Liam Doolan
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Pure XboxLatest Reviews
Monster Hunter Wilds is another step in the evolution of this growing series with all sorts of updates aimed at making it more accessible to its expanding audience. The story and characters may not appeal to every hunter but they help guide the experience, and even with some performance and visual issues on Xbox (particularly on Series S), there’s still an addictive gameplay loop that always has you looking forward to the next hunt.
Xbox might not necessarily be the go-to system for fighting game fans, but it’s great to see Capcom showing its support for Microsoft’s platform with this amazing tribute to the Marvel series. It’s not only a history lesson in Capcom’s fighting game spin-offs, but also a hell of a collection (or should we say ride) bundling games that many fans feared might not ever see the light of day again due to licensing. In all honesty, just having Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes return is already a massive win, and the rest is a bonus – even if there are some oversights. Now, if you don’t mind, we’re going to get back to reliving the arcade glory days.
Rita’s Rewind is well worth checking out if you’re a fan of Power Rangers or retro-style tributes to the beat ‘em up genre. It also offers up some great fan service and nostalgia, with its super scaler segments mixing up the gameplay with all sorts of blockbuster arcade scenes that do a respectable job honouring the source material. And hey, if you’re a lapsed Power Rangers fan, the memories should come flooding back in no time! This truly is a great way to mark the series’ 30th anniversary and goes to show just how much fun this franchise can still offer after all these years. So go, go Power Rangers!
Shadow's latest chapter is arguably his best video game outing yet and easily the definitive experience in Sonic X Shadow Generations. The remaster of Sonic's existing campaign tops it all off, even if it has aged a bit in 2024. Fans of the ultimate lifeform (and the blue blur) should have a blast with this one.
It’s been an incredibly long wait, but this series is arguably more super than ever on the current generation of hardware. Goku’s 3D battles with his friends (and enemies) look stunning, the roster is stacked with an updated cast, there are seemingly limitless match-ups, and the combat feels great, even if it might be a bit simple for some players. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero may just be the ‘ultra instinct’ entry fans have always wished for.
We feel like we’ve only scratched the surface with Ara: History Untold even after thousands of turns and multiple games, but this is a fun take on this type of experience and a great choice if you’re looking for an engaging PC game to pull you in. If you don’t mind history with a bit of a twist and want a game where you can sink hours into each session as you overcome all sorts of challenges and triumph as a nation, Ara is well worth a look.
Don’t get us wrong, Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP is a fun fling from start to finish but it was never really a role model student when it arrived on the scene in 2012. Despite the enhancements and improvements in this latest release, the core gameplay and level design can feel quite outdated at times, and the chapter-breaking bugs have been hard to look past. If Dragami's updates resolve these glitches, or you're just a longtime fan of this one, maybe consider giving the zombie slayer an extra star for her efforts.
Age of Mythology was already a respectable package and Retold adds some additional shine. Like other Age games, it’s got near-endless replay value and is packed to the brim with gameplay and lore (even if some content is locked at release). All up though, this is a promising start and it will likely only get better from here on out with more updates and some expansions planned. If you skipped this one back in the day, or just want to revisit it, Retold is a great modernisation of Microsoft’s RTS classic.
More than two decades later, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter is a tough one to recommend. If you do have fond memories of this game, you may be more forgiving of its dated design and gameplay, but ultimately there are much better Star Wars offerings out there. Aspyr hasn't changed much beyond adding the modern controls and camera, so unless that's a big enough reason for you to return, this might not necessarily be the Bounty Hunter game you’ve been looking for.
All up, Gold Road offers another familiar slice of adventure in the land of Tamriel. If you are going in expecting big things for the 10th anniversary, try to temper your expectations. We've enjoyed our time with the story and what the rest of the expansion has to offer so far, and we're looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Elder Scrolls Online.