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Tomas Sala has created another great game with Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles. The ability to expand and experiment without worry makes it very accessible for those unfamiliar with the genre, as well as it being a thought provoking adventure even for genre veterans. While it may not be for everyone, there is something special here for those that connect with it.
Many pretenders and contenders have attempted to lay claim to Contra's run-and-gun throne over the years, with some glowingly successful and others failing abysmally, but Contra: Operation Galuga largely preserves its legacy with this faithful recreation of the much-loved 1980s classic. While Operation Galuga won't offer fans anything shocking or out of the ordinary, it's still a pleasing upgrade they'll be clamouring for. There's plenty in here to relish, and it's not bloated with new features and ideas that could otherwise jeopardize this renewed relic. Yes, more could've been done to reinvent the classic gameplay, but one shouldn't fix what isn't broken, and so Operation Galuga is a successful if formulaic return for one of gaming's most hardcore franchises.
A breezy and affordable South Park curiosity, South Park: Snowday! Is a delicious slice of immature humour pie that sits comfortably in the stomach. Turning to an action-RPG experience away from a turn-based one isn't an entirely successful one, as the lack of the unexpected will become noticeable throughout, but the pleasure of slashing your way through a short, affordable and gratifying South Park adventure will win out. Snowday! Is ultimately a nice and welcome treat as long as you keep your expectations in check.
With great art direction and fun, though infuriating, puzzles. The Last Case Of Benedict Fox is a fun Metroidvania with great brain teasers and entertaining combat. It just takes a while to experience the best parts of the game. Exploration is fun but suffers in places like the combat and puzzles. But it doesn't keep the game from being fun all the same.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake for the PS5 is a great way to experience this classic indie on modern consoles. With its new visuals, creative gameplay mechanics, and deeply moving narrative, it offers an unforgettable gaming experience that resonates long after the credits roll. Whether you're playing solo or with a friend, the bond between the brothers will tug at your heartstrings, reminding you of the power of love and connection. If you own a PS5, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake is an essential addition to your gaming library.
Far more than a one trick pony, What the Golf? is a brilliant party sports game that manages to entertain in every way that it sets out to do. From beginning to end I found myself surprised and entertained by what new twists were thrown my way and I look forward to seeing what the team has in store next. Some technical hiccups here and there led to some small frustrations but none were enough to get me to hang up the club. Well worth a look for all who are interested!
MLB The Show 24 is a game that continues to deliver. From emotional history from Story Lines to the new amazing inclusion of Women into The Show. While this may seem like small new additions now, these ripples now have the potential to create large waves into the future. Young girls finding, or strengthening their love of baseball in this game, seeing themselves as MLB stars growing up and forcing baseball to evolve and change for the better. While I may have slight issues with the the visuals not being on the same level as the game play or game modes, it is still one of the best looking sports sims on the market and the best looking baseball game hands down. The Show 24 impresses more than disappoints and is another winning season for PlayStation and San Diego Studios.
A jack of all trades and master of some, though Rise of the Ronin feels like a melting pot of influences from other games, it is also quite the surprise of the year for me thus far as it clearly shows that Team Ninja has a confident grasp of compelling open world design in a way that many of its genre stablemates do not. Though the visual presentation might be comparatively a little rough around the edges, Rise of the Ronin nonetheless is simultaneously the most accessible and ambitious game Team Ninja has done to date and one that both hardcore action RPG fiends and open world adventure aficionados will surely embrace.
A fantasy adventure for the ages. Dragon's Dogma 2 takes everything that made the first game good and expands on it in everyway. The combat is visceral and engaging l. With a massive world to explore you can loose yourself for days exploring and battling all your favorite fantasy monstrosities. Dragon's Dogma 2 is an incredible adventure no one should miss.
Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection is a reminder of how great these games were at the time they released, but it ultimately fails to do anything better for the players than the original releases did. As much as it breaks my heart, I find it hard to recommend this game to anyone in its current state.
Alone in the Dark is a success in more ways than it's not. There are notable issues preventing it from reaching that upper echelon but nonetheless developer Pieces Interactive has crafted an engaging experience with enough charm that fans of the series, or indeed the genre, will no doubt lap up.
Marrying the very best of the action-combat genre with the satisfaction of a rhythm game, Hi-Fi Rush is a titanic achievement that offers plenty of both style and substance. Luscious animations, appealing character designs and a hilarious cast help to elevate this title beyond the level of enjoying for the gameplay alone, I was here for the story too. Learning curves and a few too many dry spells in the main campaign do very little to dampen this rocking good time, a must play for action fans.
Outcast: A New Beginning may not have a gameplay loop that interests everyone, considering its repetitious nature and somewhat dated shooting mechanics. With that said, the world and how you interact with it is enough for the right audience to dig into.
An industry iconoclast, beloved eccentric and arguably the father of modern high score chasing, the sort of spotlight that the Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story puts on its titular subject feels hugely overdue to say the least. Beautifully put together with a wealth of painstakingly researched historical material, candid looks at Jeff's storied life from Jeff himself and just about all of the games that heralded his rise to prominence in the games industry packed in for kicks, Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story is a masterclass how you find out about one of the charismatic and genuinely talented legends of the games industry - and you'll have a great time doing it.
Unicorn Overlord is yet another standout game from a revered developer that sets out to innovate on classic strategy conventions. It achieves these goals with style and substance, resulting in a game that strategy afficionados should absolutely consider jumping into. While I don't think this title is a particularly good entry point for newcomers to the genre, this game is clearly aware of its audience and it plays to those strengths. Spectacular.
Manic Mechanics is great for an afternoon of fun with a friend or someone new to this style of game, but with its limited content I struggle to see it making any meaningful waves. I would love to see the content expanded on in the future with DLC or a sequel. The game is unique and inventive within the structure that it was created. Given further iteration, I could see myself enjoying the Manic Mechanics world just as much as I enjoy Overcooked.
As Dusk Falls stands as a beacon of narrative excellence in the gaming world. Its compelling storytelling, incredible character development, fantastic visuals, and innovative accessibility options set a new standard for interactive dramas. As players, we are not just observers; we are active participants in a rich and emotionally-charged narrative that will leave a lasting impact on the way we perceive storytelling in video games.
As a relatively modest strategy title, Classified: France '44 accomplishes much more than you might think considering its rather low-key pre-release reception. Anybody who is up for a good lean tactical strategy game is in for quite a treat here, as Classified delivers an experience that gives you a good hearty taste of what a simple and effective strategy game should be, while adding new and forward-thinking features that address some of the qualms of the genre. The new Morale system is a novel new mechanic that adds a layer of depth to strategy, the missions are good and place emphasis on smart strategic play, and although the story and personalities fall short, the illustrated cutscenes are an admirable embellishment that gives Classified its own distinctive panache. Classified might seem rather plain and ordinary to many, and yes it does represent itself in that fashion, but underneath there is a compelling and satisfying strategy title here that's worth a look for anybody who is intrigued and wants to get rid of hordes of virulent Nazi scum in L'Hexagone.
Reveil tells a great story through its dialogue and settings, but it misses the mark when it comes to horror. It may not scare you, but it still proves quite compelling.
WWE 2K24 is still without a doubt the undisputed champ of sports simulation games. With something for everyone, including new and current MyRise stories, new and returning gameplay mechanics, an ever increasing depth of realism with its animations, and more brutal match stipulations, WWE 2K24 is a must-play.