Playing as a Werewolf should be fun and exciting, simple as that. Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood doesn't come close to offering that. Between the dull and laborious Human and Wolf gameplay and the lackluster Werewolf gameplay, it's difficult to recommend Earthblood to anyone. Above story and visuals, gameplay for this type of game should be king. Instead, Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood ends up being too sheepish.
Those who are seeking out a challenging action RPG on the Nintendo Switch should give Warlocks 2: God Slayers a shot. It's just hard to recommend the game based on its tedious control scheme and slow moment-to-moment gameplay.
Need for Speed: Payback features the same fun arcadey racing from 2015's entry, minus all of the heart and soul that game had. With a by-the-books story, and a downright frustrating system to upgrade your car, it's hard to recommend Need for Speed: Payback.
Overall, Black Desert Online is a typical MMO in every single way. While I disagree with their claim that it's the “next generation” of MMOs, I did find the character creation to be the most robust of any MMO out there. Unfortunately, the character customization is the game's biggest highlight, and many of the other elements of Black Desert Online can be found in many other MMOs.
Expedition: Viking is a fun turn-based RPG that is unfortunately marred by various technical issues. While the combat and story are intriguing, the “same-y” environments and characters leave a lot to be desired.
Tennis World Tour 2 isn't necessarily the most robust or enticing offering when it comes to tennis games, but it's one of the only simulation games out there. If you're a die-hard tennis fan, it's worth a shot to see if it can keep your attention. But casual fans should consider looking elsewhere.
Star Wars: Battlefront 2 feels lackluster and dull in so many categories.
Blue Fire is an enjoyable platforming experience and an otherwise decent game in all other aspects. While Void challenge rooms are fun to play through and navigate, Blue Fire's combat and world-level design outside of Void rooms leave a lot to be desired. If Blue Fire leaned into its platforming, I would be highly recommending it for everyone out there.
Predator: Hunting Grounds looks and sounds like Predator, but lacks the soul of the 1987 classic film. For being one of the most iconic hunters in the galaxy, the Predator feels weak compared to the vastly overpowered Fireteam. I never felt terrified of the Predator, and I think that's Hunting Grounds' most glaring issue. I'm invested enough in the Predator franchise to see what Illfonic has up their sleeves in terms of additional content for the game, but I find it hard to recommend to those who are looking for the ultimate Predator fantasy.
Skellboy's strong points come from its writing and visual identity, not from its combat and gameplay. While there are certainly some unique mechanics to keep the game going, there isn't much there to keep players invested. The game is enjoyable enough to get through the story alone, just don't expect a deep gameplay loop within.
Battlefield 2042 is a good game at its core. It's fun, frantic, and as engrossing as Battlefield has ever been. While the launch has been filled with a myriad of technical issues that I failed to mention in this review, those are sure to be ironed out over the next few months. The majority of maps are too large to be impactful, the Specialist system has taken away a core aspect of what makes Battlefield work as a franchise, and the tone of the game is often at odds with itself. But through it all, I'm still enjoying my time blowing things up, screaming and laughing with friends, and making more of those Battlefield memories.
NBA 2K21's current-gen version isn't necessarily the biggest step forward the series has taken, nor should it be expected to be. But what's there is still fun, even if it is more of the same. 2K's reliance on microtransactions still feels incredibly out of place, and the game still doesn't necessarily respect the player's time. If you're a fan of the series, chances are you're already playing the game. If you're on the fence, it may be worth waiting to see what the next-gen version offers.
Destroy All Humans is a fun 1:1 remake of the original but offers very little in terms of new content. The game's updated visual flair and modernized controls are weighed down by technical issues, which often gets in the way of the destructive fun.
NBA Live 19 does a lot of innovating for it's career mode, “The One”, yet drops the ball when it comes to it's other modes. The inclusion of the WNBA is amazing, and really earns the applause it deserves. If there was at least one other new, deep and fun game mode, NBA Live 19 would be right up there with it's competitors. Instead, this year is yet another small step towards something great.
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a delightful trip down memory lane. The art for the characters and environments are absolutely astounding, but with a dated gameplay style, it's difficult to say this remake is fully realized. Yes, purists will love that The Dragon's Trap is a nearly 100% replica of the original with updated art, but I feel as though the love given to the art of the game should have been given to the gameplay as well.
Overall, LEGO Worlds is a LEGO game many fans of the franchise have been waiting for. Between the robust create tools and ability to discover randomly generated worlds, LEGO Worlds offers a ton of great fun. While it’s not nearly as addictive or simple as a game like Minecraft, it should be viewed as a different take on the Create-Your-Own-World genre. The game is unfortunately brought down by it’s floaty and odd controls, but having thousands of classic LEGOs in the game can make up for it if you’re looking for a nostalgic LEGO trip.
DragonBall Xenoverse 2 is a game that is made for fans of the series. From the deep cuts in the lore, to the character customization options allowing players to create any DBZ character they would want, Xenoverse 2 offers fans the DBZ experience they have been wanting for years.
Overall Klaus is a solid linear, story-based platformer. Hardcore players of platformers looking for a challenge should look elsewhere. From a mysterious story to solid yet fun gameplay, Klaus is a game that should be enjoyable for anyone.
House of Ashes doesn't offer a new unique tale that I found with Little Hope or Man of Medan. I did enjoy my time playing through another The Dark Pictures Anthology tale, but it hasn't left an impact on me as a player as Little Hope did. Choices often felt inconsequential, and few and far between. Character development for all of the characters outside of Salim was underwhelming and disappointing, even though the backdrop of the Iraq War in 2003 was ripe for compelling character development.
NBA 2K22 features the best gameplay in the series to date, but also succumbs to the weight of its other feature sets. While a step in the right direction in terms of gameplay, its over-reliance on a player's time or money (and sometimes both) continues to be the hurdle keeping the series from achieving new heights.