Jonathan Leo
This ronin rumble is a gaming masterpiece for the second half of 2020 and the perfect PlayStation 4 capstone title. Ghost of Tsushima is as close as you can get to the perfect Kurosawa tribute in modern interactive form.
Hades is jam-packed with action, has a cool take on Greek mythology, and features a ton of replayability. I urge you not to sleep on this escapade; it's a helluva good time.
Long story short, Chicory embodies the one major word that keeps us going: hope. All wrapped up in a charming title.
Elden Ring is a triumph in game design. I respect and like Elden Ring and From Software for sticking to its guns but also adding in much-welcome changes and additions to make it more “accessible”.
There's no other way to put this: Sea Of Stars is sublime from start to finish. It's a love letter to the best era of JRPGs -the late 90s to 2000s- made to look like the past but comes with a lot of newfangled modern-day features to duplicate the spirit and joy it emanates. And despite its obvious inspiration, it stands tall and proud on its own two feet, sword in one hand and Solar/Moon powers to blast away all doubt of JRPGs existing in proper and fun form in 2023.
[T]his is the true sequel to the Streets of Rage/Bare Knuckle series that’s a long time coming.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a triumph in 2D platforming this year; arguably for this generation of gaming. It supersedes everything its prequel does and then some, it challenges you and even kicks you to the curb at times without coming off as mean-spirited, and it’s an absolute joy to watch and hear. A powerful trifecta combination indeed to complement 2020’s early game offerings.
Final Fantasy VII: Remake is a grand experiment that succeeds on all fronts. It may seem like a blatant cash grab at first, sure. But dig a little deeper into this Northern Crater, and you’ll find a lot to fall in love with.
For those who played these games to death, you’ll still want to get this, provided you have no other means of revisiting them in their original GBA and DS forms. Long story short, I do hope this spells a resurgence for X’s BFF Zero and the future of the Mega Man series because this is one legacy worth preserving.
Airship Syndicate did a great job taking the best aspects of action RPGs and isometric action titles and put their fun and entertaining spin on it, topped off with a decent Gareth Coke-composed soundtrack that wades between tranquil acoustics to battle anthems with foreboding chants. That's more than enough to earn it a reputation for being this year's dark horse.
In an attempt to expand its universe like how Universal did with the Fast & Furious series, id Software never forget why people played Doom back in 2016 in the first place: because you want to play an arcade shooter that’s challenging, fast, frenetic, and fun. Doom: Eternal hits all of these pillars and then some.
For veterans of Luigi’s “horror” escapade, Luigi’s Mansion 3 is a huge breath of fresh air thanks to its Gooigi mechanic and hotel level layout filled with innovative surprises and secrets. For newbies, you’re in for one heckuva G-rated spooky adventure that’s basically a Ghostbusters game you’ve always craved for since that one game from Activision back in 2009.
It’s no surprise that this sci-fi tale of corporation culture gone horribly wrong and overblown to planet-sized proportions (figuratively AND literally) would end up being relevant in this day and age thanks to the team’s witticisms in their script-writing and world-building. But to be told in an engrossing manner with so many charming players and a fun RPG setting, while also showing other Western RPG companies how it’s really done? That’s just as rare as a supernova going off. Thank goodness Obsidian took to the challenge and delivered us a masterpiece that rivals their past works.
Indivisible‘s early and mid-game journey is a thrill ride that will hit your nostalgic buttons in the right places, as well as create a fresh experience with its melding of multiple genres into one cohesive package.
What The Golf? is a funny, challenging, and inventive take on an old-timer sport that relishes in its insanity.
Just like past games, Yakuza: Like A Dragon still retains the magic of balancing the serious and the absurd side-by-side with deft precision and skill. You won't regret this trip down Isezaki Ijincho and getting enamoured by its 40-hours plus journey.
Loop Hero is a must-buy for PC if you want a fresh new take on roguelike RPGs in 2021.
You know you have a masterclass of a game if you're craving more out of what's already laid out. More fights, more stages, and just more out of this title's luscious design & aesthetics. Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth is definitely a keeper!
It's a no-brainer: Nier Replicant is for the books.
Once you set foot in the village, there is no stopping this horror game train. Not even its faults can upend this magnificent tribute.