If more of the same Crackdown experience is what you’re after, then this latest and long-awaited sequel will whet the appetite of those who have grounded their expectations into not expecting any real innovation from the series. For those who expected at least some growth to the series, well…
Metro Exodus
Metro Exodus is a game that I can understand that there will be people who are not going to enjoy it. It’s a series that has a very unique feel and pacing and I can see why some people may find the series boring. Metro Exodus ticks all the right boxes for me as a Metro title while also evolving the core concepts the series is based on.
Apex Legends
Apex Legends is a Free-to-Play Battle Royale game from Respawn Entertainment that was essentially announced and released on the same day and was also noted as being a spin-off of the Titanfall series. Taking place some 30 years after the events of the stunning Titanfall 2. Apex Legends also happens to be the best Battle Royale game on the market, bar none.
Kingdom Hearts 3
For fans of the series, especially those that have consumed each of the near dozen Kingdom Hearts games, Kingdom Hearts 3 is a celebration of the series, a culmination of nearly every plot thread the series has left untold. For newcomers, it can often be confusing in knowing who is who and the overall narrative at play, often having to sit through story recap videos or having your friends get you up to speed, or at least, attempt to.
Resident Evil 2
With a heavy emphasis on intense gore and moody atmosphere, the remake of Resident Evil 2 is more horrifying than its ever been. While there is much of the original’s DNA here to satisfy those who grew up playing the now 21-year-old classic, Capcom has made some significant changes to make it feel like a completely new experience
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition
Tales of Vesperia once started life as an Xbox 360 exclusive way back in 2008. It eventually saw an expanded port to the PlayStation 3. This version featured additional content but never saw a release outside of Japan. Now, a decade later, that expanded version has been released worldwide as Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition.
Onimusha: Warlords
Originally released on the PlayStation 2 back in 2001, Capcom has splashed a new coat of paint on the original Onimusha. While I would have preferred to have seen a remaster of the superior version that released a year later on the original Xbox, it is still an absolute delight to revisit one of Capcom’s greatest, and yet lesser known, franchises.
Gris
After hearing the title mentioned in a recent gaming podcast, I curiously checked it out on the Nintendo Switch eshop store. A cheap price here, a download there, and within minutes, I was swept away by its gorgeous visuals and haunting soundtrack. While GRIS is not a terribly long experience, clocking in at around 3 hours, it is one that is incredibly memorable, and one of the best games I’ve ever played.
Pokémon - Let's Go!
While I’ve been a longtime fan of the Pokemon craze, including that of its mobile counterpart; Pokemon Go, It was Pokemon Yellow that consumed much of my youth. And so it is fitting that Pokemon Let’s Go! Pikachu and Eevee is a built for the Nintendo Switch version of that very game, albeit with a few significant changes.
Darksiders 3
When Darksiders 2 was released, it was better in nearly every way, It was a stellar sequel that paved the way for future installments to adapt and innovate upon. However, Darksiders 3 feels like lesser of a sequel than its predecessor, and more of a step backwards for the franchise, despite being a fairly enjoyable experience.
Fallout 76
While certain aspects of the game work extremely well and can be a very enjoyable time with the right group of friends, Fallout 76 is a technical mess that lacks polish in nearly every moment to moment experience the game offers. Fallout 76 is most certainly a good game, it just doesn’t feel anywhere remotely finished.
Soul Calibur VI
Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna - The Golden Country
I’m torn on whether or not I fully enjoyed this story-based expansion to Xenoblade Chronicles 2. While I absolutely adored the story components that Monolithsoft have delivered here, the supplemental side quests bog down the experience and cause this expansion to feel as if I was progressing through it at a snail’s pace, as if I was being punished somehow.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Where Red Dead Redemption 2 excels so perfectly is in its storytelling. It’s not a far off assessment to say that this might very well be one of the best written games ever crafted, not only in its main quest, but in its side activities as well. In fact, the side quests are probably my favorite moments I’ve had during my 60+ hours with the game.
Super Mario Party
Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
While I was quite taken with Origin’s use of Egyptian history, albeit a mostly fictional one, Its mechanical flaws and mediocre side-quests held it back from being a truly remarkable game. While some of those flaws still exist here in its follow-up, Odyssey improves greatly on its open world, its quests, and offers us a better game overall.
Forza Horizon 4
With the announcement that Game Pass would include all future first party titles on the day of their release, I recently got behind the wheel of Forza Horizon 4 and left my backlog in the dust. While often overlooked during conversations about first party dominance, Forza Horizon 4 is one of the best brand exclusives out there right now and a much needed win for Microsoft.
Shadows: Awakening
Senran Kagura : Reflexions
Senran Kagura has featured a wealth of humor mixed with its incredibly non-subtle approach to fan service, yet has always had a certain charm baked in to each subsequent release. Its latest title; however, lacks nearly everything that makes each of the other Senran Kagura games feel worthwhile and comes off as a complete waste of time.
Spider-Man
When the surprise announcement came that Insomniac, developers of the Ratchet and Clank series was working on a brand new Spider-Man title, the hype was incredibly real and it became one of the most anticipated games in recent memory. Thankfully, all that hype was justified and not only is Spider-Man a true marvel, but it is also one of the best superhero games of all time.