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Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga is great for children who haven’t experienced the Star Wars movie. Die-Hard Star Wars fans will probably put this game down after a few hours and return it. The game does offer a lot of gameplay but the mechanics and controls hold it back. Even though the game’s graphics are polished, the game’s system feels out of date. Loading screens should not exist on the Xbox Series X. If you have a child or partner you want to introduce to Star Wars then Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga can be a good entry point. However, if you are a moderate or Die-Hard Star Wars fan, then the game will get old quickly. If you are on the fence about this game, it is better to wait for it to go on sale. A good purchase price is somewhere between $5 to $30. For a Lego game, it doesn’t feel like a Lego game; the game is missing the typical Lego comedic moments.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is fun to play through the first time or even while helping friends complete their campaign. Sadly, the game does not live up to the overall expectations that the team set. Yes, it still has the same Borderlands feel, but as a whole comes up a bit short. The story is enjoyable and the chaos dungeon does give players end-game content, but at the end of the day, it is rather lacking due to limited missions and overall exploration. Why buy a $60 game you can perfect in under 35 hours when you can pick up Horizon Forbidden West or Elden Ring and get double or more gameplay for the same price? If you love the typical Borderlands art style and humor then it will be an enjoyable time, but if you were looking for a massively open-world look elsewhere. The game’s overall story is enjoyable but the Dragon Lord still lives in the shadows of Handsome Jack. Despite playing through the campaign, there was no moment that really stood out to us. Yes, there are comical moments but not ones that you talk about at parties or ones that will carry on for years to come. As a stand-alone title, it’s more of an expanded DLC rather than an actual game.
Tango Gameworks’ made a name for themselves with their survival horror hits. Ghostwire delivers on all counts while being a distinctive departure from their previous work... It’s a scary experience that even the faint of heart can handle.
From Software revamps the Open World genre by blending a world of high fantasy with their formulated unforgiven enemies.
Although I did not get to play through the original version of the game, I took the time to compare it to its original release. The developers have definitely taken the time to enhance the graphics, sounds, and gameplay. Going through, Judgment on the Xbox Series X felt like a truly polished enhancement of its original predecessor; the rerelease made me thankful that I waited rather than playing the game at launch because I was able to experience the game how the developers intended. If you have yet to try Judgment, it is worth picking it up on the Xbox Series X. If you have but it’s been a while and you are considering playing through Lost Judgment then it is something to consider picking up as well.
Overall Monopoly Madness can be a fun game when playing with friends; however, playing the game solo can be an infuriating task based on how the AI plays. Rather than feeling fair and balanced, it seems like the AI has a vendetta against humans. Is Ubisoft secretly programming the upcoming terminators? Mr. Monooly’s voice lines will make you want to stop playing the game. The game would be better off without him or with more dialog lines. As a whole, the game is fun but not meant for all ages. Even those that love Monopoly will grow tired of this game after two hours. The game is fine to play for a short amount of time but it is a good idea to take breaks.
Techland’s game Dying Light 2 provides an entertaining and satisfying continuation. While the game has its flaws in some areas such as the story, it shouldn't hold you back from checking out the game itself and its multiplayer.
Rainbow Six Extraction is an enjoyable tactical shooter that allows players to experience their favorite Siege operators in a new way. The game does struggle from being a bit repetitive due to the grinding process, but having a team to overcome challenges with makes the grinding experience more enjoyable. Missions do not feel like they are do or die; you can either retrieve operators in a subsequent mission or have them return naturally with time. If you are looking for a game that will have you grind for end-game material then you are in luck; otherwise, the game will feel like you have to work for every milestone.
Battlefield 2042 definitely feels like a step in the wrong direction for EA and Dice. Although battle royale and combat sims can be fun to some players, they are not for everyone. The loss of a single-player campaign and other features make Battlefield 2042 a ghost of its former self. If you have the time and energy to learn the game’s mechanics, the game can be fun but rather time-consuming. Ultimately this Battlefield is one most players should skip. If EA and Dice continue to improve Battlefield 2042, then it will eventually be worth picking up similar to Star Wars Battlefront 2, but as of now, it is a good idea to wait.
