Since the dawn of civilization man has had the natural inclination to blow [expletive] up with robots. Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon lets you scratch that itch. The Armored Core franchise actually dates all the way to the Playstation One days. Fires of Rubicon begins like an epic motion picture as a spacecraft is jettisoned from a space station, crash-landing into the planet below. Out of the ashes emerges your mighty mech warrior.

The industrialized scenery features vast concrete structures and huge metal girders criss-crossing the sky. You view the action from behind your mech which reacts responsively to the controls. The shoulder buttons are used to fire guns and missiles as well as slash with your energy sword. Pressing in the left stick engages an awesome boost that lets you charge an enemy from a great distance.

As you investigate each expansive stage, little markers appear to lead you to your objectives. Unfortunately a lot of numbers and indicators are very tiny. Destroying guard robots and sentry cannons is a blast thanks to jarring explosions. The lock-on feature makes it a pleasure to pluck attack helicopters out of the sky. And when you manage to bring down some giant structure, it's an awesome sight.

Unfortunately Armored Core VI falters on the very first boss! You're pitted against a huge gunship pelting you with missiles in the air and igniting explosions on the ground. You could take cover if you could locate your enemy, but the camera is completely disorienting. By the time you get a bead on his position you're blown to smithereens.

Adding insult to injury, the boss fights take place in confined areas with walls that are invisible until you bump into them. You're very much constrained but the bosses are not. In fact, they can hover just outside the boundary while pounding you with missiles! It took me a solid week to finally beat the first boss and it really soured my impression of the game.

What's odd is that after that, the game became fairly moderate in terms of difficulty. I like how each stage is set in its own distinctive environment, ranging from snowy mountains to desolate cities to windy deserts. There's also a nice variety of objectives. Sometimes you need to destroy a series of small targets. Sometimes you may need to take down a behemoth. On occasion you'll have partner units fighting by your side.

But the game has issues. Your mech doesn't convey a sense of mass, and when you unleash a salvo of missiles there's no feedback at all. Controller vibration or speaker effects might have helped in this regard. Traversing platforms with your jetpack is tricky because the camera is so close you can't tell where (or even if) you're going to land. Once I managed to become hopelessly lodged in a wall.

When you engage your assault boost you become an out-of-control locomotive. Initiating it by pushing in the left stick is awkward enough, but I don't know how to turn it off! Half of the time I go flying right past my intended target.

The screens for buying and selling equipment between missions are entirely too complicated. Armored Core 6 looks great but I spent too much of the game just trying to figure out what was going on. Technically it's worthy of the PS5, but as the sixth entry in a series I expected more in terms of playability. © Copyright 2024 The Video Game Critic.

What's this? A pack-in game? In the words of Obi-Wan "that is a term I've not heard in a long time." Astro's Playroom comes pre-installed on every PS5 console and it's a fun little romp.

The first thing it does is walk you through the special features of the PS5 controller. Some are previous-generation holdovers like motion sensitivity and that lame touchpad. The new "haptic feedback" vibration however is pretty amazing. When a controller can make you feel like you're walking through a freaking sandstorm, that's saying something. The adaptive triggers are also very cool, providing varying degrees of resistance as dictated by the game.

Astro's Playroom is a high-tech platformer starring an oh-so-adorable little robot who can punch enemies and hover short distances using jets in his feet. This game looks positively stunning, with tight controls and a pumping techno soundtrack to boot.

A hub area lets you select from four sprawling worlds, each boasting a diverse range of environments and play styles. You'll hop around a beach, slide down ice platforms, and climb a wall in a monkey suit. You'll roll around as a ball, blast aliens, and fire arrows at explosive targets. References to classic games abound, and there are high-speed sections that put most Sonic games to shame.

In addition to "uncovering" all Sony's previous consoles, you'll discover "lost artifacts" like the Move Controller or the Eye Toy. Running through the stages is great fun the first time, but I'll take a pass on "speed run" modes. I get annoyed by the parts of the game that require tilting the controller or fiddling with the touchpad. And whenever I have to blow into the microphone it makes me feel dizzy.

Astro's Playroom is the perfect introduction to the Playstation 5, showing off its features while celebrating Sony's 25 years in the video game biz. If you're compelled to unlock all of its secrets or master the speed-runs, the game even has replay value. Some may call it a glorified tech demo, but if that's the case Astro's Playroom may be the best tech demo of all time. © Copyright 2022 The Video Game Critic.

It's been ten full years since the last college football game, NCAA Football 14 (Xbox 360, 2014), which has since become a highly sought-after collector's item. Electronic Arts had to halt the series due to litigation concerns regarding use of player likenesses. Now they're paying the players so the series can finally return. Was it worth the wait?

Well upon installation you're presented with some long-winded woke manifesto that comes off like a big middle finger to college football fans. I also noticed EA has eradicated white people from the game, including the cheerleader animations and crowd scenes. Trying to find one is like playing Where's Waldo! Why does EA hate white people so much?

