When Playtonic announced that Yooka-Laylee’s second outing would be in 2D rather than in the same 3D platformer style as the first game, I was pretty surprised. The first title leaned so hard into the N64 collectathon nostalgia that I was sure that any game that followed would be in…

While the Xbox One has a comparatively meager library of exclusive titles when pit against the PlayStation 4 and Switch, there were a couple undeniable gems that deserved space on other consoles. Cuphead was one of said games, and following a successful Switch port earlier this year, it seems that…

It’s not often that a game’s marketing can get you single-handedly interested in an entire genre, but thanks to my anticipation for Daemon X Machina, I’ve spent the better part of 2019 thinking about big robots. Ever since playing the initial demo back in February, I’ve just been wanting more…

Arguably the best part of roguelikes is when you’ve finally collected enough loot to achieve god-like status, obliterating everything in your path like a hurricane without even trying. The first Risk of Rain, a sci-fi roguelike defined by potent power-ups and an ever-escalating difficulty, was particularly great at evoking that…

In a world of sequels and spinoffs and inspired bys, it’s always a treat playing something that captures a one-of-a-kind feel. As far as concepts go, Untitled Goose Game does just that, and does so with pride. You take on the role of a goose, just a goose, out and…

Lately, a lot of games that debuted on Xbox platforms are either already released or on the way to Nintendo Switch. Cuphead, Ori and the Blind Forest, and even Banjo and Kazooie’s appearance in Super Smash Bros. show that the Microsoft love on Switch is strong. Now, another game that…

Riding the nostalgia-wave once again, Activision has remastered a beloved trilogy from the ‘90s — and this time around, it’s everyone’s favorite purple dragon making his triumphant return. Spyro Reignited Trilogy, handled by Toys for Bob, the developers of the Spyro spinoff Skylanders, revisits Spyro’s first three adventures with his…

Among the wacky Japanese game director auteurs — the Kojimas, Kamiyas, and Yoko Taros of the world — few captivate me more than Kotaro Uchikoshi. Making a name for himself in the West with the superb Zero Escape series, Uchikoshi has an inventive eye for narrative design in the game…

For a genre that’s so well defined in its name, there’s a good deal of variety when it comes to beat ‘em ups. Somewhere between the poles of pure side-scrolling action and whatever stroke of genius God Hand was lies cult classic River City Ransom. The English localization of Downtown…

Not gonna lie, I’m pretty ‘meh’ when it comes to pinball. They’re typically the most expensive games at the arcade and, more simply put, I’ve never been good at them. For whatever reason I’m the master at getting the ball to drop perfectly between the two flippers. Every time, without…