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Resident Evil 4 is one of the most famous horror video games ever. It was a fantastic part of the Nintendo GameCube’s life when it launched, when many were questioning the system's legacy. At the time, GameCube was Nintendo’s worst-performing system as the industry moved to become more corporate and more Westernized. When RE 4 came out, my friends and I played it to death, and it was the first Resident Evil I played all the way through. Now, Capcom has come out with a remake for modern consoles. So, does this remake continue the streak of incredible Resident Evil remakes?

I can tell you right off the bat; this is another stellar entry to the Resident Evil remakes. From the beginning, you quickly realize the game doesn’t betray or delete the big important moments, but if anything, expands on them. The game’s mood and atmosphere fit the tone of the original. All of the famous moments and bosses are in here. Yet, it expands even small areas of the game to make a more extensive and more modernized game. This makes it a perfect match for both the new gamers experiencing this story and those coming back for nostalgia.

The gameplay is very much the over-the-shoulder style that the original came out with. The puzzles and exploration in indoor areas are similar to the RE2 remake. Thanks to the infamous merchant, the selection of guns you can expand is there in the best way possible. They even add a parry mechanic that adds to the knife play. The biggest issue gameplay-wise that I had was the evading part. To evade, you have to wait for a button prompt to show up, and you will most likely miss it. I found the Evade system annoying and would’ve preferred something similar to the dodge in RE3.

Storywise, the game still delivers the same famous story that puts us in the shoes of Leon S. Kennedy. Leon, now a government agent, is sent to save the President’s daughter Ashley from her mysterious kidnapping by a cult village. Of course, this lead to all the typical horror Resident Evil madness that the games become, and it’s a wild ride as you encounter massive bosses, crazed villagers, and a cast of memorable characters. The game's pacing could be a bit better, as it tends to lean too much toward backtracking and simple corridor-like areas to mow down enemies. But it’s a minor issue that is subjective, if anything.

Overall, this is another solid entry in the Resident Evil remake releases. You will get everything you want out of this, whether you’re a returning fan who wants that feeling you had when you first played the original in 2005 – or a new gamer who wants to see what all that hype was about. Get ready for a scary good ride back into the village that changed the series forever. I Highly Recommend this game.

Highly Recommended - Wether you’re visiting the village for the first time or not, Resident Evil 4 is perfect for both returning gamers and new ones. This is a great addition to the RE remake releases and a very worthwhile horror title. The classic gets modernized for a new generation.

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I have been eying Ravenlok since I saw the reveal trailer last year. The concept is around a fairy tale style game with a very cool, almost dollhouse, art style to explore. The game has received mixed reviews and I am in the camp that disagrees with these critics because I ended up really liking this game. However, its main issue is its short length and what to me at the end felt more like what could’ve been the beginning of a good adventure game being rushed to reach the ending.

Ravenlok’s story is one that sees your character (you pick the name, but you are a girl) enter a new world that is under a curse from the evil Queen. You’ll explore some nicely made and beautiful areas to get the three castle keys to open the gate and save the world. Overall, it’s a fairly simple story that draws heavily on Alice in Wonderland. But I really liked the characters, who are all nicely designed and remind you of various fairy tales you’ve read. While some critics seem to have had an issue with the plot’s simplicity, I quite frankly didn’t and to me added to the fairy tale feeling.

Combat is the biggest downside in the game. Despite acquiring new skills and having a level up system, the game plays more like a button masher than anything. You do have to watch out not to get hit, but it’s simple to dodge enemies and most likely you won’t find the game challenging. That being said, the bosses were pretty memorable for me in terms of design. They aren’t much of a challenge either, but I got a kick out of playing against them.

You have to go into this game knowing this was mostly made for kids and new gamers. Once you understand that, you can better enjoy and immerse yourself in it. I loved the art style, the characters did their parts well, and I never felt bored. But the problem with the game that stuck out to me most, as someone that was enjoying it, is that it can come off feeling… incomplete.

For a game filled with puzzles and different lands to unlock, as well as side quests, everything feels very short and quick. And that’s the thing, just as things seem to be picking up in terms of bosses and skills, it basically ends. I felt like I just played the first 15% of an epic adventure game that was just about to get going but rushed to the ending. On the one hand I see I liked it enough to want it to keep it going longer, but on the other I see I was left disappointed by what I felt was a rushed ending.

