Final Thoughts: Let's face the elephant in the room first off: Separate Ways does a much better job of allowing actress Lily Gao to showcase a more complex Ada Wong. The delivery doesn't always hit and I still think better direction was needed, but a serviceable performance in this expanded look at Ada's journey bolsters the character's conflicted adventure. On the story side, it's action-horror meets goofy espionage. Wicked fun and full of fan service, Separate Ways smoothly takes what it cut from RE4: Remake and puts it to better use with the more apt Ada. As for the future, it's undoubtedly assured at this point that Code: Veronica or RE5 is next in line to be introduced to the absolutely gorgeous RE Engine. Gameplay also features some nifty little additions, with the grapple hook melee and shield pull being fantastic mechanics that set Ada's campaign apart. What she lacks in brute strength she more than makes up with intelligence and acrobatics. All-in-all, Separate Ways is a decent DLC that tastefully expands on the core game's slickness and more than justifies the reasonable price of admission. For more reviews, give us a follow and visit the site: The Phoenix Project - Read. Watch. Play.
Final Thoughts: Starfield is a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none. It desperately needs an editor to cut through all the idealistic but useless features to remind the developers that quality always trumps quantity. A rich world and fantastic side quests clash with an uninspired main quest and a plethora of performance issues that render the game's push for exploration anything but. It's a mix of the studio's Skyrim with the genre-defining Mass Effect series, but never quite satisfies those itches and leaves the player thinking of stronger experiences. I ran into a plethora of issues from glitches to outright crashes, spent an inordinate amount of time troubleshooting issues I shouldn't be worried about on console, and doing my best to accept that Bethesda doesn't seem to care to learn from lessons that have hurt them for decades. While Starfield seems stuck between generations and intentions, it's still fun (frustrating fun, sure, but fun nonetheless). Its side quests shine and its crisp combat only gets better the more skills you unlock. Character creation and crafting your journey are both solid in design and execution, and the game does reward your investment. With all my criticism, I am excited for the universe's future and the undoubted refinements to come, but the developer's ego needs some serious attention and quality control needs a firmer, more moderate hand. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: The Phoenix Project - Read. Watch. Play.
Final Thoughts: Final Fantasy 16 is a fun, flashy fantasy RPG that's a little lighter on the RPG than its predecessors. With a seamless balance of player engagement and cinematic clashes, the world of Valisthea is vividly realised in all its medieval-inspired glory. Not to be bogged down by all those grey tones, however, 16 showcases some of the best visuals yet, with stunning vistas accompanied by a soaring soundtrack that hit the player right in the heart. For some, sadly, its hack 'n' slash gameplay is a far cry from the turn-based action of old, something that might disappoint the latter's more hardcore fans as the series sacrifices substance for style. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: ****
Final Thoughts: The Callisto Protocol is undoubtedly the spiritual successor to the Dead Space series, but it sadly won’t set the genre on fire in the same way. Solid if bland plots and characters are buoyed by an immersive atmosphere, and a brutally unforgiving focus on melee feels tactful and crunchy, making The Callisto Protocol a fresh IP and an incredibly visceral game (sorry). Review Update: So, after multiple replays, several increasing difficulties, and various DLC (one of which kills any potential future for the property), I felt compelled to do something I’ve never done before: change my rating and update a review… The Callisto Protocol has its potential, but, the more I play, the more frustrated I get. There are moments where just as I feel like I’m enjoying myself, the game reminds me that it doesn’t actually want me to play it. In fact, its biggest issue is just that, so much control is taken from the player. If you’re not shimmying through a tight space, you’re crawling through yet another vent; if the combat isn’t glitching, you’re forced into a ‘cinematic’ grab; and, until recently, if you weren’t doing any of the above, you were in an unskippable cutscene. Too much playtime consists of, well, very little actual playtime. In my original review, I focused on how from the atmosphere, setting, and aesthetics The Callisto Protocol is undoubtedly the spiritual successor to Dead Space, but it’s almost as if the game realises this and tries to pivot violently the other way, leaving a confused and messy horror that tries too hard to force an experience only to, sadly, avoid one entirely. For an in-depth look and more reviews, visit my site: ****
