Jason Hon
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Screen RantLatest Reviews
With thirty-three playable characters at launch, Marvel Rivals sports an incredibly varied roster of beloved heroes and villains from the brand's lush history. Some are more recognizable than others, but each holds unique skills that must be used to damage opponents, help allies, or effectively navigate the battlefield. Each character fits into one of three categories: the tanky Vanguard, the damage-focused Duelist, and the supportive Strategist. While specific classes are nothing new to the hero shooter genre, the way Rivals encourages players to try out different characters with special team-up abilities is a refreshing addition that hopefully more games adapt.
Death Note's plot involves several interesting characters who get zero focus or development in this title as its sole focus is providing a multiplayer game very different from the usual anime-licenced games, like Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. Still, it feels like a missed opportunity not to have separate game modes that further explore parts of the fascinating storyline, especially the iconic relationship between Light and L. The game strips down the series' relationships into specific gameplay job roles that - despite the lack of character depth - coalesce into a surprisingly engaging game of deduction for four to ten players.
Generations' stages expertly transition between 2D & 3D set pieces that see Sonic speeding through colossal amounts of destruction. However, several can quickly go off the rails if players slightly nudge the controller's thumbstick, potentially shooting players off the stage, often making replicating the developers' intended result frustrating. The combination of fast-paced movements and slower platforming sections was often a clashing concept that punished players. Many stages in Sonic X Shadow Generations circumvent this issue by adding multiple pathways in each stage. However, some sections still feel challenging due to questionable design decisions instead of being difficult on purpose.
After the real credits begin to roll after Astro Bot's incredible final battle - which itself feels like the PlayStation version of the Super Smash Bros. credits mini-game built into a multi-section boss fight in the absolute best way - players can re-explore every level to find anything they may have missed. One of the many clever design decisions allows players to spend 200 coins at the beginning of completed stages to spawn a helpful bird bot that will signal when players are close to a secret they missed, which helps further reduce the amount of playtime required, even if ultimately I'd rather have spent another 10 hours with the game if possible.
Players looking for a relaxing adventure on the Sea of Thieves open waters may explore the Safer Seas, where they won't be bothered by other potentially bloodthirsty pirates. The High Seas provide more dangers and rewards, but either mode will introduce the gorgeous art design and lighting of the Sea of Thieves vibrant world, which is capable of encouraging players to stop whatever they are doing to soak up the scenery. Attention to detail is so high in Sea of Thieves that players susceptible to getting sea-sickness in real life might experience it when sailing in the game.
Like other well-designed team-based multiplayer games, Gigantic has three main classes, and its characters fit into Damage, Frontline, and Support heroes. However, the game heavily favors Damage heroes, since around two-thirds of the cast fit into that archetype. Still, characters can be effective in many categories with the game's surprisingly deep customization options relating to their abilities and cosmetics. While playing Clash mode, characters can be leveled up, unlocking new skills and buffs that can sorted into specific loadouts, helping fan-favorite characters to become more unique and match any players preferred playstyle.
Previous Tekken games have sported excellent customization options both cosmetically and through gameplay. Tekken 8 has continued that trend and then some. Every playable character and their controls can be highly customized. Various cosmetic options include different clothing, hairstyles, and accessories. Some characters can be changed so much that they become unrecognizable when fighting other opponents online or another player's ghosts. Customized fighters can even learn the player's style and be uploaded into Tekken 8's servers as Ghosts to challenge other players in multiple modes and help the player train their abilities in the Super Ghost Battle mode.
Combining different abilities with the game's rewarding parrying system can often lead to faster battles which can be made even more chaotic with a friend. Atlas Fallen allows players to enjoy the entire game alone or with another player online. Unfortunately, Screen Rant was unable to try out the online co-op mode during the review period. Still, if it effectively doubles the number of special attacks and ferocity of the enemies, Atlas Fallen's multiplayer could be a great two-player experience. Whether the player decides to explore Atlas Fallen's distractingly picturesque areas filled with stunning light reflections, vibrant colors, and impressive particle physics alone or with a friend, the sand monsters players will encounter will eventually drag the game down.
Runs last 20 waves, which range from 20 to 90 seconds long. Each introduces new and growing quantities of enemies as players attempt to reach the boss waiting in the final wave. While the enemies do grow in complexity in their designs and abilities, the player fights on a large patch of land that doesn't fuel much for the imagination regarding story or world-building. Different environments would help inspire at least some wonder into why the egg-looking potatoes are fighting for their lives against countless purple aliens. Besides unlocking new playable characters, difficulty levels, and beating personal high scores, Brotato lacks any story which would make unlocking harder difficulties more compelling.
For players wanting to play with friends or rank up in the game's multiplayer, Street Fighter 6's Battle Hub pushes what an online multiplayer mode should be. Instead of staring at a menu while Matchmaking looks for matches, custom characters are free to wander the sizeable online hub. Digital arcade cabinets populate the space and players can interact with them to battle, practice, and even play classic Capcom games like Final Fight or previous Street Fighter games with other players. Matches of other players can also be watched, making the Battle Hub a prime layout for tournaments. At its best, the mode helps capture an esports event's excitement, especially with SF6's optional Real-Time Commentary.