Rhys Wood
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TechRadar GamingLatest Reviews
The release of Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition means that the entire Xenoblade quadrilogy is now playable on Nintendo Switch. If you’re playing the enhanced Wii U title for the first time, you’ll undoubtedly be dazzled by its breathtaking open world and astonishingly deep battle system. Series veterans will also appreciate quality-of-life changes like an improved tutorial, better navigation as well as the overall cleaner visuals whether you’re playing in docked or handheld mode.
The release of Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition means that the entire Xenoblade quadrilogy is now playable on Nintendo Switch. If you’re playing the enhanced Wii U title for the first time, you’ll undoubtedly be dazzled by its breathtaking open world and astonishingly deep battle system. Series veterans will also appreciate quality-of-life changes like an improved tutorial, better navigation as well as the overall cleaner visuals whether you’re playing in docked or handheld mode.
Don’t be put off by its absurd name or ridiculous premise; Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii provides a sincere and heartfelt adventure that successfully marries the series’ penchant for engaging power struggles with high-octane swashbuckling action. For existing fans, it’s a superb follow-up to Infinite Wealth. And for newcomers, it’s an excellent onboarding experience thanks to its myriad of fun and accessible gameplay systems.
Avowed is an excellent first-person fantasy RPG that features slick combat feel and moreish exploration. Its setting of the Living Lands is rich in atmosphere and has an ethereal quality that made me want to uncover every nook and cranny. Obsidian’s writing is as sharp as ever, and the cast of party members is both charming and highly memorable.
Dynasty Warriors Origins is an incredibly confident and successful revamp of a series that desperately needed it, offering up the most absurdly satisfying ‘1 vs 1,000’ gameplay backed up by surprisingly nice visuals, rock-solid performance on console, and a belter of a soundtrack. The core Warriors identity remains intact, but the change to a sole playable protagonist does end up feeling like quite a strange choice in the end.
Sonic x Shadow Generations bundles the original Sonic Generations and a new Shadow Generations campaign in one thrilling package. Whether you’re a fan of Sonic’s rival-turned-ally or not, his side of the game is filled with some of the best, most well-designed levels in the series’ 3D history. It’s a chunky piece of content, too, with plenty of optional challenges and unlockables to collect. In fact, Shadow Generations is so good that it makes Sonic’s half of the game look somewhat amateurish in comparison.
Enotria: The Last Song’s stacks of gameplay systems and offbeat terminology make for a fairly convoluted soulslike experience. However, it brings some cool ideas to the table when it comes to combat and traversal. That, and it’s a simply gorgeous world set against a backdrop of Italian folklore, makes for an incredibly compelling experience. The relatively short length compared to most soulslikes also makes it a digestible game that's worth playing at least once.
Whether you’re familiar with Atlus’s flavor of turn-based RPGs or not, Metaphor: ReFantazio is an essential play. The developer has built on its legendary ‘press turn’ combat with the innovative Archetype system, allowing for an unprecedented amount of customization and party composition when compared to its other popular series. Throw in a constantly gripping, politically-charged narrative and a diverse cast of wonderful characters and you have what is absolutely the best RPG of the year and a certified modern classic.
For many, all Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics needs to be is a functioning, accessible way to play some of Capcom’s most beloved classic fighting games on modern hardware. The great news is that this seven-game compilation is just that, with feature-complete arcade versions of each game fitted with all-new training modes as well as casual and ranked online play. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is the clear star of the show, with quality varying between the other featured games, but all are worth checking out regardless.
The first original Mana series game in over a decade and a half is a pleasant romp through a visually stellar fantasy world. Fun combat quirks such as class switching and malleable builds offer plenty of customization, too, that’s all really quite easy to understand. Unfortunately, some stiffer elements of movement and a story that doesn’t quite realize its full potential have Visions of Mana falling short.