ZTGD's Scores

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For 4,810 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 64% higher than the average critic
  • 6% same as the average critic
  • 30% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 0.3 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 75
Highest review score: 100 Blue Prince
Lowest review score: 0 Ultracore
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,954 out of 4810
  2. Mixed: 1,627 out of 4810
  3. Negative: 229 out of 4810
4813 game reviews
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    • 89 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Kingdom Rush
    If you've never tried tower defense and you want a great introduction to the genre, Kingdom Rush is perfect. If you're devoted to the genre and want to play the prominent examples of it, this is absolutely up your street. But if you've played one or two prototypical tower defense games and are looking for something new, Kingdom Rush doesn't have much to offer.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Metroid Dread
    I simply don’t think this stands as tall as Super Metroid, Zero Mission, Prime, Fusion, or even Samus Returns. But to a Metroid fan it is worth playing and realize that these are problems I found with the game; other people haven’t had the same issues. However, to anyone who has never played a Metroid game before, I don’t think this is the place to start. I think it feels too different from the rest of the series (neither a good or bad thing) and the moments in the story that hit really well only do so because of everything that has happened before in previous titles.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
    If one was to ignore the technical issues and consider it in isolation, Pillars of Eternity 2 could be deemed a solid game. Whilst on the surface it appears to offer depth and choice, effectively the content is relatively simple and linear. Nevertheless, there are some great side quests and locations to engage with, and a large number of stories and peoples to encounter. However, given the optimisation woes and the illusory depth offered by the main story, I lost interest in what I was doing fairly early on.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Bloodborne: The Old Hunters
    It’s great to see some new areas and bosses for Bloodborne, but as it stands I don’t find it necessary. Most that love Bloodborne will eat this new content up with a silver spoon wanting more. I’m content with what the base game offered, and find it almost unnecessary, but I do appreciate what is offered for those wanting more reasons to jump back into the world of monsters and hunters.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    3D Out Run
    The 3D really does work very well with the game. Still, I only suggest this for the hardcore 3DS players and Out Run fans.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Sky Force Reloaded
    I’ve always enjoyed the genre, and everything in Sky Force Reloaded is solid enough. From a visual, gameplay, and soundtrack standpoint, I’m more than happy. I just can’t shake this feeling that the game was designed to kill hours on the phone, and for me it just doesn’t translate into a great home console experience. I like replaying shooters like this, but I prefer to go through the entire campaign over and over again. Here I’m so burned out on each stage by the time I finish or unlock the next that I don’t want to play anymore, which is never a good sign. Though for the low price, there are much worse things to spend $9.99 on.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Borderlands 2: Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep
    While I enjoyed my time questing, the fact that I barely gained a level and found almost nothing of value the entire time was really disheartening. Overall I had fun, but the experience fell short of what it could have been.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered
    I’m not saying this is a no effort port, but that the effort put in and the price they are asking for a game that is six years old seem disconnected. Right now there are plenty of great RPGs available that are new and with a price tag so high it’s hard to suggest the old game rather than the new one. I can only recommend this to people who have never played it or the hardest of hardcore Ni No Kuni fans because otherwise just wait for a sale to play this one again.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Pentiment
    Pentiment is not a bad game, it’s just not one that I have no real interest in; It’s more along the lines of an interactive, mystery novel than a video game. While I loved the storybook art style, the overly stylized font was just too much to look at for long play sessions. And Pentiment tends to drag on a bit too long for my taste, but for those that have a love of history, murder, religion, betrayal, secrets, walking from left to right/right to left and reading your video games; then I think you should try Pentiment, especially at the price of $19.99 or included with your Game Pass subscription.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Galactic Civilizations III: Crusade
    Ultimately, though, Crusade does what all good expansions should do – it takes a base game and improves upon it in significant ways. There is a great amount of new content here that will give existing players a fresh experience when returning to Galactic Civilizations III. It’s also competitively priced, which should entice newcomers as well. There are a few bugs and the rather large shadow of Stellaris that hang over this game, but all in all this is a really decent strategy title that should appeal to any fan of 4X gaming.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Super Mega Baseball
