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Children of the Sun has a specific gimmick, and it absolutely nails it. It's a simple but engaging premise that remains fun throughout the entire runtime. It's not overly long, so it's short enough to finish in one sitting, but the potential for high score runs gives it some extra bite. Children of the Sun provides exactly what players want: the chance to play out the raw insanity of Wanted or Guardians of the Galaxy's Yondo, and it nails that concept perfectly.
Horizon: Forbidden West Complete Edition is a very good game, and the PC is the best version of that game thus far. The adventure is engaging overall, even if there are some things that could've been improved. The flexibility of the PC means that there's no longer a compromise between choosing resolution over frame rate. It is an excellent open-world game overall, and we can't wait to see another sequel.
Unicorn Overlord wears its influences on its sleeves, but that is a good thing. It's part Ogre Battle, part Fire Emblem, and part its entirely own thing, and the end result is an absolute blast to play. Add to that the gorgeous visuals, and it's a game that hits all of the marks. The only problems are some minor balance issues, and even those don't detract from the overall fun experience. If you're a fan of strategy RPGs, you owe it to yourself to try out Unicorn Overlord.
Taken on its own, Berzerk: Recharged isn't a bad game. The shooting is still fine, the additions of health and power-ups are neat, as is the presence of co-op. The overall high score chase remains as compelling as ever for those with a classic arcade mindset. Aside from some notable exclusions, the problem is that this title enters a market rife with other twin-stick shooters that do more and offer more to the player, so it's difficult to get excited when picking up the controller. Unless you're filled with nostalgia for the original title and willing to forgive the misses, you can push aside Berzerk in favor of the countless other twin-stick shooters on the platform.
For me, the biggest impact of MLB The Show 24 was the way it honors the game's history while also offering several high-end gateways into the game-playing experience. As a sports title, it's whatever you want it to be. If you want the hardcore stuff with every pitch and swing, you got it. If you want to just destroy the CPU for a quick 10 minutes, you can do that, too. If you want to just know more about baseball's legendary figures, this is also a pretty good place to start.
Open Roads is a nice little narrative adventure that scores through its visuals, good writing, and excellent voice cast. It's pretty short and linear, and not all aspects of the story were quite as well executed as others. Overall, it's a great narrative indie game that feels like a natural extension of Gone Home.
Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is an interesting piece of work. As a city builder, its simplicity in the actual building process is complemented by the unusual environment for the genre. That alone is enough to make simple settlements look cool. As a strategy game, the attempts to simplify some of the traditional mechanics of the 4X genre work surprisingly well, but some elements, like combat, could've used more attention so it doesn't feel like an afterthought. The end result isn't going to be for everyone, but it is worth a look for those who want to jump into the genre and appreciate something out of the ordinary.
South Park: Snow Day! is a good South Park game, but it's just a fine one when viewed without the license. The action is good, as is the inclusion of roguelike elements, but the camera distance can make the gameplay feel cumbersome. The inclusion of multiplayer is great, but the lack of local play is disappointing. While the different card combinations and level elements add some replayability, the presence of only five stages make the game feel short; the disappointment is lessened by the lower-than-expected price tag. It's a fun game, but you'll want to temper your expectations.
Rise of the Ronin really demands that you give it a fair go. It starts off slow and takes a while to get running. Once it does, it's quite fun, with engaging and exciting combat that feels more demanding and intense than I'm used to from an open-world game. It's a big investment up front to find out if the game works for you, and enjoying previous Team Ninja games doesn't necessarily guarantee that you will.
Dragon's Dogma II doesn't feel like anything else on the market. Despite fantasy action-RPG being one of the most common genres, Dragon's Dogma II manages to stand out from the crowd. The unusual atmosphere, excellent combat, and general sense of place and weight make it feel distinct in a world full of Soulslikes or Skyrim clones. It's a boatload of fun to play, and it manages to make what could be a tiring genre feel fresh and full of life. If you're looking to hunt some monsters and cast some spells, Dragon's Dogma II is easily one of the best titles on the market.
