Hardcore Gamer's Scores

  • Games
For 4,329 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 50% higher than the average critic
  • 9% same as the average critic
  • 41% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 1.4 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 73
Highest review score: 100 Balatro
Lowest review score: 20 Final Fantasy: All the Bravest
Score distribution:
4332 game reviews
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Despite its narrative leading to little in the way of a noteworthy tale, TOHU manages to gracefully side-step such an omission through wise understanding of its scale. Utilizing such a wild, excessive aesthetic in a way that feels earned, as opposed to unjustly forced. But in focusing specifically on the bevvy of point-and-click conundrums — as much making sure to sprinkle in more deductive puzzles along the way — TOHU isn’t just a pleasant trip through a child-like exaggeration of visuals and scenery, but crucially, does so in a way that doesn’t treat its players similarly as such young-aged audience members. Both with the way conundrums are presented, but also through its hint system that manages to give enough of an assistance, yet still trust its players to deduce the correct method forward. It may fall victim to the trappings of point-and-click’s very structure once or twice along the way, but TOHU still manages to provide a short and sweet little adventure through a surreal, at times delightful, set of circumstances.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It’s fine-tuned in every way, with satisfying gameplay, graphics and sound that accurately represent the 8-bit era they pay homage to.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Massive Chalice is the best turn-based strategy title of 2015 so far, and its unique simulation aspects make it especially intriguing.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Even for a game priced at five dollars, Ninja Senki DX is a letdown.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Salt and Sacrifice doesn’t explain itself by words, which can make it hard to get to grips with, but when you let that go and just discover by play, the game gently drags you in and refuses to let go.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Nintendo Switch Sports doesn’t revolutionize motion-controlled gaming, but instead brings it back at its peak with six enjoyable sports that play great locally or online. Some events, like volleyball or tennis, may feel more shallow than their compatriots, and the absence of a traditional online bowling mode against strangers is hard to overlook. But whether you’re looking to rise through the Pro League ranks or for a fun afternoon with family and friends that doesn’t involve sitting on the couch, Nintendo Switch Sports has plenty to offer gaming fans of all ages that are looking to clash swords, score goals or knock pins.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    It’s good to see that new life, by means of bizarre franchise combination, can be breathed into a nearly dead game series.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The developer is showing continued effort to tune it up on a regular basis so perhaps soon enough we’ll see the current issues fixed. Until then, it’s recommended for the more hardcore set of gamers who don’t mind dealing with unexpected hiccups on occasion. When it works as intended, Cloudbuilt is simply an exhilarating ride.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    There is some initial appeal in Squids Odyssey and its simplicity is mildly entertaining if played in bite sized sessions.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Grandia HD Collection has a few issues but in spite of these is a still a worthwhile addition to any JRPG fan’s collection. The two games are classic gems that flew under many people’s radar during their initial release but are also fun even if this is the first time playing them. There are minor modernization tweaks to the titles and some technical issues do mar the experience, but even with these concessions, having these two titles available to play on the go is hard to complain about. They show their age and have some flaws, but their good outweighs their bad and each title provides a different but memorable adventure.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    It's nice to play a game that manages to be fun for the hardcore and casual alike. [Summer 2008, p.48]
    • Hardcore Gamer
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    An improvement in every way over the original, Catalyst is a solid offering that fills a major gap in EA’s portfolio, considering that the major publisher isn’t necessarily known for its open-world games. Bringing an IP back from the dead is always a risky proposition, but Mirror’s Edge Catalyst is a good example of how to mitigate that risk with an enjoyable title that succeeds in more ways than it fails.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Skylanders Imaginators remains the same great game on Nintendo Switch as it was on other consoles, but with a few drawbacks and additions.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The Golf Club 2019 brings improvements to the table including the PGA Tour license and a Career Mode, but that should be taken with a grain of salt as these features are severely lacking. The most important aspect of the game is that the golf mechanics and atmosphere are great, even though the gameplay could be more approachable. With 2K now producing the game, things could change in the future for the franchise, and more courses will be added at some point. The Golf Club 2019 features a lot of positive and raw aspects with potential.