Matthew Carmosino
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Writing For
GamingBolt
TwinfiniteLatest Reviews
Atomfall is a testament to intricate, compact, RPG design. A proof that 'bigger' isn’t always the answer to immersive RPG design. It also shows just how wonderful games can be when they respect player freedom. With a solid gameplay loop, enchanting locales, and some absolutely delicious quest design, Atomfall is a delightful success of the classic ‘Fallout’ RPG formula, despite its flaws.
Split Fiction pretty much nails it on the gameplay front, but falters regarding its predictable and flawed story. The one-dimensional villain and cliche character dynamic between Mio and Zoe can't be ignored due to their presence through the adventure. Don't miss the Side Stories, as these supply some of the game's most memorable and charming moments.
Two Point Museum takes the challenge of Hospital and the customization within Campus to make a smooth and satisfying museum sim experience. The addictive gameplay loop of going on expeditions for exhibits and maintaining existing ones provides newcomers enough tools to tackle objectives, and veterans the kind of in-depth skill ceiling they clamor for. I just wish the controls for the PS5 version were a bit more responsive and efficient. While Two Point Museum doesn't reinvent the wheel of management sims, that characteristic Two Point charm and smooth gameplay loop make it a solid entry in the series.
Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is just about everything fans could have wanted. All the great quality of life features from I-III return here in addition to new restored content for Tomb Raider VI. While this remaster doesn't completely fix the problems with the black sheep of the series, Tomb Raider VI, it does make the experience much better. Like the first collection, IV-VI Remastered is a huge value for what you get and is a must-buy for fans of the series or classic games.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a polished open-world RPG that outdoes its AAA competition at every turn. Some of the realism can bog down the gameplay, but the intricate dialogue choices and perk tree compel me to forgive some of the returning irritants. And the story, just wow. I can’t say enough great things about the characterizations, dialogue, story twists, activities, and cinematography packed into KCD2’s main quest; it’s simply the best in the genre.
Mixing elements from Breath of the Wild with Shadow of the Colossus sounds amazing on paper, but Eternal Strands somehow renders it a merely average experience. The gameplay loop is fine, but slightly held back by backtracking and some noticeably absent features common to the genre (like a minimap and compass). I wanted to love the story considering this has some old-school Bioware talent behind it, but the lack of a hook in the plot and some very dull characters made me want to skip dialogue often. I like Eternal Strands well enough, but there's plenty of other similar games that offer a more compelling experience.
JRPGs like this don't come very often. The plot charges ahead at a brisk pace while the well-written characters develop through the web of deceit. The sheer quantity and quality of the combat and the variety it offers will have RPG fans feasting for a long while.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins is not only the best entry point for newcomers, but one of the best offerings the series has had in recent memory. The intimate zoomed-in story portrays the Three Kingdoms figures as likeable and complex characters with compelling motives. Combat can be hit or miss, but there's no denying the unmatched scale and spectacle of the 1-v-1000 battles.
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.