Overall, Ravenlok is the kind of game that has two types of recommendations. For kids and brand new gamers, this is enough fun to be one I would highly recommend. But overall this is a game I would recommend, but let you know that there’s a chance you may not be as warm to it as I was. But for the short stay I had in this fairy tale, I had fun with it. I’m going to keep my eye on Cococucumber and whatever they make next.

Recommended - Too short, and maybe too easy, but an easy pick and up and play fun experience

When Hi-Fi Rush was shadow-dropped at the Xbox Developer Direct, it was unexpected. Not only was this game not leaked, but it’s very different from what you see from Xbox exclusives. Created by Bethesda’s Tango Gameworks, it’s an artful title that focuses on hitting rhythmic beats as you attack and bob up and down to the music, making your way through levels. But it’s the loveable and memorable characters, as well as the accessible gameplay, that makes this the biggest video game surprise in a long time, and hope for a potentially exciting new Xbox franchise.

The plot revolves around Chai, a music-obsessed 25 year old, who volunteers for Project Armstrong (a program for cybernetic limb replacement by Vandelay Technologies) to help his disabled arm and have a chance to become a rockstar. He’s laid back, naïve, and lacks common sense – but has a heart of gold, just like your typical anime protagonist. An accident puts Chai’s music player into his chest and infuses it into his body, which in turn gives Chai a connection to music in the world. From there, Chai accidentally and reluctantly partners with company critic and spy of sorts, Peppermint, and her robot cat 808. Chai is able to use a stick liked object from his new cybernetic arm that he repurposes as a guitar-shaped weapon. From there, you find out about a shady project and run into some more allies and fight off Vandelay’s six bosses, each with their own unique personalities and memorable boss fights.

The main thing going for this game is the characters. From the main character of Chai to Peppermint and to others you’ll meet along the way, like the former head of R&D, Macaron; these are extremely likable characters that all have arcs and moments. The story is very anime-like, which I guess is up to you personally on how you feel about it, but I personally was all in from the get-go. The main villains are the bosses of Vandelay Technologies and are also equally as memorable. Each boss has their own mannerism and diverse personality, even right down to the boss battles. Add to that great dialogue and legitimately funny lines and moments, and you have a great roller coaster-like fun experience that doesn’t stop until the music does (pun intended).

And that’s the main thing, the music and rhythm action based combat and puzzles are the other addition that makes this game feel like pure fun. I was worried as I don’t have a great history with rhythm games, but this one is different. You don’t have to land everything perfectly outside of the puzzles. Even towards the end, as you’re hit with combos, as long as you hit the majority, you won’t be punished. And the music itself is a mix of original music plus a mix of some actual known artists, specifically Nine Inch Nails, who deliver plenty of songs. One of the final bosses has you battle with rhythm to Wolfgang’s 5th Symphony, which was pure adrenaline. And by the time you’re rocking and rolling in a battle and hitting everything on time, you can’t help but feel like the rockstar Chai sees himself as.

And that’s the thing, when you combine the characters, the plot, and the music, and then top it off with great humor, it makes for a perfect storm of a game that is what video games should be in the end… fun. And that’s why I loved this game so much. It was a flashback to the PS2 era type games and with the memorability that Nintendo does best. Xbox struck gold with this one, and they should keep digging. Chai and the cast of characters around him should get another game, and Microsoft has a set of characters they can add to the Xbox lineup beyond bro shooting heroes. This should be a big part of Xbox for years to come, and if they don’t take advantage of what they got here, I don’t know what they’re thinking.

In the end, Hi-Fi Rush is just what the name implies – a rush. Chai, 808, Peppermint, and everyone else are still on my mind. The mix of music and gameplay gives you that rockstar feel. The humor legitimately had me laughing, and it fit the personalities and story. The villains are some of the better antagonists in modern gaming. And the accessibility of the rhythmic action invites anyone to try it out. It all makes for the first major video game experience I’ve had for 2023. And it does it without being some overlong wannabe epic length. I think this deserves some talk for the game of the year and will be looked at for my eventual 2023 twenty most impactful games. This game is Highly Recommended. I hope to see Chai and the gang in the future again.