Matthew Carmosino

“It's good this game is cheap because there's not a lot here worth really digging into unless you're a hardcore Star Wars game fan or have a friend to burn some hours with. Despite the many irritants embedded in the game's core design, this remaster has polished some of the rough parts and even added a slew of new playable characters. Even though I don't strongly recommend this particular Star Wars title, I laud the effort to preserve classic games for newer hardware.”

“The Thing Remastered is everything one could ask for in a remaster. With graphical improvements that don't sacrifice the original's gritty tone and convenience features smoothing out rough gameplay, this is a must-play for survival horror fans.”

“G.I. Joe Wrath of Cobra delivers a neat nostalgia trip for beat em' up lovers, but fails to provide anything worthwhile for the mainstream audience. It falls behind other old-school competitors in the genre due to its poor enemy and stage variety, but is solid fun for a popcorn game with some friends.”

“Clock Tower Rewind brings the cult classic horror game to western shores for the first time with some added convenience features and bonuses to boot. However, the game's intrinsic point and click adventure game DNA feels outdated and flawed. If you don't mind using a guide to help in your pixel hunt and solve archaic solutions, this remaster of one of the most influential horror games of the 90s comes recommended.”

“Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 is lovingly remade with much-needed convenience features, making this perhaps the best in the entire series. The worst thing about it is the omission of multiplayer. If you don't mind that, you have a meaty strategy game with over 1,000 playable officers and more scenarios than you can possibly ever want.”

“Undisputed delivers impressive graphical detail and an extensive fighter roster that will satisfy boxing fans. The moment to moment boxing mechanics feel fun while leaning into the sim territory with the game's sixty different punches. While the modes within Undisputed don't warrant the asking price of $59.99, the character options, fighting mechanics, and deep roster are enough to satisfy fans of the genre.”

“NHL 25 supplies a more sim-like experience than past entries thanks to heightened puck control and enhanced AI. As a result, this year's iteration feels more authentic and 'next-gen', but does little else to differentiate itself from prior entries. Game modes in particular remain practically untouched, featuring the same suite of features from NHL 24. This is a solid hockey game bolstered by improved AI and small incremental improvements, but its changes don't feel as substantial as other titles in EA's lineup.”

“Enotria is a masterclass in intricate level design. Exploring the dense Italian world is a joy thanks to the unique locales and brilliant dense layouts. The Soulslike inspiration is obvious here, from the bonfire system to the combat, but Enotria differentiates itself enough with its Mask class system. This is a decent Soulslike if you can withstand the bugs and slow combat.”

“Yars Rising creatively blends retro Atari gameplay with platforming. I love the way the game controls and plays, and the artful presentation is brimming with color and life, but its persistent load screens and a lack of fast travel are annoying.”

“Despite my issues connecting to servers and the poor graphical performance on PS5, I’ve quite enjoyed my time on Solar Crown’s Hong Kong Island. The driving mechanics are easily the best the series has ever had, and the cars sound and feel viscerally dynamic. It’s a shame that a game that places such a strong emphasis on realistic immersion and map detail is dragged down by poor graphical performance and always-online server issues. Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown has the potential to overtake its rivals but it has too many faults slowing it down in its current state.”

“Monster Jam Showdown is a fun, physics-based monster truck game which is wrapped in a dreadfully underwhelming campaign structure. All your favorite licensed monster trucks are here, but their similar driving characteristics and sounds deflate the excitement.”

“Flock is a relaxing game about taming creatures in a colorful open environment. With strong colorful aesthetics and excellent sound design, it's easy to see the appeal here. The exploration is superb, though the mechanics involved in charming creatures could've been more engaging. If you love games like Pokemon Snap or even Katamari Damacy, Flock will be up your alley.”

“Star Wars Hunters is a surprisingly fun hero shooter wrapped around a somewhat aggressive live-service model. The shooting dynamics are great and the levels are filled with some nice Star Wars fanservice.”

“A straightforward 1v1 samurai fighting game with very little content on its bones. Fine if you just want some quick and fun matches against friends, but there's not enough here to hold interest for long.”

“A fun but flawed management sim with a compelling roguelike loop. Lack of customization and content prevent Undead Inc. from reaching its potential.”