Adam Beck
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Hardcore Gamer Latest Reviews
With the release of any new video game console, there generally comes a means of testing out the hardware. The PlayStation 5, for example, came with Astro’s Playroom, while the Nintendo Wii had Wii Sports, which in itself turned into a huge phenomenon. You could even go all the way back to the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Game Boy, with games such as Mario Bros., Duck Hunt and Tetris.
When it comes to racing games, the Mario Kart franchise is one of the few that immediately come to mind. It’s an iconic mash-up of all Nintendo characters, not to mention recognizable guests that do battle while in their little automobiles. It’s something Nintendo has been able to do over the years: take their massive catalog of games and create unique and entertaining games with them, be it award-winning fighting games or sports games.
It's been over two years since Questline’s Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon went into Early Access and so much of it has improved over that time. This is a traditional RPG with not only a means of creating a character that best suits your playstyle, but also a story that revolves around every decision and action that's taken. While the game came out at a less than opportune time given the remake of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion was shadow dropped a month prior to its release, Tainted Grail offers a new type of experience that's reminiscent of old Bethesda.
Throughout the years, there have been only a handful of transformative games that have truly helped redefine gaming. Whether it’s the more recent Baldur’s Gate 3 or classics such as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, these games helped revitalize gaming in different sectors of the industry. Another just so happens to be Elden Ring. While FromSoftware has been known for their challenging but highly rewarding Souls games, it wasn’t until Elden Ring three years ago that they really hit the perfect stride. A vast open world to explore, a familiar vague narrative that keeps the player intrigued and challenging boss battles that you will gladly beat your head against for hours on end. It’s no surprise that FromSoftware is capitalizing on its success by experimenting with different forms of content, and the most recent is in the form of a cooperative roguelike.
To think that it has been over thirty years since Working Designs, one of the most iconic old school JRPG publishers, released the first Lunar to the masses. This was a game that took the world by storm, with its innovative combat mechanics and creative storytelling. Unfortunately, while we did see a sequel a couple of years later and various updated versions of the existing two games, the Lunar series has mostly gone into obscurity and become a cult classic. Thankfully, developer Game Arts and their parent company, GungHo Online Entertainment, want us to remember the good o’ days of JRPGs back in the ‘90s as we now have a remastered compilation of Lunar: Silver Story Complete and Lunar: Eternal Blue Complete.
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.