    At its heart Super Mega Baseball feels like those old games I loved, I just wish they would have just focused on making the core game work and left out the additional systems, which not only don’t enhance the game but actively detract from it.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Madden NFL 08
    Yes, there were great additions to this year, but the horrible AI, and multiplayer just really mess up the experience for me.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Tactics Ogre: Reborn
    With improved presentation and various quality of life changes, Tactics Ogre Reborn is a worthy remaster in all areas except for one. However, that one ends up being one of the most important as with poor balancing of difficulty with union levels and an overly inflated HP pool, it became an absolute chore to play early on in the experience and never quite recovered.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes
    It’s really quite a shame because at its core, Uni 2 is a wonderful fighter with incredible depth and plenty of style to spare. The sheer amount of freedom in how I can control my character is second to none in all the fighters I’ve played but the awful PC port and the numerous game breaking issues on launch that have resulted in a dwindling player base makes it harder to recommend than it should be.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Fallout: New Vegas
    There is a lot of fun to be had. I just want to convey all that I had experienced with the game. It's left up to you to decide if you want to drop the money on it.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    GRIS
    I won’t say that GRIS is bad. It is not even remotely bad. What GRIS is is disappointing. It can’t decide whether or not it wants to be a fun platformer or art piece, and the reality is that it could have been both. There’s a lot of hyperbole out there right now about this being a must play and I have a feeling a lot of people that do will be disappointed by this title. If GRIS goes on sale I would say pick it up if the art style seems appealing, but otherwise don’t look to GRIS to be the new LIMBO or INSIDE because the puzzles aren’t as deep and the gameplay isn’t as prevalent.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Still Wakes the Deep
    Still Wakes the Deep is a fun romp for its short playthrough. The lack of environmental storytelling and exploration is really where it falls apart. Still, this being on Game Pass makes it worth checking out for sure. I enjoyed my time with it, but I don’t think it will stick with me like titles such as Soma and Amnesia have.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Max Adventure
    For fans of the genre and the format, though, this game's the best of the best. The characters are likable, the plot is simple but engaging and often takes some absurd turns that can be quite entertaining.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Sexy Brutale
    Sexy Brutale is a title with an intriguing premise, backed up by a story well worth experiencing. However, the lackluster characterization and singular, uninteresting solutions to its puzzles hold it back from greatness.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Deadlink
    It took me a while to really get the gameplay loop for Deadlink, I have played so many of these types of games and this one didn’t help things by having some confusing controls. But once I was able to wrap my head around everything, Deadlink is a pretty fun experience in small spurts. With a narrative that isn’t presented well in my opinion and a high difficulty level there really is no draw to spend hours in this world in one sitting; but in small spurts, I think fun can be found in Deadlink for some.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    SUPERHOT
    I wanted to love Superhot more than I did, but its simplistic design and lack of variety really hurt it, even with its short campaign length.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Helldivers 2
    Y’all know me, I am an optimist, I have high hopes for Skull & Bones and I am sure that Sony will step in and get this resolved and we can all get back to fighting for freedom and democracy together. But in the meantime, if you don’t mind maybe not being able to play when you want, or having random crashes and missing rewards then dive into Helldivers 2. These are all growing pains and can be resolved, at the end of the day this game is blast, made more so when you are playing with friends which is evident if you watch any of our gameplay videos. If you all pick this up and happen to be teamed with ZeroTolerance, just watch ya back because he is all about completing the mission, teammates be damned. LOL.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion
    Crisis Core Reunion is a wonderful upgrade to the original game that makes it better in some areas while showcasing some of its shortcomings at the same time. It is also weird to release a piece of this series on consoles that cannot continue the narrative unless they swap to another console. Final Fantasy VII is a classic for a reason and I did love a lot of the games that spawned from it. The story is fantastic and it is nice to see the series return to Xbox and Switch.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    FIFA 16
