Adam Beck
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Hardcore Gamer Latest Reviews
If there’s one subgenre that has taken off over the last decade more than any other, it’s Souslike. These are games in the action-RPG bracket that have a strong focus on difficulty, variety in their combat and environmental storytelling. FromSoftware has been the king of the genre, producing some of the most memorable and well-crafted RPGs on the market, but there have been quite a few other properties that have taken inspiration and made a name for themselves. Nioh, Lies of P, Remnant and Black Myth: Wukong are just some examples that took the formula and created their own unique experience with it.
Avowed took us by surprise. While Obsidian Entertainment has an exceptional track record, they were somehow able to exceed expectations. This is a traditional RPG through and through, with highly-consequential decision-making that can literally level cities and a massively-diverse combat system that encourages experimentation. With that said, it’s not perfect, as while the story does have compelling components, the pacing is a bit off, with a stronger focus on essentially forcing the player to do side quests and explore the world before continuing. The combat also suffers from issues when it comes to dodging and enemy gap closing, causing frustration in heated battles. Regardless, Avowed ends up on top, being a highly engaging 50+ hour RPG that's well worth your time.
It’s hard to believe that the Tales series is celebrating its thirtieth year. Originally starting with Tales of Phantasia back in 1995, the beloved JRPG franchise has come a long way from its SNES days. It has been telling deep and impactful fantasy stories ever since, with the latest, Tales of Arise, revamping the entire formula for the better. With that said, while we’ve seen a large shift from the series, sometimes it’s best to go back to see what made the series great in the first place.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is one of the best shooters of 2024. It features a highly-engaging and addictive combat system that would be lost without its cooperative and competitive modes. It’s not without its faults, though, as the campaign isn’t particularly lengthy and will rely on playing the same six missions over and over again until you level up to take on the higher difficulties, which are primarily just more enemies who hit much harder. It’s not too different from other cooperative-based Warhammer games of the past, but it can quickly get repetitive if you don’t have friends to play with. Regardless, this is one of the best story-based Warhammer games out there, featuring multiple fist-in-the-air moments and iconic figures from the universe. While the PVE Operations mode does come with some drawbacks, crafting a Space Marine for your own playstyle is a huge draw. You would be classified as a Heretic if you ignore what Space Marine 2 has to offer. It’s the height of the 40K franchise, at least in terms of how video games are concerned, and if properly maintained and expanded upon, it could go down as one of the best cooperative shooters out there.
Black Myth: Wukong took us by surprise. It had a lot of potential from its initial reveal, but what Game Science has been able to create is nothing short of greatness. This is a visual treat that brings ancient China and Chinese mythology to life like never before, crafting a story that, while somewhat vague, will have you compelled to progress further thanks to its creative presentation values. On top of that, the world design and quest design are monumental, as each area has a ton of exploratory value and will always keep the campaign fresh. The combat can get repetitive, even with the numerous abilities and skills you’re able to earn, but the boss encounters are satisfying, with most requiring a lot more thought and care while approaching. Black Myth: Wukong is a phenomenal, enthralling and imaginative experience that’s a must-play for anyone who enjoys Chinese mythology.
Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is a mixed bag of amazement and sorrow. On one hand, the expansion has some of the best gameplay we’ve seen from the MMORPG, with the two new jobs being perfectly slotted into the hefty roster. It also has some exciting trials and raids to kick things off, making the prospect of its post-release patches beyond exciting. That’s not to mention the soundtrack is as memorable as we’ve come to expect from Soken, and the graphical update does help propel the visual fidelity in the new areas.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is one of the best expansions FromSoftware has made, but it does come with a drawback when compared to the main game. It’s apparent the focal point of the expansion is the open world, with the iconic Souls interwoven dungeon design mostly being tossed to the wayside. Still, what the developers have been able to build is an impressive new area filled to the brim with exploratory potential. That’s on top of the new weapon types and magic that will be sure to spice each and every playthrough, forcing many Larval Tears to be used. And this wouldn’t be a FromSoftware game if it weren’t for the bosses, and there are a handful that standout above all else, with the focus being on quality over quantity. When compared to Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree doesn’t quite live up to its lofty expectations. As a standalone experience, though, Shadow of the Erdtree is an absolute treasure that only helps to enhance the enjoyment of Elden Ring as a whole.
Stellar Blade delivers masterclass gameplay, spectacular visuals and a compelling universe. It no doubt will draw comparisons to Nier and its successor, but what Shift Up has done is improved upon the formula greatly in creating one of the best action games of the year. The combat will have you engaged from start to finish, and while the story is overly predictable, the beautiful visuals and mesmerizing soundtrack will have you immersed. It does have fatigue when it comes to the open areas and side quests, and there’s a lost opportunity with the location choices, but the main story has been finely crafted into a wondrous adventure that will last over fifty hours. It helps that the side quests help establish the lore of the world and the characters are compelling enough to keep your interest. In the end, Stellar Blade is a must-play.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a big step in the right direction that’s unfortunately held back by graphical anomalies and open world tropes. It’s an emotional rollercoaster ride that’s heavily back loaded. It'll pull on your heart strings and make you invested in each character more than ever before. It helps that all the memorable moments from the original are not only retained, but strengthened thanks to the graphical prowess of the PlayStation 5. Combat also remains highly engaging, with slight modifications that only enhance the experience further. Unfortunately, Rebirth is also marred with baffling design choices that stifle its greatness. It's filled with mini-games that thankfully are mostly in side quests, as their controls and function leave much to desire. At the very least they will keep you interested as it never gets stale. On top of that, while most of the graphics will have you impressed, low resolution textures and geometry are spliced in the most confusing of ways, only pulling you out of the immersion. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has its share of issues that prevent it from greatness, but whether you’re a dire hard fan or relatively new to the saga, this remains an RPG for...
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is one of the most cinematic superhero games ever created. It’s a little shorter than its predecessor, but it includes a memorable main story and some of the best side quests found in an open world game. Kraven ends up being a more compelling villain than originally thought, and whenever Venom and his symbiotic abilities appear, it’s an absolute treat. On top of this, swinging across New York has never felt so good, and the addition of the glider is welcome. While the combat hasn’t changed drastically, smaller additions such as the web line gadget create a more immersive experience. We did run into a handful of glitches, but thankfully far fewer than most open world games of a similar caliber. In the end, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a cinematic experience you’d expect from the enjoyment of a movie theater, but is instead in the palm of your hands.