the inclusion of another protagonist, the gameplay has been reworked so it feels much more satisfying, and the puzzles are a lot of fun without being overly complicated. This is by far the most fun I’ve had playing an Agatha Christie game in a long time.
Classic anime fans and roguelike survivors who want something different are going to discover Wander Stars as a fantastic expedition. The story goes in amazing directions, the engagement of crafting the best “deck” never gets old, and, when it’s running well, it’s a smooth and enjoyable expedition.
Call it a subversion of expectations, call it a revision on the tired walking simulator genre, call it what you will. Baby Steps is intentonally stupid and, first and foremost, just some perfect fodder for streamers. It’s, admittedly, occasionally funny, occasionally interesting to play, and a bit frustrating at times, though never in a ragequit-inducing kind of way. If anything, I was actually impressed with how the developers were actually able to come up with a halfway entertaining gameplay loop based on something as banal and stupid as walking.
Once everything is said and done, Blippo+ may only run you about six hours of “play” time, but it’s one of the most honest and unique titles in the last decade of gameplay. It’s an FMV without any game, and it works in a spectacularly bizarre fashion.
At the end, it’s impossible not to feel disappointed by the end result. I know that not all games by both Suda and Swery are bangers, and that some jank is basically expected from their outings, but Hotel Barcelona could have been so much better. From a concept standpoint, it’s a banger, I really liked the premise. Regarding the gameplay loop, and the roguelike mechanics as a whole, again, all great… in theory. In practice, this game is hampered by framerate hiccups, infuriating input lag issues, and some juvenile humor coupled to some really poor writing.
An RPG where I love the game, hate the story. Never thought it possible, but here we are.
Cronos: The New Dawn is an unforgivingly brutal survival horror experience that harkens back to the old-school design with more modern sensibilities. And this is how it should be, with a confident approach to level and enemy design that maintains high tension from start to finish. However, it’s not perfect, and you will encounter issues throughout, but regardless of this, Cronos has become an instant surprise in my mind.
Formula Legends is a slightly glitchy and unpolished racing game that still manages to entertain thanks to an interesting premise, an addictive gameplay loop, and a truly ungodly amount of content to unlock.