XboxEra's Reviews
This game is nearly perfect for me and there is no getting around that. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does make it smoother and faster than ever. It is not only one of the best games to release this year, it is a true showcase of just what a “next-gen” title can be.
All the woo-hooing and cringe-inducing dialogue can be a little off-putting at first, but once you get past that and embrace the absurdity of it all, you get to enjoy one of the best arcade games available on Xbox today.
Revisiting areas further underlines another one of Demon Turf’s main problems: most levels feel relatively soulless, empty. As much as their visual style is generally on point, they still offer vast areas with very little happening, offering half a minute or more of uneventful walking. Entering the harder variant of a level fills it with dozens of collectible lollipops, some making the player go through even some of least exciting areas more than once.
Horizon Chase Turbo – Senna Forever is, by all means, an unusual DLC. Released a whopping 3 years after the base game, long after the core support of the game seemed to be over, it offers a level of content, detail, and fun that practically dwarves the already fun original title’s ambitions.
BPM: Bullets Per Minute is one of the most exhilarating shooter experiences I’ve had recently, thanks to fast gameplay, varied gunfights, and a high skill ceiling to aim for via the many runs the players will inevitably go through.
Röki does its best at being an adventure game that anyone can pick up and play. It is a safe play, and one that I appreciate. Its lack of violence is like a breath of fresh air for me, and by keeping a consistent pacing with its narrative and not being overtly difficult means that I am happy to recommend this game for all to play.
Hermitage: Strange Case Files really leans into the novel part of the detective visual novel. It looks very stylish and creates a moody atmosphere but most of the time is spent reading conversations with very little interaction, so if that is not your thing this is likely not the game for you. There is just not enough actual gameplay available within this title so it is fair to say that it will be a must-play for diehard fans of the genre only. After playing through, I’ve decided I am not one of them.
it’s not revolutionizing the genre or setting a new standard in design. It has taken the best aspects of various games, creating a well-rounded package, with love and care of the stories being told and the civilizations and historical sagas being represented. Is it going to instigate new dawn for the classical real-time strategy game? Very doubtful. Is it going to be an amazing experience for fans of the genre? Absolutely.
If you are interested in platforming, exploration, colour based puzzles, turn-based combat and mini games, Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan has everything that you could want for a leisurely ten to twelve hour play through. This is a story about communication, listening to others and being empathetic to their point of view. During these divided times this is a great message to be putting out into the world so I applaud Manavoid Entertainment and Skybound Games for what they have created here.
Toy Soldiers HD is a solid all-around package, though that $30 price point does feel a bit high. If you’re in the market though for some well-made hybrid tower defense, shooter, dogfighter then this plastic battleground should fit the bill. It might be ugly as sin at times, but it is a damned good time reliving an incredibly weird take on one of the darkest conflicts in modern history
The excellent portal system, combined with one of the tightest FPS modules in recent years, makes me believe I'll be playing this a lot as I wait for Halo Infinite to drop. And, frankly? I'm not even that certain 343's much-awaited title will have Splitgate beaten in all aspects. It is simply that good.
Into The Pit has some genuine fun in it. It controls well, has a unique look, and has great potential with its rogue-lite offerings. In the end though for me, the lack of variety in multiple areas kept it from being something I could recommend except for the fact that it’s on Game Pass. For free (if you’re already an existing member) it’s a no-brainer to give this one a try if anything you’ve seen about it has caught your eye. After all, the only cost will be a little bit of your time.
There’s a lot to like about this game. The setting is intriguing, the characters are fun, and the art style can be spectacular. However, problems with some pretty core concepts bring the overall experience down. In conclusion, while Echo Generation has solid visuals and music, these are sadly out shadowed by clunky combat and frustrating game design.
This game is great for families to complete with their children and experience together, anyone who enjoys a quirky story with an interesting gameplay hook or fans of the Metroidvania genre.
If you love the sport and want the best looking and playing a version of it of all-time along with a staggering number of modes and options, then I think NHL 22 is going to make you quite happy.
It is such a wild mix of incredibly deep base building with light tower defense, and excellent twin-stick shooting. The type of game idea that you smack your head and go “of course, this is brilliant”.
In conclusion, due to its origin and the number of words constantly displayed on screen Disco Elysium – The Final Cut sometimes comes across more as a visual novel than anything else. It is rare for a game to have such historical depth and deeply complex narrative and therefore it is very impressive, although it should be stated this is not a game for the faint hearted or something that non-fans of this genre will probably want to take on. Some of the subject matter is fairly grim and destructive behaviour is contained within the story but it is not glorified as there are penalties to be paid for activities such as drug use. I cannot think of another game quite like this and can see why the game has been lauded since its original release. If this particular style of game appeals to you it is not one to be missed.
It's a no-brainer to at least check out as it's on Game Pass, but poor controls on console serve as a great detriment to what otherwise can be a really fun time.
When we're speeding through the game's colourful and exciting locations, the Sonic Colours formula still manages to shine, and to this date, it's arguably one of the highest points in the modern era of the famous blue hedgehog. Every new addition and change to this remaster feels poorly implemented, however, with even a handful of new bugs and palette issues, often making the core gameplay less optimal than the now-dated Wii version. It's a disappointing port of a great game, and Sonic Colours is good enough to be worth the experience even with the aforementioned shortcomings. But we would have expected a better job overall.
It’s been a long, and sometimes difficult road to get here, but 6 is a triumph for those of us who like the classic “Ubisoft game”. The map is enormous, but the game is tightly paced. The action is over the top like always but running at 60fps on a Series X it feels incredible. The writing is just as over the top, yet the emotional beats and comedy hit this time. The mission structure is never overly punishing, and it still feels rewarding.