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OpinionImpressionsHands-On With The Gorgeous New Ninja Gaiden-Like Cyber Shadow
Cyber Shadow is a retro-looking action platformer that that looks beautiful and controls just as tightly. There have been a lot of those recently, like The Messenger, which channeled Ninja Gaiden, as well as Bloodstained: Curse Of The Moon, a mini-ode to classic Castlevania. Cyber Shadow isn’t entirely original in that regard, but based on…
By Ethan Gach Published March 28, 2019 -
OpinionImpressionsA Perfectly Precious Puzzle Game Propelled By Magical Teen Angst
In The World Next Door, a group of plucky high school students harness the power of magic to help a visitor from another world get home. The use of magic plays out through action-packed match puzzles, and also, the students are monsters. The game as a whole is a heck of a lot of fun.…
By Mike Fahey Published March 28, 2019 -
OpinionImpressions
Final Fantasy XV’s Episode Ardyn DLC Made Me A Fan Of The Villain
Final Fantasy XV’s final installment of downloadable content and its animated prologue have changed the way I feel about the game’s roguish antagonist. Not only is Ardyn Izunia a much more sympathetic figure now, he’s also a complete warp-striking, demon-converting bad-ass. Don’t expect Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ardyn, available today for $10 on PlayStation 4,…
By Mike Fahey Published March 26, 2019 -
OpinionImpressions
Sekiro Is Way Better When You Stop Playing It Like A Souls Game
Given that it is a FromSoftware game, I expected a lot of people would struggle with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. I didn’t expect that I, a disciple of these games since Demon’s Souls, would struggle with it quite so much. Despite the superficial similarities—the graphics, the bonfire/altar save system, the rhythm of exploration and boss-fighting—Sekiro…
By Keza MacDonald Published March 25, 2019 -
OpinionImpressionsNintendo’s Switch VR Games Have (A Little Bit Of) Nintendo Magic
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Nintendo is about to offer a lower-tech version of something other gaming companies are doing, but with a clever, inspired twist. It’s doing it this time with its entry into the world of virtual reality gaming—assuming Virtual Boy doesn’t count, I mean. Nintendo Labo VR Kit, to…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 21, 2019 -
OpinionImpressions
30 Hours With Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, the latest game from Dark Souls and Bloodborne development studio FromSoftware, is out tomorrow. After 30 hours of fighting and struggling and strategizing and getting good, I can say I’ve been having an absolute blast. I’m a big action gamer, though I skipped the Souls series. For a take from franchise…
By Natalie Degraffinried Published March 21, 2019 -
OpinionImpressionsThe Second Cutest Final Fantasy Spinoff Is Back, And It’s Brought Friends
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon passed the “cutest Final Fantasy game” crown to World of Final Fantasy and its hordes of adorable critters in 2016, but that’s okay. The 2007 Wii game, remastered today for the Switch and PlayStation 4 and renamed Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon Every Buddy, is still one of the sweetest and purest…
By Mike Fahey Published March 20, 2019 -
OpinionImpressionsApex Legends‘ New Character Is Really Fast
Apex Legends’ first season, Wild Frontier, is here, bringing a battle pass, a new character, and some other changes. This is the biggest update since the game launched in February. After spending a few hours playing as new Legend Octane, I’m excited for this new influx of content, even if I’m not entirely sure what…
By Riley MacLeod Published March 19, 2019 -
OpinionImpressions
Parkasaurus Is A Cuter Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis
One of my favorite games is the park builder Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis. It was released back in 2003. The recent Jurassic World Evolution was a solid successor to JPOG, but Parkasarus, an indie game in Early Access on Steam,actually captures the feel of JPOG better. And it looks cuter doing it, too. Developed by…
By Zack Zwiezen Published March 17, 2019 -
OpinionImpressions
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker’s DLC Is A Delightful Mix Of Old And New
This week’s paid “Special Episode” downloadable content for Captain Toad’s Treasure Tracker has five lovely new courses, but the coolest part of the DLC is the way it recycles older levels with fresh goals and game types. Available now for$5.99 on the Nintendo eShop, Captain Toad’s Special Episode DLC adds a new adventure book to…
