MMORPG

Despite these minor issues, I had a blast hanging with the Phantom Thieves again and working to make the world a better place. I would never have thought to ask for this melding, but it's a beautiful experience.

Despite the lack of graphical options to choose from, Nioh 2 still ran fantastic and much smoother than on my PS4 Pro. If you are at all interested in a new and challenging Souls-like game, or just love grinding for loot, then Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition is a must-buy on PC.

So is it the perfect game? No, unfortunately, it is not. But if you like werewolves, are familiar with the original Werewolf: The Apocalypse universe, or just want to hulk around as a giant wolf throwing people around like ragdolls then it might be worth your time.

Hitman 3 defies every expectation I had for it, from the size of its maps to the scope of its missions. I am truly free to approach these jobs however I wish, so long as the objectives are met, and that freedom is downright exhilarating.

The developers – the ones actually designing, writing, scripting, testing, and creating the game – deserve insurmountable praise for what they accomplished under the environment they were working. I have never experienced anything even remotely close to this before. I truly believe Cyberpunk 2077 is nothing short of amazing.

While the music, opening narration, and world-building were absolutely fantastic, I did feel a little disappointed in the direction of the story. It could have been so much more-so much larger! From the first venture, I found myself wound up in the fantasy of the world, and couldn’t help but hum Studio Ghibli’s Castle in the Sky theme as we drifted along.

Obviously, Shadowlands isn't perfect. There are some balancing and tweaking which need to be done and will continue throughout the expansion. However, this is an expansion where I can honestly say the core systems feel solid. It doesn't feel like anything key is missing, and like Blizzard needs to slap a giant band-aid on it to carry it through.

In all, Raji: An Ancient Epic was a great game. Yes, I had some problems with it’s length and the ending but if I step back and look at the game in its entirety, I can recognize that Raji was a gorgeous game. It was educational and made me want to learn more.

There are a lot of enjoyable aspects to Immortals Fenyx Rising, but very little feels new. Instead, it’s similar and safe, like I’ve done this all before. And I have but with a different main character and color palette. Its biggest sin is being entirely forgettable once you move on to the next game.

If The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the calm, reserved child, then Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is its loud, rowdy older sibling. The action starts at 10 and never lets up, giving me battle after battle of tight and fun Musou action. The story beats are for the most part great, but a few of them definitely left me wanting for more and not in a good way.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is surprisingly one of the best JRPGs that I’ve played since I beat Dragon Quest XI over three years ago. It’s especially impressive coming from Ryu ga Gotoku studios which has never made a turn-based RPG before. However, there are some glaring issues that take away from the overall experience; most notably the lack of a weakness indicator and wonky AoE moves during battles.

Godfall is not a Game as a Service, so we won’t be seeing the continual updates and upgrades that games like Destiny 2 or The Division 2 have received. Hopefully that doesn't mean Counterplay is finished with Godfall because it would only take a few tweaks here and there for it to complete it's ascension to gaming godhood.

While my frustration and bitterness towards the multiplayer remains stubbornly rigid in this most recent Call of Duty outing, it simply isn’t enough to impede my adulation for the campaign. If nothing else, you should play Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War for the campaign alone. I really do believe it’s a worthwhile experience, and marks a return to form for Treyarch of old.

In the wake of overwhelming Darkness, desperate plays for power, and uncertainty where we once felt invincible, it is on each of us to foster our strength in Light while assessing the places Darkness has impacted our lives. Both are a part of our story and neither should be ignored, but it is up to us to choose who we will let these moments define us.

Even as I finish typing this review, I’m already planning where to sail next and what to do differently in another playthrough. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has lingered on my thoughts, beckoning me to come back to England and continue exploring, raiding and going a-vikingr, even almost 70 hours after I took my first steps as Eivor in Norway.

Bugsnax’s weird and wild adventure is a delight, introducing me to a new society and really letting me learn what makes these characters tick. Catching Bugsnax is fun and rewarding, albeit frustrating at times as well, and with 100 species available there’s plenty to find.

If light and breezy fun is what you’re after, Carto will be right up your alley. Its world-bending puzzles will delight those looking for a challenge, while the sweet story of reunion makes for easy consumption. It’s not a fully smooth ride, with a few difficulty spikes and trial-and-error moments that pop up once in a while, but the majority of the game feels, looks, and sounds great. Despite the inconsistencies, Carto maps a clear chart to a puzzling good time.

Watch Dogs: Legion made some hefty promises leading up to launch, and I’m happy to report it follows through on the big ones. Recruiting anyone off the street always impresses, even if the missions can be redundant. I loved the story being told, some moments truly make me gasp in surprise or even horror.

The groundwork is there for a great Torchlight installment if they would listen closely to player feedback and fix these pitfalls. Until then I’ll keep checking in with the patch notes and hoping for a No Man’s Sky-esque comeback but for now if someone asks me how Torchlight 3 is I’ll simply respond with “Eh, it’s okay”.

It definitely lacks some of the complexity that you might take for granted in recent Ys installments. Despite this, I couldn’t stop coming back to the tower for just one more try. Ys Origin is utterly addictive in all the best ways. Pick it up, slay some monsters, then come back for more with Ys Origin on Nintendo Switch now.

The gameplay is smooth and simplistic, and it works great on all platforms - though I’m still not sure why the PlayStation version can’t be linked to a Mihoyo account so I could play on my phone when I’m not at home (PS Vita version please??) but it’s a small gripe to an otherwise terrific game. If the loading times were a bit better, I’d recommend the PlayStation version a little more, but for now, mobile/PC are the optimal platforms.

Here’s the final word: If you enjoy MMOs and Star Wars then Star Wars: The Old Republic may be a great game for you.  You may have to suspend your disbelief as the story progresses and you may lose sight of an entire character from time to time.  However, the vast and rich world of Star Wars is paid serious homage even in 2020 as you journey to another time, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

Star Wars: Squadrons is a fantastic starfighting sim, though not without its faults. It looks fantastic all around, from its beautifully detailed cockpits to the well-crafted environments you fly in, Squadrons definitely looks and feels like a Star Wars game.

Sure, this new Battletoads exists - but did anyone stop to think that maybe it shouldn’t? As a Battletoads fan who wanted to return to a semblance of the original, I didn’t care for this game at all. However, to someone with no attachment to the source material, you’d probably have a decent time running through it as a few hour distraction with your kids. It’s passable at best, but honestly you’d be better off revisiting Castle Crashers Remastered.

If you’re tired of dying before you can figure out where your enemy is, or not having enough mobility to collect yourself when ambushed then I 100% recommend you taking a look at Spellbreak.  It’s probably my first battle royale experience that doesn’t end after 45 minutes of frustration and keeps me playing match after match.  Give it a go - I don’t think you’ll regret it.