Jeff M Young

“Philna Fantasy has a lot going for it. The progression systems are great, and really allow you to customize your character and tailor them to what you want from them. The game has plenty of environments to venture through, bosses to defeat, and a solid combat system to devour. However, part of what makes a good RPG is its story, its cast of characters, and an engaging reason for your hero to take on this journey, and sadly, Philna Fantasy suffers the most in these crucial categories.”

“I am Future is exactly what it says on the tin, it is a cozy apocalypse survival game, and is a nice alternative to what we usually see. It isn't always engaging, but the bright visuals, comfy music, and charm do a lot of heavy lifting here, making this one rooftop party worth attending.”

“So'lek's journey is a deeply personal one, one that feels incredibly well told with a great respect for the source material. It certainly helps to have seen the last two films, but it certainly doesn't lessen the experience in significant ways if you've yet to watch them. From the Ashes provides a very similar feel to the base game, with unfortunately little to really have it truly stand alone. So'lek's journey is wonderful, but it colors inside the lines of the original just a bit too much.”

“While the Terrifier series has a massive cult following, I don't see the game having the same treatment. It is surprisingly shallow and feels as if no testing was done to have some balance to its difficulty. While playing with friends does soften some of the issues, there are just better games in the genre that provide far more variety than what they give you here. Terrifier: The ARTcade Game may have had great intentions to provide a fun game for its audience, but it simply falls flat and feels like a quick-to-market licensed game that doesn't do the film franchise any favors.”

“Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow is a visually good-looking game, and there is a lot here that feels at home with the license. It's just a shame Legacy of Shadow is as barebones as we see with most VR titles. There is always some interesting hook that has a game built around it, but Legacy of Shadow lacks a hook to lay the foundation. The subtle nicking of items is fun, but a game built around this beloved license simply deserved more.”

“If you take Strike Force Heroes as an arcade experience, with minimal depth to its systems, there is a solid shooter here that feels like the perfect marriage of something like Contra meets Smash Bros. With a robust multiplayer suite, a fun campaign, and some decent customization to your soldier, Strike Force Heroes is fun, while it lasts.”

“While it was somewhat commonplace back then to overlook so many of the original’s issues, it is downright impossible now with the wealth of titles releasing every day. Sacred 2 deserved a much better effort, and this is frankly one of the most disappointing remasters in recent history.”

“Chickenhare and the Treasure of Spiking Beard may entertain younger gamers who are obsessed with the films, but I truly wonder how big of an audience that is. The Switch has hundreds of platformers, and dozens of those that are widely acclaimed, so choosing this over any of those would likely be a rare occurrence. The game sadly doesn't stand out or offer anything competent in its bland design. While the movies likely have some sort of personality, this brief four hour journey sadly does not.”

“Fast and Furious Arcade is a wild ride that brings the best qualities of Cruis'n Blast to a vehicle-centric film franchise. While more could have been done to honor the films, or even properly represent them, as well as adding new levels or more cars, Fast and Furious Arcade is still incredibly engaging and feels great to play. I just wish there were more here to keep my interest beyond a few days.”

“With four-player co-op, a competent track builder, and a great feel to its gameplay, Hot Wheels Let's Race Ultimate Speed is a solid racer with a “Kart Racer” feel. Fans of the show, or the genre in general, will find a lot to like here. That said, one question still remains: who gave these kids their driver's license?”

“I still appreciate that Just Dance is still around, but the year after year installments do little to excite when you really are just updating the game rather than buying something shiny and new. Just Dance is in dire need of a complete reinvention, from a ground-level UI upgrade to its deeper catalog finally being added. Just Dance 2026 is fine, but it’s barely Just Enough.”

“Deep Rock Galactic has a great, simplistic look, and it carries over here in spades. The game is full of fun enemy designs, and a ton of color and variety in its biomes to really push past much of the game’s repetitive nature. It offers some truly engaging progression, while not really pushing past the boundaries of what the genre offers.”

“Jotunnslayer excels at creating a solid gameplay loop with considerable replay value in regard to progression. Each class has its own abilities that truly feel unique, even if they still rely on the varied Norse Gods' powers in the same way. Fans of the genre may be burnt out by the wave of copycats within the genre, but with the impressive visuals, addictive God powers, it certainly helps it stand out from the pack, and its time to refine itself in Early Access has paid off significantly.”

“9 Years of Shadows has some great ideas, but the health system is one that, while original, is flawed and can damage the momentum and pacing needed to keep you engaged. The initial wave of combat is impressive, but the game runs out of ideas to flesh out its combat systems to feel like you are progressing in your capabilities. That said, its strong visuals and boss designs are impressive, and do a lot of heavy lifting to a game that would otherwise be forgettable.”

“Fallen City Brawl has its moments, and much of what is here is sound. It does lack some presentation issues and its identity is simply not there. When the final boss fell, I frankly didn't even realize that was it, making its story and resolution to largely fall flat. I think a sequel with a bigger emphasis on its story, characters, and world would provide something to really make it stand apart.”

“I had a lot of high hopes going into Ashes of Elrant, given I adored Chained Echoes. However, I simply didn't find much here to satiate my desire for a new adventure with this cast. The roster is wildly underused and the threat had zero stakes, given it takes place before the final battle. It's implementation via the main menu was also a sign it wasn't going to be impactful to the overall adventure. It's more Chained Echoes, so I can't be too disappointed, but I simply wanted much more for a self-touted “massive” DLC that didn't amount to much at all.”

“While a bit more structure and more challenge-types in single player would have been ideal, it’s a solid foundation for what could be a potential series. It has that Tony Hawk Pro Skater appeal, but does lack the format and presentation to really stand out. The customization for your character is solid, and the locations you’ll visit have some great variety. Rooftops and Alleys: The Parkour Game had one mission to achieve, and while it may ragdoll from time to time, it nonetheless lands its initial leap, at least with friends.”

“What Dead Mage has crafted here has incredible promise, but the full release at launch feels half-baked and designed around being a single-player experience that just happens to allow for co-op, without the instance loot and balance to pull it off. You can easily have a solid few hours of fun here, but I don’t see many players seeing it through to become the titular Wizard of Legend.”

“Despite an exciting trailer, Scar-lead Salvation is a huge miss for Compile Heart, despite a good premise. You are touring the same boring levels, enemies, and the few guns and passives you pick up don't shake up the repetitive nature of what Scar-lead Salvation is. While the breakable armor could have been an outlet for some impressive fan service, much in the same way it helped Steller Blade, here, it is such a miss that it is laughable.”

“Warhammer 40K: Speed Freeks can certainly feel limited in what is available to take on, but the extremely low price does make up for some of that. Still, additional modes, and even vehicles, should be added at a somewhat regular pace if they intend to keep its player base engaged. What is here is enjoyable, with the crunchy and weighty combat you'd want, all wrapped up in an aesthetic that feels perfect for it.”