For all the inspirations the game wears on its sleeve, it never rises above them, and thus feels like a title in search of an identity and desperate for a specific kind of player.
For all the inspirations the game wears on its sleeve, it never rises above them, and thus feels like a title in search of an identity and desperate for a specific kind of player.
Princess Peach: Showtime could be a decent first game for young Peach fans, but longtime Nintendo players looking for the Princess’ equivalent of a quality Kirby platformer will likely be underwhelmed.
2K's yearly WWE offering may not bowl over diehard players in the broad sense, but its incremental updates and continued polish make it the strongest contender since the franchise's comeback.
Mortal Kombat 1's genre-leading single-player offerings are immediately apparent, but this latest entry also pushes forward the series' tight, brutal gameplay and excellent production values.
NBA 2K24 feels like a dull, lopsided blowout as opposed to a memorable, adrenaline-inducing affair like the ones cover star Kobe Bryant often blessed us with throughout his career.
Enjoyment can be found for those with the patience and fandom to fireman carry them along, but WrestleQuest's imaginative ideas die by a thousand cuts that hold Muchacho Man and his friends back from world title contention.
Blasphemous 2 takes inspiration from those that came before it, but by intertwining a gorgeous art style, enticing exploration, and rewarding combat, it rises above the horde of Castlevania-inspired action titles.
Between the cast's fantastic performances, a fun twist on Greek mythology, and a genuinely novel game mechanic, Stray Gods is a game I didn't know I needed, but one I'm happy to give a standing ovation to.
Illusion Island doesn’t overhaul the platformer genre, but its distinctive no-combat focus on simply moving through Monoth keeps the trip amusing, brisk, and gratifying.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons has some aggravating design choices that prevent it from soaring as high as it could, but this is a respectable return for the Lee brothers.
Mr. Run and Jump may look unassuming on the surface, but the challenges that await will have you screaming in frustration up until the moment they have you shouting in triumph.
Even if the narrative of The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie falls short compared to past entries, it still stands above most other games in the genre.
AEW: Fight Forever mostly delivers on providing enjoyable arcade-style wrestling. However, the overall package is far from elite, making it a mid-card competitor with a main event price tag.
While Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is a welcome update to a classic farm sim, stripping away nostalgic fondness leaves you with an experience that feels lacking in the genre's modern landscape.
