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Planet of Lana is a game of resounding balance between light and dark, gameplay and story, beauty and simplicity. It is an organically unified piece that uses the sum of its parts to fully synergize an experience to elicit a myriad of emotions from the player as they traverse the planet with a variety of landscapes, encounters, and ultimately, a simple story of reunion and friendship.
Overall, LEGO 2K Drive is a surprisingly competent racer that I totally did not expect, and while it is mostly aimed at a younger target audience, more experienced players might be pleasantly surprised at what LEGO 2K Drive has to offer. There are a lot of side activities and collectibles to be had in the game, and when not exploring, players can take part in the campaign mode to race it up against other aspiring champs. There’s also a local and online co-op to take on other racers across the world. Sadly, the aggressive monetization really ruins a lot of the fun in the game. There’s always a choice not to use this avenue, but between the low payouts per race, the long grind, and the expensive pricing, the push to spend more Brickbux is as powerful as ever.
Redfall is a highly anticipated title for Xbox fans, and while it may not hit the extreme highs that may have been expected of it, the game does provide some semblance of decent gameplay with fast-paced combat and some vampire-slaying action. Despite that, performance problems plague the PC version of the game, with wildly inconsistent frame rates even when nothing is happening on screen. Redfall isn't releasing with a 60 fps option on the Xbox Series X as announced by the studio, and seeing how the game is performing on the PC, the game clearly needed more time to get optimization in and iron out kinks, which could lead players to wait before trying it out.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a monumental balancing act that improves upon its predecessor while standing on its own as a satisfying and emotional story. From its dynamic gameplay to an improvement in its movement and verticality to the delicate balance of its story, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor gets a lot of things right, showing us the way how to make a true Star Wars video game. Just like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order before it, I highly recommend this game not only to fans of Star Wars but to everyone else simply because of the experience. The game offers players a story of epic proportions, characters that they can emotionally relate to, and an experience that doesn't overstay its welcome or overwhelm you with too much content. It finds the right balance that ends up feeling fulfilling on all fronts.
Coffee Talk Episode 2 is the perfect game for those times when you just want to kick back and relax. The combination of its excellent soundtrack and charming cast makes for an experience that's as comforting and laid-back as you can get. The game is certainly not for everyone, and players who aren’t fond of visual novel-type games will not change their minds, even though Coffee Talk Episode 2 offers a more engaging gameplay loop compared to others. While the sequel offers nothing remarkably new and is more of the same as the first game, trying it out may be a surprise.
Dead Island 2 is a serviceable zombie action game that improves many components of the first title and delivers an enjoyable time when given a chance. However, it doesn't innovate, is highly formulaic, and ticks off every feature to a fault. Your enjoyment will really depend on what you're looking for, and there's no truer example than Dead Island 2. Dambuster Studios did a good job revitalizing Dead Island 2, which has fallen into development hell over the past years. This has to be pointed out, and with such a troubled history, it's a massive feat to finally be able to bring this out and release it to the gaming public.
Minecraft Legends takes the base formula of Minecraft and employs a uniquely fun and engaging twist that will keep you glued to your TV sets for hours on end. Whether it’s repelling a Piglin attack or taking the fight to one of their bases, the action and strategy required are well thought out and, most importantly, fun to execute. Whether campaign or PVP, Minecraft Legends offers a fun time that doesn’t go overboard with its action or strategy aspects too much to turn away the other, but instead finds a great balance between the two that results in a fantastic outing.
Road 96: Mile 0, sadly, isn’t an essential attraction compared to Road 96‘s gameplay loop and characterization. Sadly, the charm that made the original game stand out is gone, and we’re left with an overdone story that dampens the allure of the original game.
While still fundamentally the same, MLB The Show 23 succeeds in adding a new feature that really adds to the overall value of the game. The Negro Leagues is a triumphant addition, highlighting not only these icons of the sport but also showing their path to recognition. Even as a newcomer to the sport, it’s not hard to recognize the work put into this mode, which should be considered a staple moving forward.
Horizon Call of the Mountain sets out to do something and does it well. It’s a game that showcases the capabilities of the PS VR2 to great effect, possibly giving players a reason to take a chance on the new hardware. To call it a climbing simulator could be a fair assessment, but it’s hard to deny the game for what it really is, which is a spectacular showcase of the new hardware from Sony. Is it the killer app for the PS VR2? Arguably, I’d say it isn’t, but I cannot deny how Horizon Call of the Mountain has made me look forward to what’s next on the VR front.
The Resident Evil 4 Remake is a prime example of how a proper remake is done. It retains almost every aspect of the original’s DNA and expands on it, making for a very nostalgic but also very refreshing and fun experience. The original Resident Evil 4 back in 2005 was a milestone that could still be enjoyed even today, so for a remake to be able to be just as good as the original is an amazing achievement. The Resident Evil 4 Remake is a must-own title that deserves a spot in any survival horror fan’s library and is easily one of the best games of the year.
