TheGamer's Reviews
Halo 3 is a very good game. As a conclusion to the storyline, it's hard not to be engaged with how things play out with the UNSC, Covenant, and Flood all appearing. Gameplay is very satisfying. Nothing beats sniping enemies, or dual-wielding and taking out the brutes. Although the campaign is shorter than in Halo 2, most players should feel satisfied with the amount of content overall. Multiplayer is a lot of fun. Finally, as a PC port, Halo 3 comes with no notable complaints whatsoever.
Gears 5 is a game that builds appropriately and constructively on the already-solid foundation laid by the games before it. It never veers off too much, generally sticking to its guns where gameplay is concerned, though the light RPG element in upgrading Jack's abilities is a great touch. The attempt at a quasi-open-world experience didn't work out quite as well, as it lacks the intensity consistent throughout the rest of the campaign, though it is ultimately overshadowed by an incredible presentation and a story that is impressively well-written.
At its core, the port of Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition is a masterpiece. While it does not bring anything new to the game that does not already exist on the Xbox One and PC, it translates perfectly onto our favorite portable consoles. Now someone needs to convince Microsoft to also port the upcoming sequel without waiting another four years.
New Super Lucky's Tale is a great platformer that hearkens back to why platformers are beloved in the first place. There is a genuineness to the level design and overall presentation. It's a great mix of mild 3D exploring and traditional side-scrolling action. Those who enjoy the classic platformers or are looking to get a wholesome title for their children should pick this up. The game should be a bit longer, and could use less loading screens, but New Super Lucky's Tale is certainly worth playing. If Playful Studios takes all the greatness of this title and improves upon the criticisms, a perfect experience can be delivered for the next game.
I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this one as a tactics player, but for anyone interested in getting in now, I caution you to save often and take your time. It can be a joy to play at times, but it can also quickly become a real slog.
House of Golf is as simple as it gets in terms of overall gameplay, but is a fun enough way to kill some time with what's left of your winter break.
Monster Jam Steel Titans is definitely a game for monster truck fans. Most other players may just want to steer clear.
Down To Hell has all the blood, gore, and screaming metal you could want, it's just missing that little thing called fun.
AVICII Invector closed out 2019 as both an above-average interactive dance title and a well-executed tribute to one of the decade’s most iconic DJs.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne's PC launch is mostly good, though some curious issues hold it back from true excellence.
Game-breaking bugs and the sudden ramp-up in difficulty makes the potential of Animal Friends Adventure on Xbox One sadly wasted.
A game about anime waifus spouting rap slangcould be great, but somehow Orangeblood is simultaneously too insane and too boring to make it work.
Journey To The Savage is a short-but-sweet title you absolutely don't want to miss.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf has moments of enjoyment and there is definitely depth to be found in building multiple decks, but the slow speed of the game and the random nature of the enemy placements diminishes what fun there is to be had. The Warhammer 40,000 universe is currently underrepresented on the Nintendo Switch and fans of the franchise might enjoy the game as a simple strategy game that uses the lore of the series, but there isn't much else to recommend for those who aren't familiar with the tabletop game.
I'm not in the unenviable position of giving a score to a game with no generic touchstones or precedence. I can't help but laugh at the absurdity at giving a score to something like Kentucky Route Zero. Did it accomplish everything it intended to do? Almost certainly. Was it "good?" Making a qualitative determination for art almost certainly means you missed the point entirely, doesn't it?
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a game that manages to be both a homage to the classic games of the past, while also being one of the most original RPGs in years. It's just a shame that the console version of the game has so many issues, as they really hamper the experience. It's advised that people play this gem of a game on PC in order to experience the best version of Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, but the drawbacks of the console version can be overlooked by people who are really patient or don't mind messing around on their phone every couple of minutes when going back to a town to restock on times.
While it is short in terms of basic playtime, it does still take a good number of hours to explore everything the game has to offer. It's also engaging, humorous, and quirky. The fact that it is LGBTQ+ friendly is a great and much-appreciated bonus, and the puns are legendary.
Like the video game equivalent of an orchestra, Florence is comprised of so many different elements that all work seamlessly together to create an emotional masterpiece. Video games exploring romance is nothing new - but this short and sweet game is probably the best and most realistic title that portrays what the realities of falling in love is actually like.
Dreams is a wonderful game. It encourages deep learning and imagination for those who truly want to create. It also encourages collaboration. Many Dreams are made with the help of others. No matter what, creating in Dreams is going to be daunting. Thankfully, the tutorials are here to assist.
If you're the kind of person who can't stand bugs ruining your games then maybe you might want to wait a bit until this is good and patched. But even with the glitches, Ori and the Will Of The Wisps is undeniably a captivating, marvelous game that makes us hope that we won't have to wait another 5 years to see Ori in action again.