Recent reviews by XiØN

As a seasoned veteran of the Monster Hunter series, also being a Nintendo Switch player from Rise's initial release with over 1100 hours clocked, I was eager to see how the game transitioned to the PC platform without the hardware limitations of a console.

For starters, Monster Hunter Rise is a delightful return to the series' roots, reminiscent of the beloved aspects from previous titles such as Generations and 4U. While it may not boast the same level of graphical polish as its predecessor, Monster Hunter World, it compensates with a deeply engaging gameplay experience.

One of the most commendable features of Monster Hunter Rise is its fast-paced gameplay. The addition of wirebugs and switch skills injects a refreshing adaptability into the game, enhancing combat mechanics and allowing for dynamic strategies. These elements breathe new life into the familiar hunt-and-slay formula, making every encounter feel exhilarating and unpredictable.

Moreover, Monster Hunter Rise succeeds in striking a balance between catering to both new and veteran players. For newcomers, the game offers a smooth introduction to the series' mechanics, while seasoned hunters will appreciate the depth of customization and intricacies in mastering each weapon type.

However, one aspect that might divide players is the Rampage quests. The tower defense-style mode may initially seem like a departure from the traditional Monster Hunter experience. Yet, despite their unconventional nature, Rampage quests offer a unique challenge that demands strategic planning and coordination. While not everyone may enjoy this departure from the standard hunt, it's an experience worth trying and can provide a refreshing change of pace from the usual monster encounters.

In conclusion, Monster Hunter Rise is a triumph for fans of the series. By returning to its classic roots while introducing innovative gameplay elements, the game manages to capture the essence of what makes Monster Hunter so captivating. While it may not boast the graphical fidelity of its predecessor, its engaging gameplay and subtle additions make it a must-play for both newcomers and seasoned hunters alike.

RetroArch is a standout emulation frontend, with a seamless blend of accessibility and functionality. The user interface strikes a perfect balance between simplicity and customization, catering to both beginners and seasoned users. Its cross-platform compatibility ensures a consistent gaming experience across various devices. With extensive core support, RetroArch covers a wide range of gaming systems, offering features like shaders, netplay, rewind, save states, and cheat code support. The active community and regular updates contribute to its ongoing improvement, making RetroArch an indispensable tool for anyone seeking a versatile and authentic retro gaming experience. Whether you're a seasoned emulator user or new to the retro gaming scene, RetroArch is a must-have frontend in your gaming toolkit.

While the gameplay is enjoyable, the game's status as a port becomes glaringly apparent, with technical issues hindering the overall experience. The controls, originally tailored for handheld devices, feel clunky and unwieldy on a standard gaming setup, making it evident that the transition to other platforms wasn't seamless. Moreover, the steep price tag doesn't align with the game's apparent lack of polish and originality, feeling more like Koei Tecmo's attempt to replicate the success of Monster Hunter rather than a unique offering. Unfortunately, it seemed to serve as a precursor to the disappointment that followed with Wild Hearts, highlighting just another missed opportunity for Koei Tecmo to deliver at this genre.

Starbound, a cosmic odyssey in pixelated splendor, captivates players with its vast universe and limitless possibilities. In the vein of the beloved Terraria, Starbound delves into the sandbox genre with a twist—expanding the horizon beyond a single world to an entire galaxy. One of Starbound's standout features is the diversity of its planets. From lush forests to barren deserts and frozen tundras, each planet feels unique and offers different resources and challenges. This variety keeps the exploration aspect engaging. The main questline in Starbound can feel a bit disjointed at times, and the pacing may not suit everyone.

Some players might find the story progression less compelling compared to the open-ended exploration and building aspects. In conclusion, Starbound is a captivating sandbox game with a vast and diverse universe to explore. Its strengths lie in its exploration, procedural generation, and multiplayer features. While it may not excel in combat depth and has a learning curve, the overall experience is a rewarding journey through the stars.

Sonic Adventure is a timeless gem from the Dreamcast era (Guess i'm showing my age here), It's a classic that continues to shine on Steam. The thrill of high-speed runs, the vibrant worlds, and the iconic blue blur himself make this a nostalgic journey worth taking. While the graphics may be dated by today's standards, the gameplay and music stand the test of time, reminding us why Sonic remains an enduring symbol of gaming joy. A must-play for any fan of retro gaming or those seeking a dose of pure, fast-paced fun.

Dawnlands is a survival/crafting game that draws inspiration from well-known titles like Craftopia, Valheim, Palia, and others in the genre. It combines elements from these games while sporting a graphical style reminiscent of Genshin Impact and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, thanks to its cel-shading art style and UI design.

