PyRo1005

Sonic fans have a lot to be happy about with the Sonic Mania as it hits all of the right notes for retro and new gamers alike. Gameplay: Controls are incredibly tight, to the extent that missteps are pretty much your fault and you recognize it. Platforming is smooth and speed feels fast without chaotic which given the nature of Sonic is incredibly helpful. To further this, all of the original moves are back and the modern moves have been taken away. While this might feel like a step down for newer fans of Sonic, it will become natural as the game does not feel the need to overwhelm you with too many move sets. When playing the most difficult decision you will have to make is which character you use and less about what move to use. Difficulty: This is why the game does not get a perfect 10 and it is because Sonic Mania is a love letter to retro gamers and was developed by fans of original Sonic. This also means that the game can have a (sometimes literally) crushing learning curve as you get used to threading the needle for very specific jumps. New gamers might be inclined to give up especially when making it to more challenging levels from older games. Visuals and music: Love letter still is the perfect way to encompass what this game is from the level design to the music, everything has a specific purpose. Level textures pop extremely well and combine the old with the new so well that I was actually grateful when I died sometimes as it gave me a chance to look at the gorgeous backgrounds and enemies closer. The music is also phenomenal as everything has received a modern overhaul without stripping it of its soul. From hearing the extra life song play to having a panic attack as Sonic struggles to hold his breath, the game has done an excellent job bringing Sonic back to form. Added bonus, you have the option to change the TV resolution to old CRT televisions (fuzzyness and all) where all you need to really go retro is grab some soda-licious, your favourite pop and enjoy. Overall: Is Sonic Mania a perfect game? no But it is damn close and the developers should be extremely proud with bringing a game that was in a rut for almost 20 years back into shape and relevant. The game does not give you any quarter and does not feel like it is just punishing you for fun (I'm looking at you Dark Souls). Completing complex stage puzzles or finishing bonus mini-games to unlock either extras or Chaos Emeralds is great. While new players might be frustrated with the learning curve, retro gamers will find plenty to love and unlock with no-save mode, time attack mode, and leaderboards.

I picked up this game hoping that the co-op was for campaign. While I was disappointed to find out it was only for versus mode, at $20 I was surprised with how much fun I am having with the game. Pyre works closer to Transistor in terms of pacing where combat occurs once in a while and intertwines it with Bastion's engrossing storytelling and item/trinket selection. If you are looking for a hack and slack, shoot 'em up fest, this will most likely not be your game. In terms of combat gameplay, you select three characters to bring an orb to their area (Basketball?) and each character has different abilities that make this easier. While this might not sound appealing, intertwining this with the story I found myself amazed at wanting to play more rather than hopping on GTA. The people at Supergiant Games once again nailed music as I have found myself downloading their soundtrack for the game as well. Pyre is one part visual novel and one part Quasi-Basketball and all parts fun and highly recommend picking it up.

Drawn to Death for PS+ members, this is your free Overwatch lite game. That does not mean it is a cheap knock off or bad by any stretch of the imagination, but it does however feel more bare bones. Lets start with the good. The artwork is incredible and it shows that the designers put a lot of thought into their characters and arenas. Few games are able to make such a claim especially at the AAA level where we are left with "generic hero B". In addition to that, while the humour may be crude, it is still witty and fits in perfectly with the perspective of being a high school student's notebook and therefore his narrative. Characters are well designed and their attacks are unique to them which also builds an interesting game in terms of diversity. I don't worry that my selection will not matter as each character has their own skill. The not so great. It's free to play and while the game will make several jabs at this gag, it is becoming an increasingly more common problem with games. Free to Play is becoming normalized and being given these games as apart of a subscription fee does not sit well with me. We as the consumer should not be "given the option" of spending more money on a free to play game when we are paying for a service. Even more frustrating is that more often, PS+s games are becoming free to play (Rocket League is guilty of this) and a few months ago we had Let it Die. Controls: The game is fun and incredibly fast paced, but there is a definitely learning curve to the game which greatly punishes you for not learning quick enough. This alone may deter newer players from giving this game a chance. Summary: Drawn to Death is a quirky game that with the right group of friends could easily become a lovable game, however with larger scale "free to play" multiplayer games like Overwatch, I am left questioning the longevity of Drawn to Death, especially since Overwatch was able to Crush Battleborn within a year and Let it Die's community, while solid, is also dwindling. TL;DR: What works is great, what doesn't requires time and effort to develop. If this doesn't sound like your cup of tea, try Overwatch.