Console

de Blob 2 (Switch) review

Last June, de Blob was ported to the Nintendo Switch, bringing one of the highlights of the Wii’s third-party library to a new audience. Challenging players to revitalize dreary, monochromic backdrops into vibrant cities, the ...

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Fire Pro Wrestling World review

It may seem unfathomable, but Spike Chunsoft’s—and formerly Human Entertainment’s—Fire Pro Wrestling franchise is nearing its thirtieth anniversary. Originally conceived by the late Masato Masuda, who worked on Nintendo’s Pro Wrestling on the NES, the ...

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The Golf Club 2019 review

When it comes to golf simulations, there are a relatively small number of requisite experiences. While Links 2004 didn’t pioneer the analog swing system (1997’s Front Page Sports: Golf deserves credit here), it thoroughly refined ...

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Yakuza Kiwami 2 review

Mirroring the type of sophisticated business strategy ordered by a shrewd syndicate boss, SEGA’s Yakuza franchise is moving in several simultaneous directions. Four months ago, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life crooned a swan song ...

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Guacamelee 2 review

The canonical ending of 2013’s Guacamelee delivered a cheerful conclusion, with protagonist Juan Aguacate using his lucha libre skills to beat Carlos Calaca- a rodeo rider who traded his soul to the devil to mend ...

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CastleStorm (Switch) review

Splicing several prevailing mechanics into a single game is hardly a new concept for the industry. Early coin-ops such as Gorf and Tron recognized the virtue of variety; each cabinet provided four distinct amusements unified by a central theme. ...

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Mugsters review

  Mugsters is a difficult game to review, since enjoyment stems from the game’s sense of discovery. Reveal too much of the experience, and you’re ruined the thrill in being dropped in an unfamiliar world ...

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20XX review

Compilations that bundle Mega Man’s previously-released titles are plentiful. But in the past decade, the Blue Bomber’s appearances have grown distressingly infrequent, with an eight-year gap between 2010’s Mega Man 10 and this October’s upcoming ...

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Mothergunship review

With revenue in the billions, battle royale-style showdowns might seem like the hottest trend around. But there’s a solid argument that the incorporation of rogue-like elements has had the largest impact on the industry. Every ...

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Tempest 4000 review

One of my earliest and most enduring gaming memories was produced by Dave Theurer’s 1981 classic coin-on, Tempest. As one of the first machines to employ Color-QuadraScan vector graphics, the game’s vibrant output looked like ...

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