Robin Meyer-Lorey
Downsides include the frustrations of randomized loot, an occasional grind to getting enough materials for the next camp upgrade, and the fact that by the time the fourth and final chapter rolls around there are few more secrets and combos to discover. Still, the game is a genuine gem, and for $15 at full price, it's worth getting hooked on.
There is some joy in the cheesy story, almost like watching a B-movie that's so bad it's still entertaining. The experience could have worked as a parody to other shooters, but the poor level design and inconsistent quality smack of missed potential overall. At the very least, four-player co-op is available, and playing with a small group of friends might be just what Serious Sam 4 needs to ascend from 'lackluster' to 'janky-but-lovable.' Unfortunately, with a $40 price tag, most players would be better off buying Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter and The Second Encounter if they want to re-live the glory days of the franchise.
That satisfying flow and well-tuned gameplay make the lack of big-budget polish a negligible issue. The game is also only $20, making it well worth every cent, and further excusing some of the repetition and lack of polish. The biggest complaints with the game are not that the concept and execution aren't good enough, the issue is that the game deserves more content, more attention, and more development of its great ideas.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is well worth checking out. Hardcore simmers will love it, and for more casual players it is still undeniably fun. While the full $60 price tag ($120 for the Premium Deluxe edition) might be a bit much for gamers who typically play more traditional titles, Flight Sim will also be offered on Xbox Game Pass, which makes it a very strong value proposition. As much as we longed for more content, something kept us coming back, again and again, to try out another plane, fly over another landmark, or attempt one more tricky landing.
Disintegration is an innovative mix of FPS and RTS from one of the original creators of Halo, but it just can't live up to its promising premise.
Saints Row 4 is one of the most beloved games in the cult-classic franchise, and it works surprisingly well as a portable game with a huge fun-factor.