Final Thoughts: Dead Space 2 is that rare kind of sequel that not only embodies what made the first game an impactful horror but refines for a faster, smoother experience. Every area has been tastefully expanded, strengthening already great gameplay and providing new and returning players with an insanely intense horror experience. Dead Space perfected what a survival horror game should be, but Dead Space 2 inscribed it in gaming history. It showed the world a winning formula that I’ve rarely seen since and its absence is sorely missed (Dead Space: Remake provides some hope). For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: ****
Final Thoughts: Love it or hate it, The Last of Us: Part 2 is an experience you have to have for yourself. Its dense and thoughtful story is brought to life by stellar performances and a talented team of developers. It’s a game with lots to explore, to return to time and time again, and one unlikely to leave anyone’s mind for a long while. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: ****
Final Thoughts: From its lore-intensive beginning to its frenetic action-oriented sequels, Mass Effect is arguably the defining sci-fi experience of the last couple of decades in gaming. Characters shine with crackling chemistry and player choices add the desired flavour to the epic space opera. Monumental stakes and uplifting themes create a strong canvas for the gorgeous vistas and unique races the series creates. Sadly, all that fantastic force is undermined by an ending that renders every player choice moot and betrays the core plot with odd choices. It takes a while to lose, but I was left with a bitter, unsatisfying taste after what's largely been one of the most delicious RPGs. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: ****
Final Thoughts: Mass Effect 3 eclipses its predecessors with epic story beats that converge the biggest conflicts bubbling throughout the series into emotional rollercoasters. Characters shine with crackling chemistry and random conversations provide smooth development and excellent pacing between big moments. Gameplay is further refined, keeping what works and ironing out the kinks for an action-focused adventure, an adventure amplified by gorgeous visuals and a tone-setting soundtrack. It’s sad, however, that from a beginning that sets a galactic apocalypse with such fantastic force and characters that can more than handle the weight on their backs, the ending feels like a completely different team of writers took control…writers that had absolutely no experience with the series. Rendering every choice the player has made moot and betraying even its core story, Mass Effect 3 ends on a bitter, unsatisfying note to what’s largely been one of the best sci-fi RPGs to hit gaming. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: ****
Final Thoughts: Dead Space: Ignition should not exist. The first misstep in the series, this ‘game’ (it barely qualifies) is a comic-style puzzler with unnecessary branching story paths intended to pad an otherwise short experience. A lazy story crashes into a lazy cast and both end up in a heap along with lazy gameplay and graphics. Do yourself a favour and just skip. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: ****
Final Thoughts: Mass Effect 2 is a focused, more personal epic space opera compared to its predecessor, but it’s this intimacy that sets it apart as one of the best sci-fi RPGs. Characters shine and develop in stunning ways, and decisions affect them and the plot in such satisfying fashion that you’re forced to think about your choices or face the consequences in an exceptional finale. Developers the world over should use this game as the template of which to follow, the standard for a hooking RPG that’s both grand and streamlined where it’s needed. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: ****
Final Thoughts: Resident Evil 4: Remake is the best entry to the series to date. It’s faithful, fresh, and utterly gorgeous. It makes smart changes that better allow the story and characters to breathe while keeping the pace fluid. Gameplay is unbelievably smooth, crafting a viscerally satisfying punch to both gunplay and melee that showcases Capcom’s sharper focus on horror. Social media is almost always brimming with ‘when will we see next-gen?’, but, I think we need to take a closer look at what we have now, because if any recent game showcases what next-gen should feel like, Resident Evil 4: Remake is 100% it. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: ****/
Final Thoughts: Resident Evil 4 arguably kept the series alive by radically overhauling its mechanics and beginning anew with a fresh story. Grounded by the returning and highly trained Leon S. Kennedy, players can more smoothly traverse a richer, more open world while taking on the hordes of smarter enemies with a mix of layered gunplay and satisfying roundhouse kicks. Quirky puzzles provide balance and unlockable content increases replayability in a game that paved the way for many of the biggest hitters to follow. Resident Evil 4 has aged in ways, but what it did to modernise third-person action is undeniably timeless. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: ****/
