Game Skinny

On the other hand, its rhythm-based combat, achievement system, and accessible nature offer compelling arguments to keep the game downloaded on my Switch. Will I be playing Rhythm Fighter a month or two from now? Probably not. Am I enjoying my time with it at the moment? Certainly.

Despite having to grind stages for money to buy stat-boosting equipment, a single-player mode that's more suited to multiplayer, and a number of irritating glitches, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is fun to play in short bursts and a nostalgia trip for all of those fans anxiously awaiting its return.

Heart of the Forest is an intriguing diversion. It’s an interesting story with fleshed-out characters, and it makes fascinating use of actual history and modern issues. More importantly, the game uses the source material to excellent effect.

Override 2 certainly has issues, but the core of the game is solid, playable, and a ton of fun. The action can be frustrating to track, but the feel of combat is excellent and the diversity of characters rivals the best of classic versus fighting games.

You'll still get plenty of enjoyment out of it, even if you're a diehard fan of the 2010 title. Just don't expect SMBF to be just like its predecessor, but more of it. It's dramatically different and, generally, not quite as good.

Playing Among Us on a variety of platforms is proving the game, while unabashedly excellent, might not be able to grow as rapidly as its popularity has. Flaws aside, Among Us is a clever game that deserves its time in the spotlight.

As is, there is a lot that needs to improve before I would recommend it. There are too many other similar games that do things much better. My only caveat would be to keep an eye on patches and feedback. If the developers stick with it, Empire of Sin could evolve into a comeback kid. Wait for a sale if you're desperate for mob action, as it's not in great shape currently.

Worms works in real-time as a fast-paced, side-scrolling free-for-all, even with all the omissions and limitations. Despite all the complaints, Worms Rumble is a ton of fun. That said, this feels like a slight divergence from the main series. For PS+ members, it’s absolutely worthwhile but anyone else should approach the game as a work in progress still expanding in, we hope, the right direction.

Orwell's Animal Farm is destined to fly under the radar this December, sharing a launch date with the biggest game of the year. It doesn't help that many people simply won't be interested in playing a game that both plays like and is based on a book.

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythmic Adventure doesn't offer enough variety in songs to make an easy recommendation, and it certainly falls short with its adventure modes. There are better rhythm games on Nintendo Switch for the same price or less.

I still can’t believe Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade Of Light is finally here after 30 years; it’s better late than never. As a significant piece of gaming history, it shows just how far this series has come. While I question the rationale of releasing the NES edition over the superior DS remake, there’s still an enjoyable game here, and going back to where everything started is certainly enjoyable, boosted by some new quality-of-life improvements.

Sunsetting gear notwithstanding, a major revision to established mechanics or systems beyond just Stasis could have been just the risk this series needed to take. Though Stasis broke a lot of what we thought we knew, so maybe not. One thing is sure: this DLC is a major step up from Shadowkeep. Whether the seasonal content exceeds expectations remains to be seen, but the year has opened with a bang, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

That said, Ubisoft's latest does more than enough to stand on its own while offering a twist on the familiar. It is much more than a clone of either of those games, and its engrossing story and unique narrative help it stand apart. Immortals Fenyx Rising has undeniable charm. Your mileage may vary, but don't sleep on this one. It's worth the adventure.

Maybe Age of Calamity is a stop-gap to tide fans over until Breath of the Wild 2, but no effort was spared in making it a quality game. If you can't stand musou combat, yeah, it might be better to pass on Age of Calamity. Fighting is more in-depth, but it's still a Warriors game at heart. If you're fine with that or love Zelda, Age of Calamity is a must-have.

With an A-list cast, superb visuals, and some strong co-op gameplay, Sackboy: A Big Adventure successfully proves that Sackboy can thrive without LittleBigPlanet’s creation mechanics, all while still paying homage to his roots. It’s genuinely wonderful to see this PS3 icon return once more, and I hope this isn’t the last we’ve seen of him.

Regardless of those relatively small shortcomings, this remaster stands as a shining example of how transformative reimaginings can be, and how, with loving dedication, a remaster can be just as revolutionary and memorable as its source material.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is a memorable entry in the long list of games in the series. Even if its particular themes aren't for you, it's tough to deny the amount of bang for your buck offered with this game. You can spend hundreds of hours in the multiplayer alone, not including the Campaign and Zombies pillars.

It’s also close to being perfect when it comes to representation. Black and brown people fill out most of the roles and do so with gusto. Their performances, at times, eclipsing what came before. I’m thoroughly pleased with what Insomniac has accomplished.

This is still above all else a dirty, rotten game with so much pessimism bleeding through the walls that it can feel claustrophobic even to horror veterans like me. However, if you're willing to trudge through the muck that this game calls a setting, the audiovisual experience is unlike anything else you'll find in the medium.

I’m not entirely sure what players can gain from this that they couldn’t from playing the original. A remaster would’ve been a better use of time than a remake with butchered art direction, which was the original’s biggest selling point.

Playing Godfall in native 4K is nothing short of a revelation, but I do tend to prefer switching to performance mode when possible for smoother framerates. Having both options is great. Overall it gets really close but still falls short. The pieces are here though, so a year from now it very well could be an excellent adventure, but it's not right now.

Though it's short and may lack enemy variety, Astro's Playroom makes up for it in character and heart. It's a stunning display of the thought and care Sony has put into the DualSense controller. And it's a solid platformer that everyone should play at least once. If we're lucky, we'll get a full-on Astro Bot platformer in the future. Here's to hoping.

Celebrating the wider history of this historic franchise, there’s a sense of nostalgia that will be lost on newcomers, but any rhythm game fans would do well to investigate it further. Drawing upon a rich soundtrack that ranges from original songs to Disney hits, there’s a lot to love in this new spin-off, but don’t expect any major story developments.

Even Doom Guy should theoretically be (a bit) less powerful than these celestial beings. All said, if you've slept on The Ancient Gods so far and enjoyed Doom Eternal, do yourself a favor and pick it up. It's a ripping good time despite its blemishes.

Fingers crossed he gets an entire game all his own sooner rather than later. Devil May Cry 5 may not have a whole lot that's truly new to offer, but what it does add and change manages to elevate an already excellent action game into the upper echelon of the entire genre.