TheGamer

The original Heave Ho didn’t leave me wanting more. It was simply a game that, when presented with friends who have never played it before, I’d bust out at game nights. Heave Ho 2, however, has left me with a very different feeling. After seeing more of the ideas the developers of this series have for this concept, now I’m hungry for more. Whether it be DLC for the sequel or an entirely new game, I hope this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Heave Ho.

Unlike the previous attempt at bringing this shooter classic back to life, Halo: Campaign Evolved is a faithful revival that understands what made the artistic direction of Bungie's ambitious sci-fi world so special in the first place. While there are a handful of shortcomings, Master Chief's opening chapter has never looked or felt this good before, and with any luck, marks the beginning of a new journey where ambitious narratives and evolutionary gameplay mechanics won't be left behind. As a lifelong fan this remake is more than good enough to pass muster, while I'm hopeful newcomers are poised to fall in love just like I did so many years ago.

For a long time, Avatar has felt like a poisoned chalice when it comes to video games, but Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game proves that it’s been a perfect fit all along. Even with it being on the smaller side, the fantastic and very Avatar combat mechanics, gorgeous style, and love for the series make it a fighter that’s going to be very hard to top.

Undercoders has pieced together a masterpiece here that demands your attention. If you need me, I’ll be shredding down mountains to catchy pop music aiming to hit the highest score possible.

Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit is a must-play for fans of the original. It offers a familiar yet refined gameplay loop and once again combines a casual pace with subtle storytelling that has far more depth than you might expect from a game this cute.

Even if Moss: The Forgotten Relic loses a little bit of the personal magic that it's become known for with the removal of VR, Quill’s charming adventure absolutely manages to stand on its own two paws as a slightly more traditional puzzle platformer. More than anything, I’m grateful that anyone who couldn’t handle Moss in VR finally has a chance to try out a truly special game.

If you enjoyed the original adventure, chances are you will love Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. It keeps everything that made that game so special and adds more than enough new content to make revisiting it worthwhile. Unfortunately, the splendid new visuals aren’t enough to hide cracks in the open world foundation, lacklustre side activities, and a combat system that refuses to offer any depth before the first few hours. Somehow, though, all of this ceases to matter when your crew breaks into a shanty as you sail off into the sunset. These moments made me forget about the behemoth this series would become and enjoy my time spent as a legendary pirate trying to find his place in a changing world.

Having played every single title in the series and mastered some of its hardest challenges, Groove feels like the perfect entry point for newcomers who want to see what the fuss is all about. It won’t have you going after high scores or singing along to chart-topping bangers like Guitar Hero or Singstar, but Rhythm Heaven Groove continues the series’ legacy of being a unique take on this beloved genre that is well worth your attention.

You might argue that this game didn’t need to be revived yet again, especially since the entire series has basically revolved around Nintendo tweaking and remaking the same game over and over again for decades. But having played and fallen in love with it, I’m confident in saying this is exactly what Star Fox needed and the definitive way to experience an all-time classic.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is a Zelda-like that earns the comparison and exceeds it in places - the time-era structure is something right out of Nintendo’s best books, and the boss fights and best puzzles carry the game superbly. It’s an easy game to dive into for a spell here or there or sink hours in, and it’s one I’ll be recommending to anyone who has ever enjoyed a certain mute hero. However, I’ll do so with the recommendation that the volume be turned down once you meet a certain should-be-mute fairy.