Mike Epstein
Mike Epstein's Reviews
In changing the interplay between stealth and combat, Mutant Year Zero spins an interesting and intense new perspective on turn-based tactics that pushes you to get the most out of every move you make.
Ace Combat 7: Unknown Skies doesn't do a lot ot update its classic arcade-style dogfighting, but it does look great and its gameplay holds up for the most part.
DoA 6 proves there's plenty of depth to this fighter beneath its skimpy outfits, but its story mode is disjointed and its multiplayer features are currently bare.
Generation Zero is a buggy and poorly designed open-world co-op shooter that tragically squanders its distinctive setting.
Ghost Giant may look like something you've played in VR before, but has the character and emotional depth to invoke very real feelings.
Pathway brings together RPG tactics and roguelite progression with a unique Indiana Jones setting, but it doesn't have the depth to feel replayable.
Exploring the uncharted worlds of Outer Wilds feels like a true adventure in ways most games never achieve.
Cadence of Hyrule takes the ideas of Crypt of the Necrodancer and the Legend of Zelda and mashes them up to find a distinctively fun gameplay groove.
A true licensed tie-in game, Stranger Things 3: The Game is most fun when you let fandom lead the way but can fall flat on its own. [Warning: This review contains spoilers for Netflix's Stranger Things, Season 3]
Kill la Kill The Game: IF looks good, but lacks mechanical depth, narrative nuance, or a breadth of content to match.
Seed of Evil doesn't rock the boat, but Mutant Year Zero's unique tactical style is worth returning to.
Gears 5 biggest changes don't reinvent the series, but give the classic shooter more room to breathe. Let Gears be Gears.
The Surge 2 offers the hard-earned pleasures of Souls-style combat, with less of genre's signature sting
Code Vein takes some interesting chances with Soulslike mechanics and finds mixed results, but there's something worth sinking your teeth into here.
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics can be a passable, if bland, strategy RPG with great inspirations, but lacks the polish or depth to make a strong impression of its own.
Forget standoffs and cattle rustling--Bloodroots turns the Wild West into a chaotic murder cartoon.
Nioh 2 is even tougher than the original, and you'll get on its level or happily die trying.
Panzer Dragoon: Remake restores a cult classic on-rails shooter, flaws and all.
Bleeding Edge blends third-person action with MOBA and hero-shooter mechanics to create an interesting but flawed action esport.
Gears Tactics carefully recreates the chaotic excitement of a Gears of War firefight in turn-based strategy form.