ZTGD

If you’re a Nintendo fan desperate for a Smash clone to pass the time you may have some fun with Brawlout. Just be prepared to deal with the grind and have a couple local friends that you can battle with, but If you go into the game expecting it to live up to Nintendo’s multi-franchise powerhouse though you’ll be sorely disappointed.

Even though there aren’t too many new features to justice this re-release, Ammy’s quest to defeat Orochi and cleanse the world of corruption is still every bit as compelling as it was a decade ago, and to those unfamiliar, this is the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with the most adorable wolf goddess you’ve never heard of. So how about that sequel, eh, Capcom?

It’s been an extremely long time since I’ve played an RPG that’s scratched an adventure itch in a classic sense. Even the other two Chronicles games didn’t capture me the same way this one does. It could be the setup, the character, the world, or some odd combination of a world in the clouds, but regardless it works for me. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 feels like a classic RPG from days past, when the original PlayStation seemed to spew one out every other week, and that’s a good thing.

A Hat in Time is probably the best platformer released this year that doesn’t star that one plumber guy. Anyone who still has fond memories of classic N64 platformers owe it to themselves to check it out. Also for PS4 and XB1 owners this is about as good as it gets without Italian influence. For the price it is more than worth your time. Don’t sleep on this charming title.

Bush Hockey League is a game that seems perfect on the surface. Bring back simplistic hockey games that focused on arcade-style play. The bumbling story mode and lack of online play really hurt it. This game is best enjoyed in small doses with friends on a couch, which is not the ideal form of play anymore. Hitting Xbox One so late after it released on PC and during the busiest time of the year means most people will likely not even notice it came and went. Still, there is fun to be had.

There’s a lot to see and do here in this full DLC game. There’s multiple modes to play, a lengthy story mode, ridiculous characters, and for the most part, a pretty fun time. It has its issues, but honestly, every Dead Rising game I have played has had them. I still like them all the same, and when getting into it, it can be a really fun time.

I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed my time with Doom VFR. Skyrim VR had soured me a little and I wasn’t really looking forward to playing. But this shows that rethinking how a game will work in VR, instead of just shoehorning a game into VR wholesale, can make the world of difference. It also helps that the game has a price tag to match.

I’ve always enjoyed the genre, and everything in Sky Force Reloaded is solid enough. From a visual, gameplay, and soundtrack standpoint, I’m more than happy. I just can’t shake this feeling that the game was designed to kill hours on the phone, and for me it just doesn’t translate into a great home console experience.

Visually the game looks great in 4K. I checked out both the Xbox One X and Nintendo Switch versions. The Xbox One really shines with the added detail in 4K. The weather and lighting has also been improved, and the faces are a bit easier to read thanks to the added resolution. This is still a last generation game, but it was so well designed it has aged extremely well. L.A. Noire was a unique game that deserved a second chance. My biggest hurdle in recommending this version though is the price.

It really felt both simple and deep at the same time, and either way you play it, you’ll find something to keep your attention. Unfortunately, the controls are going to be a chore to use more times than not,and even after getting the hang of them, you may still dislike them. I know I did. If only the controls were as good as the game, I would recommend it in a heartbeat to players looking for that simulation game with some goofiness, but with the controls the way they are, I would suggest sticking with the PC version if you can.