JLord701

Returnal is a gorgeous, intense, and challenging 3rd-person shooter...that honestly isn't a great roguelike. It combines personal, cinematic storytelling, 3rd-person bullet-hell action, and roguelike elements to create a unique AAA experience. It's certainly not the most revolutionary or "out there" game from a major publisher, but I respect Sony for putting out a game like this. I can't think of any other AAA roguelikes, or at least ones with this much depth and attention to detail. That being said, this isn't a great roguelike. My main flaw with this game is the urge to just play "one more run". A single run in this game can take a few hours, especially. Enemies are unforgiving and hit hard, and death will be frequent, a staple of the genre. Outside of a few items that affect the way you interact with the world, you will lose all your progress upon death. None of your proficiency, currency, items, or health upgrades carry over, and to reach the final boss again, it will take a few hours of repeating this cycle. This makes it one of the most punishing games in the genre, so the urge to continue isn't as prevalent compared to games like Hades and The Binding of Issac. That being said, this is one of the few "truly next-gen-feeling" games I've played. It uses the DualSense controller in very unique ways, and the amount of stunning effects on screen is a treat for the eyes. It's a miracle this game manages to maintain a consistent 60 FPS. I don't know who I would recommend this game to. There are far better and more affordable roguelikes out there, and this game is extremely punishing. Overall, though, I still enjoyed my time with Returnal. It's a solid exclusive.

A triumphant RPG filled with choice and consequence, Mass Effect 2 improves upon nearly everything from the first game, while also removing aspects which held it back. Mass Effect 2 also removes some of the more "old school" RPG elements. That might upset some fans but it streamlines the user experience. Leveling up often feels less like improving arbitrary stats and more like unlocking a cool new ability or making those powers significantly stronger every time. It leads to a more streamlined experience, since managing the powers and using a clunky inventory user interface would become far more tiresome since Mass Effect 2 has twice as many companions. One area where it takes a step back from the first game is its villain. There isn't as much of a central villain throughout the story. The illusive man and Cerberus are much more morally grey and it wouldn't be fair to call them villains. Mass Effect 2's story however, has far better pacing than the first, despite the fact that it took me more than twice as long to complete it. It's structure is a bit unconventional. You spend most of your time seeking out companions to help you stop a lurking alien threat to mankind. Mass Effect 2's story shines when it focuses on episodic storytelling surrounding your companions and their loyalty missions. Even though I liked some companions more than others, their loyalty missions provide much more depth and character development. They are mostly entertaining and some can be surprisingly emotional. They are a huge step up compared to the lackluster side quests from the first game. Completing these missions can also affect the outcomes of the final mission, which I and many would consider one of the best final missions gaming has to offer. The combat and gunplay are also much snappier and the AI is a huge step up as well. It plays as well as most modern third-person shooters. The limited sprint is still annoying, but far less so than the first game since many of 2's environments are much smaller. I should say however that it is essential to play the first game before 2. Not only will it help contextualize events but choices you made in Mass Effect 1 can carry over to 2, since you can import your save file and character from the first game.

Masterpiece. Such an emotional game. Before your eyes is one of the most unique games I've ever played. You play it by blinking. Sometimes a scene will only last as long as you can keep your eyes open, showing how fast our life passes us by, and how sometimes we need to appreciate the moment we are in. It's a short game. It took me around 90 minutes to finish and I did it in one sitting. I recommend you play it that way. This is the most emotional game I've ever played and it's the closest a game has ever come to making me cry.

One of the most legendary and influential games of all time without question. What sets this game apart from others from this time is how well the game has aged. This game still has some of the best controls of any fps. The graphics have certainly aged, but there is an odd charm in their simplicity. The story is simple, solid, and entertaining, but it's still the weakest narrative of the bungie games in my opinion. As far as flaws go, the library mission is a mental endurance test and a descent into madness. I think it only stands out this way because every other level is basically perfect. I'd also say that some weapons like the assault rifle and needler are worthless, even on easier difficulties. Of course I should also mention how overpowered the pistol is in multiplayer. In the face of everything this game gets right, these flaws don't even come close to ruining it. Most of the weapons and vehicles are incredibly fun to use. Many of the levels are open with a sandbox feel and can be completed in multiple ways, which is especially impressive given it was an xbox launch title, although it should go without saying that the master chief collection is the definitive way to play this game. It feels great playing at higher resolutions and framerates and you also get online multiplayer, which was not in the original release. Halo combat evolved is a game everyone should play. Even with a few flaws, it's not just one of the best games of all time, but also one of the most influential.

I cannot log into the game. It’s been more than a day. Blizzard, fix your game.

