XboxEra's Reviews
I mean yeah, in the end it's "just Tetris" but it goes deeper than that. This is a Tetris game that can be as chill or as intense as you want it or need it to be. It's an experience that draws you in, you can't help but lose yourself for hours.
The Falconeer is a must for fans of Crimson Skies or frankly, the air combat genre. While it sometimes may show the limitations of its indie roots, this isn’t enough to detract from what’s on offer. Even as someone who isn’t normally a fan of the genre, I found myself enjoying simply flying around getting to missions.
It’s fun, it’s fast, it’s spectacular. Do we truly need more from an arcade racer?
Excellent gameplay is dragged down a bit by an ok story and voice acting but the sandbox presented is one of the best in the genre.
More courage wouldn’t have hurt the project, but to be fair this franchise has never really worked when it tried lateral thinking, so going back to the roots was the way to go. Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is what it needs to be, a Crash Bandicoot game for our time.
A direct continuation of DOOM Eternal’s main campaign, The Ancient Gods Part 1 is a non-stop adrenaline-fueled slaughter fest. It takes all the best parts of the main campaign and turns them up to 11.
Risk of Rain 2 is not the deepest of games. It is however fun every single run through. Add in up to three co-op companions and you are in for one heck of a good time.
While maybe a slightly unneccesary remaster, it has been a very pleasant one to play. With this remaster Age of Empires III can proudly stand next to the other games in the franchise.
All in all, RIDE 4 is a jack of all trades, one where, however, neither element shines for originality or extreme polish. The driving model is satifying enough and finds a good balance between arcade and simulation, the customization options are notable, there’s plenty of content both for single player and online modes, and the title looks fairly good too. It does lack a driving factor, a unique aspect that makes RIDE 4 something more than a competent and fun racing game, turning it into an unmissable experience. Fans of the 2-wheel races will certainly find the adrenaline they seek, but those looking for the next big thing or the first taste of next-gen can safely drift somewhere else.
There are few better examples in the industry than Ghost Ship Game’s use of Early Access. Deep Rock Galactic is a tightly-honed and laser-focused cooperative FPS that stands toe-to-toe with the best in the genre. With a mix of excellent gameplay, solid graphics, and brilliant gameplay concepts, I strongly recommend it to anyone looking to play either solo or especially with their friends.
Welcome To Elk is a very unique game to play. I have not played anything else quite like it and there is no easy way of describing it. Take the time to visit, spend some time with the people living there and the experience will stay with you long after you have left.
I found myself playing for hours. The music rolls well with the punches, the fast and fluid gameplay, and the relatively bug-free experience makes Going Under a great recommendation for a genre that has many choices to choose from as it is. As the kids say today, I totes recommend this game.
A well thought out real time strategy game that has been able to capture the feeling of a post-war dieselpunk reality, sometimes hampered by gameplay mechanics and pacing issues. King Art Games has put out a great strategy games that, with some more budget and time, could’ve been one of the all time greats in the genre. If you like Company of Heroes, or the strategy genre in general, this is a game you should play. And if you like historic punk settings, then I really want to emphasize on how great the atmosphere in this game is. It’s depressing and beautiful. It’s what I want to see from a game set in this genre.
This game was certainly a unique experience. I enjoyed its simplicity, struggled with its challenges, and had fun in the process. The visuals were pleasing, accompanied by clean image quality, and the music was fitting and a tad charming in the process. Despite my frustrations with the moments of platforming here and there and the eventual repetitiveness of the gameplay loop, if I were to ever hunker for a survivalist’s challenge again, I would definitely come back to Windbound.
Fans of classic arcade racers from the 90s will feel right at home with Hotshot Racing. Lucky Mountain have clearly demonstrated an understanding of what made those games so great while adding just enough modern modes and systems to allow for both better re-playability and player engagement.
Despite a rocky reveal Marvel’s Avengers is a fun, and gorgeous game that is a blast to play both solo and with friends. Featuring a campaign with emotional heft and multiplayer that is built to last, it is an easy recommendation for any fan of either the genre or the source material.
Spiritfarer is a game where death is treated differently than in many other games, which makes this game unique. We’ve been killing people and things in video games for so long, that we’ve stopped to wonder what actually happens after that. In Spiritfarer we learn this, in a colourful and happy world which invites you to be the best Spiritfarer in history. Who wouldn’t want to leave this world with one of those precious hugs from Stella? One thing is guaranteed. You’ll learn to say goodbye.
An integration of the Control and Alan Wake universes is an incredibly exciting premise on paper. AWE promises this as the final DLC for Control, but the execution doesn’t meet what was possible. At the end of AWE, I felt excited about any future exploration of these universes, but underwhelmed about what I had just played.
No Straight Roads was really fun to play, for me and my friend. Metronomik’s first game, in my eyes, is a hit that blends so many unique and weird styles. I never felt bored playing this game and I think you won’t be either. Hopefully, if No Straight Roads is successful, we’ll see more titles not just from Metronomik but from other developers in parts of Eurasia not known for gaming.
There’s more than enough content here to keep younger gamers busy and even older gamers nostalgic for the genre will enjoy what’s on offer. The caveat being that the game has no difficulty settings and more seasoned gamers might find it a touch easy. But I feel the game is enjoyable enough to not notice how easy the game is and just soak up all the platforming goodness being thrown your way. There’s outfits to buy, secret stages to find and a reasonable amount of collectibles that don’t feel overwhelming or are difficult to attain.