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Lost in Random is another example of genuine uniqueness coming from the “EA Originals” program which brought us It Takes Two earlier this year. It excels in creating a nightmarish setting filled with charming characters and dry humor to indulge in its wonderous writing. From a gripping narrative and lovable protagonist to the friends found in the twisted streets. With engaging enemy encounters, intricate combat, and interesting but disappointing bosses. Zoink Games excellently delivers a fun experience that will leave you wanting to dive back in after the credits roll. It will be hard to not want to get lost in Random again.
Far Cry 6 is the culmination of everything Ubisoft learned over the years from the long-running series. Yes, the open-world formula is still there. But luckily, the publisher takes a few well-realized bit more risks to counter it. From the inclusion of an actual character protagonist to getting rid of the skill tree, and a complete gear and perks revamp, these new aspects paid dividends to create a fresh take on a long-running franchise. Far Cry 6 is one of the most thematically consistent entries in a long time. Graphically, the game is one of the best-looking games of this year. It also runs impeccably well at 60 FPS. Although there were a few technical hiccups along the path and some might be put off by the Ubisoft open-world formula, make no mistake, Far Cry 6 was treated with the utmost love and care and makes me excited for the future of the franchise.
Deathloop is an incredibly unique FPS, blending together some of the best aspects of Arkane’s previous work. Whether you prefer to sneak and target your prey slowly, or to tackle the challenge head-on with a limitless arsenal of weapons and powers. Deathloop blends an intriguing narrative, with incredibly diverse combat, and truly makes it one of the best games on PlayStation 5 right now. It is without a doubt one of the best games by Arkane to date.
Astria Ascending is a fantastic throwback to classic JRPGs. Its story may not be remarkable, but the overall gameplay experience makes the game memorable. The deep combat with the customization and unique boss battles with excellent enemy variety is what kept me playing. In fact, knowing how the game works now, I have been hungry to start a new playthrough with different character class combinations as I progress. It will be hard for players to pick up if they are not used to turn-based gameplay. However, fans of this style of game will be in for a fantastic treat. But if you are on Xbox I cannot recommend playing this game in its current state. When it is patched and you can get past the main menu, then feel compelled to pick it up.
In the pantheon of anime games, Cyberconnect2 has definitely done more right by the anime than by the gameplay. Its ability to capture the anime experience remains strong, but far too little concern is there for the game and its community. Time will tell if Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles fosters a bright future for humanity or if it will leave them to the mercy of the demons.
I’ll say it again: Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the best games of the year. It will absolutely be in Game of the Year conversations. Eidos did fantastic in executing a fun and engaging combat system. The game also encourages multiple playthroughs with different dialogue branches and unlockable costumes and collectibles. Aside from technical setbacks, the game is a thrilling, goofy, and heart-warming space epic. Even if you’re an MCU fan and love James Gunn’s versions of these characters, playing Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy felt like I was meeting them for the first time all over again. I sincerely hope this won’t be the last time we see them.
As such, Unpacking is a surprise all on its own. It can be a short 3-5 hour adventure but has so much to appreciate in it. Opening up boxes and sorting the items into a house never sounded fun or engaging to me at first. But it prevailed by having such a unique way of telling its story, finding a simple way to be compelling. While the gameplay, while simple as well, always remained fun and engaging. It’s a niche experience, that is easily recommendable, especially at its price.
Forizon Horizon 5 is a closet embodiment of perfection for an open-world racing genre. Undoubtedly, the game is a graphical showcase with a performance to match. There is a ton of content and subtle changes made under the hood are meaningful and improve the quality of life immensely. From the map design to the revamped progression system, there was a lot of love spent on Forza Horizon 5. It is the quintessential open-world racing game and nothing comes remotely close. It is a clear game of year contender that should have the competition sweating.
Despite a large number of RTS games on the market, Age of Empires has returned as a must-play title with Age of Empires IV. The game blends the classic gameplay that fans love with modern amenities and quality of life improvements. With dozens of hours of history to explore from the Battle of Dover to the Rise Of Moscow, there is no more fun way to experience history than with Age of Empires IV. As a long-time fan of the franchise since its release in 1997, I could not be happier with the passion and hard work that clearly went into making this game one of the best Age Of Empires games to date.
Riders Republic is a gem of a game, and most importantly it is simply just fun to play. It is not often we have the opportunity to play a sports game such as this one. Especially one that provides such a broad variety of experiences from the wild world of extreme sports. Thankfully it is done without trying to be a simulator as well. It is the perfect blend of making surfaces feel good to control your character on, without having it be too over the top. From the vast amount of biomes to the abundance of races and variety of sports that you can enjoy, there is no end in sight with the number of shenanigans that you can pull off. Unfortunately, there is basically no story, and where there is a character chatting, they try a little hard to be “Hip” with the cool kids. Even then, Riders Republic is worth playing through if you have that extreme sports itch you need to scratch. This could very well be a new era of open-world sports growing as we know it.
