Chris Shive
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Hardcore Gamer Latest Reviews
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is a continuation of what fans have come to expect from the series and the Monstrum gifts add a new and fun gameplay mechanic. In some ways the Monstrum gifts make this the most fun Ys game to play even though there are other arguments against...
Cyberpunk 2077 is excellent and one of the must-play titles of 2020, but unfortunately this statement needs to be clarified depending on the platform. CD Projekt Red should be applauded for crafting such a memorable game that checks off every box for excellent game design, but they neglected to make...
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin seamlessly blends 2D platforming action with 3D farm management. There's a great amount of depth to both the farming simulation portion of the game as well as the more action-oriented 2D portions. What makes this game worthwhile is how well its blends the different elements...
Assassin's Creed Valhalla brings quality of life improvements to the new Assassin's Creed model but doesn't stray too far from familiar territory. If you enjoyed the last two games and want more of that, Valhalla is exactly what the doctor ordered, but there may be some who after spending 200+ hours completing...
Torchlight III doesn't bring anything new to the looter dungeon crawler and that's okay. It's rather simplified and accessible, but most importantly fun and hard to stop playing. Hardcore fans of this style may be critical of the fact that it might be too simplistic and accessible, and that's understandable since...
The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon adds an engaging new story to The Outer Worlds. The new content, save for the new location to explore, doesn't change up the formula too much but that's absolutely fine. With a game like The Outer Worlds more of the same is a good thing. The new...
Battletoads revives what was thought to be a long-dead franchise without missing a step. The game benefits from modernized game mechanics but maintains the overall gameplay feel of the original titles. If you have fond memories of the earlier titles, it's a no brainer that this is a title worth...
Death end re;Quest 2 follows the mold of its predecessor but is ultimately more enjoyable. There are times when the day portion of the game feels like it's going on for too long but the story is at least interesting enough where it's not too tedious. The battle sequences are simple...
It's apparent that a lot of work went into Fairy Tail to ensure that it's something fans would embrace. While its target audience is obviously fans of Fairy Tail its pacing and mechanics provide an engaging enough experience where those unfamiliar with the franchise would still find it a worthwhile...
Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate takes a great musou game and expands it. The Infinity Tower is an enjoyable way to grind for rare gear and high levels and the additional story campaign chapters and characters extend the life of this title. This is one of those games where the final verdict...
Aside from the lackluster co-op and slow start, Astral Chain is one of those rare games where it's difficult to say anything bad about it. The story and world building may fall short of the masterpiece that was NieR: Automata, which also involved Astral Chain director Takahisa Taura, but I dare...
Crystar pairs an original and compelling story with fairly average gameplay. The repetitive nature can become tedious, especially during the later parts, but the narrative concept is interesting enough to push the player to guiding Rei to the end of Purgatory. This is one of those games where the recommendation would...