    FIFA 16 has a few nice additions, but failure to fix some of the franchise’s ongoing problems, along with a massive focus on FUT leaves it feeling stale; especially seeing as PES seems to be scoring highly in reviews.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 55 Critic Score
    Supraland
    If I come off angry it’s because clearly the developers of Supraland know how to make a great game, but I grew so tired of the more obtuse puzzles that I got to the volcano and quit. It just wasn’t fun anymore. In conclusion it’s the puzzles being such a big focus of this game but seemingly such a small focus of the development that I can’t recommend this game. Sure, others might get a kick out of it, but to me it doesn’t work as a puzzle game, the combat isn’t there enough to really comment on outside of it being okay, and the exploration is hampered by the puzzles so ultimately Supraland is a puzzle game that doesn’t really work. When the puzzles are good they still aren’t great, and that’s unfortunate.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Forza Horizon 2: Storm Island
    Still for those looking for more Forza Horizon 2 there is plenty to be found in this pack. Just know it doesn’t stray far from the original game at all.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    RiME
    Rime is a beautiful game with some ugly drawbacks. Still, I recommend checking it out. The world is gorgeous and the adventure worth seeing. I hope the developers make an effort to clean up the frame rate at some point, but I also hope to see a follow-up with some of the issues addressed. There is too much beauty for this game to not return.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Destiny 2: Forsaken
    For those who may have wandered away from Destiny 2, the choice on Forsaken may come down to whether or not friends are jumping in. For newcomers, the Destiny 2 Legendary Collection is $60 and includes the base game and all expansions to this point, which is a ton of content for an enjoyable if flawed shooter.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Borderlands 3
    I really want to like Borderlands 3. I know I will eventually, at least I hope so. As it stands right now, the game is a hard pill to swallow. It has the makings of a great loot driven game, but it’s missing a few key ingredients to make it a great first play through to level up. If they can fix the loot drops, have the performance not fall over dead in areas, and maybe clean up a few bugs, it will be a great entry in an already well done franchise. Until then, for anyone that hasn’t picked it up yet, I say wait until we get a couple of patches.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Fallout: New Vegas
    There is a lot of fun to be had. I just want to convey all that I had experienced with the game. It's left up to you to decide if you want to drop the money on it.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Rock Band Rivals
    Rock Band Rivals is tailored for the fans that care about competition, which is likely the biggest install base for the plastic instrument game.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition
    Remasters are part of this generation whether we like them or not. Bulletstorm is a game perfect for this trend as a lot of players likely missed it the first time around. The addition of Duke Nukem and all the DLC is nice, but the sticker shock is real. This is the kind of game that would have done much better with just a little lower price of entry.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Splatoon
    I want it to catch on, but with the paltry Wii U user base, and a quirky new IP at the helm, my fears are that no one will care about Splatoon in a month’s time.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers
    Wuchang has some neat ideas, but the inconsistent difficulty and confusing story really made it hard to enjoy a lot of times. Still, I love the world, and combat feels great and responsive. This is a solid effort from a first-time studio, and I think people who really enjoy the genre have yet another one they can get into. The campaign is long, clocking in at just under 50 hours with plenty more once credits roll. Fans will love it, but for those like me, this one doesn’t do enough to overcome my issues with the genre.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    World of Final Fantasy Maxima
    World of Final Fantasy is a nice change of pace for the series’ formula, but it relies too much on simplistic tactics to be a standout. I love the two main characters and the ideas behind the combat, but the dungeons feel padded out and the combat is just not that interesting.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Guitar Hero Live
    A lot of the issues with GHTV is that it is confusing to understand how it works within the game. Players are used to just buying songs a la carte. The new six button setup will also throw players for a loop. Again, I totally respect the new direction, but the familiar tones of its competitor really draw me to prefer that offering. Plus I can play what songs I want, when I want.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Assassin's Creed
    With a bit more focus and a little more tweaking, Assassin's Creed could have been a great game. Unfortunately, it fails to deliver on many promises we've heard over the last year.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Zombie Night Terror
    The art direction astutely compliments the gameplay and the self-referential, retro-infused style of Zombie Night Terror. It is a title that feels a lot like a postmodern love letter to games of a bygone era.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Assassin's Creed