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It has an old-school feel to it that brings to mind the days of scrambling for quarters blended with some good old-fashioned ultraviolence, simple yet effective combat, surreal dystopian horror and some surprisingly deep gameplay elements. It’s just that it has a bit of a difficulty spike and a few annoying combat elements holding it back from true greatness.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Should you be looking for a brief distraction or simply a game with a bare input to see most of what it has to offer, Beyond Blue provides a quaint, if a touch short, detour away from the regular catalog of current-year releases. While everything around the core presentation is not exactly extravagant or worthy of anything but a passing glance, that’s not to say E-Line Media haven’t at least made the feeling of moving about bodies of water one you can easily immerse in. An immersion that doesn’t bang you over the head with some last-minute lecture. Aided more appropriately by a well-integrated, ethereal score — complete with a tasteful selection of licensed tracks alike. The educational side of the content will naturally live or die by the player’s own personal interest on real-world sea-life. It may be far from the most complex of voyages, but Deep Blue‘s more laid back and meditative (if unremarkable) envisioning of life under the sea is sufficient enough in its intentions.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is the best way to experience the journey of the Fateless One. Paradoxically, this version also feels like a relic of the past and does suffer from it. For the most part this remaster feels like playing a previous gen game on a backwards compatible console using texture smoothing, which probably isn’t too far removed from what it is. It’s still a great time and a highly-recommended game, but it does suffer from the caveat of “this is a great game for 2012.” Still, anyone willing to look past the dated menus and RPG tropes can have a blast with this action RPG.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    PixelJunk Monsters 2 is straightforward enough to be enjoyed by casual gamers, but trying to perfect it on the highest difficulty will provide a worthwhile challenge to the hardcore gamers.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    There’s the potential for a beautiful journey here, but Rain seems to be too content to wallow in its melancholy to create any real engaging gameplay. All the set pieces are present for a new nonviolent darling, but with the plodding narrative, uninspired gameplay, and often frustrating camera tied to environmental puzzles, Rain combines a string of mishaps rather than a heartwarming journey to save a little girl in need of a helping hand.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The concept behind Guild of Dungeoneering is fantastic and more people should delve into tweaking genres like this. As the game stands, however, there are features that seem missing from a typical “full” release.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Max: The Curse of Brotherhood doesn’t break any new ground, and should have had the option of using the Kinect for the drawing mechanic, but still delivers. It has rough edges, but overcomes most of them because the platforming is done well.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Ray Gigant takes some risks in game design to create a unique JRPG experience. Some of these are executed better than others, but the overall game is solid.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Disappointing it may be to see the same infrequent defining of difficulty — as much the over-reliance on visual gags at the cost of gameplay variety where it matters — Rock of Ages III: Make & Break still manages to entice, but not impress. At the very least, ensuring players will gladly once again come back for another roll down a winding level or two.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is, at best, a minimal improvement over its predecessor while sharing a lot of the same issues, but there’s just something so endearing about how it all came together.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Adventures of Van Helsing is an excellent game that deserves to be played by those looking for an extremely well written experience and for fans of old school RPGs everywhere. With a game length that puts many AAA developers to shame, NeoCore Games punched well above their weight and succeeded where so many indie games have failed in the past.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    This is a worthy entry in the series, giving an enormous dose of the quirk and charm that earned the series its place.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    FIFA 21 has thrown a lot of adjustments under the hood to help give players more tools than ever before. A lot of the casual players, however, may not take advantage of this. Something needs to be updated to the shooting model and not just the 1-on-1 matchups. The feeling of a soccer match is still fantastic, but it seems EA has put this in the back seat in favor of VOLTA. Even though the Career Mode offers a good bit of options and control, the focus still feels like it is on VOLTA and FUT in terms of game modes even though neither mode changed much. FIFA 21 is a great soccer experience for those who don’t play these types of games often, but the limited mode selection and the overall feel of the game will leave a lot to be desired for yearly fans.