The idea of a “Mid-Gen Refresh” for videogame consoles is still very much in its infancy, and with absolutely no idea what the next generation of hardware is going to look like (or when it will happen), I’m having difficulty labeling it a “trend” either. Microsoft does not seem to have much interest in a Series X…X(?) as a follow-up to the XBox One X, so Sony seem like the only ones crazy enough to consider such a thing as even necessary.
HIGH Shadows of the Damned is still one wild trip well worth experiencing.
LOW Realizing it’s not a remaster.
WTF The first noticeable slowdown on my PS5 Pro was from this thirteen-year old title.
HIGH A great improvement over the previous (!) remaster.
LOW Has a somewhat overinflated reputation that may disappoint first time players.
WTF This game is twenty and I feel exceptionally old.
HIGH Deals well with important, interesting themes…
LOW …but I’ve played many games that hit the same themes.
WTF There’s a lot of WTF. I can’t narrow it down.
HIGH It just gets better and better and better…
LOW …Which is good because it doesn’t start well.
WTF The quality of Ubisoft’s voicework makes me question why I quit acting.
We have got to come up with a better name for Metroidvanias than “Metroidvania”.
I’m stealing this from Nextlander Podcast host Alex Navarro because I simply can’t put it any better myself — this year in videogames was an astoundingly good one for products, and a miserable one for everyone who made those products.
HIGH Quite possibly the most faithful videogame adaptation of a film property in history.
LOW Definitely has some Eurojank.
WTF Maybe don’t think too hard about how the concept of Robocop in 2023 is a tad problematic
HIGH Baghdad was both an excellent and inspired pick for a new Assassin’s Creed setting.
LOW They went from too long to too short.
WTF Every reviewer who writes “Back to the series’ roots” should be tarred & feathered.
I thought this was a garbage year for new releases until… ::checks watch:: …like a month ago.
HIGH Shatter was dope, is dope, and always will be dope.
LOW “Deluxe” implies new content.
WTF What other old PSN games can we remaster? Trash Panic Remastered Deluxe, anyone?