Final Thoughts: Resident Evil Code: Veronica X is undoubtedly the black sheep of the series, marking the overdue need to transition its mechanics, despite the comfort that returning players will find in them. Rehashed story beats and over-the-top characters feel less iconic and more lazy than in previous instalments, and poor design choices make the new 3D visuals forgettable. It’s undeniable that Code: Veronica rests on the laurels of Claire and Chris Redfield, who’re thankfully supported by some wonderful music and smart puzzles. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: ****/
Final Thoughts: There is a lot I could say about Resident Evil 3: Remake, but I know it’d descend into rambling so I’ll keep things basic. 3: Remake is a fun and ferocious instalment that benefits greatly from the mechanics refined in 2: Remake. It looks and sounds beautiful, creating, in my opinion, a much more layered Jill Valentine before setting her loose in Raccoon City as it burns to the ground. It all sounds great until you scratch the surface away. Resident Evil 3: Remake suffers in a similar, if worse, way as the original did (the original is by far my favourite game from its trilogy): a lack of any real care. Where 2 was painstakingly built, 3 cheaply reuses, butchers, and churns out just what it needs to deliver and nothing more. 3: Remake takes those things and regresses them further, removing fan-favourite sections of the game and reducing its main and iconic villain of Nemesis to an unexciting annoyance. Jill, probably the most underutilised core character, deserved better. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: ****/
Final Thoughts: Resident Evil 2: Remake is a gorgeous recreation of classic survival horror, bringing the visuals, sound design, and gameplay mechanics into the modern day for a new generation. Sacrificing none of its charms, however, the developers painstakingly ensure that the addictive balance of combat, puzzles, and strategy the original embodied remain intact, providing a nostalgic experience full of new things to explore. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: ****/
Final Thoughts: Before the era of remakes, Resident Evil: Remake stood tall as a passionate perseverance **** that undeniably defined the survival horror genre. The original has not aged well, with the blocky graphics, bright environments, and intensely cheesy action/horror balance, it’s not a good representation today of its impact back when it was released. Remake rectifies this, becoming the definitive version of the first in the series; ageless, gorgeous, and, for hardcore fans, Resident Evil: Remake is the epitome of what makes the franchise great. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: ****/%f0%9f%8e%ae-resident-evil-remake-resident-evil-1-in-depth-review-%f0%9f%8e%ae/
Final Thoughts: It's the run-up to #ResidentEvil4Remake! Get through Resident Evil 0’s experimentation and you’ll find a fun, familiar experience. Its atmosphere and sound design are pristine and it embodies early survival horror. It won’t please everyone and given the story and its cast have been done by the series better, if it doesn’t tickle your fancy, giving it a miss won’t mess with your love of the franchise. For the full review and more posts like this one, visit my site: ****/%f0%9f%8e%ae-resident-evil-0-in-depth-review-%f0%9f%8e%ae/
Final Thoughts: The Quarry revels and suffers in its cliches, drawing inspiration from 80s horror and mixing it with more modern YA drama in a concoction that doesn’t always mix. Strong performances and the ever-tense fear of choosing the wrong path keep the player invested and their attention rapt, but not everyone will be able to stomach the infuriating controls or the poorly implemented camera. For lovers of craft-your-own narratives, rejoice, because nobody does them quite as well as Supermassive does. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: ****/%f0%9f%8e%ae-the-quarry-in-depth-review-%f0%9f%8e%ae/
Final Thoughts: Hogwarts Legacy starts and finishes strong, with its middling middle part carried by truly tremendous aesthetics and inspired music. It's the love letter to fans of the franchise and a world that's a joy to explore. Do much more than that, however, and you're in for a repetitive and bland slog through identical dungeons and fetch quests. Clever puzzles do go a way to breaking that up and satisfying combat benefits from a varied but tame collection of spells, but with bugs and glitches preventing some areas of progress, Hogwarts Legacy brought the timeless atmosphere of the Wizarding World to life at the expense of its own identity. For the full review and more like it, visit my site: ****/hogwarts-legacy-in-depth-review/
Final Thoughts: The Evil Within is great fun…as an action game. Its gameplay and mechanics make the player think about their next moves, and with some thrilling tension and glimmers of plot potential, it’s a decent start to a series I’m looking forward to continuing. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: The Phoenix Project - Read. Watch. Play.
