Posts

AnythingMariocan do,Soniccan do better. Okay, maybe not better, but if one of the video game mascots does something, the other will do its own version, usually pretty soon after. Sonic games came after Mario, and then three years after the live-action Sonic movie,Nintendoand Illumination’s Mario flick broke the billion-dollar barrier. Both now have their very ownLegocollections too with Mario kicking off that particular leg of their rivalry, while Sonic’s collection has grown one set bigger....

I’m disillusioned with modern handheld gaming. Where once I could take my Game Boy Advance on holiday for a week and be confident that two AA batteries would see me through hours of good-time gaming, now I’ll be lucky to get three hours out of mySteam DeckorSwitch. If you need to lug around cables and battery packs or keep your device plugged in to play for any length of time, thenit ceases to be portable....

Summary After months ofcontroversy and discourse, theStellar Bladereviews are finally in. As of writing, it has an aggregate score of 85 onOpenCritic, earning it the ‘Mighty’ badge. Critics praise its “fast-paced combat”, “beautiful” visuals, and “captivating story”, and some even argue that it’s one of the best PS5 exclusives on the market. What The Critics Are Saying We at TheGamerscored it 3.5 stars, arguing that it’s “competent and occasionally interesting” but that its combat is “as unique and rewarding as it is repetitive and frustrating”....

Summary At this point (2024), you can’t deny that Capcom’s not only one of the best developers in the world, currently, but frankly, of all time. The company’s made so many genre-defining games that changed everything, with even certain titles like Final Fight and the firstResident Evilneeding to succeed for the developer to survive. That’s something out of a movie. There’s so many great games, and picking out the best is incredibly challenging....

TheApollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogycompiles the latter half of themain Ace Attorney series: Apollo Justice, Dual Destinies, and Spirit of Justice. It’s nice to have the two formerly 3DS-exclusive titles running on modern hardware – and especially welcomed is the HD coat of paint given to Apollo’s first DS adventure. Between the three games, there are a whopping 14 cases to crack (16 if you count the DLC cases, which have been bundled in at no extra cost), which each range anywhere from two hours to 12....

A lot of things in life come down to a coin flip. Left or right? Who receives first in a football game? Taco Bell or McDonald’s?Magic: The Gatheringgets in on the randomized action too. In a game already dense with variance, coin-flip cards can make matches even more chaotic. They’re the gambler’s dream and the statistician’s nightmare. Coin-flipping as a mechanic is rarely used in Magic design, but it makes for good story moments, and therefore sneaks its way onto the occasional card....

Quick Links Create-A-Sim has never been as intuitive as it is inThe Sims 4. Long gone are the days when sliders were the only way to adjust your Sim’s facial features and body. Now, with a simple grab-and-pull system, you can make startlingly accurate Sims in no time at all. However, like everything else, no system is perfect. There are plenty of improvements to be made in CAS in The Sims 4....

It’s probably no surprise to you, butBaldur’s Gate 3is a stellar example of well-planned, heartfelt, and thorough game design in an industry where some argue that player expectations are too high while others say that large studios have lowered their own standards. Regardless of your position, it’s hard to dispute BG3’s success; clearly they’re doing something right, which is a refreshing sight for many. One of those reasons is likely the in-depth, multifaceted nature of dialogue within the game....

Quick Links Diamonds are the advanced currency used inRobloxhit Pet Simulator 99. While Coins are used for everyday purchases like items, area unlocks, and eggs, Diamonds are required for important upgrades. Perhaps more critically, they’re accepted as the standard of value for all trades between players. Rare, powerful pets can command prices in the tens of billions! Once you’ve unlocked every area, you’ll probably spend most of your time in PS99 farming for Diamonds....

Of all the video game series out there,Tomb Raideris the oneI keep looking forat every showcase, every awards show, every possible place where a new game might be announced. I’ve written about the long wait for a new title many times. I knowa lot of people are in the same boatwaiting for it to wreck on the rocks of Yamatai, and those people will be checking out the remastered trilogy. Theirprayers haven’t been answered, but this might quieten them down a bit....

I didn’t have this on my 2024 bingo card. Hot on the heels of Bretonnia’s revival inThe Old World, their holy knights are being put to work for the king’s pleasure. You may have shown your martial prowess on the battlefield, but your highness calls for entertainment, so it’s time to mount your horse and don your lance for a jousting tournament. Games Workshophas recently brought back Warhammer Fantasy Battle with The Old World, Epic has been reincarnated intoLegions Imperialis, and evenMordheimreceived a Bloodborne-esque spiritual successor in The Cursed City....

Quick Links Dungeons & Dragonsis a global phenomenon. With the game’s increasing popularity and the rise of online options like D&DBeyond and Roll20, it’s easier than ever to find a game of D&D. However, there are always those with busy, erratic schedules, no friends or family who play or, for some other reason, need a flexible but organized group. This is where the Adventurers League (AL) comes in. The AL is the officially organized playgroup for Fifth Edition D&D....

Quick Links Dragon’s Dogma 2is a vastly complex, challenging, and rewarding game with many systems, mechanics, characters, and questlines to tackle in its sprawling open world. As such, you can expect to encounter many unique side quests along your way—some simple, some more challenging, and some only made challenging due to unfortunate bugs, circumstances, or the aforementioned systems at play. Take the Oxcart Courier side quest, for example. It is relatively simple and straightforward but can be upended when trying to track down Lennart in Melve....