By Mike Fahey Published March 15, 2019 -
OpinionImpressions
22 Hours In And The Division 2 Is Excellent So Far
It’s fun. It’s huge. And it’s extremely player-friendly, except for the fact that some of its on-screen text is microscopic. I’m 22 hours into The Division 2 and am pleased and impressed. Ubisoft’s newest mega-game sequel officially launches today, though it’s actually been out since Tuesday for those who bought the $100 version. It’s another…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 15, 2019 -
OpinionImpressionsYou Don’t Have To Know One Piece To Enjoy World Seeker
Monkey D. Luffy creeps me out. I’ve tried getting to know the main character of the popular manga and anime series many times, but his blank stare and creepy grin have put me right off One Piece every time. Now that’s I’ve had some time stretching, spinning, and leaping my way across Jail Island as…
By Mike Fahey Published March 15, 2019 -
OpinionImpressionsExcellent New Detective Game Has You Snoop Around The ’90s Internet
It was right about when I scrolled past the virus festeringchunk2 (1) in my Download Manager and again heard the desktop assistant Professor Helper’s appeal to guide me to a free cruise and credit report site that I realized my computer was trashed and the game Hypnospace Outlaw is a work of genius. Hypnospace Outlaw,…
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published March 13, 2019 -
OpinionImpressionsA Puzzle Game Where You Rewrite The Rules Of Each Level
Baba Is You is a puzzle game for Switch and PC, out today. You start by playing as Baba, a rabbit-like creature who can push blocks of words around to change a level’s rules. Soon, though, you’ll be playing as keys, rocks, flags, lava, or any other object you can become or manipulate by rearranging…
By Riley MacLeod Published March 13, 2019 -
OpinionImpressions
Damn, Yoshi’s Crafted World Looks Gorgeous
I’ve been playing Yoshi’s Crafted World for Switch in advance of its March 29 release, and the thing that’s sticking with me the most is how just plain beautiful it looks. I know we all enjoy playing our Switches in handheld mode, but you should consider docking that sucker for the duration of your Crafted…
By Chris Kohler Published March 13, 2019 -
OpinionImpressionsThe Occupation Is A Thrilling Investigative Game Where Every Second Counts
I’ve got 10 minutes until my big interview with a member of a group that’s trying to demonize immigrants and radically alter government policy. My leads are solid, but they unravel into an unsightly tangle of loose ends. Oh, have I mentioned that I’m sneaking around inside a ventilation system? And that if I get…
By Nathan Grayson Published March 7, 2019 -
OpinionImpressions
The Xbox One Version Of Black Desert Is Missing Three Years’ Worth Of Content
Black Desert Online, the massively multiplayer fantasy role-playing game with the gorgeous character creator, launched in North America for PC in 2016. Over the past three years, the developers have introduced multiple character classes and the game world has grown by several large expansions. The new Xbox One version doesn’t have those classes or expansions.…
By Mike Fahey Published March 4, 2019 -
OpinionImpressionsApe Out Is A Violent, Musical Game About Rampaging Primates
Ape Out is one of those games where every move could be your last. Ape Out is one of those games where you shout “FUCK, ARGH, NO” all the time, but you actually mean “OK yeah, one more time.” Ape Out is one of those games where you play as an ape who shoves humans…
By Nathan Grayson Published March 1, 2019 -
OpinionImpressionsBaptiste Is Fun To Play, But He Probably Won’t Shake Up Overwatch Just Yet
Shortly after Overwatch’s newest hero, Baptiste, was announced, I started seeing Blizzard devs position the Haitian combat medic as a counter to GOATS, the game’s unpopular defense-oriented meta. “Alright,” I said to myself. “This seems promising.” But then I played him, and now I have mixed feelings. Overwatch’s current meta is heavily reliant on heroes…
By Nathan Grayson Published February 27, 2019 -
OpinionImpressions
Six Hours In, Anthem Has A Lot To Love
I’ve played about six hours of Anthem, a game where players fly around in mechanical suits blowing stuff up in search of ever more rare loot, and while I’m still getting my bearings I already feel a lot better about the game than I did back during its two demos. The game launched earlier today…
By Ethan Gach Published February 15, 2019