    With a bit more focus and a little more tweaking, Assassin's Creed could have been a great game. Unfortunately, it fails to deliver on many promises we've heard over the last year.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Happy Game
    I’m not sure whether to recommend Happy Game or not. I think most people will be disappointed with its short play time and easier puzzles. Any fan of Amanita will definitely find joy in this new direction for the studio but will maybe be let down in comparison to past titles’ puzzles. In short, Happy Game is good, people should play it, but wait for a sale.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    TrackMania 2 Canyon
    If you are someone who enjoys their racing games with more structure, something like Gran Turismo or Burnout Paradise, then you may find that Trackmania2 will leave you cold. However, if you are fan of the first game, or fancy flexing your design muscles, then there is a lot of fun to be found here. Just make sure you know what sort of game you are getting yourself into.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
    Banishers: Ghost of Eden is a unique title that just stumbles along the way. It has some severe pacing issues and clunky combat that really drag down the overall experience. I wanted to love it a lot more than I did. It feels like Dontnod’s usual unique take on a genre that feels just a bit undercooked. Still once it drops in price and perhaps receives a few updates, I think this could easily graduate to the status of hidden gem. There are a lot of cool concepts here that I really enjoyed. I just wish I didn’t have to wait so long to get to them.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Ray'z Arcade Chronology
    This collection is more than worth the time even if the digital version feels incomplete. It was great revisiting these classic shooters all in one place. They are not as in-depth as other shooters, but are still a ton of fun. Definitely worth checking out for anyone that still clings to that classic genre.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    The Banner Saga
    The presentation promises much and is highly polished but it lies at the surface, working to conceal the more problematic aspects of the actual game itself.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch
    F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch is one of the worst names for a game ever. Still the exploration is second-to-none. I wish the combat was more fluid or the enemy encounters tweaked a bit better. I feel like most people will quickly fall off once the difficulty ramps up. It is not hard due to challenge, but more because of functionality and that sucks. It tarnishes an otherwise incredible experience that could have easily been the next huge series in the genre. Still if you can muster through the challenge this is an experience worth taking.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux
    Since 2009, Atlus has released many games and made strides in both storytelling as well as gameplay, and despite its many improvements, Strange Journey falls short of lofty standards Atlus has set for its modern games. Despite it certainly being the definitive version of the game to play, it leaves much to be desired under the shining banner of Shin Megami Tensei.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Goodbye Deponia
    Unfortunately, Goodbye Deponia is an interesting game wrapped up in a rather frustrating point and click adventure.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed
    I know I have been critical of the developer in the past, and while I, myself didn’t really vibe with their marketing techniques; at the end of the day developer Digital Cybercherries’ freshman offering is a joy to play with others. It can be rather difficult alone due to having to defend multiple towers, but with others, online or split-screen I cannot deny this is a fun game. Its not going to set the world on fire, but for a group of buddies on a weekend; this one will definitely make you smile.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4
    The final game in the series is the most refined. It also benefits from being the first game on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, so the fidelity is the best by far. The conclusion to the series continues to refine what makes it appealing. The fighting still feels great, if not a bit shallow. It was fun seeing the evolution of the franchise in one package. It is hard to argue the value here. I have always enjoyed the Ultimate Ninja Storm games even without knowledge of the source material. The fighting is fun and the stories are always over-the-top madness. This package delivers hours of fun and a solid look into the lore of Naruto.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Puppeteer
    Puppeteer is an odd game. There is no better way to put it, but it is also unique and charming in its presentation. I found the platforming and combat a bit rudimentary for my tastes, but I still couldn’t stop pressing forward to see what the next level looked like.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Dishonored: Definitive Edition
    Those who really liked Dishonored and want to try it again on the new systems can have a decent time with the Definitive Edition. People who missed out get a complete package, but need to keep in mind that this game is not easy, and manually saving after each section will become a priority while playing.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Temtem