I'll be honest. This is not as good as the bungie games. The story and gameplay are both inferior to the masterpieces bungie crafted all those years ago. However, this is a very good and a very well made game. It really grew on me the 2nd time I played it. The first time, I did not enjoy the campaign. Maybe it was because I had covid. On the other hand, the 2nd time, my opinion completely changed. I don't know exactly what did it, but I was able to appreciate the story much more. The gameplay on the other hand, is still certainly what suffers. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed it, but it suffers from linear level design and unpredictable AI. Probably my biggest problem however, is the extremely low ammo count for some weapons. Some, like the battle rifle for example, stay , more or less the same, but weapons like the plasma pistol have such a low count compared to previous games. It's unfortunate, because you will likely use this weapon often on higher difficulties. I am also not the biggest fan of the art style. It isn't bad in its own right, but it more or less completely abandons the style of halo 3. From a technical standpoint though, this game looks and sounds incredible. It's crazy to think this game came out nearly ten years ago on the 360. It looks even better on 9th gen, and 120fps is greatly appreciated. Overall, while this did not live up to bungie's excellent halo trilogy, it is still extremely well made, and takes the series in new directions. I think it's the best game since reach.

See, I don't really know how to score this game, since I would only recommend it to a certain group of people: those who have never played GTA V before. $40(the story mode and online) is flat out insulting for people who have already played the game, especially the ones who played it on ps4 and xbox one. Yes, it may be on sale at this time, but my point still stands. $20(the current sale price) is still far too much. Say what you will about a game like Cyberpunk, but it offered a next gen version with similar upgrades at no extra cost, not to mention the original game released just over a year ago, while GTA V released well over 8 years ago. Don't get me wrong, GTA V on its own is a vastly better game. I would call it one of the greatest games ever made, let alone one of the best of the last decade. That's why I don't think this is a terrible buy for people who have never experienced this masterpiece before, but $40 is just too much. For people who already have the game though, this should have been a free upgrade. Free. There are numerous other companies who have released free upgrades, and Rockstar should follow that tactic. Nonetheless, it's a great looking game on next gen consoles. I would say performance or performance rt mode is the way to go, I would just feel guilty recommending anyone buy this at its current price. Rockstar continues to let us down.

