CNET's Reviews
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach should have been called Death Stranding 2: Quality of Life, because that's what this game is. From top to bottom, Kojima Productions made so many improvements to the original, making a weird delivery-sim game that is quite relaxing. Those improvements may not be enough to attract people who avoided the original, yet the players coming back are going to find a sense of calmness that you could assume Kojima wanted to deliver with his game.
As the studio's debut multiplayer game, it comes with the expected warts and wonders of a first effort. But it's how Remedy was able to blend the game's unique experiences with the unpredictability of online co-op play that makes FBC: Firebreak the weird one-of-a-kind game it is.
Nightreign is so unlike every other game out there that its sheer novelty may be enough to tempt FromSoftware veterans and newcomers alike. It's polished, is easy to get into the action and has a very high skill ceiling. If players stick through its lack of direction and difficulty, they'll find a multiplayer game that feels rewarding to win in a way few other games are.
All the new additions id Software introduced in Doom: The Dark Ages are welcome changes to keep a franchise that's been around for more than three decades feeling fresh. I still can't shake the feeling that something's missing, though. It just doesn't have the same pull as the last two Doom games.
To call The Blue Prince a puzzle game fails to acknowledge the many, many ways its intricate systems will surprise and excite players eager for secrets and mind-teasers. It's one of the most unique puzzle games in years, and while its tricks and mechanical hurdles can trip you up, The Blue Prince is a masterclass in design for those eager to lose themselves in a mysterious, clockwork mansion.
With the exception of some quirks with the quest system, a less-than-stellar English voice track and a storyline that may not be the most compelling of the franchise, it's hard to find major faults with Assassin's Creed Shadows. Ubisoft has found what could be the new formula for the franchise, and it will hopefully retool this formula to keep future titles fresh for players.
Avowed had everything I wanted in an epic, open-world RPG except for that steady flow of narrative. I want the RPG I'm playing to suck me in with its story and keep me playing with its gameplay. When one of those elements is lacking, the game feels like a chore for long periods.
If you can get through the more monotonous parts of The Great Circle's gameplay, there's a fun story to experience with fantastic character writing, voice acting and music. This is one of those instances where you prefer watching the cutscenes to playing the actual game because MachineGames did everything just right.
It's safe to say Split Fiction is a fun game for anyone who's got another player ready to try it out. Whimsical, lighthearted, action-packed and thoughtfully-made, it feels ready for any co-op team from strangers to best friends.
Despite the fantasy world not being particularly deep or interesting, it doesn't take away from the overall gameplay. Even though it's a retread of past Persona formulas, it's polished and makes for a satisfying gameplay loop.
I can easily see Starfield being Game of the Year and being one of the best reasons to have a Game Pass subscription.
At a price of $60, there's little reason not to buy Baldur's Gate 3 if you enjoy RPGs.
If there's one word to summarize the Dead Space remake, it's seamless. Practically every decision made in this game was done to make players like myself feel like these new additions were already in the original.
I had developed a distaste for the original RE4 because it led the series down a path that took horror out of the franchise. The remake revitalized my fondness for the game, taking me back to 2005, when I first played the original.
Diablo 4 does many things right to elevate the series. It offers a lot of content to keep players occupied for long periods of time, but it doesn't do so without meaning. The game also returns to the dark tone of the original game but amplifies it for the modern audience.
Wild Hearts isn't going to take the monster-hunting crown. Fans of the Capcom series won't find much new to explore in the game, while those new to the genre will see the same notes repeated again and again.
In the 10+ hours I spent playing Forspoken, I couldn't find one aspect of the game to compel me to play further.
Midnight Suns is not a great game for most people. Its card strategy combat is unlikely to win over those who don't play strategy games, and the game's story doesn't have enough pull to keep nonfans engaged. Fans who fit in that Venn diagram of being a fan of strategy and Marvel comics, especially of the Midnight Sons storyline, will find the game to be well worth the time and money.
Gotham Knights makes some bold choices overall, but the execution is poor. It doesn't play or look great, nor does it properly showcase the characters meant to replace Batman. Instead of going to the extremes by ditching Batman and replacing him with four other heroes, WB Games Montreal should have re-established the franchise for the next-gen consoles and then switched gears with a follow-up.
Saints Row simply doesn't do enough to set itself apart in an era when the genre is already tired. I could deal with just mediocre action, boring characters or subpar audio and visuals -- but not all three.