    TemTem is an extremely well-made monster collecting RPG that in my opinion does enough to differentiate it from the competition; even if just. My biggest issue with the game is the label it has for being an MMO, while it is always online, and you will see other human tamers running around the world and can interact with them; once the story is done and players have collected all the creatures there may not be much left to do outside of various events and tournaments. The developers have stated that they are not planning for any more creatures, or any other expansions; that just seems like an odd stance for an MMO which usually continue for years through more content. If you can get past that, there is an enjoyable story, mechanics and loads of activities and creatures to collect. While players may not be playing TemTem for the next 10 years, if Pokémon games are your jam, then TemTem will offer you a great experience for the foreseeable future.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Inkbound
    Aside from the repetitive enemies and locations, I enjoyed my time with Inkbound. It’s a different breed of rogue game, one that not only allows for layers upon layers of strategy with how players can approach each battle but the inclusion of 4 player co-cp makes for even greater strategizing with friends. With a whimsical graphical style and a great soundtrack to match, Inkbound can for sure be a fun game, if you are alright with fighting the same types of enemies again and again.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Valfaris
    Developers spend so much time trying to recapture that magic of classic pixel-style games and instead forget about what made them special. It wasn’t the look, it was the loop. There are plenty of 8 and 16-bit titles with mundane game play and nowadays it shows why some games stood the test of time. Be challenging, but be interesting. Don’t just punish players and throw lush visuals at them. Make the game play interesting as well. This is something Valfaris lacks, and I wish more indie developers understood when making these games that I very much want to play, I just lose interest in far too soon.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 55 Critic Score
    Grim Fandango Remastered
    The core game is fun, but I would recommend sticking with one platform throughout and rotating save slots.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse - Episode 5: The City That Dares Not Sleep
    As a whole, I enjoyed this season, but the final episode fell a little flat.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    LEGO City Undercover
    LEGO City Undercover is a solid exclusive title for Nintendo’s machine; especially with the severe lack of software currently on the market. If you own a Wii U and can tolerate the shortcomings of the LEGO series it is easy to recommend. Those who have grown tired of the massive collect-a-thons though might find themselves rolling their eyes again at the tedium that ensues.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails
    Even though there’s no hiding the PSP roots of this rather simplistic title, there is still a lot of fun to be had in its solid level design, satisfying sense of progression and great soundtrack.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX
    This is a cutesy game with pretty much an entire Japanese soundtrack and theme. If you’re into this type of game, then you’ll enjoy it. If you’re not, then you won’t.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Paper Mario: The Origami King
    Despite being charming and oftentimes funny with some great set piece moments sprinkled throughout, Paper Mario: The Origami King’s repetitive combat and dull sense of progression hampers an otherwise enjoyable journey.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Total War: Attila
    The scale of the battles, the depth of the seemingly innumerable mechanics all point to well-crafted title, but if I were to never play a Total War game again, I’d be perfectly fine with that.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The First Berserker: Khazan
    The boss fights were a real highlight, it’s a shame the narrative didn’t shine as brightly; but if you are a fan of Dungeon Fighter Online you may enjoy it more than a noob like me.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    Phineas and Ferb
    Phineas and Ferb is a solid addition to the ever-growing library of family-friendly DS games. With responsive controls and a colorful art style this DS title is sure to be a hit with kids who are fans of the cartoon.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Crow Country
    I was surprised that I came away from Crow Country enjoying myself. As I said, I am not a fan of these PS1 graphics games, I lived thru this era and I am ok that we don’t have blocky and shiny graphics again. But Crow Country smartly focuses on the puzzles and its creepy atmosphere, which it absolutely nails both of these aspects. Combat feels like an afterthought by comparison but honesty its not even a problem at the end of the day. If you are nostalgic for survival horror games of yesteryear, then head down to Crow Country.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Street Fighter X Tekken
    There are a ton of features in the game that no one asked for. Vita owners already have Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and Mortal Kombat in their lineup, and MK is far superior with its uniquely designed challenge mode exclusively for Vita.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Knights and Bikes
