Attack of the Fanboy

• SWITCH
• États-Unis

My Friend Pedro is a hyper-violent ballet that you control. DeadToast Entertainment takes players on an incredibly fun ride with the game’s enjoyable combat system. All good things come to an end though, and this one just ends a little too soon.

• PC
• États-Unis

Octopath Traveler may not be the perfect JRPG revival that many had hoped for, but this PC port takes what worked before and makes it just a touch better. A disappointing overall story drags things down, but the basic combat and gameplay work well enough. The characters are intriguing enough as well, but the real star is the fascinatingly original visuals. Here is where the PC port shines brightest, offering players a chance to finetune the experience and bring it to even loftier places than the original Switch release. The cost is portability though, meaning this might not be the perfect fit for all players.

• SWITCH
• États-Unis

• PS4
• États-Unis

SIE London Studio delivers yet again with another must play PSVR exclusive in Blood & Truth, which combines a compelling story with very enjoyable gameplay in one of the best AAA VR experiences to date.

• PS4
• États-Unis

Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland proved me wrong twice. Not only did Gust actually make a follow-up to a completed trilogy, but I actually played and ultimately enjoyed it after I swore I wouldn’t. Though between the addictive synthesis, endearing characters and fun story, I probably should have expected as much. In the end, it really says a lot that the most I can genuinely fault the game for is that its narrative is somewhat antithetical to its intent. Lulua wants to be a solid entry point for newcomers, and though it is mostly successful, it’s those same newcomers who are often left out in the cold due to all the nostalgia and Atelier-branded fanservice featured throughout.

• PS4
• États-Unis

While Team Sonic Racing maintains the core kart racing gameplay you know and love intertwined with fun new team-based mechanics, a laundry list of the best race types are left entirely out of local play with friends, instead being only available in Team Adventure and online modes, which partially runs what is still a good game off the track before the finish line.

• SWITCH
• États-Unis

• SWITCH
• États-Unis

• SWITCH
• États-Unis

Fans may be waiting for the Final Fantasy VII Remake to eventually arrive, but there is no doubt that the original is still a classic regardless of the platform. Even with no new upgrades following the recent PS4 port, Final Fantasy VII on Nintendo Switch is without a doubt the definitive way to play the game on consoles with the ability to not only play at home, but also take the game on the go.

• PS4
• États-Unis

SIE San Diego Studio continually provides PS4 owners with the definitive baseball experience year in and year out and MLB The Show 19 exemplifies that yet again. Even with features like Franchise and online play remaining relatively the same, MLB The Show 19 introduces two of the best additions to the series in years with the very easy to pick up and play March to October and Moments modes that make the game a real home run. Baseball fans were ready for the MLB season to start up and MLB The Show 19 is a perfect companion to have for the rest of the season and beyond.

• PS4
• États-Unis

Original stories for longtime running manga and anime series have become the popular option in recent years in games such as Dragon Ball FighterZ, and One Piece: World Seeker does just that with a captivating new story for Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates. Even as fun as it can be zipping around the island with Luffy’s outstretched arms, the numerous issues start to bubble up very quickly though and they make One Piece: World Seeker start to feel very monotonous and lackluster way too early into the game.

• XONE
• États-Unis

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a truly new expression of the design philosophy that FromSoftware has spent years refining. Shifting gears a bit in the setting, story, and gameplay, the spirit of Dark Souls is still clearly the driving factor here. Fans will eat up every single second of tense combat, lore-rich environments, challenging and puzzle-like boss battles, and stealth-killing enemies from above. But those who aren’t looking to spend hours expertly perfecting their combat skills might find some serious frustration throughout. With less of a boss-battle focus and a better target-lock this would be ninja gaming perfection. Even with that though, it’s pretty damn close.

• PS4
• États-Unis

• PC
• États-Unis

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is the ideal sequel for those who enjoyed its predecessor. It builds on what worked, changes what didn’t, and delivers a great new map to explore. It is somewhat unique within the looter shooter genre in that it is launching with plenty of content and a stable foundation off which Massive can build something truly great. Could more have been done to grow from the original? Sure, but why fix what wasn’t broken?

• PS4
• États-Unis

The Caligula Effect: Overdose is a game with great ideas, but occasionally poor execution. The battle system is strategic and unique, but it can also feel long and unrewarding; Causality Links are interesting in theory, but it does more for exploration and the game’s setting than actually simulating social interaction; and the writing is inconsistent, ranging from fair to downright offensive. It’s a mixed experience, one that fortunately hits more than it misses. All in all, though, I’m pleased with what I got. I never played the original Caligula Effect and I’m glad that I didn’t, as I probably would have looked at this as if it had something to prove to me. Instead, I was able to view an interesting, albeit flawed, game featuring exemplary music and artwork with a fresh lens, and I can’t really say no to that.

• XONE
• États-Unis

The microtransaction blemish on Devil May Cry 5 is a big one and it’s probably going to be a bigger deal for some more than others. Regardless of your skill level, its inclusion is one that will, at the very least, have you thinking about your money management in the game. There is also the very real possibility of a complete progression halt if you run out of orb currency. That said, despite the questionable monetization tactics, Devil May Cry 5 is an impressive game on the presentation front and a deep hack and slash with a ton of moves, combos, and weapons to master across three unique characters.

• PS4
• États-Unis

Dead or Alive 6 suffers from a few setbacks that prevent it from being a definitive step up from its predecessor: the story is (still) weak, costumes are an absolute pain to unlock if you’re unlucky and the DLC model is as atrocious as ever. Really, it’s a similar problem I noted back when I reviewed My Hero One’s Justice: you’ll stick around for the multiplayer and avoid everything else. The only difference is that you’re not subjected to a demoralizing grind in that one. Fortunately, it does everything else quite well. The visuals are fantastic, the game itself is very accommodating to newcomers, and the fighting is thrilling and has enough depth to keep a more experienced fan’s attention. Though I’m not sure if DoA6 is the game that fans expected after a seven-year wait in the end, I can firmly say it still serves up a fulfilling experience — fanservice and all.

• PS4
• États-Unis

NieR:Automata remains one of the greatest games of this generation, if not of all time. And with all of the game’s content available in one complete package (for a price that’s almost half of what it would cost to buy the base game and DLC separately), there’s no excuse to not check it out now. If you’re someone who already owns the game, however, the Game of the YoRHa Edition doesn’t offer much for you to justify buying it again.