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Life is Strange: Reunion closes the book on Max and Chloe's story, but is it handled well? While it's nice seeing Max and Chloe again, it comes at a cost. The series has lost what makes it unique, and by retreading old territory, Life is Strange fails to evolve. Instead, uneven writing and plot holes combine to make a story that's hard to care about. Max and Chloe are still the same as they were before, just a little bit older. Deck Nine says this is it for Max and Chloe, and honestly, it's about time.
While GRIME 2 could play it safe and be a carbon copy of its predecessor, it decides to employ the very mechanic it puts forth, borrowing, but also building. Creating an experience you cannot miss.
GRIDbeat! strikes a solid balance of arcade action and challenge for any type of gamer. Jump in for some solid tunes, stunning visuals, and well-crafted levels, or try to master its mechanics. Either way, you're bound to have a blast.
Darwin's Paradox is cartoonishly great, with enough fun to satisfy anyone looking for an engaging platformer. It sometimes works against itself when exploring or dealing with enemies, but at times it comes together to be pretty coherent and exciting. However, sometimes, the controls fight against you, and you even have situations where you have to attempt sections a few times to get past them. Overall, this is a short affair, but it's got some great platforming sections despite some control shortfalls.
Mr. Sleepy Man is a wonderfully weird platformer filled with incredibly fun moments. It won't overstay its welcome, but it'll keep you entertained and engaged through the handful of hours it takes to get through credits. For a solo-developer joint, it's filled with creativity, unencumbered by studio oversight, and wears its heart on its sleeve.
Timberborn is one of the most interesting city builders in years with a charming style, unique lore, and mechanics that are easy to understand but tough to master.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park is a fine offering from Nintendo, but it's another Switch 2 title offering an upgrade with not enough substance.
The Mega Man Star Force trilogy is worth the time sink, but I'm curious if it would've been worth the development time to craft a definitive three-game scenario which combines the content of the other games. As it stands, I don't see a reason to play through each game unless you're really keen on more Blue Bomber shenanigans.
Coming in fast and furious, Milestone's Screamer is an excellent arcade racer. It's a successful reimagining of a beloved '90s series, and it looks, plays, and feels incredible. It is a competent racer, providing enough challenge to test all skill levels around every bend. As far as arcade racers go, Screamer is technical, stylish, and immensely capable of offering thrills at breakneck speeds.
Etrange Overlord is fun and short, a perfect palette cleanser for those who are looking for a shorter experience.
If you give Marathon your time, it will reward your patience. I really believe that. I also think the time commitment is a big reason this game won’t be for everyone. And maybe it doesn’t have to be. After all, a game for everyone is a game for no one.
The content Pokopia hides rewards those who dive in, something that is naturally reinforced by its history, giving the series, currently celebrating its 30th birthday this year, another, almost essential dimension.
Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake mostly succeeds as a remake and understands what made the original tick.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection continues the spin-off series' success with style, brutal battles, and tons of monster hunts.
Planet of Lana 2 is a gorgeous sequel that does all the right things with its puzzles and story, building a rich history with complex layers and characters.
There's a lot of variety and some cool new approaches to the beat'em up throughout Scott Pilgrim EX. The roster of heroes and enemies is amazing, and the adventure they go on is one only the Scott Pilgrim universe can truly provide.
Esoteric Ebb is incredible. Saturated with fantastic writing and memorable characters, its systems blend CRPG and TTRPG in clever ways.
Tales of Berseria Remastered is a bizarre pick for Bandai Namco to update, but it is uniquely the most adult title the series has put out.
One of the most fascinating things about Resident Evil, as a franchise, is how often these games take on different interpretations as the series progresses. We don’t think of Resident Evil 5 the same way as when it came out, or Resident Evil 6, or Village. This is one of the few gaming franchises that meaningfully uses the past, both narratively and from a design standpoint. These are games integrally shaped by their place in time, the world, and the larger series. And similarly, I think Requiem is a game that we’ll be talking about for years to come, reevaluating more than once.
Ys X: Proud Nordics is the definitive way to play Adol’s seafaring adventure with a great story alongside a strong, memorable cast and even better re-balanced combat that feels like a solid entry for new fans to get into the franchise.