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Those looking to explore a lore-filled world heavily inspired by Norse mythology and packed with gorgeous hand-drawn animations will be hard-pressed to find better. But with the limited scope for the interactive aspects of both the exploration and combat, Jotun never quite reaches the heights of Valhalla, instead providing a mediocre experience that inspires as often as it bores.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    LEGO The Hobbit is a fun little game that serves its purpose well.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    The Red Star is an amazing game; it's fast, fun, and loaded with variety. [July 2007, p.52]
    • Hardcore Gamer
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins re-imagines the earliest Final Fantasy in a manner befitting of a popcorn action film and for the most part succeeds. The story is an interesting re-interpretation of the Warriors of Light even if there are a few elements that seem nonsensical and shoehorned in. Like most things involving a timeloop, it’s just better for one’s sanity not to contemplate the finer points of the story too much. A lot of the story wants to be taken seriously, but Jack’s over-the-top obsession with killing Chaos brings the overall tone into comedic territory. The gameplay is frenetic action with several difficulty options to make it accessible to newcomers and challenging to veterans of the genre. Approaching Stranger of Paradise with any sort of expectations of what a Final Fantasy game should be will likely lead to disappointment. When viewed through the lens of a campy B-movie, however, killing Chaos can be a thrill.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Papo & Yo's story is powerful and riveting. The puzzles aren't numerous, but are highly imaginative, proving a puzzle game should never have to recycle material.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    With a solid fighting engine, plenty of room for customization, a copious offering of modes, delightfully oldschool graphics and sound and some solid controls, Battle Grounds is a game that should be played by anyone who loves nostalgic beat’em ups, especially ones that are very stylized and very Japanese.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    If you’re up for an artistically ambitious puzzle game and don’t mind getting lost in the stages (literally), Qbeh-1: The Atlas Cube will mesmerize you the whole way through.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    50 Pinch Barrage!! is a textbook example of archaic design and control; even at a budget price, this isn’t worth your hard-earned cash.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Amnesia: Memories has a great many strengths which include its fantastic visuals, high quality voice acting and tremendous replay value.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Minecraft: Story Mode – Episode 5: Order Up! shapes up to be an incredible introduction to the Order of the Stone’s newest adventures, but still manages to fall a little short.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mutant Football League: Dynasty Edition is a respectable spiritual successor to a legendary game. Yes, technically Dynasty Edition is added DLC, but it is the first to come out on a physical format and also on the Nintendo Switch. Even though the football action is a 1-to-1 representation of NFL Blitz, the strategy involved from the Dirty Tricks and field traps add a deeper and strategic experience to football. The Dynasty Mode is a worthy edition as has enough elements to make it stand out on its own. For $29.99, the package that is here is worth the price for a football fan of any level. Football nerds will all enjoy the name and team parodies where casual football fans will enjoy the action and comedy on the field.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    An excellent collection for tactical RPG fans. The genre can often be pigeon-holed into being full of FFT clones, but both included games here manage to nicely stand out both from that series and NIS America’s own Disgaea. With a variety of tones offered up in each game, they each help scratch the itch for SRPG fans while also working for those wanting a more serious experience in Soul Nomad or who want to kick back with a light-hearted tale with Phantom Brave. Both games are fun to play, but it’s a shame more wasn’t done to help the visuals out as both do suffer from blurry character sprites that clash against the backgrounds that actually did get more work done for modern-day displays.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Pupperazzi immediately impresses with its adorable dogs bounding across a variety of colorful levels. Once digging into the game, it’s clear that there isn’t too much beyond the basic concept of collecting adorable photographs. Sure, there are ways to tweak the photos via lenses and filters, but there’s not much beyond that. With that said, there doesn’t need to be more to it. Pupperazzi is exactly the kind of game designed for players to unwind with after a stressful day. It demands little from the player and offers copious cartoony cuteness in response.