Super Mario 3D World is a fascinating Nintendo Switch port. It was obviously a shoo-in, but I was extremely surprised to see it come after a game like New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, which is one of the most underwhelming games I’ve ever played, let alone one of the most underwhelming Mario games. Regardless, I’m glad to see 3D world on the system. I never owned a Wii U, but many players and critics called it one of, if not the best game on the Wii U. If I were to ever own a Wii U, I likely would’ve sprung for this game and/or Mario Kart 8. I played Super Mario 3D Land on my 3DS and adored nearly every second of it. It’s probably my favorite game on that system and I think it’s the best handheld Mario game. On the contrary, many took issue regarding 3D World(3D Land’s sequel), both when it was first revealed, and when it launched. As the first HD 3D Mario game, players expected Super Mario Galaxy 3, Sunshine 2, a direct sequel to 64, or maybe even an original title, but no. We got a sequel to a handheld game whose gimmick was designed around the glasses-free 3D feature, which the Wii U lacked. This reaction could have also been due to the oversaturation of Mario titles during the early 2010’s, although, it currently holds a score of 93% from critics and an 8.9 from players on Metacritic and is the second highest ranked Wii U title, only surpassed by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Like I mentioned previously, this title was on my radar in terms of most desired Wii U games, but I wasn’t gonna buy a Wii U at the end of the 2010’s just for this game(thank goodness I didn't). That brings me to an issue I have, not exactly with the game: the Wii U, in my opinion, is losing its identity. Most of the beloved titles that can work well on Switch have either received direct sequels or have been ported over. This is a good and bad thing. It gives great games a second chance on a successful console(Nintendo Switch), whereas they used to be stranded on an abandoned console(Wii U), which didn’t sell well. On the other hand, the Wii U has fewer and fewer great titles to call its own. The Switch has a plethora of Wii U ports, which are more often than not, the definitive version of the game due to all DLC/extra content being packaged in and/or simply higher frame rates and resolution. There truly is less and less of a reason to buy a Wii U in 2021 if you're simply looking to play its best games, but this isn’t a huge issue for me, since I and many others only own a Switch. I want to get my one big issue out of the way first: the camera. This nearly ruined the game for me in some areas. Having a fixed camera for most of the game may work better for multiplayer, since you’ll have 2-4 players on screen at one time, but for single player, why can’t I have full control of the camera? It led to so many deaths that were the game’s fault and not my own. I mostly played on my own, and it was incredibly frustrating at times. At least there’s an infinite lives trick early on in the game. Luckily, you can play online, with registered friends, but I wish your progress could have carried over to your own save file. Even though these issues remain, I had a blast playing 3D World and Bowser’s Fury. It’s definitely not as good as Odyssey, 3D Land or Galaxy 1 and 2, but I enjoyed it much more than 64 and Sunshine(I know, sue me). This game looks surprisingly great, even for a Switch game. It’s not quite as beautiful as Odyssey, but it’s definitely one of the best looking first-party games. The lighting is beautiful, the art style is charming, and it runs at a solid 60 FPS, although Bowser’s Fury runs at 30 FPS in handheld mode. If there’s one thing you’re getting with 3D World, maybe more than any other Mario game, it’s variety. Most levels feel unique, although some are more memorable than others. The worst levels are, at the very least, enjoyable. Music is also a highlight, much better than that in 3D Land. There are also gallons of replayability, especially if you want to collect every star and stamp. Bowser’s Fury is likely the best add-on we’ve gotten with a Switch port so far. If you were expecting it to be an entirely new game, you might be disappointed, but it is the definition of quality over quantity. You can finish it in just a few hours and collecting every cat shine won’t take you too much longer, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it, maybe even a bit more than 3D World since I prefer the sandbox style of 3D Mario games. Being able to fully control the camera is also a godsend. Unfortunately, the 2-player mode in Bowser’s Fury is fairly weak. It’s more of a “backseat” experience, similar to a 2-Player mode in Super Mario Odyssey. Regardless, Bowser’s Fury gives us a taste of what an open-world Mario game could be like, since this is technically an open-world experience. I can’t wait to see what Nintendo makes next.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons joins titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a system seller. This isn’t just a must-have title; it’s a reason to buy a Nintendo Switch. I went into this game somewhat blind. I’d seen some of the trailers, but this was my first time playing and owning an Animal Crossing game. Additionally, the simulation genre just isn’t my cup of tea. The only other life simulator I’d dabbled in was **** Valley(another great game). However, from the opening minutes, I knew this game would be special. It’s probably the most relaxing game I’ve ever played. After playing New Horizons and more recently, some excellent survival horror titles(Resident Evil 2 and 7), I’ve realized you don’t need fast paced action to make a game enjoyable. However, take that into consideration before purchasing/playing this game. It’s very slow paced and unfortunately, there is some unnecessary tedium. It would go a long way if a feature was added to craft sets of an item instead of crafting them individually(Tip: spam the A-button while crafting to speed up the process). Tool durability is also an unnecessary annoyance. Weapons durability suits a game like Breath of the Wild much better. It lets you experiment with the sandbox and make full use of all your items. That isn’t the case in new horizons. Another minor gripe is playing with multiple accounts. You can only have one island per system. This wasn’t an issue for me since I’m the only one who plays my Switch, but it’s something to keep in mind if you have young children, friends, a spouse/partner, or anyone else who wants their own island. Like I previously mentioned, this is an extremely slow paced game. Some Players used “time traveling” to speed up the game, but I don’t recommend that. I suggest you play how the developers intended. With my (mostly)minor gripes out of the way, let’s talk positives. First of all, this game is absolutely gorgeous. It may not quite reach Breath of the Wild, Mario Odyssey, or Mario Kart 8 levels of beauty, but I’d still put it in the top ten best looking games on the system. The art style is amazing, the lighting is top tier, and it ran at a solid 30 frames-per-second with no drops or stuttering from what I noticed. Sound design is as relaxing as it could be. The music is beautiful as well, although it might get on some players’ nerves during extended play sessions, especially before town hall is built. In terms of strength in gameplay, I’ve never felt this much freedom in many other games. However, if I had to pinpoint my favorite aspect, it was probably collecting bugs, fossils, fish, and other sea creatures, and donating them to the museum. It was always fun having friends visit my island and showing off all of the rare catches I’d obtained. This was one of the few games where I displayed audible excitement whenever I caught a whale shark, sunfish, or oarfish for the first time. More than many other games, New Horizons displays progress in a visual sense, rather than experience points, cool weapons, or armor. Your island will start out messy and overgrown with weeds and unwanted trees, but as the game moves forward, you’ll unlock more villagers(and their respective houses), shops, and items to put on display. There are plenty of mindblowing islands on display on the internet, that even I(someone who played for more than 150 hours) couldn’t begin to think of. It truly is your experience, and everyone’s will be different. If I had to point out one last gripe I had with the game, it would be updates. This review is being written almost 1 ½ years after launch, and although Nintendo has been consistently updating the game, it has lost a bit of longevity, but that’s only because I played so frequently at the beginning of the pandemic and I possibly could’ve been burnt out on it. You’ll get plenty of hours out of the game, it’s just after this many, there isn’t as much of a reason to pick the game back up. Despite the minor issues I have with the game, I think this is a game anyone can enjoy. If you only like fast paced action, you should still give this one a try. I did, and I’ve loved nearly every minute.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

This is clearly not the best switch port and runs far worse than Doom and Wolfenstein, but if you’re willing to overlook the graphics, you have a fantastic rpg that plays exactly how you want, and has some of the best writing I’ve seen in any game period. Hopefully they will add a graphical update similar to the Witcher 3, because the graphics really do hold it back in this case.