Virtue signaling aside, the game itself is very good. Each contest begins with a little intro like the Oregon Duck riding onto the field on a motorcycle. When I watched my Maryland Terrapins take the field I was impressed that they were wearing the correct uniforms - something EA struggled to get right in the past. The only thing unrealistic about Maryland's stadium was the sell-out crowd.

The play-calling is fairly intuitive except the game is constantly pushing its lousy "coaches suggestions" on you. Never use those! The action on the field is fast and smooth. Runners contort their bodies to grind out an extra yard, and it's not hard to get "around the edge" to bust a big run down the sideline. I like how the receivers make an effort to keep their toes in play on sideline catches.

The passing feels a bit laggy, partly due to the "strength meter" that lets you throw the ball harder by holding in the button. You really need to release a second early or you'll be swallowed up by the defense. The kick meter is pitiful. Since it's transparent you can't really discern its angle, and punts rarely travel more than 30 yards.

EA shoehorned a number of unwanted new "features" into the game. Linemen can only move side-to-side, so you lose the ability to draw them offsides. When the crowd gets raucous, the "stadium pulse" causes the camera to shake as well as the controller, which can be headache-inducing. The voice menu narration feature is as pointless as it is irritating.

There's no season mode but the dynasty mode is basically the same thing with a bunch of extraneous crap you can skip, like "coach's backstory". The television presentation is slick but lacking a few elements, like a legitimate halftime show. And why are cheerleaders so butt-ugly?! I saw one girl sporting a beard! The player celebrations are confusing. Why do some players motion like they're shooting a needle into their arm?

The game's theme song is Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N Roses, which seems like an odd choice for 2024. In fairness it only cost EA twenty bucks to license the rights, plus a twelve pack of beer. Personally I prefer to hear marching bands play during college games.

The bugs and glitches add so much entertainment value, I swear I will never update this game. During one overtime period the announcers inexplicably "signed off", even though we were about to begin the second OT! Another time I witnessed a field goal replay where the ball was completely invisible! Bugs and racism aside, College Football 25 is easy-to-play and fun. Long-suffering fans will ease into this one like a comfortable old shoe. © Copyright 2024 The Video Game Critic.

Over the years I've heard more about the controversies surrounding Cyberpunk 2077 than the game itself. Now that the Ultimate Edition has arrived on physical media, I got to see it for myself. The verdict? Well, it's pretty awesome. This epic first-person adventure is set in a decayed futuristic world of sex, drugs, and gang violence.

Playing the role of a rugged mercenary named V, your character's psyche becomes inhabited by an alter-ego played by Keanu Reeves. He lingers in scenes like a talking ghost providing commentary and exposition. The story operates on more layers than the movie Inception, and I struggled to keep up. Not that it matters; your GPS always directs you where to go next and who to talk to. The characters are incredibly lifelike and the acting is first-rate.

While a first-person shooter at heart, technology is interwoven into everything. You'll use it to investigate crime scenes, remotely control machines, and get into the heads of your enemies - literally! In 2077 not only do people have cybernetic limbs, but they're walking around with chips in their head and can transfer their personalities to the net.

Cyberpunk has its share of RPG elements including cinematic cutscenes, conversation trees, and rich customization options. While trying to decipher the sophisticated skill-tree screens it occurred to me I needed a new TV. You really need a 75-inch 4K TV to fully appreciate the amazing degree of detail.

Despite helpful on-screen prompts the controls aren't always intuitive. At one point I could not figure out how to put my gun away, causing people in public to freak out and start shooting at me. Turns out you need to double-tap the triangle button. The PS5 controller is put to excellent use with amazing vibration effects and clear radio transmissions.

Analyzing computerized recordings of crime scenes lets you strip away layers of visual, audio, or thermal elements to obtain clues. But the most innovative aspect of Cyberpunk is your ability to employ cybernetic powers to tap into the brains of your enemies, causing them to overheat or reboot, among other things. Using these techniques in concert with conventional weapons adds a new layer of combat and stealth.

Despite all the high-tech, the world still has a lot of low-tech stuff like smoking, cash money, vending machines, muscle cars, and strip clubs. I was shocked to discover the game contains explicit nudity and simulated sex. While I'm not convinced it was completely necessary, I suppose it's consistent with the gritty subject matter.

The sprawling city is the best part. Both during day or night I was fascinated by the magnificent skylines. When a passenger in a car, I found myself gawking at the passing scenery. It's fun to explore on foot, although you'll discover most areas are cordoned off. The parts of the game that take place in the surrounding desert are far less compelling.

I'm glad I held out for the Ultimate Edition disc version, which I never put online, by the way. That said, there were three times when the game either crashed or got into a bad state. Fortunately the game auto-saves almost constantly, as if it were expecting these conditions to occur!

The audacity of this game is staggering. This is the biggest, most technically-advanced video game I have ever experienced. There is so much content, you can't absorb it all. This could be the last game you ever own! Personally I enjoyed the sensory overload and didn't mind getting lost in the narrative. Games like CyberPunk 2077 are the reason to own a PS5 in the first place. © Copyright 2024 The Video Game Critic.