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Considering that past Sonic collections offered more games for less money, it’s hard to say that this one is worth it. Ultimately, Sonic Origins is a well-polished wrapper for old games that were, until recently, available at much lower prices. Unless one is a real super fan, this is a collection that’s better-grabbed on sale.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Yooka-Replaylee is a bright and upbeat platformer-adventure starring a pair of fun and likable characters, so it's hard to complain too much about it being overly referential. Each level is a platforming playground with mini-games, a boss encounter, unique challenges to help keep the returning ones fresh and a reasonable play-time to completion. The move-set isn't huge, but they're all effective, making navigating the world feel smooth and responsive. Thematically it's a bit all over the place and skews young for its humor and difficulty, but neither of these take away from the satisfaction of Yooka-Replaylee giving constant rewards for looking in odd places. If there's an interesting spot in the level then there's something there to collect, and more often than not the reward is an item worth the effort of the search. That's exactly how a collectathon platformer is supposed to work, and whether a game is twenty-seven years old or just a couple of days, the formula is timeless.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    It is a definite step back from The Dark Descent, but even several steps back makes this better than almost any other horror game released in the past decade.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Black The Fall isn’t exactly revolutionary when it comes to the world of atmospheric platformers, but it still excels in what it sets out to do. It paints a frightening image of a land deep in the grip of Communism back in the day, but never sacrifices enjoyment in order to get its message out. The visual style is striking and eye-catching, the puzzles are well-crafted and put up a perfect challenge, and everything controls almost perfectly. It’s an impressive piece of work with a lot of heart put into it, and the end result is a brutal but beautiful bit of platforming that comes highly recommended. Indeed, it did end up having the same quality as its peers after all, and can proudly stand beside them.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    While a murder mystery survival scenario may not be the most unique concept ever made, Yurukill manages to twist things on its head by going all in to make one of the most unique Visual Novel experiences. Even the SHMUP sections don’t feel unforgiving with multiple difficulty options that allow players to make things as easy or challenging as they’d like. The characters are all endearing in one way or another, and the story keeps being invested with every group and wanting to see just how everything will tie together in the very end. Whether people survive or struggle to make it is up to them and putting the pieces together correctly. Yurukill: The Calumination Games is well worth playing for those who love the mystery that awaits even if they’re hesitant about taking flight and shooting down enemies.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    What could have been the definitive entry in the Assassin’s Creed series is actually the definitive example as to why releasing an unfinished product is always a bad call.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Regicide can make players feel far more capable than chess allows, but also occasionally powerless. Those who find comfort and excitement in Regicide’s middle ground, though, will have the joy of experiencing the strategic depth and twists its scrutinized balance and flexibility can offer.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince forgoes complexity in favor of creating an accessible and enjoyable gaming experience. The basic story and one dimensional NPCs could be a turn off for those looking for a story-rich RPG, as those seeking a grand story with a complex battle system won’t find them here. Capturing and synthesizing new monsters, however, is a simple pleasure that can easily generate dozens of hours worth of enjoyment from this title. Fans of Dragon Quest IV will likely be sold on seeing an origin story for Psaro and revisiting the world of Dragon Quest IV from an alternative perspective. As a fan of Dragon Quest it was easy to overlook the shortcomings and just enjoy monster wrangling, but those less invested in Dragon Quest may be less forgiving with the basic plot and simple gameplay.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Forced is a gleeful return to form for cooperative play and a nuanced single-player adventure with trials you’ll be scratching your head over for days. It can become needlessly difficult and frustrating at times, but in the end you’ll feel all the better for sticking with it.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Space Hulk: Ascension Edition is the more complete and refined version of 2013’s title bearing the same namesake.