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ReviewsMultiplatform
Middle-earth: Shadow of War: The Kotaku Review
When Shadow of Mordor released in 2014, its “nemesis system” was brilliant enough that many people hoped it would define a new generation of games. Years later, that vision of industry-wide character hierarchies that learn, evolve, and remember the player never came to pass. Shadow of War, the follow-up, further sophisticates its legion of orcs,…
By Patricia Hernandez Published October 10, 2017 -
ReviewsMultiplatformHob: The Kotaku Review
Torn asunder by unknown forces and ravaged by corruption, the world of Hob is in desperate need of repair and rescue. Its nameless, silent hero’s quest to set things right is one of the most captivating and spectacular adventures of the year. Having established its mastery of the Diablo-style isometric action RPG with the Torchlight…
By Mike Fahey Published September 29, 2017 -
ReviewsMultiplatform
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony: The Kotaku Review
Danganronpa has had a hell of a journey over the past few years, telling stories in the form of visual novels, anime, and even a third-person shooter. The latest entry in the series, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, feels like a fresh beginning of sorts. This piece originally appeared 9/22/17. If you aren’t familiar with the…
By Eric Van Allen Published September 26, 2017 -
ReviewsMultiplatformNBA 2K18 MyCareer: The Kotaku Review
I can’t believe 2K managed to screw this up so badly. Note: As we’ve done the last few years, this is only a review of 2K18’s MyCareer mode, not the entire game. I think its presence as the best-known singleplayer sports RPG, coupled with the focus 2K places on it in terms of creating and…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 25, 2017 -
ReviewsMultiplatformThe Lego Ninjago Movie Videogame: The Kotaku Review
The Lego Ninjago Movie Videogame is short and a little rough, but a dynamic new combat system and a couple surprising tweaks to aging mechanics make it one of the most exciting new Lego games in years. The eight story chapters in the game focus on rehashing the plot of The Lego Ninjago Movie. Green…
By Mike Fahey Published September 25, 2017 -
ReviewsMultiplatform
Destiny 2: The Kotaku Review
As I struggle to fall asleep after a night of Destiny 2, the game keeps running through my mind. It’s like getting a song stuck in my head: I see the flash of combat and feel the rumbling controller in my hand. But I rarely hear the sounds of battle. Instead, I hear voices. They…
By Kirk Hamilton Published September 19, 2017 -
ReviewsMultiplatformDishonored: Death of the Outsider: The Kotaku Review
Dishonored has always been about the journey more than the destination, discovering secrets in its levels and finding creative ways to fulfill its objectives. Death of the Outsider, the game’s new standalone DLC, stays true to this strength. It doesn’t reinvent the game, but it doesn’t need to. Narratively, Death of the Outsider fits with…
By Riley MacLeod Published September 18, 2017 -
ReviewsMultiplatformYs VIII: Lacrimosa Of Dana: The Kotaku Review
The Ys series has been setting the bar for combat and music in action role-playing games since 1987. The latest game, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, is no different, but it does have something more recent entries have lacked—a memorable story. This post originally appeared 8/30/17. We’ve bumped it up for the game’s release day.…
By Mike Fahey Published September 12, 2017 -
ReviewsMultiplatform
Absolver: The Kotaku Review
Adal, the setting for Absolver, is large and untamed, but it fits. Overgrown ruins dot the landscape. There are cracks in the ground, ships washed far ashore. Something happened, but there’s little in the way of exposition or grand story. You play as a prospect who enters Adal to fight their way to the final…
By Eric Van Allen Published August 31, 2017 -
ReviewsMultiplatformXCOM 2: War Of The Chosen: The Kotaku Review
If you’ve never played XCOM 2, here’s my advice: Skip the vanilla version and start by playing the new expansion, War of the Chosen. It’s the best 2K’s XCOM series has ever been. War of the Chosen is a massive expansion, but it’s not quite a whole new game. Rather, it goes over XCOM 2…
By Nathan Grayson Published August 29, 2017