The Last of Us Part II Remastered
The Last of Us holds an incredibly special place in my heart. Last Christmas (2022), I played The Last of Us Part II on my PS5. My friend Gavin warned me that it would rip me apart and wanted updates after I completed each of its chapters. He was right. It ripped me apart. By the time I got to the final scene I was inches away from putting down my DualSense because of how I was continuously surpri...[Read More]
Not for Broadcast VR Review (PSVR2)
As I’ve become more familiar with VR titles, my enthusiasm has plummeted with the PSVR2’s library of titles that offer something beyond simulations. Don’t get me wrong, simulations can be fun, but playing sandbox after sandbox with little direction, adventure, and purpose can become something of a chore. I don’t want to be subjected to numerous iterations of what I could do with virtual reality an...[Read More]
Trinity Fusion Review (PC)
The multiverse has become the flavor of the month in many television shows, cinematic universes (looking at you, Marvel!), and games (something something Mortal Kombat 1). Its overuse has created a situation where writer’s rooms can freely write and rewrite stories without fear about events being “canon” in the big picture because of the potential for “infinite” outcomes. While it hasn’t yet becom...[Read More]
Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition Review (Nintendo Switch)
Space games are all the rage this year. It should be little surprise that Bethesda’s Starfield is probably at the forefront of players’ minds when you mention space travel and exploration. In its current state, some players ardently believe that it hasn’t yet reached its true potential in giving players the agency they deserve to simply explore and find something truly spectacular among the stars....[Read More]
9 Years of Shadows Review (Nintendo Switch)
Metroid Fusion is one of my most favorite and cherished metroidvanias from my childhood. It’s not the perfect metroidvania by any means, but it’s memorable because of how it told a mysterious and intriguing story set in the Metroid universe alongside tight platforming combat and rewarding exploration. That said, it’s a short game – the last time I replayed Metroid Fusion, I was able to complete it...[Read More]
Nacon Revolution X Pro Controller Camo Review
Pro controllers are a luxury for most players since their price points are well above the normal asking price of a first-party default controller. Despite their higher-than-usual price point, pro controllers are literally built different, containing better-quality parts and having additional features for more specialized gaming needs. If you’re afraid of the omnipresent concern of stick drift that...[Read More]
Wizordum (Chumps Preview)
Chumps Preview is a special kind of post where we unofficially preview games in Early Access, Beta, or are otherwise “unfinished.” This kind of preview is meant to be a first impression rather than a definitive review where we provide a rating to determine a game’s value. As such, we fully expect a game covered in a Chumps Preview to have room for improvement, some bugginess/incompleteness, and ot...[Read More]
Spirittea Review (Switch)
Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away is one of my most favorite animated films. Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli has excelled in creating bite-sized worlds of charm, fantasy, and mystery that are worth rewatching over and over again because they’re literally for all viewers. You need not be a child to enjoy any of Miyazaki’s work, but you’ll appreciate his films’ finer details each time you rewatch them. Yet, v...[Read More]
The Last Faith Review (PC)
One of my biggest issues that emerge when reading video game reviews occurs when a reviewer will express disliking a genre, reviewing a game of that genre, and then holding genre-defining gameplay elements as reasons to complain about the game being reviewed. I get it, we can’t expect every reviewer to love every genre, but we should attempt to be fair and as unbiased as possible when assessing a ...[Read More]
Astral Ascent Review (PC)
This year, I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing and previewing multiple roguelites. 30XX excelled in creating an arcade-y casual experience great for those needing a Mega Man X fix. Get to the Orange Door’s (GTTOD) first-person gameplay blending gunplay and parkour excelled in its boomer-shooter-y goodness while lacking something of a narrative hook and deeper weapon variance. Rightfully, Beary Arms...[Read More]
Blasphemous 2 Review (PS4 | PS5)
When I think of Soulslike games, I often think of FromSoftware titles that are punishing for the sake of being punishing, encouraging players to share their stories of pain and suffering with others around the water cooler at work or sharing clips on TikTok. Players are often exposed to dark fantasy-themed tales through environmental storytelling and inconsistent save points that only add to the s...[Read More]
Kill It With Fire VR Review (PSVR2)
Kill It With Fire VR is a very simple game that utilizes puzzle game secrets and arcade-title mechanics to create bite-sized levels where the player’s sole purpose is to enact mayhem on spiders. It’s in the title – kill it (the spider) with fire! Each level contains a general “main” quest of simply killing a set number of spiders while additional side quests and secrets encourage the player to ful...[Read More]