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Life is Strange: Reunion manages to succeed despite being given the near-impossible task of closing up a branching story told across several development teams. The plot can be a bit convoluted with the different timelines and mergers, but at its core, Reunion delivers a compelling story across the board, and it's hard to ask for much more of a narrative-centric game. Longtime fans will find an enjoyable experience, while lapsed fans or newcomers can be caught up to speed quickly.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator has ample promise and a lot of heart, but wasn’t given enough time to grow. Most of the dads are lovely to get to know and worth dating. Players want to spend more time with these guys, but only get three relatively brief dates to whet their appetite. Then there’s the fact that it doesn’t yet feel finished due to a fair share of typographical issues, mishmash of art styles and the amount of gameplay bugs still impacting the experience. Once patches go out these latter issues should be resolved, but nothing short of DLC or a sequel will bring players more time with the cast of dads who simply weren’t given enough time in the spotlight to really shine.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The game is not without some technical issues, with crash bugs and UI glitches needing to be addressed, but for anyone still invested in The Sims — or curious to see how the game has evolved since 2014 — this expansion is worth picking up.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    So, players with a strong sense of patience and more forgiveness than should be required in their souls should check this out. There are jewels among the rubble of this tower.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Destiny: Rise of Iron is a big step back from The Taken King. While The Taken King was willing to push Destiny forward with brand new ideas, features, and a ton of new content, Rise of Iron is perfectly fine with recycling what has been run into the ground.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Warriors Orochi 4 is successful in maintaining the essence of the series while introducing new gameplay mechanics, making it a definite step in the right direction for the evolution of the series.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    While it ends up stumbling in a few areas and can use a patch or two, Fall of Porcupine still succeeds when it comes to delivering an enjoyable story that sheds light on all sorts of struggles that health care workers face, while still providing several doses of fun gameplay and a nice town filled with interesting and unique characters to interact with. It isn’t exactly something that’s on the level of a miracle cure, but if you’re looking for a good, quick graphic adventure game, it has what will ail you.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    While Megaton Rainfall may have bitten off more than it can chew in regards to the stage it takes place on, the alien-fighting action is a fantastic spectacle. Buildings crumble dynamically, shockwaves ripple the earth, zippy little enemies fly out of massive motherships and I even failed a mission once when a laser cut the entire planet in half. The enemies are constantly changing, with new ones showing up all the way to the final mission, and while there are only nine missions total each one is memorable. The only truly weak part is the story, which left me hoping there’s an alternate ending somewhere I haven’t seen yet. With the size of the universe away from Earth it’s hard to imagine that all the action is focused on one little globe circling a yellow star on the outside of an arm of a pretty galaxy. More likely, though, it’s the mark of a good game that, when the fighting is done and all that’s left is score attack and Hard mode, it still leaves you wanting another epic battle against the destructive alien threat.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    While there are times where it feels like Wizard With a Gun doesn’t live up to its full potential as a survival game, it still succeeds overall thanks to delivering action-packed twin-stick gunslinging, a gorgeous world with nice lore to discover, and a lot of stuff to find, be it new furniture when it comes to decorating your Tower or new strategies when it comes to dishing out pain. The path of the Gunmancer may not be the most complex, but it still makes for an awesome journey nonetheless in Wizard With a Gun.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The on-rails shooter genre is rarely all that frightening, yet somehow Supermassive Games put together a ride which is fun, scary, silly, and an enjoyable romp on PSVR.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    There are too many aspects of Tormented Souls to appreciate for any fan of original survival horror titles to pass up.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    What makes Earth Defense Force work so well is its complete commitment to the lunacy, presenting its aliens and flying saucers in a completely bombastic fashion that never once admits its all tongue-in-cheek despite being completely obvious that everyone involved is having a blast stuffing as much cheesiness as possible into each level and plot twist.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Those who want a puzzle game with simple mechanics, tons of replayability and is just plain fun should download Sparkle.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Minecraft: Story Mode – Episode 4: A Block and a Hard Place is the strongest episode yet in basically every aspect.