Middle-earth: Shadow of War plays to the strength of its predecessor by doubling down on the Nemesis System. In a lot of ways, this works in the game’s favor. Creating rivalries and forced companionship out of the wildly eccentric hordes under Sauron is an absolute joy. Whether Talion is attacking strongholds or defending his own, these personalities punctuate the action. The height of this achievement quickly reveals the areas of Shadow of War that have fallen short, such as the narrative that dips into a monotonous grind and the overly cluttered systems present in the menus. Still, Shadow of War‘s attention builds itself around the Nemesis backbone and it succeeds more than it fails by doing so for the majority of this adventure.
The Evil Within 2 offers plenty of variety and freedom within its horror-filled town of Union. Sebastian Castellanos’ second outing is a much more fulfilling affair, filled to the brim with some truly inspired design. In a lot of ways, The Evil Within 2 feels like a spiritual successor to Resident Evil 4, giving us the horror experience that other developers had forgotten for a while. An unrefined stealth system and stiff voice over from the rough-around-the-edges ex-cop do little to diminish this terrifying treat, leaving it on the precipice of being something truly outstanding.
Hob is Runic Games’ first, and only, departure from Torchlight. And by most accounts it is a success. Hob packs so much personality into its world despite never uttering a word, letting every carefully placed object and interaction speak for itself. The game loses itself in moments where its camera works against its own goals and the ease with which a player can become lost before grasping the layout. However, the competent combat and engaging puzzle solving save Hob and make it a notable platformer to lose yourself in.
RUINER is a competent cyberpunk shooter, dripping in stylish presentation and teeming with ruthless engagements. These components manage to provide enough of a reason to see the journey to the end, filling the void left by the all-but-absent narrative, and enjoy the time spent doing so. RUINER is an exceptional, adrenaline-filled diversion bathed in neon lights that is sure to please as long as you don’t expect to find more under the surface.
Battlefield 1‘s In the Name of the Tsar DLC has set the expectation for all future expansions, providing ample content to enjoy for the coming weeks. The expansion hits its target center mass far more often than it misses the mark, delivering a shining example of the quality that DICE can produce. You would be hard-pressed to find an add-on of this caliber elsewhere. To put it plainly, In the Name of the Tsar’s focus on the Russian Empire yields one of the most satisfying multiplayer experiences in recent memory.
The Long Dark takes an interesting approach to the bustling survival genre by adding a story-heavy campaign, and it looks to be paying off so far. The tale being told in Wintermute has not developed into anything wildly deep at this point and there has yet to be given much of a reason to care for the characters in play, but by the end of the second episode I still felt the desire to see everything through to the end. I needed to know how this unique apocalypse pans out, so the developer is clearly doing something right. The slow, methodical pacing may turn some potential players away, but those that can carry the weight of the game’s encumbering systems will find a gorgeous adventure worth the time investment.
Absolver is a unique blend of deep martial arts combat, RPG systems, and social interaction. Sloclap’s dedication to their combat mechanics is obvious and it has paid off. The game boasts one of the deepest systems for skirmishes I have yet to encounter. This lies at the heart of Absolver and it is a solid foundation on which to build the rest of the game. Thanks to the quality of combat and the visual appeal of the striking art style, the shortcomings found within the AI and narrative do not hinder the overall experience to a crippling degree. Absolver definitely gets far more right than wrong, weaving a worthwhile venture for all but those looking for a strong single player outing.
Yakuza Kiwami is positioned as a perfect jumping on point for newcomers just now discovering Sega’s gang-centric criminal drama. Series veterans will still find plenty to love in the carefully handcrafted remake of Kazuma Kiryu’s first appearance, with a wealth of new and enticing content. Regardless of which category you find yourself a part of, Yakuza Kiwami is hands down one of the finest remakes ever made of an already extraordinary game and provides an experience that you would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.
Serious Sam’s Bogus Detour is a nostalgia-filled romp with familiar characters tossed into a new genre. The game loses little in its move over to the twin-stick shooter category, maintaining the components that we have all come to know and love over the past decade and a half. While not every new ingredient to Sam’s formula adds significant value, the end result is a lovingly-crafted shooter that retains the soul of Serious Sam.
Everspace blends enough new and old to create an enticing package for both longtime fans and newcomers to the genre. The bleeding-edge graphics pair nicely with buttery-smooth maneuvering and together they are able to overcome the game’s lesser parts, such as the story. To wrap it up, Everspace provides one of the most satisfying experiences this side of the Milky Way.
STRAFE will certainly attract a very specific crowd, likely one filled with gluttons for punishment. The core game provides a solid offering, but nostalgia and gory gunplay need a bit more to make this game rise above the monotony and frustration that settle in over time.
Far Cry 6 is a familiar yet fun outing for the franchise. What Ubisoft has crafted generally fits within the confines of the blueprint first put into place in 2012’s Far Cry 3.