I may not have had strong connections with most of the cast and was annoyed with a number of specific sections, but I liked spending time in Sand Land (and beyond) and seeing my garage upgrade and grow.
After all this time, I thought I had a grasp on the breadth of the tricks the 2D Mario series had up its sleeve, but that Super Mario Bros. Wonder so consistently surprised me speaks to just how much gas is left in the iconic franchise’s tank.
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged captures what it’s like to be a kid imagining race courses for your toys and offers an almost overwhelming customizable playbox.
I don’t know that I will ever fully understand what transpired during my molecular journey on Cocoon’s alien world, but its imagery and puzzles will stay with me for some time.
Mortal Kombat 1's genre-leading single-player offerings are immediately apparent, but this latest entry also pushes forward the series' tight, brutal gameplay and excellent production values.
NBA 2K24 feels like a dull, lopsided blowout as opposed to a memorable, adrenaline-inducing affair like the ones cover star Kobe Bryant often blessed us with throughout his career.
Enjoyment can be found for those with the patience and fandom to fireman carry them along, but WrestleQuest's imaginative ideas die by a thousand cuts that hold Muchacho Man and his friends back from world title contention.
Blasphemous 2 takes inspiration from those that came before it, but by intertwining a gorgeous art style, enticing exploration, and rewarding combat, it rises above the horde of Castlevania-inspired action titles.
Between the cast's fantastic performances, a fun twist on Greek mythology, and a genuinely novel game mechanic, Stray Gods is a game I didn't know I needed, but one I'm happy to give a standing ovation to.
Illusion Island doesn’t overhaul the platformer genre, but its distinctive no-combat focus on simply moving through Monoth keeps the trip amusing, brisk, and gratifying.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons has some aggravating design choices that prevent it from soaring as high as it could, but this is a respectable return for the Lee brothers.
Mr. Run and Jump may look unassuming on the surface, but the challenges that await will have you screaming in frustration up until the moment they have you shouting in triumph.
