VGC's Reviews
The boat hasn’t been rocked and the genre hasn’t been overturned, but Phantom Blade Zero is a damn good action game that shouldn’t be ignored. This is undoubtedly stronger than genre stablemates like Black Myth: Wukong, and S-Game has also managed to craft one of the best looking Unreal Engine games. It could use a bit more polish, but Phantom Blade Zero has ensured that I will be eagerly paying attention to whatever S-Game makes next.
Stupid Never Dies doesn't break any new ground, but what is here is passable, quirky fun. The game's style will win over some fans, even if it's been done plenty of times before. Games like this are the antidote to no-risk genre hegemony.
Final Fantasy Resonance is a fun JRPG releasing just when I personally needed a classic turn-based experience, but in a world with HD-2D releases of classic Square Enix games and Pixel Remasters of the first six Final Fantasy games, Resonance just isn’t an essential experience. Final Fantasy Resonance doesn’t have to do anything new to be a good game, but something fresh could’ve made it a great one.
As the 20th anniversary of Wii Sports approaches, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort delivers the fifth and finest iteration of the series to date. The 12 sports provide a good variety, and while some of them continue to have the same (deliberate) control quirks that have remained for two decades now, the overall package is rammed with content regardless of whether you enjoy local or online multiplayer, or prefer to play alone.
It's great to see a new side-scrolling Castlevania game after all these years, but the genre has evolved and thrived in the series' absence, and Belmont's Curse finds itself in a world where there are a wealth of solid alternatives. While it looks and sounds excellent, the core gameplay hasn't evolved alongside it, making it feel rather outdated. That's not a terrible thing, it's still fun enough, but stand-out moments are few and far between as a result.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer absolutely nails what it is trying to do. It is a high-octane racer that's endless fun to play, and it looks fantastic. This would have been a great game with a standard single-player mode, but what is here is inventive and engaging. I'd have loved a few silly classic characters and another planet or two, but this is a game I'll return to for a long time.
Gears of War E-Day's campaign offers balls-to-the-wall action and rarely lets up, but that means the story takes more of a back seat than I'd like. It's good that time is given to the backstories of new protagonists Mags and Lucas, but given that the game is literally the playable Marcus and Dom backstory fans have been waiting decades to see, more time could have been spent on their relationship. In terms of pure gunplay, however, very little beats it this year.
Silent Hill Townfall provides players with one of the most hauntingly atmospheric and meticulously detailed settings in the series' history, and delivers an engaging storyline to go with it. Where the game disappoints, however, is in the actual 'game' itself, specifically the stealth sections near the middle and end of the game which completely ruin the momentum and descend into frustration. Without these sections Townfall would be an absolute must-have, but their presence means it has to settle for being a flawed masterpiece.
Control Resonant gambles on a new genre and it pays off. A stellar cast and some of the strongest art direction you'll find in a game this year make for a sequel that builds on the promise of the original, and delivers even more special moments.
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is an essential game for fans of Fire Emblem and SRPGs, and if you’re new to the series or genre, there’s no better place to get started.
Marvel’s Wolverine is fine, but it fails to capture the spirit of the legendary character in the same way Insomniac did with Spider-Man.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is worth playing for the combat alone, but the game around it doesn't live up to the standards that it sets from a pure gameplay perspective.
The biggest achievement of Star Wars Zero Company is how much it made me care about a universe that has grown achingly dull and predictable in recent years.
Beast of Reincarnation is a good game. Ignoring how original or otherwise it may be, the combat has a satisfying weight to it, and the exploration mechanics are an interesting wrinkle as you delve through the various environments.
There’s no rhythm game quite like Rhythm Heaven, and Groove is a triumphant return for a series that has been gone for far too long. It's one of the only rhythm games to truly bring music and gameplay together, and it's fantastic.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is a great remake of a game that probably didn't need to be remade. Of all the games in the AC franchise, Black Flag holds up better than many, but that doesn't change the fact that I had a wonderful time going back. The cast, setting and atmosphere are still some of the best ever realised in the series, and the new content feels right at home.
Nintendo's arcade shooter remains a classic, and its Switch 2 version adds stunning visuals, a fantastic orchestral soundtrack, and brilliant cinematic touches that elevate the experience. While I'd have liked a little more care put into restoring its smaller parts, the Switch 2 remake is otherwise a fantastic way to discover or revisit a classic.
007 First Light might just be the best James Bond game ever. The way IOI has translated the Bond fantasy into a 14-hour globetrotting epic is masterful. It's a game full of spectacle, humour, action, and romance. Everything James Bond should be. New Bond owners Amazon must ensure this franchise continues.
With few standout multiplayer challenges and little compelling solo content, Bellabel Park feels overpriced and inessential next to the excellent original Switch 1 game.
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is Nintendo’s most unique 2D platformer in a long time.