Abram Buehner
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GamingTrendLatest Reviews
On the whole though, IO Interactive has set the tenor for AAA gaming in 2021. Hitman 3 is a thoughtfully constructed and masterfully designed title. While it could've used another round of polish before release, the PS5 build has the occasional (albeit easily patched) technical hiccup, though nothing that takes away from the overarching success here. In a word, Hitman 3 is elegant.
ABZÛ is nothing short of a work of art. Diving through its gorgeous cel-shaded ocean with the title’s sweeping orchestra in the background enraptured me from the first moment of the game. This is an experience that shouldn't be missed.
Pokémon Let’s Go is a curious game which bucks the established trends of mainline Pokémon titles. The series’ signature, turn-based combat takes a backseat to the experience of simply existing in the world of Pokémon, capturing Kanto’s ‘mons with brand-new, well-executed capturing mechanics. This game lacks many of the “hardcore” features that scores of fans, myself included, have come to expect from a new title. However, in the wake of these features is a Pokémon experience that engaged me in a manner unlike any title in the series’ past.
Super Mario Party is some of the most fun to be had with a local multiplayer game on the Switch. Unfortunately that is compromised by a deluge of limited modes and design decisions that pull the whole package down. Based the fun factor alone, Super Mario Party justifies its price tag for anyone looking for a new game to play with friends. However, Super Mario Party's fun factor well exceeds the title's fundamental design principles--so tempering one's expectations is a must.
The Banner Saga 2 is a stunningly animated game that sets a new standard for both presentation and narrative outside of the AAA sphere. The game does stumble with a poorly designed combat UI, and a claustrophobic battle system that doesn’t offer much breathing room for different strategies. While monotonous, combat is serviceable, and doesn’t greatly detract from what is otherwise a defining narrative tale.
As such, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a hard game to recommend. The remade presentation as a whole is terrific, and Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped is a totally enjoyable retro platformer. But, the problem remains that the first two games simply aren’t very good. They are hindered by control and level design issues which are simply unacceptable in a straightforward platformer. Even when they’re firing on all cylinders, the first two titles struggle to rise above mediocre. The strength of one game cannot bear the weight of two clunkers unfortunately, making the N. Sane Trilogy a tough sell, especially when there are many great platformers on the Nintendo Switch already.