Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice isn't just another phenomenal action title by FromSoftware, it's a game that I really needed over these past few weeks.
BioWare's Anthem is as disappointing as it is boring, with the game's biggest fault being that it just gets in the way of its own self.
Crackdown 3 has finally arrived and instead of being a next-gen iteration of the franchise, it feels like a lost relic of the Xbox 360 era.
Resident Evil 2 stands as not just one of the best installments in the long-running horror franchise, but it might just be the greatest remake ever made.
Despite being a bit bland on the gameplay front, Travis Strikes Again is more often than not an enjoyable jaunt back in the shoes of the titular Travis Touchdown.
Just Cause 4 has some cool ideas and nifty gameplay mechanics that are completely undercut but its own poor mission structure and game design.
In short, Darksiders III is not the game that I hoped it would be when it was first revealed. While I have long loved this series, the third entry is an underwhelming, buggy mess that doesn’t stand anywhere close to the greatness that was found in the first two installments. Deep down, I still want Gunfire Games and THQ Nordic to give this franchise one more shot, but if a subsequent entry were to once again turn out as Darksiders III has, I’d just prefer if this now just be the series’ final breath.
I trust DICE, I think they're a great developer, and I have no doubt that six months from now when all of the promised content for Battlefield 5 has finally made its way into the game that this will be one of the best multiplayer shooters on the market. But at this moment, it simply feels like more of what we've already seen before with some slight tweaks that only series veterans will truly appreciate.
League of Legends is the most popular game in the world, and for good reason, but it's absolutely not without its fair share of annoyances.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey isn't just one of the best Assassin's Creed games there has ever been, it's one of the most exceptional action RPGs that I've played this console generation. While only a few years ago I was left wondering what this franchise's future would be, now I'm more excited than I have been in quite some time to see where Ubisoft continues to take Assassin's Creed from here.
Purchasing NBA 2K19 for yourself just depends on what you plan to play within its larger package. If you were already put off by MyCareer last year, then not much has changed to win you over this season. If you're looking for the best basketball sim on the market though to just play with friends or play by yourself in some of the more team-based game modes, you cannot do better than NBA 2K19. Despite there being so many fundamental changes that I want to see from this series moving forward in regards to many of its abrasive practices, at least the actual basketball has continued to be phenomenal without skipping a beat.
There's still a ton to love within Shadow of the Tomb Raider and if you enjoyed the previous two games in this new era of Lara Croft, then I absolutely expect that you'll dig what's found here. While I find this to be Lara's weakest adventure of the bunch, I'm still excited to see what lies in store next time around for one of gaming's most prominent characters.
Donut County is a charming and straightforward example of how video games don't need to be overly complex or contain multiple mechanics and systems to make for a good time. While your enjoyment of the game will likely depend on how satisfying you find its overall loop of dropping stuff into a hole, if this does click with you, then there's a lot that you'll love. For the low price of entry, Donut County is worth picking up and spending an evening with just to have a good chuckle.
At the end of the day though for myself, Guacamelee! 2 has reminded me of what games are supposed to be in the first place — fun. I haven't had as thoroughly as joyful of an experience with any other game this year and I expect I'll be hard pressed to find another like it any time soon.
All-in-all, a second portion of Overcooked‘s co-op insanity was exactly what I was looking for. As they say though, variety is the spice of life, and I think Overcooked 2 could have used just a bit more of that: variety. Still, the resulting sequel isn't bad by any means and will absolutely fill you up if you're looking for precisely more of what the original had to offer. If Ghost Town Games were to go back for a third romp in the kitchen though, I'd love to see a few new things seasoned in next time around.
Salt and Sanctuary takes the Souls-like formula to 2D and almost perfectly executes upon it. While it may not win points for originality, Ska Studios has done a fantastic job of transitioning the Souls style of combat into 2D while simultaneously mixing in elements of platforming and level design found in Metroidvania games. If you still haven't given one of these kinds of games a shot yet, Salt and Sanctuary is a great starting point for novices of the genre.
If you're looking to enjoy more of what Prey already was, then I think there's a lot to like with Mooncrash. The core systems and mechanics of Prey are still readily found in Mooncrash and as such make for a lot of fun, challenging objectives to overcome. For me, it was an experience that lost steam the longer I played, but I can't deny how much I enjoyed its initial opening hour.
A Way Out has some ambitious, fantastic ideas at its core, but it's unfortunately surrounded by tiresome gameplay mechanics and a story that is just a bit too straightforward. While I think that the co-op focused nature of A Way Out could have better been executed upon, I endlessly credit Hazelight for trying something that I've never really seen done in this manner. Despite my issues, I really love the experimentation seen in A Way Out and hope to see more unique ideas like it in the future.
The only positive thing I can say about Past Cure is that I've taken this hit and played the game for you so that you don't have to. In a time where I believe games are better than ever, I implore you to spend your hard-earned free time cozying up to literally any other game — even Superman 64. Past Cure is not just the worst game I have played over the past few years; it's now on the shortlist of worst games I've ever played in my life.
The legacy of Shadow of the Colossus has never been in question, but this PS4 edition has just further solidified its place amongst gaming's masterpieces.