Not without it's flaws, the game does have room for improvement in terms of mechanics, glitches and quality of life features. Some gameplay elements can feel clunky, and there are occasional bugs that can hinder the experience. However, it's important to note that Dawnlands is free to play and there is quite a bit you can do without having to rely on microtransactions for progression.

While it needs some polish and refinement, for those who enjoy the survival/crafting genre and are looking for another option to the usual it's playable.

Long were the days when Cyberpunk 2077 was a questionable purchase for some or viewed as an utter disappointment for others. The level of immersion will keep players engaged as the minor quality-of-life details and improvements made by CD Projekt Red with subsequent updates have transformed this once-flawed gem into a shining example of redemption in the gaming industry.

One of the most remarkable improvements in Cyberpunk 2077 is the significant reduction in the number of bugs and glitches that plagued the game's initial release. CD Projekt Red listened to the feedback from the gaming community and diligently worked to squash the countless bugs that marred the player experience. This commitment to fixing issues demonstrates a commendable dedication to delivering a polished product.

Moreover, the game's performance and optimization have been greatly improved. Players can now explore the sprawling Night City with fewer technical hiccups, even on lower-end hardware. This has made the game accessible to a wider audience, and the seamless experience adds to the overall enjoyment.

The addition of the recent introduction of the Phantom Liberty expansion is nothing short of a breath of fresh air expanding upon some aspects of the game and bringing new content to expand the game's universe. These additions include new quests, items, and customization options, further enriching the Cyberpunk 2077 experience. For those who need even more customization, there is always mods to make your experience tailored to your tastes.

The character development and progression system have been refined, offering more meaningful choices and flexibility, allowing players to truly shape their V's journey in Night City. The game's narrative and storytelling remain a strong suit, and the improved AI and NPC interactions make the world feel more alive than ever before.

The dedication to creating a vibrant, living world has led to substantial improvements in the game's overall atmosphere and ambiance. The streets of Night City now teem with life, offering a sense of immersion and authenticity that was previously lacking.

In summary, Cyberpunk 2077 has come a long way since its troubled launch. CD Projekt Red's relentless efforts to enhance the game have paid off, turning it into a must-play experience for fans of open-world RPGs and immersive storytelling. The game's journey from disappointment to redemption stands as a testament to the power of post-launch support and community feedback in the gaming industry. If you were hesitant to explore Night City at launch, now is the perfect time to dive into this revamped and rejuvenated cyberpunk world.

Post-Release: The servers are unstable as hell, makes you really wonder why they removed offline mode, restricting the game to Online Only. The game attempts matchmaking(and fails) even if you are in a private match with just bots. Bad move.

Pre-Release: The Gameplay is fine. Some minor glitches here and there. Stealth mechanics are decent and seemingly have been improved, detection risk is no longer based off of armor like it was in Payday 2, so your only worry equipment wise will be mobility vs defense & having a silenced weapon. Definitely a plus there. There's no longer a limit to how many hostages can be zip-tied, but body bagging corpses is no longer a thing. Aside from throwing knives, there are no melee weapons anymore which seems like a let-down.

Overall, some of the changes are welcome, but others leave a bittersweet feeling for veteran players such as myself. Hoping to see more content and features such as Akimbo return in due time.

Not for the faint of heart.

Xenoverse 2 is a vast improvement over the original. Right off the bat, you have that familiar feel as the game retains basically all the features found in the first game but as you progress, you will notice that the game’s hub world is also more organized, making it much easier to find points of interest. (I'M LOOKING AT YOU SKILL TUTORS!) This time around we also receive characters that were oddly missing from the previous title (Android 16, Slug, Turles) while others are still completely missing. (Garlic Jr., Bojack, .etc) As for more recent Dragon Ball villains, Xenoverse 2 even features Goku Black, Hit & Future Trunks from Dragon Ball Super, and it looks as if we'll be receiving cabba & frost.

When it comes to customization, I noticed there are much more hairstyles and facial options when creating your character. But the best addition of all would be the fact that the other races have transformations as opposed to XV where the Saiyan race seemed like the most satisfying race to play by default due to it's tailor-made options for transformations.

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Pros:

+Combat and frame rate seem a lot smoother than before
+More customization & characters
+Looks more stable (No massive server kickouts like we dealt with on the predecessor)

Cons:

- Storyline is still short
- May be viewed by some as more of an updated version than a true sequel
- Ally AI seems to be dumbed down
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All that being said, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is still worth checking out for fans of the long-running series.