    Foam Sword has advertised Knights and Bikes as a Goonies-inspired adventure, but nostalgia is a tricky beast. A game steeped in imagination born from childhood memories requires the player to commit to this vision to get the most out of its story. Foam Sword’s attempt to pitch this vision of nostalgia and childhood as a universal one is not entirely successful – largely because memories and cultural experiences are not universal. Knights and Bikes did entirely not captivate me. That said, its sincere leading characters and exquisite art are certainly aspects to be admired.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Scribblenauts
    So if you can put up with the weak control scheme, there are some truly inspiring moments that can occur. Scribblenauts had such a huge vision I can't help but love it, and although sometimes it makes me want to throw my DS across the room, I'm still glad I spent the time playing it.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    A Way Out
    When it focuses more on being a game than an interactive movie, I think there’s a lot to enjoy. While I personally had technical hiccups, I don’t need to talk about those as this game has enough faults in its gameplay pacing and story that can’t be fixed with a small technical patch. It’s not a bad game, but it’s mostly forgettable.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    DNF Duel
    As it stands, DNF:Duel is not a fighter I will continue to play as it’s not the kind of experience I’m looking for in a fighting game. However, that is not to say that I don’t see the value in having a game where bombastic, overtuned characters do dumb things to each other as I don’t believe every fighter needs to be meticulously balanced and brutally deep to have a place in the FGC. All that really means is that I’ll just be watching instead of playing.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Yoshi's Crafted World
    Yoshi’s Crafted World is exactly what I needed, when I needed it. I could turn off my brain and just have a good time. Nintendo excels at that. While it can get repetitive after a while, it never wears out its welcome. I loved collecting everything in the game and the hours I spent with it were joy-infused. The entry price might be a bit steep, but the Nintendo quality never fails to deliver.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Project Warlock
    Project Warlock isn’t going to set the world on fire, but what it sets out to do it does well. I found myself loving certain sections while struggling with others. With a few tweaks it could easily become a fan-favorite title that scratches that itch so many other games attempt and fail at.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
    Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is far from broken or even being a bad game. It feels more disappointing than anything considering the pedigree of the franchise. Weird design choices and lack of polish really stick out in the single-player game, while the online will likely continue to thrive for months to come.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    For Honor
    For Honor is a unique game with an outstanding combat system. The problems it faces are its release window (I mean look at the games currently out or on the horizon!) and the dedication it requires. Casual players need not apply, as you will be slaughtered endlessly on the battlefield. I feel like For Honor will get a smaller, but highly dedicated fan base as it goes on, but for those looking for an approachable experience will likely fall on their own blade.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 59 Critic Score
    CastleStorm
    There’s nothing inherently broken about Castle Storm, it just tries to do too much for its own good. It doesn’t help that the base concept is still very derivative either, and I couldn’t shake the Angry Birds vibe I was getting throughout.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Pacer
    Pacer is a good game on its own merits but it is nothing special, and when Wipeout HD Collection is still being sold for half the price of Pacer (and the other titles I mentioned at the beginning of this review are also less than Pacer) it is extremely hard to say this game that is just “good” is worth your money when competitors are out there for less. Pacer does not exist in a vacuum, and therefore I can not recommend it over other Wipeout inspired titles, which there is at least one on every current platform.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Nuclear Blaze
    Nuclear Blaze is a decent romp that is impressive on the idea of how it was created. Firefighting games are few and far between so having a good one is always nice. Finally coming to consoles is good and I recommend giving it a shot if you enjoy the theme. I have always liked the idea and it is always good to get more entries in the genre.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Black
    Exactly what the developers said it was going to be, a straight-forward shooter with a decent story and unique environment interaction. Sadly the length of the single-player and a lack of any type of multi-player mode really dampen the experience.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Retro City Rampage
    Those who love nostalgia will find plenty of it, but others may want to stay away.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth - Rising Tide
    At the end of the day, Rising Tide accomplishes precisely what it needed to for the Civilization franchise: it provides a good reason for those players who drifted away to potentially jump back into Beyond Earth, and it provides a timely injection of new content for those players who needed something more to continue sticking around.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 64 Critic Score
