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Horizon: Forbidden West is a great PlayStation title. The gameplay and world grab your attention because the PS5 makes it gorgeous. Aloy’s journey shows her the power of people. Yet notable flaws keep this from reaching Horizon’s true ceiling. Forbidden West’s endgame hampers an otherwise good story. Melee combat improved, but not enough. Most importantly, these loadout possibilities are bland.
Just a couple of notes. First, as this is based on the works of Doyle and Lovecraft and set in Victorian times, some questionable ideas are espoused here. For the most part, the game goes out of its way to repudiate such views, like the man abusing his servant. But be aware they are there (the game warns you about this in its loading screens). Second and far less important, the game is relatively short. It took about fourteen hours to complete, and I wasn’t exactly trying for a speed run. I in no way think this is a bad thing, however. The timeframe kept the story tight and meant the game did not outstay its welcome. The game releases April 11, 2023, so if you pick it up let me know what you think in the comment below!
Is Resident Evil 4 Remake a corny B-movie horror title filled to the brim with monsters and action? Absolutely and that is what makes the game so special in the first place. You will laugh, you will jump, and you will get frustrated with Ashley getting carried off again. But all of this combines to make undeniably one of the best 3rd person action games ever made. Whether you are a fan of the original or have never played a Resident Evil game before, Resident Evil 4 Remake is a wonderful place to be introduced into this terrifying and ridiculous franchise.
Where last year’s MLB The Show felt too copy-and-pasted, MLB The Show 23 feels legitimately improved. New modes featuring historical and recent stars give a breath of fresh air to this series. Expanding practice types for RTTS players also helps players get meaningful practice to get better at the game. What’s not updated is a tale of two stories. From a core mechanics standpoint, you don’t need to upgrade what already works. Playing baseball in The Show has been just as fun since 2021 as it is now. The things that do need updates need them badly, however. Sciambi and Singleton need something new to say so the game loses what repetitiveness it still has. Finally, some bugs are game-breaking or crashing.
Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure is a wonderfully realized expansion. From the breathtaking vistas to the immersive rally vibes, the latest DLC adds to the Forza Horizon experience. And that’s precisely what expansions should do. Some might be disappointed that there is no franchise tie-in. However, Sierra Nueva is guaranteed to leave a positive impression.
Terra Nil is a relaxing game that will help you wild down. The game’s portability by being available on iOS, Android, and Steam Deck, will make this a great game to bring with you on vacation this summer. Plus its lightweight demand from the hardware will not kill your laptop battery. While the ending may not answer all of your problems, Terra Nill is a fantastic way to wind down. If you have Netflix and have not checked out the games yet, this is a great place to start. Along with a nice way to mix up your game library with something unique.
I would prefer there to be two or three other elements to Horizon Call of the Mountain. It needs combat with the other humans in open areas like Horizon has. The game would also benefit from having more open areas to explore along with deeper story elements. When it comes to the story, there is not a ton here, there are only four or five characters throughout the entire game. Although, if there is ever a third Horizon game, it would be exciting to see these characters show up. Yet Horizon Call of the Mountain is, should be considered one of the top 15 VR games of all time. There are some moments when you use your physical hands during crafting that are special. There are sequences during the climbing parts which are truly engaging. Plus the boss battles are straight out of the mainline Horizon games, played in VR it is remarkable. Overall Horizon Call of the Mountain is a fun little launch title for Sony’s new PS VR2 headset. If you enjoy Horizon and own PS VR2 you must have this game. Although by no means is this a system seller, it is just a nice addition. I would prefer it to be four to five hours long but, what we have here is a ton of unique VR moments combined together.
Octopath Traveler 2 is a JRPG unlike anything I have played in recent years. Its combat system feels so fresh compared to the original considering the latest powers and EX abilities. The focus on character interactions, as well as their respective voice cast, allowed me to fall in love with every character from the main cast. As well as leaving me stunned by the calculated risks taken in the finale of the game that deliver emotionally impactful moments. The sites of Solistia and the freedom I had to explore with the soundtrack accompanying me left a lasting impact on me. Octopath Traveler 2 is an absolutely fantastic time from start to finish even when reaching the 70-hour mark. You do not want to miss it. As I believe it is the best in the class of Square Enix’s 2D-HD games so far.
Despite the game’s technical shortcomings and confusing mechanics, Wo Long was a tremendous journey from start to finish. The game sports intuitive and tight combat and has some of the most epic boss fights that will push you to your limits. Though not at the level of FromSoftware titles, Wo Long is a step in the right direction and is diligently carving its own place among its peers.
