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PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Video Games Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

“Tales Of Kenzera: ZAU” Review

 

Given how often we hear people talking about books and stories transporting us to other worlds, it’s curious how infrequently it’s used as a story device in video games.

But that’s exactly what happens to Zau in Tales Of Kenzera: ZAU (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC), a new side-scrolling action game in which a young man grieving the death of his father reads a Bantu tale written by his dad, only to find himself transported to the land of Kenzera, where, he hopes, he can bargain with Kalunga, the God Of Death, to bring his Baba back to the land of the living.

If only it was that easy.

Or that unique.

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PC PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Video Games Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

Exclusive Interview: “Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III” Senior Development Directors Adam Iscove & Michael Liu

 

As part of the newly released Season 3 content for Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III, Call Of Duty: Warzone, and Call Of Duty: Warzone Mobile, Activision, Sledgehammer Games, and Legendary Pictures have announced that the game will include some fun add-ons connected to the new monster movie Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, including skins with abilities for the two stars (and two co-stars that I won’t spoil for people who haven’t seen this monster mash).

At an event held last week at the offices of IMAX — during which people got to see the Season 3 trailers, play Modern Warfare III on an IMAX screen, and then see the movie — I had the chance to speak to Sledgehammer Games’ Senior Development Directors Adam Iscove and Michael Liu, who oversee the Multiplayer team and the Live Operations Team, respectfully, about this monstrous collaboration.

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PlayStation 5 Reviews Video Games

“Rise Of The Ronin” Review

 

It’s always struck me as odd how some video game fans — and some video game critics — get annoyed when you compare a game to another game in a review. Or even just mention another game in passing.

Well, those people are going to be really annoyed by this review of Rise Of The Ronin (PlayStation 5), an epic, third-person, open world, hack & slash action / adventure game set in ancient Japan that’s a lot like 2020’s Ghost Of Tsushima, an epic, third-person, open world, hack & slash action / adventure game set in ancient Japan (and which, by the way, is coming to PC on May 16th).

Except that once you get deep into Rise Of The Ronin, you realize it’s as different from Ghost Of Tsushima as it is similar.

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PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Video Games Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

“Welcome To ParadiZe” Review

 

As you’ve probably noticed, most zombie survival games take a serious approach to making you survive the undead apocalypse.

But by striking a different tone — and a slightly different viewpoint — the third-person single-player / co-op Welcome To ParadiZe (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) manages to put a different spin on the genre. Not a better one; not a worse one; but one that’s certainly different, which, in turn, makes it rather fun.

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PC PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Reviews Switch Video Games Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

“System Shock Pinball” for “Pinball M” And “Pinball FX” Review

 

Released in 1994, the cyberpunk sci-fi first-person shooter System Shock has since become one of the most influential games of the last thirty years. Not only did it inspire numerous spiritual successors (BioShock, Thief) and other sci-fi shooters (Half-Life, Deus Ex), but also third-person games in the stealth action (Metal Gear Solid) and survival horror genres (Resident Evil).

And yet, it is considered more a cult curiosity than a known classic among many gamers, especially those who didn’t play it when it came out…or weren’t alive at the time.

Which makes it all the more curious, and a pleasant surprise, that System Shock is being honored by the good people at Zen Studios with the release of System Shock Pinball, an add-on for their games Pinball M and Pinball FX (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One, Switch, PC).

Doubly so since the table is as ’90s as the original game.

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PC PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Reviews Switch Video Games Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

“Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown” Review

 

As a fan of acrobatic action games, I’ve been waiting 14 years for Ubisoft to make another Prince Of Persia in the vein of 2010’s The Forgotten Sands.

But as someone who goes back with this series to the days of old, when it was a side-scrolling hack & slash action game, I’ve also been waiting 21 years for Ubisoft to make a Prince Of Persia that brings me back to when I used to play the original and 1993’s Prince Of Persia 2: The Shadow And The Flame.

Well, twenty-five year old me can now rest easy, as Ubisoft have given us Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC), which is not only the best Prince Of Persia game since Sands, but the best side-scrolling one since Flame.

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PC PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Reviews Switch Video Games Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

The Worst Video Games Of 2023

 

Sure, 2023 wasn’t as good a year for video games as 2022 (few years are, especially lately). But there were a bunch of really fun games, as you can see from my  “Best Video Games Of 2023” list.

But it was just as bad, as you can see from the following list of my least favorite games of the year (which I present in the order I played them).

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PC PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Reviews Switch Video Games Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

The Best Video Games Of 2023

 

Though not as good as the year before (few years are), 2023 was still a really good year for video games. Or at least for the kind of games I like to play.

Here, in the order I played them, are my favorite games of 2023.

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PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Video Games Xbox Series S Xbox Series X

Will People Who Dislike The “Avatar” Movies Enjoy “Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora”?

 

Over the years, there’s been a lot of great games based on movies…and a lot of terrible ones, too. But while most require you to be a fan of the movie to enjoy, there’s been some exceptions, including 1997’s GoldenEye 007, 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and 2019’s Zombieland: Double Tap: Road Trip.

Which is why I was hopeful, and curious, about Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC), a first-person action / adventure game based on, set during, and cannon to James Cameron’s Avatar movies…movies I do not like.