Zhiqing Wan
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Twinfinite
The EscapistLatest Reviews
So yeah, there is a lot about Kingdom Come: Deliverance II that will frustrate you, but there’s also a lot to appreciate about how dedicated it is to preserving that sense of realism in its open-world. If you’re able to look past the jank, you just might find yourself engaged in one of the most well-realized role-playing experiences we’ve seen in the past decade.
Perhaps the highest order of compliment I could pay to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is that it completely wiped the travesty that is The Dial of Destiny from my memory, and I say this as a major Crystal Skull apologist. It’s a video game that doesn’t necessarily take very many risks and feels safe, yes, but it’s also a crystallization of what makes Indy such a beloved icon in film and pop culture. And that’s all I needed it to be.
All of these elements come together to make Metaphor: ReFantazio a very special game. Atlus’ character writing is at its peak here, and so is the world-building. When Metaphor was first unveiled as Project Re:Fantasy, it was billed as a fantasy game that aimed to stimulate the mind and unlock the very depths of our imagination. Metaphor: ReFantazio isn’t a game that breaks new ground in the fantasy genre, but it does create a truly spectacular universe that feels both real and wondrous, which is a feat in and of itself, especially in an industry where both players and critics alike have only gotten increasingly jaded and cynical.
Persona 3 Reload is an outstanding and worthy remake of a game that's proven it can withstand the test of time. Welcome back to the dorm.
Assassin's Creed Mirage is proof that Ubisoft doesn't need an expansive open-world to create a compelling Assassin's Creed game. It's Ubisoft's most focused Assassin's Creed game in six years, and a much-needed revitalization of the series.
I cannot overstate just how satisfying it is to play Diablo IV on a moment-to-moment basis, and with so much replay value to be had from its various classes and build possibilities within those classes, Diablo IV feels like a true return to form for the series.
Hogwarts Legacy fulfilled a long-standing childhood dream of mine: the dream of receiving my Hogwarts acceptance letter as a kid, and waving a wand around to do all sorts of cool magic tricks. Bad fanfic or not, it's hard to ignore the amount of pure, unbridled joy I got out of the game simply by being present in its immersive world. Hogwarts Legacy gave me the rare opportunity to be transported back to a time that was harder in some ways, but also simpler in many others. The fantasy was sweet and lovely, but also devastatingly fleeting. Then again, perhaps that's really all I could've ever asked for.
I don't necessarily see myself revisiting Engage anytime soon, but if you just want an excuse to see your favorite icons from the series again, or if you're craving more tactical RPG goodness, you could do a lot worse.
Yes, the mini-games are awful but they don't last very long, and yes, Genesis still sucks, but at least the rest of the cast manages to carry the game. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion isn't perfect, but it's got a lot of heart. And sometimes, that's enough.
Bayonetta 3 is an ode to the longtime fans who've stuck with the game since 2009. While it's certainly not without its obvious flaws and missteps, I can't imagine that fans would be very disappointed with how this third, explosive entry has turned out. The way is open for even more shenanigans and adventures set in this colorful universe, and it's exciting to see what our Umbra Witches will bring to the table in a new era.