
Cultured Vultures
@cultured-vultures
583 Published Reviews
Cyberpunk 2077
PS46.00
A lack of focus, vague combat, and some truly befuddling performance issues hamper the still competent, and often enjoyable, detective sim that the best parts of Cyberpunk 2077 want to be.
Football Manager 2021
Xbox Series X8.00
Although Football Manager 21 isn’t as in-depth on Xbox Series X as it is on PC, it manages to provide a fun and engaging management simulator that has been sorely missing from consoles for some time.
Unto The End
PC6.00
While the sound design is gripping, the platforming is solid, and the puzzle solving is unique, Unto The End unfortunately suffers from a bloated combat system and harsh checkpoints. This tough-as-nails trial and error gameplay loop ultimately cheapens all of its best qualities.
Godfall
PC5.00
Little more than a shiny exhibition of new-generation graphics, Godfall only succeeds in creating interesting combat systems without giving any thought to the world and story around it.
PHOGS!
Xbox One9.00
PHOGS! is absolutely brilliant, and a perfect end to what has been an exhausting 12 months. If you and your partner or friend are looking for a way to spend 10-12 hours filled with nothing but utter delight, PHOGS! is ready for a walk.
DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition
PS49.00
DQXI is still an outstanding game, one of the best JRPGs I have ever played, and this is an awesome edition of the game. If you somehow missed the previous release or don’t mind spending another 100 hours in the world of Dragon Quest XI, this is an instant buy.
Empire of Sin
PC6.00
Though the foundation is laid for a great game with excellent presentation, style, and robust gameplay systems, the horrid user interface and vast number of bugs and glitches keep Empire of Sin from being a great game.
The Falconeer
Xbox One7.00
Whether you’re a fan of aerial combat or not, The Falconeer is recommendable. It isn’t perfect and does feel a little rough around the edges in some parts, but that doesn’t stop the game being an enjoyable ride, for both the eyes and the ears.
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory
PS47.00
I’ll definitely fire the game up again for that couch co-op — even though both parties have to be at the same difficulty level — or to play against my wife or AI to see more of the mechanic that lets the player throw extra hurdles and tricks at their opponent. It isn’t the best game in the rhythm genre (that’s Gitaroo Man), but Melody of Memories is going to entertain a lot of people, make a ton of money, and get fans playing through the whole series again.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
PS49.00
Daring to get out of their comfort zone, Ichiban Kasuga came to claim Kazuma Kiryu’s throne and he took it, with a thrilling white knuckle ride of a JRPG. Do not miss out on Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio’s best adventure to date.
ICBM
PC7.00
Ultimately, ICBM is a tight and compact little game illustrating global nuclear war in a digestible manner. What it does, it does well with a solid strategy design foundation to build upon and develop. The inclusion of modding from the get go is a big benefit to the game and will add replayability. ICBM’s success will be determined by its multiplayer scene, both casual and competitive, as the AI and the game itself won’t offer much beyond the initial concept.
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
PS49.00
This may feel like more of an expansion than a proper spinoff, but there is enough content to satiate fans of the 2018 game or bring in new players who enjoyed the Into the Spider-Verse movie. Don’t confuse Miles Morales for a sidekick or kid, and don’t pass up on another great adventure.
The Pathless
PS49.00
Your adventure with your eagle friend is full of subtle emotional depth, and its world building is an incredible example of telling a straightforward story in a confident, complex way. There’s a lot of hubbub going around about a lot of games right now, but The Pathless is absolutely deserving of your time and attention.
Fuser
Xbox One6.50
With other music and rhythm games, the drive to beat your previous score and perfect a song is what keeps players coming back. With that missing in Fuser, it’s difficult to remain enthralled with it for much longer than a few hours unless you really want to create and share musical creations.
Cthulhu Saves Christmas
Switch9.00
By never taking itself too seriously and constantly poking fun of itself, Cthulhu Saves Christmas is a ho-ho-holiday joy. You may find minor difficulties with the battling system, but aside from this it’s hard not to recommend the game. Get it in someone’s stocking or under the tree, and they will not be disappointed.
Kosmokrats
PC5.50
Kosmokrats’ Soviets-in-space setting and the story hit some good notes, but it’s all let down by the gameplay. I really wish I could recommend the game, but this is one to avoid as it stands, comrades.
Ghostrunner
Xbox One8.00
Ghostrunner is the perfect example of a simple premise executed brilliantly, nailing the rush of becoming the cyberpunk genre’s most fearsome cyborg ninja. Sure, it has a singular focus and appeal, but as a smaller release, it stands shoulder to shoulder with this year’s biggest offerings.
DIRT 5
Xbox One8.50
Although Dirt 5 is very different from previous entries in the series, it’s still a great racer that embraces its arcade approach with a vibrant art style, fun game modes, and joyful gameplay.
Watch Dogs Legion
PS47.00
Watch Dogs: Legion takes the franchise in an interesting new direction with the ability to recruit and play as (almost) anyone. However, most of the recruitable characters feel fairly vanilla and the voice acting is often sketchy, at best. I do wish there was something in place to make playable characters stand out a bit more, as seeing them die or get kidnapped felt largely inconsequential.
Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues
Xbox One5.00
There’s fun to be had with Cobra Kai, of course. The game is too janky to not at least trigger some dopamine response, as the screen fills with unpredictable chaos at every available opportunity. Unfortunately, those hits quickly dry up, and what you’re left with is a beat ‘em up that more than outstays its welcome.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope
PS47.50
The Dark Pictures Anthology is going in the right direction as a franchise, it’s just a few tweaks away from having a winning formula. Little Hope is a twisted sigh of hope that there’s still a beating heart in The Dark Pictures Anthology yet. With two more entries guaranteed, it will be fun to see how they continue to horrify and amuse us all.
Remothered: Broken Porcelain
PS45.00
Remothered: Broken Porcelain’s striking visuals and outstanding sound design can’t disguise the repetitive, mundane survival horror game lurking underneath.
HyperBrawl Tournament
Switch6.00
It’s an unfortunate circumstance, and there’s every chance that Milky Tea Studios could turn HyperBrawl Tournament’s fortunes, but with only 70 players registered on the global online leaderboards for the Nintendo Switch at the time of writing, it’s not a good start.
Amnesia: Rebirth
PS48.50
Ultimately, Amnesia: Rebirth does enough new things with this franchise to feel like a breath of fresh air. It’s impressive to see Frictional reaching outside of their comfort zone here and, because they have, Rebirth emerges as a serious stand-out. If you have even a modicum of interest in first-person survival horror, this one is absolutely worth your time.
G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout
Xbox One5.50
I was thankful to play as my childhood heroes and some of Cobra’s most badass soldiers, but that’s the best thing about this otherwise sub-par game. Thanks for keeping an IP I love alive, but please try a little harder next time.