Detorded

The best RPG for people who are either too overwhelmed with/or do not have enough time to invest into other big RPGs (Baldur's Gate 3, KCD2, etc). Avowed keeps it simple but in all the best ways. If you enjoyed The Outer Worlds, this is essentially a bigger and better version.

The first game is much better because it knows what it is. SOD2 is trying to do far too much to the point that it ruins the experience they were trying to provide. State of Decay is a community survival game, much like how The Walking Dead series is - however the game is constantly bogging you down with timed quests, infestations, traders/bounties, curveballs (the most unnecessary addition to the game), and more. Instead of the immersive experience of looting towns, building up your base/outposts, and upgrading your survivors, the game is constantly trying to distract you with countless busywork missions. All of these messy systems also makes the game run quite poorly, and I have freezes and crashes every time I play the game. I hope SOD3 returns to why people enjoyed the series in the first place.

Game Freak finally tried this time. This was a major step in the right direction for the franchise after decades of stagnation. So far I have put roughly 16 hours into the game and am still loving it; the novelty of catching and battling Pokemon in an open world setting still feels fresh after all these hours and I can see myself playing this game for hundreds of hours. I have played every single Pokemon game since the original Diamond and Pearl and I can confidently say that this is the best Pokemon game I have played in a long time - Game Freak have finally managed to make the Pokemon game we've all wanted since we were kids. The Pros: -Gameplay is better than ever and fits seemlessly in an open world. -Gameplay loop is addicting and rewarding. -Feels like a more mature game with a higher difficulty. -Maps only get better after the first area. -Ambience music is beautiful and immersive. The Cons: -Graphics could have been better if the game was given just a few more months. -AI is better than Sword and Shield - but still has a long way to go. -Story is bland. Starting with the negatives: the game is rough around the edges and if Game Freak's games weren't rushed, they could have taken a few more months to polish it and make it look even better. This goes for the AI too, as Pokemon are often just sitting around doing nothing. Luckily, depending on the Pokemon they will react differerntly to seeing you - some will get aggressive and chase you, some will run away from you, and some won't care at all. Unfortunately, even the most aggressive Pokemon are extremely easy to run away from and don't present much of a threat. It is certainly a step-up from the lifeless Pokemon AI from Sword and Shield, but with a second entry I hope to see Pokemon acting uniquely within their own habitats similar to Pokemon Snap. Lastly, I found myself ignoring a lot of the main story as I couldn't get engaged with it, and preferring to explore and do side-quests instead. While the graphics, AI, and storytelling could use some improvement, it's apparent that Game Freak spent a lot more time on the more important aspect of this game: the gameplay. Gameplay is king in Legends Arceus and it's easily the most addicted I've been to a Pokemon game since I was a kid. Everything is very seemless in the open world setting as they finally ditched the time-consuming and dated battle screens and loading screens in between areas. This game feels like it actually belongs on the Switch - unlike the awfully-outdated Sword and Shield. The game loop is very addicting as you go into the open fields to collect resources to craft items which will help you on your journey as you catch as many Pokemon as you can to complete your Pokedex. Most importantly, Pokemon has long suffered from the criticism that it's too easy - while this game isn't hard by any stretch, it does feel like the game has matured for older audiences quite a bit. I've noticed Pokemon battles are usually a lot more difficult as the game no longer warns you which Pokemon your opponent is sending out beforehand, and the AI generally seems to be a lot smarter when attacking you - my Pokemon got knocked out frequently. The first area (Obsidian Fieldlands) is a bit bland and may not be the best first impression for gamers, but fortunately after the first area, the maps get significantly more interesting. The biomes change to swamplands, to coastlands, to clifflands, to snowy mountains - all with unique ways to traverse them as the game continuously gives you new Pokemon to help you get around. The music adds a key element to what makes exploring so much fun, the ambience music in this game is beautiful and adds just that extra bit of immersion when exploring. Especially for players of Diamond and Pearl (or even the remakes) the music is often remixed versions of the old soundtracks of Sinnoh, and visiting old places and seeing them realized in an open world (such as the lakes) makes for a very nostalgic throwback. All in all, the closest Switch games I can compare this to is a mix between Breath of the Wild, and Monster Hunter Rise. It has the style and presentation of the former, with the addicting gameplay mechanics similar to the latter. This game is a strong 8/10 and I pray that Game Freak keeps this new formula and expands to it - it would be very disappointing to see them go back to the old style of games after this.

