Fran J. Ruiz

“Terminator 2D: NO FATE doesn't go the extra mile to really mine the sci-fi classic for gold, but it lands all its shots and delivers highly replayable, no-nonsense retro goodness that looks, sounds, and controls great.”

“Total Chaos' remake can be orthodox to a fault, but it's a polished evolution of a fascinating blend of survival horror and shooter that never lets off the gas.”

“Earth vs Mars doesn't have a fresh take on familiar tactics, but it gets all the basics right, is constantly pleasant to play, and offers good value for little money.”

“Sacred 2 was the sort of action-RPG you turned to once you'd exhausted better, more focused options in the genre. 17 years later, a decent remaster can't mask what's a largely plodding and miserable experience.”

“Free from last gen's technical limitations and focused on creative control, Jurassic World Evolution 3 is the ultimate Jurassic Park video game and a culmination of Frontier's entire body of work.”

“Relic's conservative and surface-level approach to this remaster means Dawn of War – Definitive Edition isn't quite definitive, but it's by far the best way to play one of the finest RTS games ever made.”

“The more focused second half saves Eriksholm from oblivion. For a game clocking around 10 hours, it takes too long to get going and put all its cards on the table.”

“Tempest Rising wears its C&C influence proudly, and while this overreliance on tradition limits its full potential, Slipgate Ironworks' overall effort is remarkable and must be celebrated.”

“While a bit too rigid and buggy at times, Commandos: Origins is a worthy enough return to nerve-wracking tactical WWII scenarios that are a blast to figure out.”

“There's a great 'town defense' RTS at the center of Age of Darkness, but the lack of polish even after its 1.0 launch is disappointing and the campaign lacks punch.”

“Black Ops 6 isn't just a strong new entry in a massive franchise that feels like going to Burger King and getting exactly what you ordered. It's the most confident Call of Duty has been in years, with both Raven and Treyarch taking a few well-calculated chances where they could afford to do so, and trimming the fat off the core 'Twitch FPS' experience that regular customers come for year after year.”

“Idun's gameplay loop, progression systems, and moment-to-moment thrills mostly compensate for its padded main quest, rough edges, and disappointing AI-generated voice acting.”

“Warcraft 1 & 2 remain RTS classics that any fan of the genre should try at least once, but Blizzard's remastering efforts feel as barebones and often ill-advised as Warcraft 3: Reforged's 2020 launch.”

“Warcraft 1 & 2 remain RTS classics that any fan of the genre should try at least once, but Blizzard's remastering efforts feel as barebones and often ill-advised as Warcraft 3: Reforged's 2020 launch.”

“Sure, Concord’s premium model over a nightmare FPS full of passes and paid skins sounded great on paper, but the package has to be enticing enough to warrant the purchase, and simply put, the juice isn’t there. A part of me wants it to find its audience and improve, but this is looking like another Suicide Squad situation.”

“Tomas Sala's second Falconeer game may come across as nicher at first glance, but it's far easier to approach and have a great time with despite some baffling inconsistencies.”

“Millennia's take on the historical 4X formula is fascinating, but the wonder wears off soon due to misplaced priorities and omissions that are hard to overlook.”

“Like it or not, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora feels like the perfect companion piece to James Cameron’s movies: it’s big but often intimate. Savage but calm. Familiar but charming. Even without playing a single minute of it, you should know whether it’s something you want to play. If you decide to make the jump, I suggest letting go of cheap analogies and using Na’vi instincts first and gamer brain second.”

“Dungeons 4 doesn't raise the bar for the dungeon-building subgenre, but it's a delightful fantasy romp that harkens back to less complicated times, and that's quite valuable on its own.”