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NBA 2K22 is a must have for anyone who has remotely enjoyed the series in the past or who has a taste for basketball and the culture it powers. Still, there is room for improvement on multiple fronts. It’s the gift and the curse of producing a game with so many layers.

Omega Force’s graphical changes and additions to the main gameplay mechanics end up getting the job done for Samurai Warriors 5. The visuals pop off the screen a lot more, the reimagined warriors you’ll unlock over time all look great, and the two new combat options keep the Musou battle royale formula from feeling stale.

The only issues that keep it from reaching a higher mark of quality are some cringe-inducing character interactions, uninspired location exploration, and a camera that sometimes wigs out during battle. Those problems don’t do enough to hamper the astonishing gameplay experience Scarlet Nexus brings to the table, however. Definitely seek this one out if you can.

The bare-bones mode structure and the lack of any new fighters is a letdown, for sure. But everything else this update has to offer makes it worth returning to or diving into for the very first time. VIRTUA FIGHTER IS OFFICIALLY BACK, BABY!

The story dives headfirst into real-world environmental issues and challenges your morality at every turn. Engaging in combat treats you to some of the best (and worst) aspects of the game. And its constant introduction of interesting side characters, vehicles, and new combat maneuvers definitely adds to its fun factor. Biomutant is a bit rough around the edges, but it largely succeeds as a fresh action RPG experience that shouldn’t be ignored.

Not only is this game longer than its predecessor, but it also offers an even more exciting campaign that will certainly give your money’s worth. The ugly texture pop-in issues and the rage-inducing lantern lighting puzzles hamper things a bit, however. But overall, Resident Evil Village stands tall as one of the best entries in the series and one of the best gaming experiences of the year.

As a remake, Nier Replicant greatly succeeds in its execution. The visuals are infinitely better than the original’s, the combat feels a whole lot smoother & snappier, and the music & voice acting are both still amazing. The provocative themes you’ll be forced to confront, varied gameplay styles, and deeply moving story have all been kept intact, thankfully.

In conclusion, the game is as fresh and exciting as the dango you eat before battle. Even taking into account the occasions the game can get repetitive and annoying, it’s still an exciting and rewarding adventure overall and I look forward to every hunt.

Outriders provides an addictive looter shooter experience that emphasizes high-octane battles that are even more amazing when you and two other players take on enemy forces with your unique abilities. This is the type of game that offers a ton of goodness at launch and can only get better over time.

The control scheme from a bygone era, last-gen character animations, stodgy moment-to-moment gameplay, and unimpressive graphics bring The Medium down to disappointing levels of mediocrity. As one of the few games that can only be experienced on the Xbox Series X|S, The Medium fails in trying to impress as a true next-gen game. The Medium sadly joins Blair Witch as another disappointing effort from Bloober Team.

Ryza’s new onfield actions, the improved battle mechanics, and the deeper alchemy systems also impress in this quality sequel. Minor annoyances tied to the map layout and the more complex features attached to the alchemy system hamper the game’s overall experience a bit. But all in all, Ryza’s return is a lighthearted pleasure that is entertaining from start to finish.

Boredom quickly sets in as you run around gorgeous yet incredibly lifeless locales, embark on tiresome quests, and get treated to a storyline that’s entirely forgettable. Godfall’s quality combat mechanics, healthy offering of cool looking loot, and slick looking Valorplate armors are sadly stuck within a lackluster shell of a game.

Getting to play around with his and the original trio’s flashy maneuvers in Turbo and Legendary Dark Knight Mode is an experience you’ll never forget. Having to leave your prior save progress behind and start anew is pretty disappointing, of course. But first-time players and returning veterans will get an equal amount of enjoyment out of this excellent special edition.

watch dogs legion, like most of ubisoft’s big budget games, is disposable – a value-sized bag of chips. the gameplay experience is pleasurable and addicting by nature, making you want to play even if you don’t feel like it. and when you get sick of it, you just throw it away.

The litany of issues present within Bright Memory will keep you from enjoying yourself for too long. Here’s hoping that Bright Memory: Infinite irons out all the kinks and realizes its full potential in 2021. You might be better off watching a playthrough of this teaser and waiting for the full release instead of ruining your hype for it by playing this disappointing first episode.

As a remaster, this one falls a bit below today’s standards in two key areas. The graphics don’t look that much better than they did back in 2010. And the unchanged open-world free roam option is still a total waste of time. Hot Pursuit Remastered has a ton of fun things to do and feels great when it’s time to hit the road.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon largely succeeds at moving the series forward in a bold new direction. Kasuga and his band of unlikely heroes are incredibly interesting and make it so easy to care about their crazy antics. The new main locale is massive and plays host to so many compelling things to do.

DiRT 5 ends up being a quality feature-rich racer for current- and next-gen console owners. My only criticisms of the game come from its supremely unfun Sprint car races and unnecessary use of famous voice actors for its Career Mode. All in all, DiRT 5 excels as an arcade racer that feels like a natural evolution of DiRT 3 and DiRT: Showdown.

the game’s demanding difficulty can definitely increase one’s salt levels, though. some of the game’s latter stages and all of the flashback tapes fall into the realm of overly punishing at times. but crash 4’s high fun and replayability factors will keep you in the race, even in the face of the game’s toughest challenges. this fresh crash adventure is just too damn fun to pass up and stay mad at.

As for the overall balling itself, it feels as good as ever. Yet the Pro-Stick shooting feature gets in the way of the fun you’re used to getting from NBA 2K. NBA 2K21 does the bare minimum in most areas, but it still offers the best (and only) basketball gaming experience on the market today. Let’s just hope the next annual follow up does enough to truly kick things up a notch.

Tony hawk’s pro skater 1 + 2 is another shining example of activision’s dedicated effort to properly revive its most beloved ip’s. vicarious visions not only improved upon the first two games’ visual and audio aspects but it also threw in a wealth of modes and changes that make it approachable for both past and modern-day gamers.

What keeps Marvel’s Avengers from being a complete home run is the presence of several technical issues, repetitive mission types for the multiplayer portion of the game, and the reliance on grinding in order to get to its finest unlockables. Marvel’s Avengers is still worth a recommendation and looks to be even more worthy as it throws free DLC at players over time.

EA Sports UFC 4 attempts to right the wrongs of past entries and succeeds in the process. This sequel’s career mode is a far more enjoyable endeavor now that the Fighter Evolution and relationship systems have been added to its proceedings. The RPM Tech enhancements offer a wealth of new body animations and grappling exchanges that move farther away from the series’ more awkward motions.

That’s not to say that the main story elements are a bore – they’re told well and give you the chance to involve yourself in their most exciting battles. Issues persist, such as dialogue box errors, oversexualized character interactions, and missing fan favorites from the show. But Fairy Tail still manages to be worth a look thanks to the strong RPG elements put in place by Gust Co. Ltd.

Disintegration is an interesting amalgamation of FPS and RTS elements that’s a visual splendor when your battle plans are carried out successfully. The single-player campaign especially shines as it transports you to different environments, gives you access to several weapon/troop loadouts, and allows you to upgrade your outlaw army over time.