These are undoubtedly the best Pokemon games on the Switch, but unfortunately this is not saying much. Let's Go and Sword/Shield were weak entries; the only reason Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl are enjoyable games is because the originals were good - since all this game does it modernize the old DS games, it is pretty hard to mess them up. However, this is a very unambitious remake and it leaves me disappointed as Pokemon once again misses its potential. These games are full price (up to $90 in Canada) and they arguably do less than Pokemon Platinum (which released 13 years ago at half the price). The main problems with these games are that they are so caught up in being "faithful" remakes that they miss the point of a remake - we don't want to buy the same games again at a higher price and modernized graphics, people were expecting a bit more - Platinum made Diamond and Pearl redundant, and to faithfully recreate Diamond and Pearl is to take a step backwards, not forwards. The bar for remakes had already been set with Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire - which was ambitious, not only nostalgically recreating Hoenn, but adding new and improved features (including an entire new postgame story with Rayquaza). These games are a step back from ORAS. Again, the games are great fun since DP were good games to begin with - I am having fun playing this game and I am about 8 hours in. Yet, I can't stop reminding myself that these games could have been so much more.

I've had the most fun with this game than I have with any other game this year, the atmosphere alone makes this game a very memorable experience. If you have Gamepass, it's a no-brainer to install this and give it a try, and if not, I would recommend buying ONLY if you are a fan of 3D platformers, this game is definitely not for everyone. At first, I really did not like this game; unfortunately it has a very slow start and I found myself nearly deleting it after the first 2 or so hours, but once it picks up it becomes incredibly addictive and does not seem to lose steam after that. The game mechanics are simple yet fun - you control a wheel of abilities to utilize in any situation - the game is predominantly combat, puzzles, and platforming - all of which force you to use your abilities in smart ways. The mechanics are nothing special, but they work well. Also, if you're playing on Series X, the game itself looks amazing. Each stage tackles delving into someone's mind and trying to "rewire" it to fix them as you battle their mental struggles such as feelings of judgement, risk, panic, and more. These stages are where the game shines most - the fast-paced gameplay gets addicting really quickly. Every stage feels unique in its own way and they always bring something new to the table. The game feels like a kids game in a lot of parts, but it doesn't shy away from difficult sections as well as delving into mature topics once in a while. Unfortunately, in my opinion the game suffers from the slowness of cutscenes and a sense that a story is being 'forced' - the beginning of the game is a lot of cutscenes and story-building, which is exactly why I was so turned off to begin with; my main criticism would be that this game should try to speed certain story sections up when it begins to drag. All in all, this game is very solid and I'm disappointed to see it being review-bombed. It's gems like these that make me happy to keep my Gamepass subscription. Again, if you have Gamepass, it's a definite download - if not, know what you're getting into before buying it since this game certainly won't be for everyone.

Really unique game and I'm glad Ubisoft tried something different with this one, after all, people often complain of Ubisoft games being pretty cut and paste. Overall, I think this game is a very good with just some rough edges to buff out. London is a beautiful recreation and the dystopian future seems believable to me; the cars, guns, tech, buildings, etc. all compliment each other. Some buildings are historically old (Big Ben or Buckingham Palace) and some buildings are brand new (high-tech ****) - this clash of architectural styles results in a very unique and beautiful looking take on London. The gameplay is not for everyone - it resembles State of Decay in a way, where you can build your own unique roster of characters with different abilities. Personally, I love it and think it gives the game a lot of replay value. You aren't forced to play as any particular character, but you will find some missions easier if you change up your playstyle from time to time - it also just makes it a lot more fun. Permadeath mode is something I haven't tried yet but will definitely use in my second playthrough, and that alone will add a lot of tension to characters you grow attached to. The hacking feels smooth and well-thought out, the gunplay is pretty standard (nothing wrong with it), and the combat is fun enough - I don't see anything inherently wrong with this game's gameplay systems and I commend it for trying new things - it can only improve from here. Where the game faults are in its story (not unusual for a Ubisoft game), glitches/bugs, and overall awkwardness. I was not interested in the story and I can tell that that's a general consensus among many gamers, but that's okay, because nobody plays Watch Dogs for the story anyways - I bought this game for its unique gameplay systems and that's exactly what I got. Although, I wouldn't be against some better writing. The glitches are pretty bad, understandable for a new game, and it's certainly not as bad as some games at launch, but they're noticeable. My game has frozen about 5 or 6 times already and it's really a drag to have to restart the game over and over again (especially because the loading screens aren't quick). And lastly, the awkwardness does get in the way of immersion sometimes; characters will repeat dialogue lines they've already said, voices might not always match the character, and cutscenes with your characters just seem off. Of course, this makes sense since you can play as literally anyone, but it needs to be mentioned. Despite the good things I've said about this game, I still think it deserves only a 6/10 because regardless of how unique it is trying to be, the game just seems to be boring once you finish it. There's not much to do and the restricted areas are all pretty cut-and-paste. I don't see this game having much longevity to it, but the story was fun while it lasted.

