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I had very few complaints about Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist by the time I saw both endings. Adglobe and Live Wire should pat themselves on the back for being a game that helps kick 2025 off in a strong way. To any fans of the metroidvania genre, i’d definitely recommend checking it, as well as it’s predecessor out if you have not.
Going into to Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector I had high expectations based on my experience with the first game, and I’m so happy to say that it absolutely smashed those expectations out of the park. It builds on the world and mechanics of this first game – changing and expanding enough that it feels like a fresh experience. For fans of TTRPGs, the two similar but distinct gameplay loops will scratch that mechanical itch. And for those that love storytelling, the choices you make as you play through the game will absolutely leave you eager to fire up a second playthrough to explore what happens at the end of another road.
If you want to come back to re-visit Ninja Gaiden 2, I highly recommend you do. If you loved it the first time, you will love it even more with its new polish. But if you are new to the game, be aware that you are paying for graphics. In terms of game mechanics, you will have a similar experience to the original title. To play this game in 2025 is a reminder of how far games have come technologically speaking. But it is an amazing revitalization of a classic that reminds us, 2025 needs more 2008 era games.
Despite a few minor flaws and the potential repetitiveness, Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is a great game. With it’s blend of tower defense, shooting and strategy it is a game worth playing with a lot of fun to be had, especially with friends. Finding the best way to tackle each mission and laying waste to the Orcs with traps and your Mage will provide you with plenty of entertainment. I can safely say after 20 plus hours of Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap, this Orcs Must Die noob won’t be skipping the series anymore.
Sniper Elite: Resistance is the definitive Sniper Elite experience. Not being a numbered sequel, it doesn’t add many new things, but with a fully developed, compelling campaign, and an incredibly satisfying gameplay loop it is the most comprehensive way to experience a Sniper Elite game. Packed with satisfying kills, and a variety of ways to play, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better Nazi killer out there. Viva La Sniper Elite: Resistance!
It’s early in 2025, but this game is without a doubt, my game of the month. While it’s shaping up to be an amazing year in gaming, Eternal Strands is kicking off the year with a strong start. The game is a self proclaimed labor of love and it shows in every way. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when I started and at first I was worried this would just be a bit of Monster Hunter and a bit of the latest Zelda games with just a dash of storytelling.
I very quickly got through easy mode in a few hours and jumped straight into Jedi mode which lasted a little longer. If you have never played Jedi Power Battles, while short this Remaster is a must. If you have played it, it’s a great nostalgia hit for a rainy weekend romp down memory lane.
Nikoderiko: The Magical World is the sum of its parts; some of which it has borrowed from established platformer IPs, and the rest created by the Vea Games. With the option for co-op also available, I could see Nikoderiko getting younger gamers into the genre. Overall, it makes for a polished, fun-filled, albeit familiar experience that I really enjoyed.
I rarely, if ever, play any kind of racing games nowadays and while one might not consider this a racing game, it still definitely fills that niche for some gamers. That being said, Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders was a lot of fun! It strikes a nice balance between those looking to break some time records on a trail and those looking to unwind and take a trip down some beautiful mountainsides. My hope is that Megagon Industries continues to invest in this game and develop more facets that keep future players hitting the slopes as time goes by!
Dead Of Darkness is a love letter to survival horror games of the past, all be it with 16-bit graphics and better voice acting. It takes some of the best parts of games like Resident Evil, twists it into an SNES style package, and just lets it be what it is. In a world full of video game’s with giant open worlds that are big for the sake of being big it’s refreshing to play a game that knows exactly what it is and doesn’t try to be anything else. That said the lack of a system to track where you’re going did get me lost a few times after I shut the game off for the night. As stated above a spot in the menu to look at previous dialog in the game would fix this and it’s something used in this genre of game. If old school survival horror is your thing I highly, highly recommend this game.
Symphonia 𝄞 is a gloriously fun precision platformer with beautiful worlds, fabulous scores, excellent gameplay, and fun replayability. Most importantly, for me, it carries an important message about the importance of music, and its role in the world. It’s a must play if you’re a fan of platforming, enjoy music and a bit of a challenge; you’ll have an amazing time.
Overall, my thoughts on the morphing feature reflect my thoughts on Project Tower as a whole. It’s a small and very ambitious project from a tiny indie team, and what they’ve accomplished is great, but it seems like a jumping off point for a bigger more fleshed out game.
All in all, Soul Reaver 1 and 2 definitely have their areas of appeal and I can see why there is such a devoted fan base for these games, even in 2025. The biggest flaw that I see is this: there are games with better puzzle elements in this day and age and there are games with better combat in this day and age. In an ever-growing world of remasters and reboots of old franchises, I cannot say in good faith that these games hold their weight in the current age of gaming.
Stalker 2 is proof of a game being too ambitious for it’s own good. If it had a much more condensed map or better travel system it would have made for a much more enjoyable experience and would have likely helped with polish. It had genuine Game Of The Year potential. As is, Stalker 2 is a good game with a story that will keep you engaged with its twists and turns. The games survival mechanics fit the game well and add to its challenge. The few bugs that remain arent game breaking and in general if you step into the Zone you should enjoy your time there. As much as one can enjoy a radioactive land filled with mutants anyway.
I can’t help but point out that I see a lot of haters saying this game wouldn’t be successful without the IP. I think Crystal Dynamic’s Marvel Avengers is proof that IP isn’t everything. It’s the love and care put into how the characters are crafted that shines through to make this game unique and make you feel like you are playing the definitive Marvel experience. Leaving IP out of the conversation, this hero shooter is worthy of your time when so many are fighting for it. I urge you to download and give this game a proper shot. Whether you are flying around shooting missiles as Iron Man or throwing 10,000 punches in .01 second as Iron Fist, you will truly feel like you are a hero in this well crafted shooter game.
Venture to the Vile is a confident, alluring, and above all enjoyable metroidvania game. While its flaws may creep in like the Vile, they never truly consume the brilliance of this macabre yet enchanting tale, making Venture to the Vile a journey well worth taking.
Despite it’s ropey start Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is being rightly praised for being one of Asobo’s best additions to the series. Its expansive content, realism, and immersive gameplay make it a step up from the 2020 outing I loved so much. The Career Mode especially made it feel a little more game like for me, and helped me focus on a progression path to learn new aviation skills. I’m not sure if this mode is exactly what die hard flight sim enthusiasts were looking for, but hopefully the core experience from 2020 and the new in depth plane upkeep and business owning mechanics are offering something for everyone.
Having never watched the Anime that Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable is based on I had no idea what to expect. What I was met with was swinging around like spiderman with blades almost as big as me and giant naked dudes’ hell bent on eating me, and boy oh boy did they eat me.
Hidden Cats in Santa’s Realm is a great addition to the Hidden Cats series. I always look forward to new releases from this series, and the newest iteration doesn’t disappoint. While it’s an easy game for achievement hunters, it’s also accessible and enjoyable for players of all ages. If you’re looking for a relaxing game to enjoy for an hour or two, I highly recommend giving this one a try.
Minor complaints aside, I did go in expecting Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to be a good game, as Machine games has always been a solid developer but the game ended up exceeding my expectations. It blends its various gameplay styles together quite well, has an enjoyable story with a great cast of characters that finally gives Indiana Jones his definitive game without ironically being a carbon copy of the two gaming franchises he inspired heavily.