Matt Miller
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Game Informer Latest Reviews
Third-person action-shooters have been around a long time, so it’s relatively rare that we see a wealth of new ideas at play. Pragmata’s greatest feat is successfully introducing a twist on the form, integrating two distinct mechanics – hacking and shooting – that run simultaneously in the midst of a fight. While Capcom’s long-awaited action game has some other problems, that single innovation keeps things interesting, even while some of the surrounding game treads familiar ground.
Arcade racers can be a ton of fun, but they’re rarely especially deep or complex. Screamer is one of the exceptions. Unabashed in its embrace of many classic arcade sensibilities, it also gleefully throws new mechanics, concepts, characters, storytelling tropes, and customization options at the player, keeping the action fast and furious while layering in all sorts of twisty complexity. At first, this depth feels rewarding, but as more and more pieces drop into place, it all starts to feel ...
Not every game clicks instantly. Highguard was released with little prior fanfare and even less explanation of its novel systems; my early games left me confused and frustrated. But with each match I played, I warmed to the flow of the action, the feel of movement and weapons, and the unique playstyle developer Wildlight Entertainment is trying to introduce. The game has a long way to go to be at its best, but for competitive shooter players looking for a departure from expectation, there’s...
There’s a popular trope in media that the lone hero who persists against all odds should be celebrated without limits, and that any amount of endurance and sacrifice is worth it to surpass and succeed, no matter the cost to self or others. Cairn is the rare narrative that says something more nuanced, simultaneously celebrating the triumph against seemingly impossible odds, while also painting the painful picture of obsession and selfishness that are often left unspoken. That would be notewo...
There’s a popular trope in media that the lone hero who persists against all odds should be celebrated without limits, and that any amount of endurance and sacrifice is worth it to surpass and succeed, no matter the cost to self or others. Cairn is the rare narrative that says something more nuanced, simultaneously celebrating the triumph against seemingly impossible odds, while also painting the painful picture of obsession and selfishness that are often left unspoken. That would be notewo...
Mio is a tiny robot who awakens on a vast spacefaring vessel that is rapidly deteriorating. You must guide her on a path to save all that she knows, even without any memory of who or what she is, and as both the ship and Mio herself are gradually falling apart. Following in the footsteps of challenging, artistic, and sprawling search action games like the Ori and Hollow Knight series, Mio is a study in meticulous design decisions, subdued but gorgeous audio and visual aesthetics, and an appro...
Destiny’s earliest incarnation drew heavily on the science/fantasy roots established by Star Wars, nodding in various ways over the years to that mainstay of genre fiction. As an expansion, Renegades makes those inspirations far more explicit, borrowing directly from that galaxy far, far away to bring in the likes of lightsabers, Jedi, blasters, specific storytelling beats, and familiar costumes – albeit with distinct naming conventions. The suffusion of familiar Star Wars elements is som...
Keeper is absolutely worth playing, but not necessarily because of its gameplay. A frustrating fixed camera, a frequent sense of aimlessness, and a general lack of intention behind your actions all combine to diminish interactivity and engagement. At the same time, however, Keeper is an astonishingly beautiful visual experience, made all the more special by its unspoken narrative and wildly creative artistic presentation.
Keeper is absolutely worth playing, but not necessarily because of its gameplay. A frustrating fixed camera, a frequent sense of aimlessness, and a general lack of intention behind your actions all combine to diminish interactivity and engagement. At the same time, however, Keeper is an astonishingly beautiful visual experience, made all the more special by its unspoken narrative and wildly creative artistic presentation.
If I had a dollar for every Arkanoid-inspired, roguelite, post-apocalyptic fantasy, bullet hell, town-building simulation, arcade/action game, I’d have – well, precisely one dollar. Ball x Pit triumphs by taking familiar, approachable dynamics drawn from across the history of gaming, and layering them into an instantly understandable and immersive whole. It’s one of those surprise successes of a game that is easy to recommend to almost anyone for some simple fun, following in the footst...