CBR's Reviews
Castlevania Dominus Collection sets a new standard for classic game re-releases. When Nintendo still struggles to make its classic gaming library legally accessible, Konami unintentionally provided the perfect history lesson on the Nintendo DS through this amazing handheld trilogy. The collection puts equally nostalgic but much lazier cash grabs to shame with how much it offers to both franchise veterans and newcomers at such an affordable price. Until Dracula is resurrected yet again in the next official Castlevania game, this collection and other retro Castlevania sets like it will provide plenty of whip-cracking fun to pass the time until that fateful day comes. Or, at the very least, until a new season of Castlevania: Nocturne is ready to stream.
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game finds success by incorporating the most popular characters and references to SpongeBob SquarePants to create a uniquely physics-centered game set in Bikini Bottom. The plethora of minigames and areas to explore will likely have most players overlooking the game's flaws and repetitiveness, making it a worthwhile addition to SpongeBob SquarePants' already massive video game lineup. Despite the present challenges in game design and mechanics, the game provides at least five hours of fun and wacky game play that can be enjoyed by players of all ages.
River City Saga: Three Kingdoms Next is both a solid role-playing game and a great beat-em-up brawler that is not afraid to challenge the player's fighting skill.
Ballionaire isn't lacking in potential or variety, or well-executed animation and art style; it can manage to hit the mark sometimes. It just needs an extra push. The lack of reliance on strategy for a player is a huge part; a roguelike is something that should be mostly skill. It's what makes the grind fun, challenging, and engaging. When players find themselves starting to go through the motions, watching another ball drop and hit none of the triggers they set in place, they'll stop caring. Their eyes glaze over, and five minutes later, they're closing the game and moving on to something else. For what it's offering, Ballionaire is so close to achieving what it's trying to do. It can provide short bursts of fun and something to idly participate in while having something on in the background. It's not a bad game by any means, but it has all the right stuff going for it to be better.
While Europa lacks depth and replayability, the game's $15 price point still makes it well worth the cost. Despite the linear landscapes and limited game play, players can expect to get at least four hours of entertainment out of the main storyline. Given its focus on visuals, music, and storytelling, Europa is most ideal for those looking for an easy and relaxing gaming experience.
Backyard Soccer '98 is another success for the Backyard Sports franchise's revival. The charm of the series (both the original and this relaunch) lies with the players and their quirks. Everyone gets a moment to shine, which helps build a team into a fun strategy. League Play and Practice offer tons of variety in gameplay and player choice. However, the lack of tutorials feels off, considering that not as many American kids know about the sport as they do about football or basketball. Despite this missed opportunity, Backyard Soccer '98 is still an excellent time for any soccer fan who wants to jump back into their '90s nostalgia, or experience something new.
Gamers looking for a true escape to a whimsical and adorable world are in for a treat with Critter Café. This is a refreshing take on the cozy game genre that eliminates the usual grind of endlessly gathering resources and constantly keeping critters happy and energized. The amount of free time that the game gives back to players rewards them with cuteness every step of the way. Whether it's filling late orders or rescuing critters, Critter Café provides simple yet fun challenges and instant gratification that allows the real world to gladly slip away.
Guilty Gear Strive is a great fighting game that fits right at home in the genre, and that doesn't change with the Blazing Edition. However, this "definitive" version seems rather pointless for most players, both old and new.
The announcement of Horizon Zero Dawn getting its own Lego title came out of left field, but playing Lego Horizon Adventures is all one needs to put any doubts and concerns to rest. Making Horizon's world much lighter and kid-friendly through the lens of Lego was a most unexpected but welcome surprise, not some cynical spin-off. Burch and the rest of the cast seemed to have a lot of fun portraying their characters in a more comedic tone. At its worst, the gameplay wasn't perfect; it needed additions from both the Lego and Horizon worlds to balance each other out. But even so, it doesn't matter if players are newcomers or established Horizon fans; everyone should play Lego Horizon Adventures.
Players will be invested in Black Ops 6 as much as they want to and participate in something that delivers precisely what it's supposed to. Fast-paced action, farcical storytelling, and access to a world of people who want to curse you out on a microphone -- that's what Black Ops 6, the Call of Duty series and most modern video games are all about.