Dredge is a fishing RPG, but don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security thinking that it is a cozy game. It is a slowly creeping horror title that lets its mystery engage you until it has caught you in its slimy tendrils and doesn’t let go. While it might be a little slow starting out, once the momentum kicks in, it takes you for a ride. It is a triumph in atmospheric and immersive storytelling. The addictive fishing elements lure you into an addictive game loop, and you stick around for its mystery. You can also just keep fishing and ignore all the strangeness if the fishing loop is what you’re in for, but heed the call of the deep, as its creeping chaos is definitely worth exploring.
WWE 2K22 was a step in the right direction, and WWE 2K23 is certainly a continuation of that. The various modes this year have been made more replayable, which should be a welcome sight for hardcore fans. Despite the frustration of having to deal with controller settings, I still had a blast playing as my favorite WWE wrestler and duking it out in the ring. The numerous tweaks to make the other modes more fun are also appreciated, and there’s really enough here that makes it more than just a lazy yearly installment.
The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition is the ultimate way to experience The Outer Worlds, both as a first-time player or someone who’s re-discovering the game. The added quality-of-life features, such as improved performance and load times, don’t interrupt momentum and allow you to experience the game at its absolute best. That said, there are still concrete issues plaguing The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition as of this writing, so it remains to be seen when these can be addressed. Despite all of the good things that can be said, it is hard to fully recommend a purchase right now until the issues have been resolved.
I can see why Tales of Symphonia is considered a favorite in the series. Like other entries, it’s a solid experience with fun combat and a compelling story, but it shows its age in the modern gaming landscape. It doesn’t help that the remaster is quite a lackluster effort that could have made this outing much more worth it. Don’t get us wrong. Tales of Symphonia Remastered is not a terrible game by any stretch, and it does tick all the boxes of a fun and solid experience, but we’re saddened by the feeling that it does deserve much more than the remastering effort that we got. With so many games out on the market today, check this one out if you’re hankering for an old-school experience.
Vanaris Tactics is a solid strategy RPG that’s a little too straightforward for its own good. It delivers a technically sound strategy RPG that can easily onboard any long-time fan to the experience. It is easy to the point of being cozy, and that may not resonate with enthusiasts of the genre. It’s a quick, fast experience for those who want a game to complete. However, for those looking for a longer strategy RPG that tests their mettle, Vanaris Tactics may probably be inadequate. I do look forward to what Mattheus Reis and his team make in the future, as Vanaris Tactics is a solid, albeit straightforward, experience.
Atomic Heart is a mixed bag of weird design choices and gameplay mechanics, and while the combat loop is satisfying when everything comes together, there’s also a lot of jank that comes along with it. Several parts of Atomic Heart feel like they’ve been made to be unnecessarily complicated, adding layers of interaction that do not feel fun. The game does look very pretty, and the world and its inhabitants are interestingly unique, but the payoff at the end is predictable and ultimately disappointing. Given a chance, Atomic Heart is a frenetic first-person shooter with a great visual style and some set pieces that pack a punch. Yet just like its overwrought themes and its poor attempt at profound existential exploration, they feel ultimately superficial and shaky.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is a celebration of the storied history of Final Fantasy’s music in more ways than one. It could easily just be a basic rhythm game, but it innovated the genre by allowing for the RPG elements to best suit the game with its source material. Once you think the novelty has waned, Theatrhythm continues to surprise you by adding new addictive activities to keep you interested in its quests, extras, and even with other like-minded fans. Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is a gift from Square Enix and indieszero, allowing us to relive our original Final Fantasy through its music and also allowing us to experience new ones to broaden our scope. Many crossover Final Fantasy titles seem to waver at this opportunity when the novelty ends, but if there’s one thing that’s completely timeless, it’s how the music of Final Fantasy has evolved through the years.
Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a fantastic remake that continues the adventures of Kiryu, albeit in a different time period and with a different character. Yakuza series fans will surely know what they’re getting into, but newcomers to the series will experience a game that’s easy to pick up and play through thanks to its gripping storyline and engaging systems. The game is filled to the brim with content, and it would definitely take a whole lot of hours to scour through all of them, more if you’re aiming to complete all achievements and trophies. The game does feel old in some aspects, but the Yakuza DNA is evident in Like a Dragon: Ishin! and we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
Octopath Traveler II is an improvement over its predecessor that keeps all of its familiar charms while elevating the experience at the same time. It adds just enough for old players to find joy with the new travelers introduced, but it also doesn’t alienate any newcomers who want to jump ahead with this new game. The music and gameplay conspire to create a timeless adventure for every JRPG fan to experience. While it still has some minor convention gripes, for the most part, it doesn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the game. JRPG conventions abound, so know what you’re getting into.