Blood Bowl 3 has many things going right for it in my opinion. The in-depth combat system provides layers of difficulty that you can’t just breeze through games. It is very well written and with the voices that come from the characters, you can tell that they would speak or say the stuff they do. Graphics and visuals look great, especially in the cinematic scenes and when it comes to the game gore. Team customization is good with hopefully more unlockables on launch. Player customization is locked behind microtransactions. Having local multiplayer brings about a camaraderie that’s been missing for a long time. The lack of free player customizations, game modes, and a bad online league experience does plague the good things the game has to offer.
Usually, I don’t play these kinds of games. I took a leap of faith here on this game to try and break my normal feelings on horror VR and zombie survival games. Drop Dead: The Cabin did just that and has been one of the best VR experiences I’ve had. It is top 3 at this moment. Its setting and design were perfect and kept me completely immersed in the game. I did find that I was running off before I started being attacked just to see how things looked.
It has been a long time coming, but to finally have Age Of Empires on console is exciting as a long-time fan. The amount of hard work that went into nailing down every detail from the art style to adaption to the controller is exactly what this title deserved. Age Of Empires 2 Definitive Edition is the best RTS game on Xbox consoles currently and whether you are a massive fan, or just getting into the series for the first time it is a great place to start.
Empire of Sin has plenty of good ideas from the great 1920s Chicago setting and atmosphere. From a great diplomacy system that can make or break your playthrough at certain times in the game, to turn-based combat which I love in games shows some promise. But the game is mired by lackluster map design, bad AI, unbalanced abilities, and some clunky controls. I did enjoy the roleplaying aspect of being able to lead a criminal empire as a historically inspired gangster. Empire of Sin manages to capture ambition beautifully in its empire management systems, and its allure of everything is strong.
Even without Game Pass, Hi-Fi Rush is a must-play. Vibrant colors, lovable characters, and a phenomenal gameplay loop solidify itself as an early Game of the Year contender. Anyone who loved Devil May Cry will happily string combos just like Dante again. Adults who spent their childhoods playing Guitar Hero will adore the game’s matrimony to the rhythm. Platforming aficionados who played Ratchet & Clank or Psychonauts will get a kick out of the traversal. Hi-Fi Rush, a colorful game developed by the same team behind a great horror experience in The Evil Within, is a hit. Go play it.
8 Bit Adventures 2 is a very great game albeit with some balancing issues with bosses. The characters were very memorable and had lovingly written dialogue with distinct styles for everyone. As well as the Glitch being a very fleshed-out Villain. The game shines the brightest in its combat, and exploration of the varied and unique locales. As well as the challenging bosses with their contributions to the tale. It is an easy recommendation due to its classical yet thrilling journey.
Altogether, I found Hubris to be raising the bar for an indie action adventure. It’s clearly punching way above its weight. If you have been waiting for a true Half-Life: Alyx contender in terms of production value, Hubris might not be exactly on that level. However, it is definitely worth picking up and you will not be disappointed.
For the longest time, I had no intention to pick up a Virtual Reality system. That is until I saw Demeo for the very first time. Now, I can easily add Among Us VR to the list of must-play VR games. The great UI and immersive gameplay make up for the slightly tricky controls at the beginning. Once you adjust or get used to the game’s control setup, you will have hours of great frantic fun. Undoubtedly, VR makes Among Us 10 times better than the original! This game is one of my top 5 games of 2022. So, no time like the present to start acting a little Suss!
Pentiment did not give off the best first impression. But the more I played, the more I was engulfed with the game’s layered narrative filled with mysteries and intrigue. Dialogue choices were well realized, but the consequences didn’t garner the expected reactions. Despite being off-putting at first, the game’s visual and audio presentations complement its 16th-century art style well. Although the game’s limited scope is quickly apparent, Pentiment’s narrative design has a lot to offer and is another feather in the cap of Obsidian’s story-telling credentials.
At every turn Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed heads the wrong way. It has a stylized art direction but lacks ambitious cosmetics. It has a story but it is merely a crumb within the multiplayer-first experience. Then there are the great mechanics paired with a lack of meaningful depth. As a whole, the game is content impoverished. The end result is not a game that feels like it is missing something, it feels like it is missing some of everything. If it were to grow and continue as a live service, the team has a lot to work with. There should be a dozen ghosts to play as, and they all could be from the movies. The cosmetics need to be expanded tenfold. Also, if there is nothing they can do in the way of adding more weapons due to the franchise’s limits, there should be classes like Medic and Engineer. Along with a complete re-balance of how playing as the ghost works. There is something here that is fun to play for a shot bit. However, all we are left with is hope that it can grow as a live service.
A Plague Tale: Requiem is in a lot of ways a massive improvement over Innocence. But the lack of a few alchemical compounds and the changes in the upgrade system felt like steps backward. Especially in comparison to the leaps in quality made in the game’s graphical fidelity. As well as the game’s story is more intense and meaningful than the original. However, none of the cons including the game’s rough performance can prevent me from recommending its incredible journey. Especially for fans of Innocence.