After playing Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, any qualms about this remaster can and will vanish. This is an in-depth remaster that’s just shy of being a remake. The way Nixxes Studios manages to rework countless motion capture footage to make interactions more lifelike and having the environments pop more than they did in the past is incredible.
It makes sense that Meta bundled Arkham Shadow with new purchases for their Meta Quest 3/3S, as this game is a headset seller. Camaouflaj made a full-length Arkham VR game that perfectly immerses players in the world. Being Batman is rewarding, as taking out enemies never felt better. Getting involved in a conspiracy that engulfed Gotham while fighting legions of enemies with some of the superhero genre's most famous gadgets is pure Dark Knight goodness. With these in mind, Batman: Arkham Shadow isn't just the best VR title out right now and a great holiday gift, but it's the worthy continuation of the Batman: Arkham games that fans have been waiting for.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure is the sequel that fans have longed for, and it's worth the almost-10 year wait. Max is still a great protagonist, and watching her try to figure out Safi's murder provides some intense moments. The new powers provided excellent gameplay and choices, even if some puzzles were too easy. While the art was stunning, the issues with the sound were a little distracting. Not helping were some instances of lousy lip-syncing and low audio levels. That said, these are minor bumps along the way. If any player wants to see Max again, they'll be happy with Life is Strange: Double Exposure.
Metro Awakening is a thrilling title that newcomers and longtime fans will love despite its few but glaring flaws. The game smartly rolls out different weapons and gadgets, so it's not too overwhelming for the player. Shooting monsters and planning out stealth strategies is a lot of fun, even if the combat itself may feel more cumbersome than it should. It's frustrating that there were moments when the game needed to be restarted as the frame rate dropped significantly. With the holidays coming up, Metro Awakening is a must-have game for any VR lover, old-school Metro fan or both.
All these improvements come together to create the perfect package that any fan could only dream of. The 2002 version of Resident Evil is the epitome of what a remake should be: sticking true to its source material, while also making necessary changes in all the right places. While some will claim there are better remakes out there, no one can take away the fact that Resident Evil remains the touchstone of survival horror. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and since its easy to see Resident Evil's DNA everywhere in the industry, we can safely say that it is the best remake ever made.
Players with a longtime love of the Metal Slug franchise must cautiously approach Tactics. I's fun when it's all working correctly, but menus that seem to disobey logic, multiple bugs and more keep this from being the return of a great, misunderstood franchise. If Leikir and Dotemu can make the necessary changes to refine gameplay to a smooth state, then this release can hold fans over until Metal Slug 8 arrives, and even get them more excited for its arrival.
The final verdict on Dragon Age: The Veilguard for me is positive overall. I am already excitedly exploring a second playthrough and taking my time to really let the world, and everything I've learned, sink in.
Super Mario Party Jamboree shows the franchise still has a lot of life to it. The boards and minigames work in harmony to deliver a good party mode. Having Party Planner Trek serve as the story mode is a great choice, as it provides a nice story while giving incentives to beat the mode. Some of the motion control modes didn’t hit as well, and playing online could lead to problems. These minor bumps don’t stop the party's momentum, as Super Mario Party Jamboree is an excellent addition to the Switch’s final years.
Whether you’re a hardcore Sonic fan, a former fan, or someone who’s never played a Sonic game in their life, SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS is a must-play and one of the best games of 2024. Playing through Sonic Generations reminded me of winters powering through Sonic 2 all night and summers trying to get every emblem in Sonic Adventure 2. Shadow Generations was the one-two punch that convinced me I not only needed to replay these games, but actually play all the ones I’ve since missed. It’s been a long while since I’ve cared this much about Sonic the Hedgehog, but if SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS is the level of quality Sonic Team will be putting out from here on out, I won’t be looking away again anytime soon.
Marko: Beyond Brave achieves its simplest goal, which is being a good and fun Metroidvania. It may not go above and beyond the genre's constraints and expectations, but fans will still find the gameplay enticing enough. The exploration and unlocking of new abilities keep the game from going stale. What really holds the game back is the confusing map, which gets in the way of truly exploring and appreciating the world. While not bad, the story and lore are also so bland that they're practically skippable. Despite these, any Metroidvania fan should play and support Marko: Beyond Brave.