Matt Eakins
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GameSpewLatest Reviews
I had high expectations, but Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice lived up to them. In fact, in some ways it exceeded them. It’s not a perfect game, but it comes very close. FromSoftware, via Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, Tenchu, and Bloodborne, has built this beautiful, mystifying, work of art. A work of art that demands your patience, persistent and the application of all of your skill to fully understand and enjoy it. But it really is worth the effort. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is yet another FromSoftware classic.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate beautifully tows the line of accessibility for casual players and depth for the hardcore fans. One thing I have always loved about Nintendo is its dedication to the art, and to creativity as a whole. Good or bad, I’m always excited to see what comes next from them. As Super Smash Bros. Ultimate grows and the new characters arrive, I’ll be back on the battlefield for another round. When you have something that people want, it’s hard to balance pushing the envelope with maintaining the foundation. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a prime example of how you push forward into greater territory without losing what made you great in the first place.
Destiny 2 is… broad. It is a showcase of improvement and compromise. It is a time vacuum. It’s hard to not enjoy playing Destiny 2, yet still possible to dislike a fair portion of it. This game is a resurgence of excitement and enjoyment that began to fade late into the life of Destiny. It is, through and through, a better, more refined experience. Your Guardian’s journey will continue to grow through expansions and the inevitable third instalment. The community will keep sharing their stories and ideas. Weapons will rise and fall, classes will be reborn and destroyed. But, much like the original, Destiny 2 will be a second home for me and my friends. A place we can share laughs, hardships, defeat, and joy. That, in part, is what makes the Destiny 2 universe worth visiting: the brilliance of quality game design bringing people together.
Toukiden 2 is a great example of “it it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. The core of the game comes from Toukiden: Kiwami and receives a good dose of polish, and Koei Tecmo added just enough new material. It’s another solid entry in the series and probably your best bet for a demon-hunting experience on current gen consoles. Though at times it can be monotonous and tedious, it allows the player to truly variate the gameplay. It doesn’t hold your hand or spoon feed you, and that’s always nice. With Toukiden 2, it’s good to be a Slayer again.
Whether you play on PC or console, VR or not, just play. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a remarkable accomplishment and a truly triumphant return of a storied franchise. Masterfully executed on all fronts, this game will leave a lasting impression on you long after you’re done. Just please, do it justice. Play alone, with some headphones and really get into it. Trust me, it’s miles better that way. If you give it a chance, it’ll show you what horror games are capable of. It never fails to make you feel unsettled and it’ll creep you the hell out, but damn, it’s good. Capcom have restored Resident Evil to its former glory, and restored my faith in video games’ capacity to frighten me. Few scares in the game feel cheap, and I love that. It’s a petrifying whirlwind of paranoia; a masterclass of suspense; an awe inspiring triumph; a truly remarkable experience. Thank you, Capcom.
In the end, you might struggle to play Thumper for hours, especially in VR. While the PSVR version of the game is fantastic in terms of immersion, sound and colour, it isn’t necessarily a betterment. Simply playing with headphones can capture much of the same feeling. That said however, while there is rhythm to the game, the music in the game is a bit “off”. The sound is fantastic but you never really feel enveloped by the music, which I was hoping for in a rhythm game. Also, the game never changes, it just gets much, much faster. In VR, it can get a little disorienting, and that definitely limits play time. Still, Thumper will leave an impression on everyone who tries it, good or bad. It does what it tries to do extremely well, and nothing more. And that, honestly, isn’t a bad thing.
Kerbal Space Program exceeds expectation in every possible way. It goes without saying that a disclaimer of “Not For Everyone” is slapped over this game, and you shouldn’t come into this game thinking it’ll suit you because you like space. But it is undeniably victorious in its effort to capture the essence and wonderment of space exploration. Surprisingly engaging to play alone, yet leads to some great moments with a group of friends building a spaceship together. I built a ship with a few buddies and we stood up and high-fived after it successfully reached orbit like we were in mission control. Kerbal Space Program is truly a one-of-a-kind experience that transcends multiple genres. Fun, challenging, creative, rewarding; bust out your old sketchbooks and build that dream machine from your childhood. Just remember, it’s “Mün or Bust”.