The original God of War (PS2, 2005) was a spectacle to behold, elevating hack-n-slash gameplay to a heavenly level with its majestic temples, colossal giants, and rich mythology. A series of excellent sequels followed but each with a sense of diminishing returns. The God of War (PS4, 2015) reboot placed more emphasis on story, giving Kratos a son to look after. Not a fan! Ragnarok continues the trend and I'm not happy.

The first part of the game takes place in an icy winter wonderland that really put me in the spirit of the season. The game is undeniably beautiful but its gameplay is strictly by-the-numbers. Upon reaching a clearing in the woods you can expect an attack from a gang of savages, wraiths, werewolves, or trolls.

Your main attack and block are assigned to the shoulder buttons, but in the heat of battle it's too easy to accidentally hit the option button or touchpad, pausing the action. The combat is rinse-and-repeat, and the over-the-shoulder view makes it hard to locate enemies. I did enjoy the idea of directing Atreus to shoot things with his arrows. I just wish designers would stop treating L3/R3 like normal buttons. These are awkward to press in the heat of battle, and often unresponsive.

When not fighting or exploring you're solving puzzles that might involve freezing water or ricocheting light beams. The first of each kind is clever, but after five more derivative puzzles, it gets old. There's plenty of platforming but it's of the semi-automated, Sonic the Hedgehog variety.

Ragnarok wallows in its gratuitous, self-indulgent story. The cut-scenes are not to be enjoyed, only endured. Your son Atreus is now the center of attention and he's a whiny little prick. And it's not as if the dialog is remotely interesting, clever, or funny. Toss in a few unnecessary F-bombs and it's just embarrassing.

This game has got to be the poster child for forced diversity. First, Atreus gets a black girlfriend from out of nowhere. Watching them spend an afternoon picking fruit together taught me the meaning of "walking simulator". The pair end up in a boss battle against an unhinged, 100-foot-tall, elderly black woman! Am I the only critic who found this unlikely turn of events just a little disconcerting? Even by God of War standards this is flat-out bizarre.

I'm old enough to remember when God of War had some balls. In the original game you had a vague sense of the narrative but the emphasis was on ass-kicking and it was positively epic. Apparently this new generation of God of War would prefer to get in touch with its feelings instead, and frankly it's kind of pathetic. © Copyright 2022 The Video Game Critic.

This single-player, offline adventure lets you experience the life of a student at Hogwarts school of magic. While the Harry Potter films took place in the present, Hogwarts Legacy is set 100 years in the past, preserving the familiar mythology while introducing all-new characters.

In the action-packed opening stage you're attacked by a dragon and narrowly escape an encounter with an evil goblin wielding dark magic. Then the game abruptly takes you out of the moment by forcing you to download and install a mandatory "day one patch". The process took me about a day to complete.

Once resumed, Legacy didn't take long to get back into my good graces. Exploring the castle-like school and surrounding areas is fascinating thanks to its gorgeous, photo-realistic scenery. The school interior boasts living portraits, wandering ghosts, and animated staircases. The characters look realistic but their diversity is so contrived it's like watching a car commercial.

The structure of the game is surprisingly loose. You can wander freely between the school and nearby village of Hogsmeade, day or night. You'll need to take classes to acquire the necessary spells, but you do that at your own pace. Learning spells can take the form of entertaining mini-games. My favorite is Repairo, which lets you watch destroyed statues and buildings rebuild themselves before your eyes. It is amazing.

Just when things are getting slow, something exciting happens. For example, while buying supplies at the Hogsmeade village there's an attack by huge rampaging trolls. There are endless side quests, but beware of taking too many on, because you'll start to forget what the heck you were supposed to be doing in the first place!

The controls feel responsive but there are too many buttons to remember; it's like combinations of combinations. God help the poor schmuck who steps away from this game for a few weeks and tries to resume. It's like that nightmare where you find yourself taking a test in school that you didn't study for.

The bulk of the boss battles seem to be against animated statues, which I will admit look pretty scary. The combat is pretty tiresome however due to repetitive button-tapping. Still, it feels great when you pulverize a hulking knight with a devastating bolt of lightning.

Upon selecting a destination on your map, the game creates a trail to help navigate. It's a handy feature but sometimes it takes me in the wrong direction, or nowhere at all. With a game this complex, it's hard to tell if it's broken or if I'm doing something wrong. For much of the game I couldn't even collect treasure because my "gear slots" were full. Don't get me started on the puzzles.

The atmosphere could be better. In the movies the school felt dark and cozy, but here it feels spacious and bright. You can't even look out the windows; they just cast a white glow. I wish this game were smaller and easier to grasp. Hogwarts Legacy captivated me for a few weeks, but as I progressed I found myself getting more and more lost. Harry Potter fans will appreciate the sense of freedom and epic scope, but casual players like myself will be glad to step off this magical treadmill. © Copyright 2023 The Video Game Critic.