Xbox Series X Reviews

MLB The Show has had an incredible streak of consistently being one of the top hailed sports video games every single year over the last 15 years, this year’s installment continues to show why that remains true today. Some games find their formula they think works and then simply create visual enhancements or little tweaks here and there. But The Show keeps trying new things and improving on those that fans already love to begin with. This year also marks…

Lost Words is an atmospheric narrative adventure that takes place in the personal diary entries belonging to a young girl named Izzy that will unfold as you explore a fantasy land where words hold immense power. Featuring an immersive story crafted by renowned games writer Rhianna Pratchett, Lost Words: Beyond the Page will mesmerize players with its unique blend of gameplay mechanics and striking watercolor aesthetic. Driven by the player’s curiosity, the world of Estoria and the power it holds…

Something about RetroMania Wrestling clicked with me from the first time I saw footage of the game, nearly two years ago. Here was this gorgeous pixel art wrestling game, pitting the Road Warriors against each other.   I’ve followed the game closely since then, thanks to weekly video updates from developer Mike Hermann of Retrosoft Studios. The game was supposed to be out in 2020; then on Feb. 26 of this year, it was released on Steam. The console ports…

It Takes Two is an action-adventure platformer developed by Hazelight Studios and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Originals label. The game was released for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and Series S in March 2021. Like A Way Out, Hazelight’s debut title, It Takes Two has no single-player option: it is only playable in either online or local split-screen co-op between two players. Cody and May, a married couple, are planning on…

It’s the hidden gem of the bus smashin’, double-decker car ridin’, lawnmower racin’ genre – and now Wreckfest has got that shiny next-gen glean to go along with it. Why aren’t more people talking about Wreckfest? It’s not only an awesome game, but it’s right there on Game Pass. Play it on PC, play it on Xbox – but play it. With a new 4K/60FPS patch on Xbox Series X, it’s worth taking another spin around the block. Ready for…

Crash Bandicoot 4 finally gets its next-gen port. It’s About Time? Yes, it is. That barmy bandicoot is back on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X – but if you’ve waited this long, is it worth taking a plunge? That depends on how nostalgic you feel. Crash 4 is a throwback to a different time, and it pushes that idea often. It’s retro in almost every way that counts, including the difficulty. It’s a great game marred by occasional technical…

I knew my trip through RBI Baseball 21 was going to be rough from the second the tutorial started. Despite downloading the most “up-to-date” rosters, after choosing the Cleveland Indians as my favorite team, Francisco Lindor stepped up to the plate in his Tribe uniform. On the video screen, his trademark smile was sitting under his New York Mets hat. Then things went downhill. When sitting still, RBI Baseball 21 presents a pretty picture. I like the ballpark environments. The…

You seek untold riches, eternal life, divine powers – it leads to this accursed temple, a seemingly-infinite labyrinth of bottomless pits, deadly traps, and monsters. Collect mystical Relics and an arsenal of weapons to make yourself unstoppable. Battle through hordes of enemies in dark, cavernous passages filled with traps and secrets of all sorts – fire-spewing statues, explosives, hidden spikes, and worse. Corruption builds in you with every step – encourage or ignore it, but each powerful curse can be…

Despite being a critical darling in 2019, I completely slept on Control during its initial release. As a primarily PlayStation gamer in the past, I’d never played any of Remedy’s previous games. Fast forward to now and playing the Series X version of , I can’t believe I skipped the game previously. But I’m also glad to be playing the best possible console version of the game. The core setup of the game reminds me of one of my favorite…

There is a tipping point — different for every gamer — where the juice just isn’t worth the squeeze in a game. I reached that point in Yacht Games’ newly released Cyber Shadow a little more than halfway through.   The game demands precise platforming and measured combat, harshly punishing even slight errors. There is so much to like about the game, but after running through the same section 20 30 40 times, I broke. I turned off the game…