Aaron Potter

“Sure, this may ultimately come at the cost of ever being considered truly definitive due to its more streamlined approach, but this is still the same journey and characters series veterans previously fell in love with, made easier for newcomers to enjoy thanks to a revised battle system and less tedious approach to exploration. Topped off by a wonderful art style that brings a fresh perspective to classic events, and Reimagned can comfortably make a case for being the best Dragon Quest remake yet. That’s certainly true in my case.”

“Combine this with some incredibly tight platforming and combat, and MIO: Memories in Orbit earns its place in the pantheon of worthwhile Metroidvania jaunts. As such, it’s a small-scale sci-fi odyssey I won’t soon forget.”

“While the greedy fan in me pines for the franchise’s later PS2 era to receive similar treatment in future (please give us that Shaolin Monks remaster, Ed), Legacy Kollection excels in paying admirable respect to its namesake, the legacy of Mortal Kombat, with a varied and exhaustive mixture of titles.”

“If you’re sick of merely hearing about how great and influential this JRPG trilogy is and want to find out for yourself, Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake is the perfect way to do so.”

“Open-world RPGs that let you roleplay as a modern vampire don’t come around every day, and Bloodlines 2 is a pretty good, if somewhat unspectacular, attempt.”

“Those are big boots to fill. And while Absolum might not quite reach the godly level of Supergiant’s roguelite classic, it’s attempted stab at coming incredibly close is both deadly and effective.”

“For all its new flourishes Yooka-Replaylee continues to feel like a game just a touch out of time, true, yet this is largely easy to forgive thanks to how much easier to appreciate this unabashedly slavish 3D platforming throwback it now is. Don’t go in expecting an entirely different experience, but one revamped mostly for the better.”

“While the truly new the additions may only be slight (the sheer mention of ‘amiibo’ in these games left me shook) but why disrupt an already perfect experience? Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 look and play sharper than ever, serving as the definitive versions of some of Mario’s most inspiring outings.”

“Sure, the story is somewhat straightforward and there could be a touch more underling enemies to fight, but this in no way detracts from Lizardcube’s second successful revival of a classic Sega arcade series, one that takes the merits of the past and updates them to create an immensely tight modern 2D action-platformer.”

“However, thanks to improved visuals and framerate that do real justice to the franchise’s futuristic inclinations, the new hyper jump ability, and the surprisingly flexible fusion mechanic, racing through stylish circuits at a fast pace has been given additional depth and dimensions.”

“WWE 2K25 isn’t a perfect wrestling game, but it comes pretty darn close. Refinements to zanier match types such as Special Referee – which is now applicable outside of one-on-one bouts – and Backstage Brawl are appreciated, while the inclusion of intergender matches shows a willingness to celebrate both divisions in a way WWE itself seemingly isn’t able to.”

“Sniper Elite: Resistance is anything but generic, mind you, and will appease anyone left starved for more historical stealth action. I just hope the next Sniper Elite entry is more ambitious in its over execution, instead of what could merely be just Sniper Elite 5.5.”

“Ultimately, though, it’s worth it for anyone who hasn’t yet played Donkey Kong Country Returns before, since what they’ll find here on Nintendo Switch is absolutely the best way to play a game that represents a publisher at almost the very top of its game.”

“In the end, even over a decade on, Freedom Wars Remastered is still the same unique dystopian take on bite-sized co-op multiplayer it always was. Yet while the smoother framerate and upped resolution present it in its best ever light, I can’t help but feel like Freedom Wars needed the full remake treatment, or even a spiritual sequel, to help give it a proper chance at finding its place in the current era of live-service multiplayer. Thankfully, what is here is mightily fun in the moment to play either alone or with friends, and some appreciated systemic changes have been sprinkled in. Even still, it’s hard to see it holding its own in the modern landscape against something like the upcoming Monster Hunter Wilds. Freedom Wars continues to be a relative oddity in just about every sense, then, albeit one now made playable by the wider audience it always deserved.”

“Hopefully, as the months roll on and further surprises are potentially rolled out as DLC, this walk down memory lane will transform into the worthwhile nostalgic trip fans of the classic TV show deserve.”

“, Metro Awakening gets a lot of things right when it comes to aping the look and atmosphere of those original two Metro games. The act of scavenging for resources and surviving using your light and gas mask feels great, but it’s mixed in with fast-paced combat that works fine on a flat screen but is overly cumbersome in a VR format.”

“Batman: Arkham Shadow is easily the best the Bat has ever played in VR, iterating upon the design tentpoles of its flat screen counterparts to make roleplaying as the Dark Knight a real thrill. While there are currently some technical drawbacks preventing it from achieving true greatness, it’s attention to detail with regards to the world and what you can do with in it ultimately make up for these challenges and makes the game feel like a genuine part of the Arkhamverse. If you want to fully step into the boots of Batman like never before it being a Meta Quest 3 means it’s a high price for entry, but you absolutely owe it to yourself to play Batman: Arkham Shadow.”

“In the end, Shadows of the Damned was a game always deserving of being exhumed, hence why I’m relieved the remaster job performed here isn’t anything less than stellar. Garcia and Johnson’s spikey comradery still shines through all these years on, as does the entire game’s rock-and-roll attitude when it comes to gunplay, environments, bosses, and story. Throw in the cleaned-up visuals and silky smooth framerate, and Hella Remastered has instantly become the best way to play this bona fide cult classic. Name me another third-person shooter where your ammunition is literally made up of crunched-up bone pieces. Odds are you can’t, and it’s this roguish attitude that sees Mikami and Suda51’s first hellish collab comfortably stand apart from the action game greats of today.”

“Unknown 9: Awakening is an ambitious single-player action game that takes some bold swings with regards to its stealth combat, character arcs, and universe building. And though it’s sad that the lack of budget and inability to get out of its own way with lore often means it doesn’t always deliver on them, there’s still enough ambition and creative choices made here that players craving a linear cinematic story in the vein of Uncharted should at least check it out. Stepping into enemies to kill off others is repeatedly fun, the globe-trotting venture is big in scope, and Haroona herself has many attractive qualities. As the first piece of a wider universe, Unknown 9: Awakening has its merits; I just hope that its many rough edges are sanded off in time for a potential sequel.”

“Overall, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a genuinely well put together remake, but it’s one that by nature of its approach can’t help but stay caught between two eras. If you’re a newcomer wanting to play for the first time or a returning veteran with priors, there’s no doubt that this is the definitive version. That said, by nature of being so faithful to the 2006 version – aside from the significant graphical upgrade, new voice lines, lighting, better mechanics, and such – enough slight drawbacks slowly pile up to prevent it from becoming the ultimate perfect package it perhaps could have been. The emphasis on backtracking still annoys, as does the incredibly simplistic boss fights, yet there’s no denying that, faults and all, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster solidifies Capcom as the king of the modern remake.”