Author: Karen M. Menke
The sleek chrome and neon visuals that define the Tron movies are undeniably eye-catching—and that’s exactly what initially drew me to Tron: Catalyst, a top-down action game set in a new virtual world apart from the ones seen in the films. But while the aesthetic made a strong first impression, it only carried the experience so far. The game doesn’t suffer from any major malfunctions, but most aspects feel like they could’ve benefited from more development time. At the heart of Catalyst is Exo, a driven and likable courier program who finds herself entangled in a far-reaching conspiracy that threatens…
Splitgate’s 2021 relaunch confirmed that classic arena shooters and Valve-style portals are a wonderful combination. Splitgate 2 is off to a strong start because it maintains the same excellent blend of tactical cunning and run-and-gun action that helped the first game establish its reputation in the genre. The only issue is that it never really advances much after that. Some of the other shots Splitgate 2 takes through the looking glass loop around to bite it from behind have made me a little less excited about the time I’ve spent with this free-to-play sequel, even though the addition of character…
semen from the Platypus. A huge, greasy murderer’s skull. A talking dummy for crash testing. Soaking at a hot spring with a puppet. The nips of Norman Reedus. No, these are only 10% of the strange things I’ve witnessed in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, not straightjacket babblings brought on by another violent episode of transient insanity. However, it would be far too simple to write off Hideo Kojima’s work as merely strange. We should, in my opinion, support such incredible inventiveness and be thrilled that someone is prepared to show us things we never would have imagined. When…
It makes perfect sense that Capcom would do everything in its power to welcome that newfound fan base into the next frontier, especially after Monster Hunter: World opened the series’ doors to a massive new audience in 2018 and Monster Hunter Rise gave us high-flying Wirebugs to zip around more quickly in 2021. Monster Hunter Wilds does just that, making the already fantastic process of transforming large, frightening dragons into goofy tiny hats quicker, more versatile, and less delicate than ever. The other side of those Dual Blades, however, is that Wilds is light on any real challenge, even for…
When I started playing Hello Kitty Island Adventure’s closed beta for Gamexta’s guide, long before it was released on Apple Arcade in 2023, I had a great time. It was enjoyable and soothing to be able to make my own miniature Sanrio figure and to run around a tropical island gathering trinkets to give to my new animal companions. But as time went on, my desire to finish all of my missions, locate companions I had lost, and open up new areas began to wane. After a while, it seemed like a nuisance to log in, keep sending gifts to…
The idea of a multiverse frequently appears to fit video games quite easily. For instance, Bioshock Infinite and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart have made good use of them to expand their narrative possibilities. However, Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak 2 has joined the multiverse trend with varying degrees of success. Although its plot seems to drag on for hours at a time, it makes up for that momentum with some of the best character development series ever seen. Additionally, Daybreak 2 significantly enhances its hybrid action/turn-based combat, making it more captivating than before. Even if Outcome has pacing…
I had complained on some days that I would never be able to relive the emotions I experienced when I first played Skyrim. Subsequently, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 swept me off my feet at full sprint on a powerful horse. Equipped with superb, skill-focused melee fighting and an exciting, action-packed medieval story worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster, it is a hybrid of a sequel and a coronation, bringing many of the original concepts to life in a similar way to how Greedfall did for Spider-Man or The Witcher 3 did for CD Projekt Red. Naturally, any game of this size…
While some of AMD’s new products receive little more than a mention, most receive a full launch ceremony with significant pomp. The Ryzen 5 7400F, which unexpectedly appeared in AMD’s product lineup, exemplifies the latter. As the slowest Ryzen 7000 processor in the group, this member of AMD’s Zen 4 lineup is unlikely to become one of the finest, but there is one feature that might make it a compelling choice. While AMD’s website showcases the Ryzen 5 7400F in all its splendor, its release date is still unknown, making it somewhat of a mystery. But we do know its…
Some of my favorite games are the result of combining two ideas that don’t seem to go together. After all, where would we be if someone hadn’t been insane enough to combine automobiles and soccer to create Rocket League, first-person shooters with loot-heavy RPGs to produce Borderlands, or deck builders and roguelikes to make Slay the Spire (or Dream Quest before it)? Similar to The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Aloft attempts to combine the calming elements of a cozy game with the often uncozy mechanics of a survival crafting game set in a floating archipelago. In certain aspects, such…
I apologize to Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. Not only is this the third time Nintendo has sold us a version of this 2010 Wii platformer, but it’s also the third time Donkey Kong has been re-released on the Switch, despite not receiving a brand-new adventure in the past ten years. I laughed incredulously when it was first announced. This remaster’s reveal felt like the wrong game at the wrong time, but it only took a few minutes of running across a decently spruced-up Donkey Kong Island to realize Returns is still one of the best 2D platformers Nintendo has…