Joseph Bradford
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Writing For
IGN
GameWatcherLatest Reviews
Elsweyr is a worthy successor to last year’s Summerset chapter, even though the main quests don’t live up to the hype. It’s actually the excellent storytelling and exploration in the side quests that outshines the underwhelming dragons with heartfelt drama and comedy. Meanwhile, the new Necromancer class is by far one of the best additions to ESO since the early days, with some very clever unique mechanics that work in any role. And of course, the land of Elsweyr itself is one of the best and most visually interesting areas to explore.
Battle for Azeroth has a lot to live up to thanks to its stellar predecessor in Legion, and for the most part it delivers. The storylines feel more intimate than Legion, and while the spectre of Azeroth itself dying is still looming overhead, on the whole it was nice to simply sit back and help solve the relatively smaller problems plaguing Kul Tiras and Zandalar. But, while it definitely feels as though the Heart of Azeroth and Azerite armor will be important in the patches to come, and Blizzard fixed the grind right now their implementation feels forgettable. Island Expeditions also feel lacking overall, but the new Foothold excursions and new Battlegrounds map make up for the former’s lackluster debut. Ultimately Battle for Azeroth is a worthy if somewhat less ambitious successor to 2016’s Legion. The diverse new zones and more intimate storytelling alone make Battle for Azeroth an adventure worth diving into.
The generically beautiful Summerset is on the smaller side in terms of overall new additions to The Elder Scrolls Online, but even after completing the majority of the side quests and all of the main storyline I feel compelled to go back. The storytelling continues to improve on last year’s excellent Morrowind expansion, with Zenimax Online not shying away from some of the darkest sides of Tamriel. While the Psijic Order quest line has its boring bits, the down-to-earth, human story makes putting up with the repetitive quests worth the hassle. The new jewelry crafting profession, on the other hand, is far too time-consuming to be practical without spending money at the Crown Shop.
Conan Exiles is often slow and arduous, but even after 70 hours – 40 since launch – the idea of returning to the Exiled Lands still holds some allure. Crafting is largely a tedious grind, especially the higher up you get in the crafting tiers, and it’s surprising that in a world about brutal combat, Conan Exiles falls flat there. However, the beautifully realized world is a joy to explore and it nails the atmosphere of the source material.
Morrowind adds a lot of good content to the Elder Scrolls Online library, with the fresh new look of Vvardenfell staring at the center of a great expansion. The storytelling and writing are taken to new heights, continuing a trend of improvement in each content release since Orsinium in 2015. The addition of the Warden class gives new and returning players alike a fresh and versatile way to play through the 25 hours of content. While the Warden’s bear companion skill disappoints and the Battlegrounds need work, what Morrowind does well has kept me enthralled in the world of Tamriel. Morrowind feels like it begs you to come home, and what a welcome it has in store when you get there.
Halo Wars 2 is a competent RTS game. It has its fair share of issues, and in some minds might be deemed simple. However, if you’re willing to look past the convoluted and frustrating UI, or maybe you want an RTS to get into, but are intimidated by the offerings on the market, Halo Wars 2 is a great place to start. Its story is good, delivering a true Halo narrative on the platform for the first time since Halo 2, and while the issues with the RTS elements might annoy some, it doesn’t mean...