Alone in the Dark is a perfectly fun survival-horror game that doesn't manage to stick the landing. Fun puzzle-solving struggles with awkward combat, and a lack of tension keeps the horror feeling limited. It's an interesting reboot of the franchise, and I could easily see it becoming something better in sequels, but the first outing feels unexceptional.
The games included in Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story may not be for everyone, but the experience most certainly is. Digital Eclipse is quickly establishing the Gold Master Series as the video game equivalent of the Criterion Collection film releases. If you have even a passing interest in video game history, you won't be disappointed.
Outcast: A New Beginning is the epitome of a "perfectly fine" game. It plays well, runs well, looks fine, and is a decent experience that never manages to go beyond that. The mobility options make it a delight to explore the open world, but it lacks the punch needed to keep the momentum going. If you're looking for a solid and by-the-book, open-world game, Outcast does everything it needs to - nothing more, nothing less.
Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection is an imperfect collection that still provides a good hit of nostalgia and fun for those looking for a simpler multiplayer escapade. Despite some issues like music dropout in the first game and bad respawning in both games, both games successfully deliver the idea of big, chaotic Star Wars battles without the modern "features" of experience creep and gacha boxes for upgrades. Online players are going to have a good time thanks to the absence of lag and the presence of 64-player battles with bots to fill the empty slots. Offline players will like the ample number of modes along with split-screen play. Unless you want to put in the work of implementing various mods to bring the older games up to speed, you're better off grabbing this package and diving in.
When you get down to it, Pacific Drive is a quietly brilliant game. There's nothing that comes to mind that is like it, and it's an outwardly simple concept that also has a variety of layers. While out on a run, you deftly drive around anomalies and sometimes escape a junction with a tattered car by the skin of your teeth. Other times, you're outfitting your car in the garage while the jukebox is playing, carefully considering what to bring with you and which parts you should have on the car. This game is exactly what I had hoped it would be when I initially heard about it, and it's been a long time since I've played something so boldly different.
WWE 2K24 remains a very good wrestling game. The fighting engine is solid, and while there are still a few things to work on, the new additions make it stronger than last year's entry. The modes may have some flaws, but the modes are fun and plentiful enough to keep players busy for a very long time. Add in the robust presentation, and WWE 2K24 is an easy pick-up for wrestling fans. It also means that the series needs to continue to make significant tweaks to stay on top.
Wildshade: Unicorn Champions is a very messy game. The racing is simple in execution but suffers greatly from a heavy use of rubberbanding, while the tracks don't offer up too much incentive to look for shortcuts. The modes are sparse, and the breeding feature is ultimately boring. The presentation is decent enough in segments, but the visions of horses tumbling while you they whinny destroys any impressions of it being a family-friendly game. This isn't an outright terrible kart racing game, but considering the breadth of titles in the genre across the two platform generations, there's very little reason to choose Wildshade over the spectrum of vastly superior ones.
Cost aside, Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a perfectly delightful, charming and enjoyable puzzle-platformer that doesn't overstay its welcome. Taken entirely on its own merits, it is an excellent game that is a perfect mix of platforming and puzzle gameplay. It doesn't break any molds, but it provides an excellent arcade-style experience with minimal muss and fuss. Only its short length keeps it from being a strong recommendation, but if that isn't a flaw to you, then pop it into your queue.
Like its predecessors, Expeditions: A MudRunner Game is for a specific type of player who wants a driving game instead of a racing game. The player must enjoy messing around with the intricacies of off-road vehicles and doesn't mind experiencing every driving mishap possible. Expeditions isn't a game for everyone, but for those looking for something different from the norm, it's well worth a shot.
After almost 30 years, Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster still holds up. The story is fine, with a general Star Wars vibe and overall clean presentation. The level design and action are good, and the objectives remain novel when compared to its contemporaries. Compared to later games in the series, Dark Forces Remaster is simpler and more enjoyable. Those looking to return to the game with this version will be pleased.