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Overall, Gears of War: Reloaded is a disappointing first endeavor on the PlayStation 5. While getting to experience the story is something I enjoyed, it's not the best part of this title. In an age of remakes and remasters, this doesn't fit the profile. With the visuals getting only some touch-ups, the audio is not great. Plus, the controls feel as old as before, making this feel just like a one-to-one port. Many PlayStation players may get turned away by the lackings that this title offers.
The potential of becoming addicted to a game like this, in a similar way to playing other RPGs (like Pokémon), was drawing me in. Now that I've got that experience, I don't think that the systems are intuitive enough for this Story of Seasons game in particular to be enjoyable. The systems, from agriculture to animal husbandry to fishing, never hooked me, and it just feels like a hassle having to water the plants every day or feed the animals.
The competition that Shantae is up against on the Switch means it doesn't stand out as a release compared to when it was released on GBA. There are so many great metroidvanias on Switch that I don't know if the title is as valuable on Switch as compared to its release on GBA, where there are so few metroidvania-type games.
Don’t let the 8-bit graphics fool you OFF has a lot to offer with its funny dialogue, a strangely atmospheric setting and solid turn-based RPG gameplay.
Having a Donkey Kong platformer for the Switch 2 launch year is a bold move from Nintendo. Everyone was expecting a sequel to Mario Odyssey but instead they gave us a Donkey Kong developed by the Mario Odyssey team, but it’s nothing like a Mario Odyssey game. It’s a game of its own caliber. Donkey Kong throws punches like we’ve never seen before.
Overall, Hunter x Hunter: Nen Impact is not a terrible game. It has a fair bit of content, responsive controls, decent gameplay, and is, in general, a passable fighting game. That said, with its horrible online, terrible and unbalanced roster, the atrocious Story Mode, and its overinflated price tag, it’s not really a game I can recommend to anyone. If you’re a really big fan of fighting games and this game goes on a deep discount, it might be worth checking out. Otherwise, it’s best to steer clear of this game, move on, and never look back.
The Drifter is a phenomenal experience that takes you on a roller-coaster ride unlike any other game that I’ve played in recent memory. The gameplay may be simple to some but it provides players with a lot of satisfaction with every puzzle solved. Couple that with a gripping story featuring incredible writing, memorable characters, hard hitting themes and messages, amazing art design and a brilliant soundtrack, and The Drifter has everything that it needs to provide you with a perfect experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades” kick-starts the game with the line “You win some, lose some […].” That’s exactly how I feel about Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4. Despite the outstanding gameplay, level design, and stable performance, this is not a faithful recreation of the originals.
Hypercharge is a solid experience that has everything you could want from a shooter game and if you’re in the mood to play toy soldiers for a couple of hours then this one is a must buy.
The more I think about Ruffy, the more I see lost potential. Ruffy and the Riverside is a solid puzzle platformer that needed more substance. The collectable elements always reward the same thing, gold, which is largely worthless, the platforming is much too light given the arsenal of moves Ruffy has access to, and the swap ability, while inventive, needed more interesting application.
Despite its glaring flaws, Nightreign is a fantastic experience for long-time FromSoftware and, specifically, Elden Ring fans. At its core, it is more Elden Ring, an automatic positive. When Nightreign is clicking, it soars to some of the highest heights FromSoftware games can get.
I have mixed feelings about Mario Kart World. I’ve enjoyed my time with the game, but there are several major issues that I just can’t ignore. The terrible character select screen, the lackluster Free Roam and battle modes, and the small number of tracks leave a lot to be desired. That said, the better graphics, the character roster, and the vast content in the game are a step in the right direction.
Rooftops & Alleys: The Parkour Game is not gonna break bounds or anything largely because of its niche demographic and straightforward gameplay, but it’s a game that you’ll quickly find is addicting once you figure out the controls, put on your running shoes, and get moving.
In its current state MindsEye certainly isn’t anything special, but if you are willing to take a risk on something that has a solid foundation, oodles of potential but might just end up leave you a little dissatisfied with the final result, MindsEye is worth a try – but maybe wait until its performance is ironed out.
Date Everything! is a very unique game that stands out from other visual novels. The creative idea, the vast array of memorable characters, the quirky writing, and the beautiful art really help this game shine. While the large amount of content can be overwhelming and the performance issues, along with the bugs, can put a damper on things, none of it really drags the experience down.
Debuting with this game is an impressive feat for Far Out Games. Even more so impressive as many on the team have been recent students. The destruction is iconic, the driving feels weighted, and its story keeps you guessing, even if the ending is a head-scratcher. But the game is a labor of love, and the developers have something special here.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a solid collection with a nice assortment of classic fighting games. Despite some of the flaws with its online, there are still plenty of reasons to love this game. The numerous extras, added online play with rollback netcode, and the overall style of the collection, combined with the obvious benefit of having these games preserved, make this quite a great collection.
On offer here is an interesting story with engaging characters, simple, and gorgeous environments. Where it is perhaps let down the most is the uneven pacing, characterization that can feel unnatural and unearned, and a simplistic combat system flawed enough to tip the balance from fun and challenging to frustration.
StarVaders is a very addictive game that offers a lot of replay value. Its gameplay loop of defeating enemies with smart tactical manoeuvres, collecting cards to build a powerful deck, and repeating the process is a ton of fun. It’s not going to be for everybody and it can feel overwhelming at times with the stats, but after a while it’s a very easy game to pick up and play.
Doom: The Dark Ages is a complete experience from top to bottom. Top notch combat that comes from a dev team that has been doing FPS for a long time. A story that moves the plot along in a meaningful way and keeps intrigue, at least enough to get to the next fighting sequence. Quality cutscenes give players the full depth of the story as it happens and adds to the overall production value of the game.