Attack of the Fanboy

There may be no new content besides the previous DLC being included, but Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game – Complete Edition takes what was already a really fun beat ’em up and makes it all the more accessible to a whole new generation of gamers.

If you’re unfamiliar with the original, there’s a decent game to enjoy here, but if you were looking for something that improves upon that previously established formula you’ll be left scratching your head as to why the extreme changes to gameplay were made.

Cyberpunk 2077 will ultimately be optimized for every platform and the major bugs will likely be squashed, but it’s real problems will remain. A lack of gameplay and systems that matter leave the game feeling uninspired, even if some of the conversations and characters in this world are the best we’ve seen in quite some time.

While it may not be a very long game, Shady Part of Me is well worth the time playing through for both the interesting gameplay and aesthetic that surrounds what is a pretty somber story.

There may not be a whopping amount of new content besides the introduction of the JRPG-like Skill Battles, but Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 refines the overall formula and offers players another great puzzle game that is even more accessible than before."

Post-launch support will ultimately determine Shadowlands' fate, but as it currently stands World of Warcraft: Shadowlands is a fantastic expansion that once again proves why Blizzard's 16 year old juggernaut remains the king of the MMORPG genre. While we may be touring Azeroth's afterlife ourselves, it's clear World of Warcraft won't be sauntered off into the great beyond any time soon.

PHOGS! is a real gaming treat. It's a very well crafted co-op focused experience which works whether the players are of equal or different skill levels. It's a budget release, yet feels very content-rich for the price. And it creates a unique world that is both memorable and fun to experience."

Maintaining all the charm of the original, now with upgraded visuals, Katamari Damacy Reroll is as quirky as ever with its fun level design and standout music. Hopefully this will lead to a brand new game in the series or at worst remasters of the other games at some point in the near future."

All in all, Immortals Fenyx Rising is a great game that you can easily get lost in for hours. It can’t let go of some of the systems that it takes from Assassin’s Creed and other standard open-world series, but it does enough to break away from that mold and provide an enjoyable experience with an emphasis on exploration.

Overall, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a mixed bag. As a Musou game, it’s enjoyable. While the missions are repetitive and a lot of the side content just feels like filler, the core combat system is satisfying. However, as a companion piece to Breath of the Wild, the game is a disappointment. It pulls every punch and is completely underwhelming as a prequel to Breath of the Wild.

Filled with an abundance of content across the two Kombat Packs and Aftermath expansion on top of the base game itself, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate is the best way to experience what was already arguably the finest that the long running series has ever had to offer.

If you’re new to the series, there are probably more accessible ways to try it out, but they most certainly won’t offer the next gen shine and polish that this game does. Making the wait for Elden Ring a little bit longer, if this is what Souls games are going to be like on the next-gen platforms, we’re already ready for more.

NBA 2K21 was definitely hit and miss by feeling like it really didn’t do anything new, albeit with the same solid gameplay. The good news is that it appears 2K Sports and Visual Concepts were just more focused on the upgraded version, as NBA 2K21 Next Generation is definitely a better game.

It’s dripping with charm, has some fun secrets to discover, and it makes excellent use of the DualSense controller. It’s also still great on PS4 if you haven’t picked up a PS5 yet, and the PS4 version includes a free upgrade to the PS5 version so you can test out the DualSense features when you get your new system. Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a ton of fun, and I hope this isn’t the last time we see Sackboy in a dedicated platformer like this.

Overall, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is a worthy successor to the original Black Ops. The Black Ops subseries leaned more and more into futuristic combat and advanced technology as it went on, and now Black Ops Cold War brings the series back to its roots. It feels like what the original Black Ops would be like if it came out today.

While definitely not for everyone, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is truly a trip down memory lane full of the best songs that the series has to offer. With more than 140 tracks and a relatively minuscule new story involving Kairi thrown into the mix, the game is a must play for long time fans of the series, especially if you love rhythm games.

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla takes all the previous systems introduced in Origins and Odyssey, and streamlines them into a more focused experience. The game may have some flaws, and it’s a shame to see the combat remains mediocre after all these years, yet Valhalla is easily the best entry in the recent trilogy. Grab your axes and shields: it’s time to go a-viking!

No More Heroes and No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle are right at home on Nintendo Switch. The games have aged remarkably well, and still feel fresh and exciting amidst a sea of AAA gaming sameness. There’s no massive additions or changes in the transition to Switch, and some gameplay frustrations still remain that likely shouldn’t.

Spider-Man: Miles Morales perfectly captures the essence of being Spider-Man, giving us a story of a young man looking to live up to the expectations associated with the title while also leaving a mark that is all his own. While the campaign doesn’t house a plethora of villains, the cast is diverse and inclusive, deepening the connection to the city in a new way.

It’s the perfect mix of a simply excellent experience for everyone who might play and enjoy racing games, from newbies to fans of the series or of Hot Pursuit specifically, and there’s enough there to keep you from getting overly tired of the game so long as you don’t spend too much time playing the game in one sitting.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a bold shift in direction, one that succeeds more than it stumbles in the pursuit of its new design. As with any first attempt, there are jagged edges that can certainly be filed down in future games. One thing is for sure, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s gamble paid off. Ichiban Kasuga is a successor worthy of carrying the series forward.

Compared to the lackluster The Isle of Armor expansion, The Crown Tundra feels much more fleshed out with enjoyable story quests, on top of the very addictive Dynamax Adventures and Galarian Star Tournament, though there is still something missing that prevents it from taking the series to the next level.

It’s still a solid hockey game that exists during the off-season, especially after the last season and playoffs us hockey fans just had to witness. It’s just a damn shame that it couldn’t have been more than it was because it feels like the advertising leaned really heavily on things to make it sound greater than it really was. Let’s just hope next year’s version of the game is the complete restructuring this franchise desperately needs.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe is another successful upgrade of an already enjoyable Wii U release. The full co-op support is likely to be the biggest and best addition for most players, and if you can take advantage of it the game is a much easier buy. However, this isn’t the best the series has ever been and those issues still remain on Switch.

Even with an enhanced version on the horizon that includes 120 fps with the arrival of next generation consoles, Dirt 5 delivers a fantastic off-road racing experience full of content that will keep you busy not only on the track, but also off with the addition of the new Playgrounds arena editor.