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Admittedly, I have a soft spot for Star Ocean: The Last Hope, but this is merely a good remaster of a flawed game. It has solid combat mechanics (that do take a little while to become a little deeper than hammering on the attack button) and Square Enix has done a solid job touching it up to be presentable on modern hardware. It was a long and unique experience when it launched in 2009, but unfortunately the remaster only reminds us of the issues that plagued it. Considering Square Enix launched the remaster at a highly-discounted price, there’s a little more value to The Last Hope, but that doesn’t change the fact that there are some baffling design choices and an infuriatingly cockeyed story tucked in. Even with satisfactory combat, there are just too many good stories out there to recommend this overly-long adventure.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Top Racer Collection features a lot of the same core gameplay across its four titles, but each of them excels at what it does. Those craving something new in the arcade racing realm who missed out on the series in its 16-bit heyday should check this out. Anyone who loved Outrun or has enjoyed Horizon Chase Turbo or '80s Overdrive as more modern homages to this franchise will have a blast with each entry. It's fascinating to have all of the early games in one collection and see the evolution from the earliest entries into the later ones, with new Crossroads content making it easy to hope for a new full-on Top Racer game down the line.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    As long as you’re aware of the middling shooter gameplay which takes up about half the experience, you’ll still be able to enjoy the outrageous, hilarious, depressing and ultimately impressive writing of Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dead or Alive 6 doesn’t make any drastic deviations from the previous titles, but adds just enough new features to feel fresh and exciting. The changes that were implemented in the training mode help make what is traditionally one of the most boring game modes enjoyable and helps a lot with mastering the fighting mechanics.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The inability to roast anything on two legs from an overpowering distance away aside, Divinity 2 is a solid RPG if you are looking for a nice real-time romp though a fleshed out fantasy world.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    There are far better ways to spend even the shorter spells of time on a complete package. The Station, sadly, is light-years away from being one of them.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    More Than a Feeling takes two steps forward and one step back, as the team at Telltale finally demonstrate their sense of direction for the season ahead in the most humorous and intriguing episode this far. The lack of diverse environments makes the gameplay seem less subtly formulaic than other Telltale titles, but the significant plot improvements bodes well for the remainder of the season.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Just Dance 2017 on Nintendo Switch is the definition of a port as besides allowing for new control options, there’s nothing to distinguish it from other consoles. That’s not a slight at Ubisoft, as there’s not much that could have been done to enhance this re-release besides updating the controls and they were successful in that. Using JoyCons is a fine way to experience the game, with similar functionality to that of a Wii Remote or smartphone (which are also compatible with the game) and makes it easy to rope in multiple players for those with a ton of them on hand.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Last Tinker: City of Colors is certainly not for challenge junkies, but anyone looking for a downright pleasant experience full of charm and whimsy will not be disappointed.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    There is enough to like here, namely its themes and world-building, to warrant a playthrough at some point down the line, but those who have been waiting for the full console release to dive in might want to look elsewhere for the time being.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    With a wide assortment of characters to consider and a brilliantly-integrated soundtrack to match, though some tasks can feel like unwanted busywork, for those patient and willing enough to invest the time and effort, Vampyr is undoubtedly another rewarding and impressive feat of gameplay and narrative fusion that Dontnod have treated us to.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Jack the Ripper is a substantial and enjoyable additional chapter to the main game, only marred by the developer’s insistence on trying to make real history fit into a fiction.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    One of those titles that takes awhile to get going, something that many folks will not be able to tolerate.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    While I found my playtime kneecapped by the physical hardware, Loud has nice tunes playing in sync to plenty of fun note tracks. Astrid’s tale isn’t particularly deep (what happened to her band?), but she’s a likeable character who grows into her music over the three years of the story. The twelve tracks have plenty of replayability thanks to the multiple difficulty levels, and there’s even an extra-hard bonus tune awarded in the free-play mode after game completion. Loud is a capable little music game with a lot of heart, but be aware you need either small hands or maybe a Pro Controller to get the most from it.