GamesBeat's Reviews
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age moved me in ways a Japanese RPG hasn't done in years.
I wish that we got to know Austin a little more, but this is only the first chapter. It will be interesting to see how she comes across in the other chapters as we get to know her from their perspectives. Overall, this is a strong start to the series that shows a lot of promise depending on how it weaves together all the characters' stories.
Though I had a few minor quibbles over Overcooked 2's garnishes, it's overall a delectable followup. At times, I wondered why Ghost Town didn't just release the new recipes and levels as DLC to its first title, but that doesn't detract from the delightful new challenges and the convenience of new features like online co-op.
Go out and get it for your Switch, PC, or whatever, and just play it.
I love that Semblance is challenging, and its presentation is lovely as well. It has a unique look, full of organic shapes and eye-catching colors. Though it's light on story, it's worth dying a few dozen times to experience.
I still enjoy Mega Man X5, X6, X7, and X8. Sure, they have problems, and they don't feel as fresh or tightly designed as the first four. But the core of what makes Mega Man X so much fun — the combination of fast-paced traversal with with 2D action — still work in these games. This collection isn't for everyone. But if you're a big fan of the Blue Bomber, this is still a great package that helps you complete your digital Mega Man collection.
Mega Man X Legacy Collection is out now for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. Capcom gave us codes for all platforms for this review.
Even if it feels incomplete, Tempest 4000 is still worth playing. The visuals remain entrancing, the music is as powerful today as when it was released, and the task of clearing baddies from webs continues to be challenging. If you can look past the roughest levels, you'll find this to be a fun and highly memorable game. Here's hoping Llamasoft gives it a little post-release polish so it can become a modern classic, just like Tempest 2000.
If you've already played Captain Toad on the Wii U, there's not enough new content here to merit a repurchase — the Super Mario Odyssey levels are great, but you'll blow through them all in half an hour or less. I hope that Nintendo builds upon what's already here with additional DLC, as this is an enjoyable game with levels that are actually fun to replay a few times. After beating the game in several days, my only regret was not having even more puzzles to enjoy.
The Lion's Song is an excellent point-and-click adventure game for those who enjoy narrative. It's not about fetching items or solving inventory puzzles in 20th-century Austria. Instead, it transports you back to a time fairly different from ours — but less so than you might think. The characters still experience anxiety and self-doubt, they search for the truth about themselves, they make certain compromises or changes to get what they want.
Even though you can technically enjoy Lumines at a lower price on mobile devices, their smaller wells actually constrict the gameplay compared with wider console and computer platforms, and their soundtracks aren't as compelling. If you want the full Lumines experience, this version's reasonable pricing and interesting features nearly offset its remaining rough edges.
Few online games have clicked with me as quickly as Mario Tennis Aces, and I expect it'll end up on my top 10 at the end of 2018.
Jurassic World: Evolution is more of a pure sim game than Planet Coaster, but it does a good job of taking advantage of its license. It keeps things complicated enough to feel interesting without letting it feel out of your control.
Because BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle is an anime fighting experience that allows for constant aggressive offensive and defensive reads, wrapped in accessible execution that makes slightly complex mechanics easy to grasp. If this can add more fresh competition to your world, embrace it.
At no point in Vampyr did I have fun following trails of blood, mixing antiquated remedies out of opium, or bludgeoning some Crucifix wielding goon in a mask for the 50th time. But I was constantly compelled forward to find out what next grim choice it would give me, anxious to spend yet another night in one of its safehouses to see if my efforts to keep London's souls alive another day had worked.
Though I have some minor quibbles about the game's interface, I find myself returning to its world again and again.
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection delivers something that many people have been waiting at least 25 years to enjoy — virtually arcade-perfect, zero loading-time versions of some of the very best fighting games out there. It might be a little late in arriving, and imperfectly executed, but overall, that's worthy of a celebration.
Unforeseen Incidents has its charms. It looks great, and some of the puzzles are genuine fun. And even though Harper is irritating, he's well-intentioned and a fairly good protagonist. The most serious issue for me is the loading time between screens and how slowly Harper walks.
Detroit: Become Human is best when it foresees the consequences of our decisions and sets up a clear choice — or a muddy choice. It creates the illusion of the Butterfly Effect, where small actions can lead to big consequences.
Both in TV shows and films, Star Trek: The Next Generation offered one of the most exciting sci-fi universes to explore in VR, but this DLC pack for Bridge Crew offers only a small taste of what made the series so compelling.