Game8's Reviews
ROUTINE is an immersive, tense first-person horror game that excels at atmosphere, environmental storytelling, and stealth-based tension. Its minimalist systems and basic gameplay loop may feel limiting, and the story never fully engages or surprises, but those willing to embrace the game’s focused design will find a highly rewarding experience. It perfectly conveys the sense of being utterly alone on a derelict lunar base, and despite its flaws, it’s a compelling journey for fans of atmospheric horror.
It took Metroid Prime 4: Beyond eight years to crawl out of its 2017 announcement, but the wait didn’t strip away what makes the series work. Some of its new ideas feel a little undercooked, yet the critically-acclaimed formula of the original Prime game remains intact, now bolstered by fun additions to Samus’ arsenal. There are some fumbles that will get fans scratching their heads, but if you spend enough time with it, you will feel the old Prime magic humming again, steady and unmistakable.
Vivid World is an enjoyable auto-battler strategy game with roguelike elements, wrapped in one fun package. It's got it all, from fun gameplay, to cute, whimsical visuals, and a gripping story, coming together for a solid gameplay experience that will have you entertained for hours.
MSFS 2024 on PS5 is a mixed bag. When everything works, it’s a near-perfect simulation playground with stunning visuals and complex flight mechanics. But technical issues and buggy career progression significantly temper the experience. For newcomers or casual pilots, patience is required. For enthusiasts, it’s still a compelling, if imperfect, flight simulator.
MARVEL Cosmic Invasion isn’t quite the blockbuster-level beat 'em up game that rivals the likes of Street of Rage 4 and TMNT: Shredder's Revenge. It has clear flaws in its progression systems and stage design, but it's undeniable that it's presentation is top-notch, it has good variety in its characters, and is fun and simple enough for everyone to play.
Of Ash and Steel is a classic tale of a zero-to-hero journey that's willing to show off its flaws, intentionally and unintentionally. It's the type of game that's built for a particular audience, one that revels in relishing the masochistic nature of old-school RPGs.
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition's Switch 2 port is great, especially since being able to play it on the go at 60 FPS and at a higher resolution is a dream come true. However, it could've been the perfect version had it used more of the Switch 2's capabilities.
Escape from Tarkov's world is unforgiving, and is definitely not for casual play. Yet, its the challenge and engaging gameplay that makes it all the better. It's still weighed down by bugs and glitches and connection issues here and there, as well as the disappointing lack of (free) PvE, but it's a solid FPS extraction game for those looking for an extra hard challenge.
Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE feels like an adaptation that fixates on power-fantasy action while discarding nearly everything that made the original compelling. Its has great audiovisuals, sure, but the gameplay quickly becomes an unrewarding and repetitive checklist.
Constance shines with its vibrant 2D art, crisp platforming, and some clever progression ideas, but ultimately plays second fiddle to one of the genre’s greats. It’s far from a bad game—quite the opposite—but its strengths don’t make it easier to choose over a top-tier rival at the same price. Still, it’s enjoyable in its own right and serves as a refreshing break when Silksong has you worn down.
You’ve got to give it to Masahiro Sakurai for taking a deceptively simple concept and turning it into something so engaging. Between the different game modes and the variety of challenges within each, there’s almost always something to figure out or experiment with. The gameplay can get hectic quickly, but that’s part of its appeal. With the new Road Trip mode adding a sense of progression, even if the story itself doesn’t quite grab you, Kirby Air Riders is a game where even a single race can leave you grinning and thinking about the next one.
Demonschool is a quirky tactics RPG that is sure to entertain players in many different aspects. From odd but lovable characters, stunning visuals, an interesting plot that transcends the human and the demon world, and engaging strategy gameplay with unique mechanics, there’s a lot to like about it. Its complex tactical mechanics may not be for everyone and may not be the best tactical RPG for a newbie, but it’s got charm.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is a refinement of what's already to be expected, crisp gunplay and fun multiplayer content. Outside of that, it loses its luster. The campaign alone singlehandedly sours the experience, with the narrative going so far off the rails that it unintentionally becomes a parody of a different game.
Dispatch is absolutely “phenomamal!” Much like a good TV show, its weekly release schedule had me waist-deep in fan theories and discussions, a feat owed largely to the game’s consistently sharp writing and compelling characters. Sure, the pacing is slower than I’d like at times, and the illusion of player choice starts to fade once you notice the train tracks. Even so, I adore how the gameplay is always tied to the story and how the plot feeds back into the dispatch calls. When the credits rolled and all was said and done, I could do nothing more than raise my arms and mutter, “absolute cinema!”
Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road is a game that's been a longtime coming, and one that deserves praise for how much content they're able to cram into a game. With a memorable storyline fitting of the franchise, breathtaking visuals, iconic music tracks, and engaging football simulation, it's the definitive game of the franchise and one that'll last for years to come.
The DX edition having every DLC and a handful of unique content, regardless of how lean they are, makes it an absolute steal for newcomers, though. Unfortunately, for those who’ve already played the base game and its expansions, the value proposition drops off rather sharply.
Despite the original Ryza 2 being a strict upgrade over its predecessor in almost every way, the new DX version delivers only minor overall improvements to the base game itself. In particular, the character reintroductions and accompanying story are rather disappointing compared to the added utility of the more controversial mascot character.
Where Winds Meet stands out as a beautifully crafted RPG with light MMO elements, offering deep character progression, engaging combat, and a living, immersive world. Its minor flaws, like early pacing issues in the story, occasional audio hiccups, and a few technical bugs, don’t overshadow the game’s many strengths.
Like with many Musou games before it, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment sticks to the tried-and-true formula, just under a Zelda-themed coat of paint. It’s not going to reinvent the genre or add major new lore to Tears of the Kingdom, and the repetitiveness and occasionally poor AI hold it back. Even so, the combat is really fun. The new mechanics added here are a nice touch, and it’s easy to get drawn into missions far longer than you’d expect.
Rue Valley is an isometric narrative RPG gem that blends a captivating, emotionally-charged story with memorable characters all in one package. Although it has a few technical weaknesses, it doesn't heavily retract from the overall experience. Eugene Harrow's strange journey into the unknown of his own psyche and other people is an intriguing, even relatable, experience.