Cumulatively, Yuki is fun to play, it sounds great, it has a solid progression system, and there are layers of combat mechanics. Combined with a perfect implementation of difficulty, this makes Yuki one of the best VR games of 2021. I would like for the audio cues to be more relevant, and I would like to see what a Yuki sequel looks like on current-gen hardware with high-end visuals and a more open-level design. Hopefully, the next time around the developers will choose some larger fonts.
Chorus is an absolutely excellent experience. Its story never felt dull. I loved watching Nara and Forsa mend their broken relationship and breathe in the excellently built zones and its deep lore. Despite not playing many games like it, the gameplay was accessible and enjoyable. The game is visually stunning with a soundtrack that meshes excellently with the setting of the game. If it were not for the one imbalanced boss, and the minor bugs I experienced, this would have been a perfect experience. Still, these are minor quibbles. Chorus is a game that should be on everyone’s radar heading into Game of the Year discussions. As only in Chorus will you be surprised and amazed by what the developers crafted.
When it comes to the PSVR version of the game, at its present state, more than 20 days post-release, there are still too many problems for this to be a game we can recommend. With that, if you are a PC or Oculus user, After the Fall is a fun time with both friends and strangers. It is a shame there are so many problems because After the Fall could have been one of the best PSVR games to come out in 2021.
Nobody Saves the World will be a timed Xbox console exclusive although, all platform owners should give it a look. The level design is versatile for different play types. Plus if you pre-ordered a Steam Deck, this could be a fantastic title to play through. The humor, couch co-op, and deep RPG mechanics make Nobody Saves the World engaging for a wide audience of players.
Windjammers 2 has a lack of depth in content, it feels like it is missing something. Something like a character creator, a level builder, a simple story, or more characters to unlock would go a long way into making it feel like a deeper game. I know Windjammers is from a different time but now it is 2022 and fantastic games are coming out every week. While at MSRP Dotemu is not asking for a lot, today the player's time is the most valuable ask. The game needs to be engaging for more than a weekend.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the perfect building block to where the series is headed. With Pokémon: Let’s Go and Pokémon Sword and Shield, the three games feel like the first steps towards something bigger. If you can get past its looks, Arceus is the best Pokémon game on the Switch. While it may never be as iconic as some of the previous Pokémon games, it has deep gameplay systems and a map that feels extensive. Arceus is full of small moments where you get to experience Pokémon from a new perspective.
Without a doubt, Whalefood Games, which impressively consists of just the creator Jonah Wallerstein, created a really fun, enjoyable game here. It is perfect for groups of friends to kick back and enjoy playing together while getting competitive and providing some real laughs along the way. While it definitely has a limited shelf life, your time spent with Kung Fu Kickball will be remembered fondly. You’ll no doubt keep it stored away for parties when you can prove you’re the best once again!
As someone who loves first-person perspective games, Dying Light 2 was a blast, despite unimaginative and forgettable side content. The gameplay loop kept me coming back for more. Although the storytelling and world design didn’t live up to expectations, it still was engaging and meaningful in its own way. Unfortunately, many of the bugs, and save file issues I had were incredibly detrimental to the experience. When the game works it is fun. But when it doesn’t, it is absolutely frustrating. Dying Light 2 could have been truly special if it had just had a little bit more time in development.
Crossfire X is possibly one of the most soulless multiplayer games I have played in a very long time. The lack of variety in maps and game modes, as well as the sheer lack of balance, will drive most players away within the first few hours. Crossfire X lacks enough meaningful content to keep the few players who might find this game interesting coming back. As the biggest AAA games such as Battlefield 2042 struggle to find the balance in delivering what fans want. Crossfire X almost knowingly commits every sin that many FPS fans have been complaining about in the multiplayer space for the past few years. In a month packed full of incredible games, I would not even recommend wasting time downloading Crossfire X nonetheless playing it.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with Shadow Warrior 3. The game will never be the talk of the town, but not every title has to be. Gunplay is fast, frantic, and more importantly, fun. Those who enjoyed the DOOM franchise will feel right at home here. Maybe a little too much. Traversal sections are fun, though uninspiring. Graphically, the game looks great and complements its offbeat nature nicely. However, the bland level design, environments, flaccid Chi blasts, and inconsistent performance bring it down a couple of notches. But I can comfortably say that Shadow Warrior 3 will be one of the best-hidden gems of 2022.