Final Thoughts: All in all, The Evil Within 2 takes what works from the first game and focuses it. It’s a fun, often frightful survival horror with decent pacing and replayability. A cohesive plot allows the characters to better shine and stronger voice acting keeps the experience immersive. It’s a surprisingly approachable game, even for non-horror lovers, with a healthy dose of action and punchy gunplay. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: ****/the-evil-within-2-in-depth-review/
Final Thoughts: Mass Effect scorched the gaming scene with its epic space opera. Its rich world and extensive lore are expertly explored through a vast variety of vivid characters. Drawing the player in completely, it gives us our own iconic Commander Shepard and allows us to shape certain decisions in a conflicted and ignorant galaxy. The Legendary Edition is the definitive way to play, smoothing out the still-present glitches while enhancing the stunning vistas it allows us to explore. I find it hard to believe there’s any gamer who has yet to enjoy this experience, but if you haven’t, jump in, **** it’s time to go save the galaxy. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: ****/mass-effect-mass-effect-1-in-depth-review/
Final Thoughts: Motive has taken on the momentous task of bringing a classic back to life and they utterly nail it, crafting a faithful game that tweaks just enough to unsettle returning and new players alike. The atmosphere is thick, the sound and creature designs are on point, and its graphical update sets the bloody and visceral standard for survival horror in 2023. EA made a massive mistake ending this series, one of many massive mistakes it made after getting the single-player formula right so many times, but, hopefully, Dead Space: Remake shows them the passion and creativity that gamers lust for, and, hopefully, Dead Space has returned from the dead space EA left it in. For the full review and more posts like it, visit my site: ****/dead-space-remake-dead-space-1-in-depth-review/
Final Thoughts: Cyberpunk 2077 needs a lesson in less is more. It’s brimming with potential, beauty, and a City of layered moral philosophy and cybernetic deliciousness, but there’s too little control. For a game announced almost a decade ago, it comes fairly close to unforgivable in just how short it comes up in comparison to promises made. Still, with patience, there’s a thrilling and thoughtful experience that lays a decent foundation for future stories. For an in-depth look and more posts like this, visit my site: ****/cyberpunk-2077-cyberpunk-1-in-depth-review/
Final Thoughts: Outstandingly beautiful and engaging, The Last of Us: Part 1 is the definitive way to enjoy one of the best and must-play experiences ever released. However, the original holds up just as well, and if you can’t justify the expensive price tag for the remake, don’t. Wait for it to come down or pick up the original for much, much cheaper. For an in-depth look and more posts like this, please visit my site: ****/the-last-of-us-part-1-in-depth-review/
Final Thoughts: Bravo to the team over at BlueTwelve Studios, bravo. Stray is a charming, passionate, and heartwarming little indie game that puts AAA developers to shame. To think it wasn't even on my radar and it was a cat-lover friend that threatened major fallout if I didn't play it. Stray is absolutely stunning. The lighting is some of the best I’ve seen and the soundtrack nails each section’s mood, absorbing the player. Above all, Stray is just undiluted fun. It isn’t the longest game you’ll play, but its concentrated experience just cannot be missed. For a more in-depth look and more reviews, visit my site: ****/stray-stand-alone-in-depth-review/