    Anomaly: Warzone Earth
    AWE is a great idea, wrapped up in a bland package. Visually, the game is fine, but it just seems to lack punch. If you are a fan of Tower Defense games, and are looking for something a little different, then it certainly is worth checking out. Ultimately, AWE is missing a certain something and probably has little lasting appeal.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Full Mojo Rampage
    There are a lot of titles that boast what Rampage does, but few have done it with the execution found here. Even if these words scare you, like they scare me, this game is still worth checking out.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Pit People
    With Pit People, Behemoth tried something new and was only partially successful. It has excellent art design, unique world-building and some truly funny moments, but the problems with its combat and structure hinder what could be a hit. Understandably, the game’s weakest parts are those that the studio doesn’t have much experience with.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Shiren the Wanderer: The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate
    What I was hoping for when I booted up Shiren the Wanderer was another anomaly – a title in the roguelike genre that I would enjoy, and that wasn’t what I found. Instead, what I got was a fairly standard entry in the genre- crafted well by a developer that’s been making these kinds of games for years, and even though I did not find the title to my tastes, I could easily see why someone else might.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Freedom Planet 2
    Having never played the original, I can say that I enjoyed Freedom Planet 2 even if the combat annoyed me at times. The Sonic like speedy traversal of each level was a joy to complete, the real issues only crept up when combat was needed. While it was nice to have some advanced moves, given how fast FP2 plays; the combat kind of felt out of place. Floaty combat with the high speed makes the boss battles frustrating; If people can get around that, they will find that Freedom Planet 2 is a peek into Sega’s heyday, with a cheesy story and heroes that ‘gotta go fast’ if you are in the need for some Genesis vibes, take a trip to Freedom Planet 2.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Puckerz!
    I was able to play all 30 hours in under two hours, with little incentive to go back and try to improve my scores. Overall, Puckerz! is an interesting game that provides some enjoyment, but the missteps in the overall design prevent it from competing with the likes of Angry Birds or Cut the Rope.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    This War of Mine: The Little Ones
    This War of Mine: the Little Ones is pretty fully featured. While not for everyone, it offers a decent experience of survival, base building, and time/resource management. The combat can be weak, and the story or at least the one it’s trying to convey is weak. Still, for the fans of survival games like Don’t Starve, there’s something to be had here.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    REPLACED
    Replaced didn’t turn out to be what I thought it was, nevertheless, I enjoyed its narrative and the things it had to say about A.I; given where we are in 2026 it felt pretty timely. I did have some small graphical issues on PC but the fact that the Xbox version is not capable of telling players what buttons to press in order to be successful is just crazy to me. I should not have to spend 10 minutes of trial and error to figure out a mechanic that the game should display in the tutorial. For a game that has been delayed so many times it’s these kinds of bugs that are just simply a bad look for the developer. There is some fun to be had with Replaced on Series X but I would wait for a patch or two before I began to go looking for it.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    AI: The Somnium Files
    Ultimately, AI: The Somnium Files is a game that has moments of brilliance that are obscured by a disjointed narrative and investigative process. Aside from the Somnium sequences – which are, admittedly, very cool – the game failed to motivate me to truly engage with its overarching story. I just didn’t find it appealing. That said, it may be worth a look for fans of the genre (or detective stories in general), who are likely to feel at home here if not altogether blown away.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter
    I enjoyed the original Tails of Iron, its hand drawn art and the story is what really did it. Tails of Iron 2 delivers more but polishes some of the rough edges that the original launched with. The new setting of the game is nice as well as the additions to the combat. The best addition by far is the ability to dial down the challenge, I love that we are seeing these sliders more and more in “soulslike” games. Whiskers of Winter is a solid sequel, even if it played it safe by not really making drastic changes to the formula from the original.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    SHUTEN ORDER
    Shuten Order is a game of great ambition, unfortunately lacking in execution and polish to properly shoulder the weight of said ambition. While there is a good story to experience and some great moments sprinkled throughout the adventure, the issues with its storytelling and half-baked gameplay elements makes it come far short of its lofty ambitions.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Alien: Isolation
