CBR's Reviews
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.
The DLC is held back by bugs that will hopefully be patched in the future, and preferably sooner than later. But even with the eventual updates and fixes, this is still a DLC that adds no spice to the base gameplay. Yet despite not making any big additions to the gameplay, Shattered Space is still a fun time. This consistency is a testament to the DLC's quality, and that of Starfield as a whole. It's for these reasons that Shattered Space is a good reason to dust off Starfield from the backlog and give it another shot.
Neva is a game that'll speak to any pet owner and touch their soul. The story between Alba and Neva is simple, but it is a tale packed with emotion that will make anyone tear up. It also boasts some of this year's best visuals with its watercolor background and vibrant colors. The gameplay and puzzles might be lacking for some, but it does the job.
Ultimately, if you've played one Just Dance game, you've played them all, as not much varies when it comes to the actual gameplay itself. However, if fans see a handful of tracks that they're interested in playing in this year's edition, Just Dance 2025 will be a welcome addition to their library. Hardcore fans will likely already be purchasing the game anyway, but for new or returning fans, this seems as good a point to jump back in as any.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed is a surprisingly good movie tie-in game. It has more to offer than most modern beat-'em-ups and the few tie-in games that are still made these days. It takes inspiration from the Persona franchise, which hasn’t been done in games of this kind. Thanks to the movie's returning cast and the game's expanded character development, Mutants Unleashed stands out as one of the rare, excellent movie tie-in games. Unfortunately, its camera and combat get in the way of being really great or even perfect. Still, for turtles fans, especiallyt those who loved Mutant Mayhem, this is a game that’ll make them shout "Cowabunga!"
Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition is a good offering for any fan longing to return to the Darksiders world. It's also a great introduction to the long-running series for newcomers. The visuals and frame rate were updated so well that it makes the excitement of having a new Darksiders game in the future that much more thrilling. However, the biggest issue with this otherwise gorgeous remaster is that the camera and controls are incredibly outdated. Worse, they're completely unresponsive in parts. A couple of bugs also crashed the game, and can force the player to restart from their last save point. That being said, anyone who wants to dive into this world and can endure these frustrating setbacks should still give this remaster a shot. Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition is a fun opportunity to get into this beautiful post-apocalyptic world.
Silent Hill 2 Remake is a sublime masterpiece that will leave any player shaking with some of the scariest moments in gaming history. The remake's updates plus modernized visuals and controls make even something as old as Silent Hill 2 feel like it came from this generation. If any player gets the chance, then play this game with headphones. The audio design is some of the best ever heard in recent memory, as the little sounds and scratches make walking through a hallway even more disturbing than the actual monsters. Fans of the original game are justifiably skeptical, but this remake deserves a chance. Silent Hill 2 Remake should be gamers' top choice to play during this year's spooky season, and for those who want to experience the full potential of today's remakes.
Intentional or not, the release of Metaphor: ReFantazio and its politically charged tale of governmental figures using hate and fear to rule over its people couldn't have come at a better time. Regardless of what 2024's tail end and beyond will bring, the game argues in favor of indulging in optimistic fantasies, especially when the harshness of reality can make these dreams seem impossible. However, one shouldn't lose their head in a book, or a game in this case. These fantasies won't become reality until someone takes the first step forward and fights for it.
Backyard Baseball ‘97 is a fun game that'll attract any baseball fan, especially if they played the original. The cast of characters are the remaster's real MVP, as each kid is memorable and leaves an impact. While the mechanics are pretty simple, there’s a little more depth than players might think. It may take some time for newcomers to adjust to the game's old-school pace and speed, but it works charmingly for those who grew up in that era. Backyard Baseball ‘97 is a fun, casual game that will scratch that baseball itch.