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Mike Epstein


Favorite Games:

68 games reviewed
67.8 average score
70 median score
41.2% of games recommended

Mike Epstein's Reviews

Freelance tech and culture critic. Former gaming editor for Digital Trends. Currently reviews games for IGN, Variety, and others.

Fire Emblem: Fates offers new features and gameplay that weigh down the series' tried and true gameplay, rather than enhance it.

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Fire Emblem: Fates offers new features and gameplay that weigh down the series' tried and true gameplay, rather than enhance it.

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Fans waiting for the next Fire Emblem will certainly not feel cheated by Fates: The nerve-wracking decision over risking a character's life with every move has not diminished. That said, with its many attempts at innovation falling short of their marks, and its core gameplay lacking the refinement seen in its predecessors, perhaps Nintendo should signal a tactical retreat and focus on making the best Fire Emblem possible.

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We're only one episode in, but Hitman already excels as an episodic game.

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Apr 1, 2016

Quantum Break tries to master video game and TV storytelling, but fails at both.

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A fun and fitting end for Nathan Drake

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- Doom
May 19, 2016

Doom is a brilliant homage to the spirit, and hellish gore, of old PC shooters.

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Mirror's Edge: Catalyst still has fun parkour, but fails as a compelling open-world game.

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Aug 1, 2016

Song of the Deep has too many bugs and design flaws to stay afloat.

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Aug 23, 2016

'No Man's Sky' is the most massive exploration game of all time, but ultimately feels hollow

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Sep 14, 2016

'ReCore' is a game you'll want to love -- which only make its flaws that much more disappointing.

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Dec 16, 2016

Final Fantasy fans should play this game immediately. It's not perfect, but it has many of the franchise's traditional strengths. If you're new to the series, you may want to try the classics first, or wait for a sale.

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'Breath of the Wild' is the best launch game on Switch and unlike any Legend of Zelda game you've ever played.

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The best looking world we've entered all year can't save Assassin's Creed Origins.

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Jan 26, 2018

'Dragon Ball FighterZ' is the first Dragon Ball game everyone should play.

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Jul 19, 2018

Far Cry 5 never decides what game it wants to be.

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Aug 14, 2018

God of War is a true blockbuster sure to impress long-time fans and newcomers alike.

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7.4 / 10.0 - Phantom Doctrine
Aug 14, 2018

The campaign itself can feel drawn out at times thanks to a less-than-stellar story and some obviously recycled content, but there's a real thrill in executing covert missions and putting all the pieces together like a master spy.

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6.7 / 10.0 - Death's Gambit
Sep 5, 2018

Death's Gambit is a very blunt attempt to fuse two beloved games, Dark Souls and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, into one challenging 2D action-platformer. Developer White Rabbit shows a strong understanding of what made each of them great but glosses over fundamentals that all great games need, such as responsive controls and an understandable game world, and falls short of its promise.

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Oct 17, 2018

Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption has a few clever new ideas, but it doesn't quite feel like a complete package.

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