Made by Ubisoft's best AC studio, this game definitely doesn't disappoint. While it plays similarly to Origins and Odyssey, I think people who may have been turned off AC for a while will have something to love with this game, as it is different enough from the previous two to really stand out and shine. I can confidently say that Valhalla is Ubisoft's best Assassin's Creed game in a long time, perhaps since Black Flag. I played a lot of Odyssey and loved it as well, but it never quite felt like an Assassin's Creed game. Valhalla is the end result of Ubisoft almost perfecting the open world RPG formula they began with Origins, as well as a properly balancing the assassin aspect so the series does not lose its identity. I've put over 60 hours into this game so far and I feel like I've only made it halfway through. Valhalla is huge, but it doesn't feel like its blatantly huge for the sake of being so, similar to how Odyssey was. Instead, Valhalla trims the fat that often made Odyssey feel like a slog to play through. Don't get me wrong, the game is still huge and some people may still find it tough to finish, but side-quests have been replaced with quick and easy world events, icons aren't littered all over the map this time and instead you are forced to really explore to find out what certain areas hold - the game is similarly designed to Far Cry 5 in that sense, where they incentivize players to really explore the worlds they're in rather than making it feel like a checklist of things to do. The gear system seems to be controversial in this game - the game approaches loot entirely differently to how both Origins and Odyssey did it. A lot of people complained that Odyssey especially felt grindy, so I think that Valhalla's loot system was Ubisoft's response to that. The game has minimal gear, nothing is random and everything is hand-made and put in pre-selected locations to find. Every time you come across an area that has loot (either gear for your character or loot to build your settlement) there is often a puzzle associated with it, further adding more depth to Ubisoft's world rather than just a checklist of things to do. The game's world is comprised of 4 maps I believe: Norway, eastern England (largest map), Vinland, and Asgard. All of these locations are great and have their own atmosphere to them, they do not feel copy-and-paste, which is what some of the islands in Greece (Odyssey) felt to me. Valhalla's storytelling is centered around its world, which is where it also differs from previous AC games. While there is an overarching plot, each region in England has its own subplot that your character has to solve, and I love it. I had lower expectations for the writing, as Ubisoft's writing was never that great - especially compared to games like RDR2 or The Witcher 3, but Valhalla's story isn't bad - it's not amazing, but it's good; some subplots are great (East Anglia and Sciropescire in particular), and some are pretty uninteresting and bland (Essex comes to mind) but overall, the writing was better than expected. In total, I think Valhalla is Ubisoft's best attempt at an open-world RPG yet, and they have really learned a lot from creating Origins and Odyssey, it gives me a lot of hope for their upcoming open-world games such as Far Cry 6. The AI is still unfortunately pretty bad - either enemies spot you instantly when they shouldn't be able to, or they are completely blind/deaf - for a 2020 game, I do not think Ubisoft's AI has progressed at all. The world still has certain immersion-breaking moments, I think the wildlife is kind of goofy, hunting missions with NPCs always feels really weird, etc. Overall, I still think the game is great, and I'd give it an 8 as it has room to improve.

I have put around 20 hours in the game on Xbox One so far. While the game itself is good, last-gen console players will have a hard time experiencing it. This game was not properly optimized for the consoles it was marketed on; I've never seen a game run so poorly in my life. FPS is usually around 20 - can dip as low as 15, graphics look muddy, blurry, and overall staticky, freezes and crashes are common, pop-ins and blurry textures are frequent, and this is not even counting the large amount of glitches that plague this game. I understand this game was not going to run amazingly on last-gen hardware, Xbox One and PS4 players were not expecting a 60FPS next-gen experience, I understand that this game is incredibly demanding and what CDPR set out to do was very ambitious. However, I expected the game to at least work decently, because it was advertised for Xbox One and PS4 consoles in the first place. The fact that CDPR purposely prevented any reviewers from playing the console versions exhibits false advertising in my opinion, they purposely hid the console gameplay because they knew how bad it was. This was a very low move for a company that many people praise as consumer-friendly. Like I said, the game itself is good. I've been trying to deal with the terrible performance and bugs, and I do see that CDPR has crafted a really great world here. The writing is great, the atmosphere is very intriguing, and the quests are fun. Although I can't give this game any higher than a 3 in its current state, there's a great game here but unfortunately last-gen console players (who either don't have the money to upgrade or simply can't find a console due to scalpers) are going to have to play it in a completely unoptimized state.

