Charles Harte
This author account hasn't been claimed yet. To claim this account, please contact the outlet owner to request access.
Writing For
Game InformerLatest Reviews
Atomfall is committed to creating friction. It's an open-world survival shooter that wants you to struggle to make success feel sweeter, but it does so with varying levels of effectiveness. When tuned correctly, it's a blast. The survival elements, exploration, and quest structure are positive examples, but poor skill progression and a thin plot hold it back from the greatness it strives for.
Despite its popularity, Monster Hunter is notoriously hard to get into. Each new release conjures a crowd of eager but intimidated gamers asking, "Is this the one to start with?" Thanks to its refined combat, thrilling cutscenes, and endlessly engaging gameplay loop, Monster Hunter Wilds is an excellent entry point. While the tutorials are still lacking and many mechanics are far from intuitive, Wilds accommodates those interested in a simpler approach without compromising its most exciting e...
In the opening minutes of Mouthwashing, the pilot of a spaceship crashes head-on into an asteroid, stranding the crew in the far reaches of space and brutally maiming the captain within an inch of his life. What follows is an existential horror show with unique visual effects, brutal dialogue, and surreal consequences that kept my eyes locked to the screen for the entire three-hour playtime. I am not typically a horror fan, but chose to brave the expanse of outer space in search of a good sto...
Like a masked superhero, there is more to Marvel Rivals than meets the eye. "Overwatch with Marvel characters" is a formula that sounds so lucrative on paper that I initially doubted its quality, fearing it was nothing more than a cash grab. After playing a few dozen hours and removing the game's metaphorical mask, I can see the mild-mannered, hardworking hero at its core. Marvel Rivals executes a simple concept with immense skill and finesse. With a huge roster of free playable characters at...
In Tales of Kenzera: Zau, the debut game from Surgent Studios, the use of the word "Tales" is more literal than it initially seems. To kick off the events of the game, protagonist Zuberi reads a book written by his late father about a place called Kenzera. He uses fiction to cope with his grief, just as the player might do with the plot of the game, and as the studio founder, who lost his father as well, did when creating the story to begin with. While combat and map design in Tales of Kenzera falters at times, this strong, emotional core was what pulled me through to the credits.
Sometimes, all it takes to get started on a great game is to come up with a compelling mechanic, and Pepper Grinder is a prime example. The titular grinder is as powerful as it is versatile, able to drill through the ground and power all sorts of wacky devices. The difficulty curve can be choppy, and ends more quickly than it should, but that core mechanic builds a sturdy foundation that kept me entertained from start to finish.
A developer can take many different approaches when remaking a game, but its primary goal always remains the same: to create a new experience that honors the spirit of the original. With Mario vs Donkey Kong, a remake of the 2004 Game Boy Advance title of the same name, Nintendo succeeds in this goal. By combining new worlds and modern quality-of-life features with the game's classic, delightful puzzle design, Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a strong start to Nintendo's 2024.
Outsiders of the Ace Attorney series might not be familiar with the name Apollo Justice, but fans know the character is a big deal. He's second only to Phoenix Wright in terms of playable appearances, and his new collection, the Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy, gathers all of those outings in one convenient package. While there's not much new content, quality-of-life improvements and a visual overhaul do a lot to modernize Apollo's courtroom saga, making it a worthwhile journey for fans new and old.
The best stories in video games manage to fuse narrative, art, and gameplay in a way that elevates all three. Pentiment, the latest from Obsidian Entertainment, is a perfect example of this, telling a deep, complex story about religion, truth, and history in the form of a book, which the player experiences as it’s being written. Despite a few sections with inconsistent pacing, it’s a must-play for fans of adventure games.