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    It's not too often that a game comes out at a low price that makes you feel willing to pay more if they had just added certain things. This is the case for iRacing Arcade. Was this a game simply because there was extra room in their budget or was iRacing just testing the waters? If there is a sequel, they know what to add after this. The racing, the aesthetic, and the Career Mode are the draw in iRacing Arcade. At just $25, any racing fan needs to pick it up. Players will need a group of friends to lobby up, though, as there isn't matchmaking for online racing and not much else going on outside the Career Mode. This also does get grindy and repetitive. These cars could be made into toys, as the reflections really showcase the detail in these caricatures of automobiles. The racing is fun at the right difficulty level, and is completely worth the price of admission.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Easily Spiders’ best work and one that is confident in its own material, GreedFall, though flawed, is one more fine addition to the AA sphere and a great example of passion and dedication, succeeding where it matters.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Army of Two is definitely one of those "love it or hate it" games. If you manage to "get" the game mechanics, there’s definitely quite a bit to enjoy.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Cities: Skylines just keeps getting better. Thanks to lots of dedicated fans and modders, and the official After Dark and Snowfall expansions, the game offers endless fun and creativity.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite continues the franchise’s tradition for packing a punch with its depth and replayability, but the lackluster campaign, abysmal secondary modes and middling presentation do little to help justify the full-price tag. Those dedicated to the series and genre will likely be pleased with what the latest entry has to offer, but those outside the bubble would be better off waiting for a bigger roster, and hopefully, updates and additions to the current offerings.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dressing up as some of Capcom’s greatest characters and utilizing their weapons and abilities to destroy hundreds of zombies is a thrilling new way to experience the campaign. It’s unfortunate that PS4 players had to wait a whole year to experience this zombie-slaying adventure, but at least they’re getting a big package filled with plenty of comfort and joy.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    While Pokémon Scarlet and Violet may not be a perfect experience, it’s still an absolute delight in almost every way. Memorable characters and storylines are the highlight that pulls together the open exploration, which is truly impactful. It’s hard to stop playing with every corner having a Pokémon hiding and potentially something new to find along the way. A trainer can go through every area and still miss one or two hidden surprises that are so much fun to uncover when coming back. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are the best titles in the franchise in over a decade, with the only thing holding them back being performance hiccups we hope manage to get fixed down the line.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Despite all of the complaints, there is some inherit value to Dragon Ball Fusions. The battle system, while not great, is creative and captures the feel of an anime. The plethora of heroes means that fans can create a team with nothing but their favorites and journey through the tale. The length and breadth of things to do will give anyone who enjoys this an incredible amount of value. Taken only on its merits as a game, though, and there are some noisome elements.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a beautiful game to look at that occasionally delivers moments of excellence, but it lacks the depth underneath to deliver a mesmerizing and unforgettable experience worthy of its technological prowess.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 55 Critic Score
    Ironically enough, this might be one to keep your eye on as the modding community gets a hold of it. Despite the flaws, this game has enough potential to end up standing out.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    If you love the idea of speed runs and like the thrill of making every move count to beat the clock, then 10 Second Ninja might be for you. For everyone else, though, 10 Second Ninja is a repetitive and dull game, one whose philosophy on improvement is player-hostile for the entire ride.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Dystoria will expand and challenge your mind with its six-axis gameplay element as players will be forced to approach aspects of the game differently than they would logically. Technical issues and adjustments to the controls can hamper the experience, but once comfortable, players will settle into an experience straight out of a sci-fi movie from 1982. This game seems simple at first glance, but offers a good bit of depth and replay value if one looks to master the game. The addicting gameplay will make the player want to master each level. Dystoria offers more as a puzzle game with elements of an arcade shooter.