Before I explain why I gave this game such a sub-par rating, I'm going to say that this game is a good Batman game. Rocksteady nails the atmosphere of Batman every single time, and this time is no differnet. However there are many shortcomings this game possesses which makes it a disappointing finale to the Arkham series. First of all let`s address the elephant in the room, the batmobile. I think it was a great improvement to add Batman`s signature vehicle to the game, however Rocksteady forces it far too much to the point where I almost forget I`m playing a Batman game and rather some tank simulator. The game as a whole has a prominent militaristic vibe which sets it apart from the other games. Rather than chasing down the Joker like in previous games, you`re going toe-to-toe with an entire private army. While they nailed Scarecrow`s look and personality, the main villain also comes up very short as you rarely even interact with him. When I first got this game I was expecting experiences with Scarecrow to be similar to the ones in Asylum where you hallucinated and fought a giant version of himself. None of that happens in this game as there aren`t really any boss fights in this game in general. Boss fights are what made Arkham Asylum, City and Origins so good. For some reason Rocksteady ditches this idea entirely in favor of bland, tank battles. This game does shine in freedom and side quests in my opinion. The side missions in Knight are very unique to each other, and each time you`re doing something different which keeps it interesting. The map is a lot bigger than its previous entries which gives you lots of room to speed around with the batmobile in. The environment is largely destructible as well which adds a lot of polish to the world. Also, this game`s overall atmosphere is incredibly dark (which explains the M rating). I think this is a strength to a Batman game, and the constant psychological battle Batman undergoes is what makes the story so interesting. Overall, this is an incredible Batman game, however compared to its predecessors and considering this is supposed to be the finale, it is very disappointing. I know they could have done better.

This game is an absolute masterpiece. I don't need to tell you to buy this game if you have a Switch, because chances are you already have. However if for some absurd reason you own a Switch and don't have this game, you may find this review helpful. This is by far the most ambitious game Nintendo has ever created in my opinion. I was never into Zelda games before this, however this game is so vastly different than its predecessors that you don't need to be a Zelda fan to enjoy it. I'd place this game closer to an Elder Scrolls title than an actual Zelda game. At its core, this game strives on exploration. The map is gigantic and diverse, as each section of the map covers a different kind of climate region. You can scale tall and snowy mountains, to a blazing hot volcano, to peaceful forests and even harsh deserts. It is certainly difficult to get bored while sightseeing throughout Hyrule. The main story is very flexible as you can take it at your own pace and do it in whichever order you want, the side quests aren't as amazing as everything else as they are mainly mere fetch quests, however there are a few of them which still find a way to engage the player. For example, this game relies heavily on puzzles. If you dislike puzzles in games, you're in for a rough patch. Almost every dungeon consists of puzzles (whether that be extremely easy ones or more challenging ones). This game certainly doesn't hold back, and once you leave the Great Plateau (starting area) you're practically on your own. You can be one-shot by enemies and your low stamina can either drown you or send you falling off a mountain. You are on your own in the wild and you need to rely on pure skill to progress and become stronger. While the main story is incredibly fun in regards to the four divine beasts, the overall plot falls a bit short. It's not that interesting and there are many other games that top it if you're looking for a good story. However I think the developers knew BOTW's core wasn't aligned with story, but exploration and freedom; I can tell you they nailed it. There are other minor flaws with this game but the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. This is currently the best game on the Switch.

This is an obvious improvement from the original game that launched two years ago. Not only does this game have much more to do in it than before, but it is also a hell of a lot prettier. No more will you see extremely ugly planets with ridiculous looking creatures, but now the planets and creatures seem to have been generated much more intelligently. Everything feels much more alive as the creatures feel like they're truly living on these planets. The geography of the planets is also greatly improved as each planet (besides the desolate ones) seem to have its own look to it. This actually makes exploration worthwhile. Multiplayer is a major improvement as the game doesn't feel so lonely all the time, however I have run across multiple bugs while playing with my friend. Which leads me to my next point... the bugs are terrible. I understand that NEXT is a brand new update, but I'm hoping they get these problems fixed ASAP as a lot of the bugs are game-breaking in one way or another. I've come across bugged sentinels who wouldn't stop pursuing me (even after going into a freighter) and my friend is unable to even join my game half the time as it freezes and crashes on him. He also seems to be having an issue where whenever he loads into his own single-player session there is a good chance his game will freeze. Luckily I'm not plagued with this bug, but it's very unfair to those who are. Other than the glitches, this game is very solid. The building system gives the game much more depth, and rather than empty promises like before, this game is a worthy space exploration title. I would wait for a sale if I were you, at least until the bugs are cleared.