    Alien Isolation is a great game marred with problems that make it frustrating the longer it goes on, and it goes on for a lot longer than it should.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Grand Kingdom
    Grand Kingdom features a vibrant and charming art style along with a surprisingly well implemented multiplayer mode. However, the lackluster story and repetitive combat that sits at the very core of the experience holds the game back from greatness.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Freedom Finger
    The biggest problem Freedom Finger runs into is its lack of variety. The story and humor carry it for a while, but by the ends I grew tired of its monotony. I wish there was just a little more to it. The game looks cool, sounds great, and plays wonderfully, and it looks and runs good to boot. I just felt like it gave little reason to keep coming back for more. Lean into the ridiculous and add more modes or outlandish power-ups to keep things fresh, as it stands this is a game that I picked up once and put down without any intention of coming back. Still, I loved the time I spent with it.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Metal Slug Tactics
    Metal Slug Tactics successfully reinvents the classic Metal Slug series by incorporating strategic elements and roguelike mechanics. While there is a story here, it never really felt like anything more than a reason to continue to push the player forward. I mean ‘stopping a megalomaniacal man who is all about world domination’ is pretty straight forward. But where this game truly shines is in the excellent strategic elements, even if they are more difficult than I would have liked. MST might not be the return to the Metal Slug series that many fans are hoping for, but it is, nevertheless, a fun and worthy entry into the series ongoing legacy.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Blaster Master Zero
    Where the game does really shine is in its presentation. At no point did I feel like I was playing anything other than a classic 8-bit game. The look, the sounds, and even the crazy storyline about a boy and his frog, the game is steeped in nostalgia, and remains faithful to the games of that era, but I cannot comment on how this stacks up as a remake of the original, having never played it. But that is where one of my problems I had with the game surfaced. Due to it being so retro in its style, the game story and dialogue just felt daft. At no point was I invested in the story of Jason and Fred, and had no interest in reading all of the text that was presented to me. Some people may actually take that as being true to the original, but for me it felt like a disconnect. But at the end of the day, as long as the gameplay is enjoyable, that is all that matters.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 68 Critic Score
    Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition
    I'd even go as far to say that most hardcore players will find this expansion a little lacking with only 4 new characters and a rebalancing structure that hinders more than it helps.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Days Gone Remastered
    All in all, I am excited to revisit and finally finish Deacon’s story and with the inclusion of the Broken Road DLC as well as the new Horde mode there is a lot of extra and brand-new content for players to explore. I just really don’t understand the wisdom of doing this remaster, while I am sure the fans appreciate it very much; I didn’t think Sony was moving forward with the franchise. So, to invest money in this remaster just seems like giving some false hope to fans that are interested in seeing more from Deacon and gang but who am I, just a black guy reviewing games. I am sure Sony knows what they are doing……right?
    • 78 Metascore
    • 73 Critic Score
    Call of Duty: Black Ops - First Strike
    If you are a Black Ops nut, then I'm sure you will get your money's worth. If you are the sort of person who just dips in and out of Black Ops, you might be better served by waiting for the pack to go on sale in a few months time.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 63 Critic Score
    Space Channel 5 Part 2
    A rhythm game from a time before they were popular. With its bizarreness on show for all to see, it certainly helps carry the game forward. But for all of its charm, the game falls down in the key area of control, making it difficult for you to see the adventure through to the end.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    WWE 2K22
    With all the extra time between 2K20 and this entry, I expected several things. I expected the roster to be out of date, and it is. Many of the 180+ wrestlers featured here are no longer with the WWE (although that’s more WWE’s fault than 2k’s). I expected many of the wrestler characterizations and storylines to also be out of date, and they are (for example, Seth Rollins is still operating under his “Messiah” character). Most importantly I expected some big improvements, and while some of the items here definitely meet that qualification the game is still stuck in a rut with respect to AI and physics/clipping issues. There’s talk that WWE may look to partner with EA on future games, so this may be the last go around for the team at 2K, but if it’s not I hope that their focus for WWE 2k23 will be on fixing some of these issues so that the solid base they’ve built can actually live up to its potential. Hopefully I’m not revisiting that sentence again next year.
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