GAMING REVIEWS
Five defining video games from 1996 that continue to shape modern gaming 30 years later
As 1996 approaches its 30-year milestone, it continues to stand apart as a year when modern game design began to take recognizable shape. Hardware transitions, expanding audiences, and creative risk-taking…
Yakuza Kiwami 3 preview: weaponized nostalgia, daddy rank, and the slowest emotional ambush in the series
TL;DR: Yakuza Kiwami 3 transforms a slow, controversial classic into a reflective, emotionally loaded remake that hits harder the more Yakuza you’ve played. I went into Yakuza Kiwami 3 expecting…
Big Hops review: I came for the platforming, stayed for the joy of moving through the world
TL;DR: A joyful, movement-first 3D platformer that blends Mario-like flow with Breath of the Wild-style freedom, Big Hops is charming, clever, and absolutely worth your time. The first thing Big…
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon review: Falcom shot its densest lore into space, and it works
TL;DR: Trails goes to space, sticks the landing, stumbles a bit on takeoff, but delivers deep characters, excellent combat, and a bold setup for what comes next. I’ve been following…
Pathologic 3 reboot knows you’ve been here before and has some uncomfortable thoughts about it
TL;DR: Pathologic 3 is smart, cruel, beautiful, and surprisingly inviting. It still hates you a little, but now it explains why, and somehow that makes it even better. I’ve been…
Code Vein II preview: a time-traveling souls-like that turns boss fights into emotional goodbyes
TL;DR: Code Vein II hits harder than expected—tight combat, smart partner mechanics, and an emotional story that turns boss fights into gut punches. One to watch closely. I walked into…
Neon lights, cracked bones, and unfinished business: Yakuza Kiwami remains timeless on Switch 2
TL;DR: A smooth 60fps Switch 2 port of Yakuza Kiwami that plays great handheld, keeps the soul of the series intact, and proves Kiryu belongs everywhere—even in your backpack. I…
Sektori review: when a twin-stick shooter becomes a test of nerves, skill, and obsession
TL;DR: Sektori is a brutally hard, visually stunning twin-stick shooter with incredible music and deep systems. It won’t hold your hand, but if you stick with it, it’s one of…
Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Mega Dimension review: challenging combat and great mega designs undercut by repetition
TL;DR: Cool Megas, real challenge, too much grind. Mega Dimension is fine—but it should’ve been great. I went into Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Mega Dimension with that familiar mix of…
Terminator 2D: No Fate review: a pixelated love letter to Judgment Day and 90s arcades
TL;DR: A fast, stylish, nostalgia-soaked Terminator tribute that nails the vibe, stumbles slightly on length, but absolutely earns a replay or two. No problemo. I booted up Terminator 2D: No…
Unbeatable review: a punk rock rhythm game that forgets to play music
TL;DR: Gorgeous punk rhythm game with a great arcade mode, but the story campaign is bloated, awkwardly written, and often forgets to be a rhythm game at all. I’ve been…
Routine Review: the sci-fi horror game that strands you in a 1970s space resort and dares you to survive
TL;DR: Retro-future lunar resort + unkillable robots + no map + no pause = a stylish, stressful, gloriously old-school sci-fi horror gem that gets under your skin and refuses to…
Destiny 2: Renegades review: Destiny picks up a lightsaber and hopes we won’t notice
TL;DR: Renegades borrows a whole lot of Star Wars energy, fumbles its story pacing, but absolutely nails the gameplay—especially its new weapons and Frontier activities. It’s fun, flawed, fast, and…
Skate Story review: kickflipping through hell with style and existential dread
TL;DR: A surreal, stylish skateboarding odyssey through a dreamlike Hell—gorgeous, strange, emotional, and just a little frustrating. If you want a skate game with soul, this one burns. I’ve spent…
Rhythm Doctor review: the most chaotic one-button rhythm game you’ll ever play
TL;DR: A brutally clever, emotionally rich one-button rhythm game that uses music and mechanics to tell a story no other medium could pull off. Hard as nails, easy to love.…
Skate Season 2 review: I gave up after Season 1, but this game convinced me to fall for it again
TL;DR: Season 2 makes Skate feel fuller, livelier, and more intentional without fixing everything. A confident step forward—still imperfect, still growing, but absolutely worth returning to if Season 1 left you unconvinced.…
Marvel Cosmic Invasion review: a beautiful, quippy, nostalgic punch through the Marvel universe
TL;DR: A wildly fun comic-book beat ’em up with fantastic tag-team action and a great roster, held back by too much chatter and barely-there progression. Great campaign, less replayable Arcade,…
Sleep Awake review: a killer horror premise trapped inside a sleepwalking stealth game
TL;DR: Sleep Awake has killer ideas and a few genuinely terrifying moments, but its routine stealth and dense, dry lore make large portions feel more sleepy than scary. Brilliant premise, mixed…