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Under Pressure keeps the story flowing and the jams pumping as Telltale provides a rare look at one of the Guardians’ upbringings. The hit-or-miss humor and standard technical malfunctions are still on full display, but the strong storytelling helps keep the season moving forward as the dysfunctional space crew keep searching for answers.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Phoenotopia Awakening is filled with a lot of potential from its wonderfully-charming presentation to utterly-delightful characters, but it just falls short of being something iconic and memorable with systems that often work against the player and can feel almost unfair like many retro video games most people don’t tend to pick up and play anymore. With a few tweaks it could make for a much more balanced experience, but Phoenotopia Awakening would be hard to recommend to those not looking for a steep challenge.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Where Winds Meet is a game that has incredible highs and extreme lows. It has wonderful boss fights that make the combat shine, showcasing that with the right mechanical skill, you can make an intense fight an amazing spectacle. The combat and exploration are the highlights as a whole, but when you’re not in a boss fight, you’ll be exploring, doing puzzles and experiencing the main story. All of which are serviceable, especially as a free-to-play game, but they could have most certainly been handled in a way that makes them more enjoyable. The co-op modes are limited, requiring you to get through a decent chunk of the game before they are something that you and friends can play through and enjoy. Even with all the issues, it isn’t a bad game by any means, and it's fun when you get to the in-depth and interesting portions. It does end up being somewhat limited by the format chosen by the developer, making it difficult to enjoy every minute that you do end up playing.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    LOST ORBIT is a mesmerizing sci-fi story that relishes in the freedom of its setting, and while its level design makes a number of missteps throughout the campaign, it’s a nice little indie project that’s good for the brief time it lasts.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    If it sounds like this is all being to harsh on The BIG Cynical Adventure, it’s only because the game makes it too easy to be cynical right back at it. The one-man development efforts of Cowcat are to admired, but they sadly can’t save the end product from being purely mediocre.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    While the story leaves a little to be desired, Layton’s Mystery still makes for an enjoyable entry into the puzzling series. A likable cast of characters persists despite featuring an entirely new crew and the ending manages to hint at a continuation for the series branching off from this title with a plot to draw players in. Those new to the series can easily hop in without needing to have knowledge of the previous stories, but it does make some welcome nods to previous endeavors Layton has gone through. Any puzzle fan should dive right into this title when they get the chance and look forward to what Layton’s Mystery Journey brings next.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Phantom Abyss is a trek into a lost and trap-filled temple that constantly has you on your toes. Each room is filled with several ways to die, or at least take a good amount of damage, and the constant pressure from the guardian means you have to think while moving. While there's something to be said for tearing through the level at top speed, the rooms are frequently interesting enough that it would be nice to stop and look around for a minute without being pushed forward. The secrets are highly satisfying to find, and when a guardian is dropping poison bombs or just relentlessly advancing that can feel like it's working against the necessary concentration or experimentation needed to reach them. A lot of the time it can feel easier to just dash on through, ignoring the intricate room design to reach the door to the next one, and the next and the next until finally reaching the exit. Every once in a while, though, Phantom Abyss manages to balance the speed and exploration, and that's when it's at its best.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Tiger Woods 07 is the best golf game yet on the Wii, but hopefully next year's edition will have the rough edges hammered out. [May 2007, p.58]
    • Hardcore Gamer
    • 71 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    What all this adds up to is a standout dungeon crawler, loaded with options and accessible despite its difficulty.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The titles themselves are solid choices as any fan of beat ’em ups from the ’80s and ’90s can attest, but missing titles like Alien vs. Predator, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, The Punisher and the other titles mentioned above prevent this from being the definitive collection. Missteps aside, the quality of the seven games that are included make this a worthwhile acquisition for fans of the genre.

Top Trailers