Tag: Game Review

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Gaming

Saros Review

  • Developed By: Housemarque
  • Published By: Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • Reviewed On: PlayStation 5
  • Available On: PlayStation 5

There’s no question that everything about Saros is a response to Housemarque’s last game, Returnal. Did you feel like Returnal’s story was a bit too vague? Saros takes the exact opposite approach with its narrative. Perhaps you never got to experience Returnal’s story because of its difficulty. Well, while Saros is no walk in the park, Housemarque has deliberately eased up on the punishment. In many ways, Saros is a better (and arguably more fun) game than Returnal. But in sanding down the edges that made its predecessor so beloved, Saros ends up being the lesser of the two.

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Gaming

Ghost of Yotei Review

  • Developer: Sucker Punch Productions
  • Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • Reviewed On: PlayStation 5
  • Available On: PlayStation 5

In 2020, Sucker Punch delivered a certified hit with Ghost of Tsushima. As a love letter to classic Japanese cinema, its gripping story, immersive open world, and visceral combat made it one of my favorite games from the PS4 generation. Five years later, the team is back with Ghost of Yōtei, a game that aims to give us more of what we got before, just refined to a razor’s edge. Not every swing lands, and the reliance on what worked before weakens Ghost of Yōtei in some key ways, but when it hits, it’s sharp enough to cut through the noise and make this another fun and memorable adventure.

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Gaming

Lost Soul Aside Review

  • Developer: Ultizero Games
  • Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • Reviewed On: PlayStation 5
  • Available On: PlayStation 5, PC

My mindset is always the same whenever I start playing a character action game. I expect a healthy amount of spectacle and excitement when it comes to the combat, interesting level and game design to prevent things from getting stale, and a decent story that’s compelling enough to keep me invested in the events that contextualize all the action. Lost Soul Aside, unfortunately, does not check all these boxes. It strikes gold with its extremely fun combat, but sadly, it misses the mark in all other aspects.

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Gaming

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review

  • Developer: Sandfall Interactive
  • Publisher: Kepler Interactive
  • Reviewed On: PlayStation 5
  • Available On: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

When I first laid eyes on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, it seemed like a game that would be right up my alley. From its interesting premise to its impressive combat, this new entry in the JRPG space from French developer Sandfall Interactive appeared to hit all the right notes for me as a fan of the genre. Yet somehow, Clair Obscur managed to surpass my expectations by delivering an experience that’s deeper and more exciting than I could’ve possibly imagined, making it one of my favorite games of the year so far.

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Gaming

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Review

  • Developer: Square Enix
  • Publisher: Square Enix
  • Reviewed On: PlayStation 5
  • Available On: PlayStation 5

Going into Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, I was equal parts excited and nervous. Its predecessor, Final Fantasy VII Remake, set a high bar after it managed to blow me away and become one of my favorite entries in the franchise. After spending just shy of 80 hours with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, I feel confident in saying that once again my expectations have been surpassed in ways I never would’ve imagined. There are some bumps along the way, but they don’t keep Rebirth from being one of the best Final Fantasy games I’ve played.

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Gaming

Eternights Review

Eternights
  • Developer: Studio Sai
  • Publisher: Studio Sai
  • Reviewed On: PlayStation 5
  • Available On: PS4, PS5, PC

Eternights wears its influences on its sleeves and doesn’t try to hide them. Clearly taking plenty of cues from Atlus’ Persona franchise, Eternights strives to distill the strong story and character focus of its inspiration into a smaller package, with an emphasis on romance and action-based combat being its key differentiators. While it does manage to do some things well, it also misses the mark in more ways than one.

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Gaming

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Review

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
  • Developer: Nintendo
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Reviewed On: Nintendo Switch
  • Available On: Nintendo Switch

If you told me at the start of the year that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was going to be a game that I absolutely fell in love with, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. I felt that its predecessor Breath of the Wild was an enjoyable experience, but took issue with its blank canvas design which felt a bit too open and directionless for me. But that’s been flipped on its head with Tears of the Kingdom. By building on the concepts of adventure, creativity, and exploration that laid the foundation for the previous game, and amplifying them with a stronger sense of focus and direction, everything that I didn’t click with before has been vastly improved, making this not just one of the best games I’ve played this year, but one of the best games I’ve ever played period.

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Gaming

Final Fantasy XVI Review

Final Fantasy XVI
  • Developer: Square Enix
  • Publisher: Square Enix
  • Available On: PS5
  • Reviewed On: PS5

Ever since Final Fantasy XVI was announced I’ve been eager to experience a new story in the iconic franchise and see how it continues to evolve. With a more “mature” story, a much stronger focus on real-time action, the promise of over-the-top setpieces, and an acclaimed development team behind it, I had pretty high expectations. And while Final Fantasy XVI managed to meet and even exceed some of those expectations, eventually the luster wore off and one truth revealed itself: that Final Fantasy XVI is simultaneously a fun and boring game to play.

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Gaming

The Last of Us Part II Review

The Last of Us Part II

Seven years ago, Naughty Dog released The Last of Us to critical acclaim. The story of Joel and Ellie and their cross country journey resonated with gamers from a gameplay standpoint and an emotional standpoint. It was a game that pushed the industry forward in more ways than one, so expectations for The Last of Us Part II were astronomical. Somehow, the team was able to create a sequel that is a step up from its predecessor in every way imaginable and blow me away yet again.

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Gaming

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered Review

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered

It’s been rumored for quite some time now, but Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered is a real thing. Even though it’s missing some of what made the original game such a highly regarded classic, this remaster is worth the price of entry.

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