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The climbing might be awkward, but there’s still so much to love in CAIRN besides. It felt like a true achievement to reach the summit of Mount Kami; not in spite of the janky controls but because of the stunning environments, satisfying survival-lite mechanics, and affecting story.
Is Dynasty Warriors: Origins the pinnacle of the Musou games? In a lot of ways, it is. However, I think it comes down to whether you prefer the crossover games, where emphasis is certainly on story (especially with the Zelda Musou games), or you want a super-charged Musou experience that maximises the core of what these games are.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a superb redux of one of the longest and most overlooked games in the series. Reimagined breathes new life into Dragon Quest VII through its tighter pacing, incredible charm, sense of adventure, and some of the most polished turn-based gameplay in Dragon Quest history.
The game carves a spot in bullet-hell for its undeniable difficulty paired with it’s over the top “just have fun” attitude.
If it can utilize its early access period well and continue the obvious passion the development team has, it could become a very big game among the roguelite community over time.
Octopath Traveler 0 is a great entry in the series. While it may not reach the heights of Octopath Traveler II in terms of presentation and character arcs, it surpasses the first game on all accounts.
The game provides a masterful way of experiencing the iconic flying simulator series not just on console format, but for the PS5. With so many bad actor clones of the genre out there, it’s great to see this one should finally put those to rest.
Demonschool is a stylish and unique strategy RPG that offers plenty of challenge, creativity, and charm that should keep you satisfied well beyond the holidays.
It’s a lonely journey through a cold world that I’ve found myself drawn to continuously since I finished it. With this, one fact keeps coming back to me — nearly 15 years after I first saw it, Routine is out, and it’s good.
I recommend giving A Game About Digging A Hole your time. That way, you can see what a simulator can provide and how it pushes the envelope a little bit in terms of where it wants to go with the story. Not just that, but it may even tempt you to dive back in for more than one playthrough of digging for treasure in your backyard.
If you play COD primarily for competitive modes or co-op survival, this is one of the strongest releases in years. Solo campaign players, however, will find it deeply frustrating. Regardless, BO7 should represent a wake-up call for Treyarch and Raven in how they deal with the story, characters, world, and future of Black Ops.
There is a good game inside this remaster and if this was your only option then the package is actually pretty solid.
Angry Video Game Nerd 8-bit is undeniably made for the fans. In fact, I’d go as far to say that it’s a must play if you’ve kept up with the Nerd over the years.
In the state that the game currently sits, it is a hard justification to dive into if you already own the titles on other systems. But if you are a newer fan or want to enjoy it on modern systems, it’s the best option.
Devil Jam is a solid player in survivors-like games, and I think most players who enjoy them will want to give it a play. I even see a chance at this game drawing in from the music crowd, especially because of the rhythm-like mechanics. It is a fun, rewarding play loop that has the air of addictiveness to it. It’s a great game to spend time on, and the increasing difficulty scale keeps it somewhat different as you progress.
If you haven’t played a platformer or are accustomed, Yooka-Replaylee is something that shouldn’t be missed. Playtonic wanted a chance to redeem the game for the first time… and you know what? They knocked it out of the park.
For the most part, this game will be best enjoyed by a very particular type of audience, especially those interested in philosophical musings. I’m not sure if the majority of players will fit into that audience, but I do believe that there is enjoyment to be had on some levels by a large chunk of players.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds maintains the goodwill and positivity of Sonic the Hedgehog’s recent return to form in the gaming space and is essential for both fans of kart-racers and the blue hedgehog’s legendary franchise.
The game is inspired by both Dark Souls and Resident Evil 4. It doesn’t hit the highs of those games, primarily because of drab environments and sometimes boring gameplay. The Switch 2 version doesn’t do much to distinguish itself from a Switch 1 game, but some of the effects do look next-gen.
Star Wars Outlaws on Switch 2 epitomizes what a modern video game should be. It is accessible, addictive, and visually stunning.