Category: Classic

At a time when fighting games have become increasingly sophisticated, Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered takes a rather different approach. Originally released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2002, this arena-based monster brawler returns with updated visuals, some quality-of-life improvements, and online multiplayer. Atari and original developer Pipeworks Studios have clearly recognized that there is still an audience for watching enormous monsters flatten entire cities while exchanging atomic blasts and devastating physical attacks. Rather than attempting to reinvent the experience, this remaster largely preserves the straightforward arcade formula that made the original an enjoyable multiplayer distraction. That approach has its charms, although it also means that some of the game’s underlying limitations have survived the passage of more than two decades. Continue reading “Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered review”

Croc’s return continues with Croc 2: Kingdom of the Gobbos, bringing another chapter from the PlayStation era back to modern consoles. Originally released in 1999, the sequel builds on the foundations of Croc: Legend of the Gobbos, giving the little green crocodile a more substantial adventure with new locations, additional gameplay mechanics and a greater emphasis on exploration. This time, Croc discovers a message in a bottle revealing that his biological parents are looking for him, prompting him to leave Gobbo Valley and travel across the mainland. Unfortunately, his journey is complicated by the return of Baron Dante, who has been resurrected and is once again determined to make life difficult for Croc and his Gobbo friends. The premise gives the adventure a more personal motivation than its predecessor, although the narrative remains relatively straightforward. Much of the storytelling happens through interactions with the Gobbos, who provide information about their problems and point Croc towards new missions. Their personalities and amusing little mannerisms give the world some welcome charm, even if the story rarely develops beyond the familiar good-versus-evil platforming formula. Continue reading “Croc 2: Kingdom of the Gobbos review (PS5)”

Joe & Mac Retro Collection brings three prehistoric platformers from the Super Nintendo era to modern consoles, giving players another opportunity to revisit a period when colorful sprites, straightforward objectives, and demanding arcade-inspired action were enough to carry an entire game. Published by Red Art Games and featuring games originally developed by Data East, the collection includes Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja, Congo’s Caper, and Joe & Mac: Lost in the Tropics. Although these adventures share a familiar mix of dinosaurs, cavemen, and rescue missions, they each have their own approach to platforming. The result is a surprisingly varied package that offers plenty of nostalgic appeal, although its commitment to preserving the original experiences also leaves some dated design decisions intact. Continue reading “Joe & Mac Retro Collection review (PS5)”

Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition marks the end of Lara Croft’s transformation from an inexperienced survivor into the more confident adventurer that longtime fans recognize. Published by Aspyr for Nintendo Switch 2, this edition brings the 2018 action-adventure game to Nintendo’s hybrid console, complete with its seven additional challenge tombs, extra missions, outfits, weapons, and skills. Developed by Eidos-Montréal with support from Crystal Dynamics, the game concludes the Survivor trilogy with an adventure that places greater emphasis on exploration, environmental puzzles, and stealth than its predecessors. The result is a substantial package that often delivers on the promise of a modern Tomb Raider, even if its storytelling and combat do not always reach the same heights as Rise of the Tomb Raider. Continue reading “Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition review (Switch 2)”

Developed by Tantalus Media and published by Paradox Interactive, Cities: Skylines – Expanded Edition brings the original city-building simulation to Nintendo Switch 2 with a collection of additional content and several improvements over the previous Switch release. The original version struggled with performance and visual clarity, making this new edition a welcome opportunity to revisit a game that remains one of the more compelling entries in its genre. However, while the additional content and improved technical performance make for a more attractive package, the extent to which this release takes advantage of Nintendo’s newer hardware is open to debate. Continue reading “Cities: Skylines – Expanded Edition review (Switch 2)”