I can’t score this one yet, as I haven’t finished it. But if you’re looking for a basic recommendation, consider it given.
Anyone who digs these kinds of dense, map-based open world experiences is going to feel happy with what Guerrilla Games is offering here. This is something you could spend a lot of time with, first enjoying the story, then going out of your way to see and complete every last bit of content.
So, yeah. So far, so good. I do have some concerns. As pretty as Kena’s magical forest is, it’s beginning to feel a little monotonous. I could use a bit more scenic variety, especially some indoor areas. I’ve been in a few caves, and they’re great. They’re eerie, atmospheric, and mystical. I want more caves!
I just wish it would get on with it sometimes. It is a dialogue-driven game, I know, but sometimes characters seem to chat forever before I’m allowed to do anything meaningful myself.
I’m not digging Rage 2’s story or setting. But I still have a ways to go before completing it. Maybe the plot will win me over. Maybe the world will do something surprising and evoke something besides Mad Max. But even if it doesn’t, I still like Rage 2. Artistically, it’s uninspired. But mechanically, it’s one of the best shooters I’ve played in years. Fun wins out.
Watch Dogs 2 doesn’t do much new. Just like it’s predecessor, underneath all that fancy hacking you’ll find a similar experience to other city-based open world games, including Grand Theft Auto. But at least this time, the adventure is a fun one. The new, light-hearted tone and its likable cast of characters are a good fit for this series.
Mighty No. 9 can have its moments when its platforming and shooting tickles that same nostalgic bone that makes us love Mega Man, but its poor design makes it more frustrating than novel.
I applaud Bugsnax’s creativity. It’s not the most stimulating puzzle game, but it’s worth checking out if you can’t get that theme song out of your head
Mario Party 10 is fun with friends. Running around a field with water balloons is also fun with friends. Watching two squirrels run up a tree is also fun with friends. Out of those three, I wouldn't take Mario Party 10 first.
Moebius: Empire Rising is a decent adventure game that becomes harder to recommend because of its technical flaws. I can't really tell you if it's a worthy successor to Gabriel Knight, but fans will certainly enjoy the old-school joys of pointing and clicking their way through puzzles and dialogue.
This is yet another Yoshi game that doesn’t come close to reaching Yoshi’s Island greatness.
Star Allies is a serviceable side-scroller, but Kirby's Switch debut should be more exciting this this snoozer.
Star Fox: Guard is a fine diversion, but I couldn’t imagine wanting to play it for more than a couple of hours. Again, that’s why it’s a great bonus for getting Star Fox Zero. It’s like a free game, and not an awful one. But when you judge on its own, it’s novelty quickly becomes tedious.
It succeeds most as a tribute to Marvel. Its giant roster offers a great variety of heroes. And while the gameplay is simple, it can still be satisfying with some cool cinematic moments and boss fights that I won't spoil for you here.
Devil May Cry 5 won't be a total disappointment thanks to its stunning production values. Aside from the recent Resident Evil 2 remake, this is the best-looking game Capcom has ever made. Its adventure is a fun one if you don't take it too seriously (which shouldn't be too hard). As much as I can gripe about its flaws, it's hard not to grin when you're shoving a running motorcycle wheel into a demon's face. But this isn't an action classic.
I still enjoy Mega Man X5, X6, X7, and X8. Sure, they have problems, and they don't feel as fresh or tightly designed as the first four. But the core of what makes Mega Man X so much fun — the combination of fast-paced traversal with with 2D action — still work in these games. This collection isn't for everyone. But if you're a big fan of the Blue Bomber, this is still a great package that helps you complete your digital Mega Man collection.
ReCore is fun game betrayed by technical woes. I love the combination of shooting and platforming, but it just doesn't have enough polish to back up its solid mechanics. It could have used some extra time in development to smooth the experience out.
I admire a lot about The Witness. It is a beautiful game. It is a clever game. It is a big game. But all of its elements, mazes, exploration, and philosophy didn't really come together to express some greater theme. Unless I was meant to question why I hurt my brain to solve a series of difficult mazes for no real award.
Tropical Freeze does little to justify the Wii U's existence, but it's still mostly a fun, challenging platformer. Fans will certainly enjoy this difficult, beautiful romp through Donkey Kong's islands, but it will frustrate less-enthusiastic players.
It's weird when you feel so unenthusiastic about a game that you know is "good." This used to be a series that I would never miss. These days, I'd probably take a long break from The Show if I could.