The Gunk is a great game to introduce children or newbies to the wonderful things gaming can offer. Combat in the game is by far its weakest element; the game feels more like a Captain Planet simulator where you clean up the planet for a beautiful tomorrow. The game’s graphics will pull you in and make you feel like you can make the world a better place. The audio will make you feel sad about how lifeless the world has become and as you revitalize it, make you feel like you are doing good. Overall, The Gunk was sadly too short for how beautiful it is. If you have free time and want to explore a new world, then The Gunk is worth trying out.
Despite coming in with low expectations, Call of Duty Vanguard has failed to change our minds. Vanguard has managed to do the inverse of Black Ops Cold War; it has provided players with a fun multiplayer experience bringing back some fan-favorite maps while stripping Zombies of its roots. The campaign is an adequate story but it is ultimately forgettable; the campaign can be beaten in under 6 hours. Call of Duty Vanguard could have been so much better but ultimately feels like a rushed project. If you are going to play all the modes, then sure it’s worth the $60. If you were planning to purchase it for Zombies, hold off. Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War would make a better Holiday present than Vanguard. A fair price for Call of Duty Vanguard right now is anywhere between $25 to $45.
Overall, we wanted to like Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition but a lack of updated graphics, gameplay bugs, bad weather, and crashes detracted from the experience. Although you could restart a mission if you failed, you would have to choose between losing your progress or jumping back into the mission without a break. Sometimes, losing your weapons and armor feels better than having to redo the same missing again and again. There were numerous occasions where something would go slightly wrong and we’d have to start from scratch. If Rockstar decides to update the game and do it justice, then it will be worth picking up. Otherwise, we would highly recommend skipping the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition. If you are interested in playing The Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, we’d recommend waiting until it goes on sale. A 2GB update has been released to fix multiple bugs within the GTA Trilogy.
Back 4 Blood is a fun survival game that hits nostalgia points where other games like Grand Theft Auto Trilogy The Definitive Edition fails to do so. Whether you are looking for an enjoyable holiday gift or a new game to play on Xbox Game Pass, Back 4 Blood should scratch that itch. The gameplay is a bit rough at first but once you get a hang of the mechanics and card system, you are off to become a true cleaner.
Overall Silver Chains is a fun jump-scare experience the first time you play through it. The lack of alternate paths and playthrough styles make it rather lackluster to revisit unless showing others. The game’s use of different lighting effects, special effects, vibration feedback, and music draws the player in to create a scarier experience. If you are looking for a fun horror game that you can play through in three to six hours, give it a try. If you like more action-packed games, then you might want to wait until the game goes on sale.
From start to finish, Marvel’s Guardians of The Galaxy was a pleasurable experience. Eidos-Montréal’s video game adaptation of the galaxy’s mightiest heroes is an excellent homage to the series’ legacy!
Whatever Far Cry 6 is supposed to be feels like they made a cake and forgot the butter, flour, eggs, or to actually bake it. The more I played, the less I wanted to, and that’s not a good sign for a FarCry fan.
Overall, our time with Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles was enjoyable but at times felt like a chore. Additionally, if you like to stream games but do not use a capture card, certain scenes will be blocked from streaming. The controls are simple to use, the graphics show the beautiful world the characters live in, and the voice acting truly conveys how the characters are feeling. The game’s storyline does detract from the overall experience though and never allows the player to experience the story as if they were watching the anime. Finally, when it comes to the game’s replay value, it falls short. Most of the replay value comes by perfecting fights or VS mode.
The game features strong narratives, interesting characters, and a great mix of voice acting and soundtracks. Each story told or scene felt unique and can drum up a variety of emotions. At times, we would just stop to listen to the music rather than progressing through the game. Lost in Random is a fun game to play through but falls short of becoming a must-have. Players can easily get 12 hours of gameplay out of Lost in Random so it is easily worth its $29.99 retail price for fans of dark fairy tales. For those who are not, then waiting for it to go on sale or join EA Play is a wise choice.
An incredibly thought-provoking tale, that explores what happens to those who pass away. The charming story, Disney quality visuals, and well-calculated gameplay mechanics all make for a vastly enjoyable experience.
Diablo II: Resurrected seemingly accomplishes what it set out to do. It’s a terrific way to introduce one of the best video games ever made to a whole new generation of audiences. The music, the locations, the builds, the memories, they all came flooding back as I put more and more time into this game. It reminded me a lot of when times were simpler in life. Diablo II: Resurrected may not quite be exactly like the original, but it’s so damn close you’ll hardly notice the difference. It’s like a getting warm hug from an old friend you haven’t seen in a long long time.