Ghost Recon Breakpoint review: A breaking point
Ghost Recon Breakpoint is a more varied game than its predecessor Ghost Recon Wildlands, but it remains too unpolished for a major AAA release from such an acclaimed shooter franchise. Microtransactions available for several different types of items don't help to smooth out the rough edges.
Pokémon Sword and Shield transform gym battles into a really big deal
With Pokémon Sword and Shield only a couple of months away from release, we decided to get some hands-on with it at PAX West 2019. The demo we played took us to a gym to face off against Water-type gym leader Nessa, and it quickly turned into our first-ever Dynamax battle with gigantic-sized pokémon.
World of Warcraft Classic review: Waste your time
Fifteen years after release, why is it that World of Warcraft Classic can so easily recapture a world that slowly left it behind? Its divisive art style has helped it stand the test of time, but the same can't be said about its core mechanics. There's still lots to love here, but plenty to loath as well.
FIFA 20 review: Volta brings flair to the familiar
FIFA 20 largely keeps teh franchise's standard pitch-based soccer intact with iterative mechanical changes, but it thrives in the street-based Volta Football mode, which is great for longtime fans and newcomers. The Frostbite engine is starting to show its age, however, and the game could use a new coat of paint.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening review
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a near-perfect remake of one of the best Zelda games. With a beautiful new art style, plenty of welcome improvements, and a ton more collectibles to find, Link's Awakening is brilliant for both newcomers and longtime fans. Chamber Dungeons is a dud, though.
Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition review: All pro, no fun
The Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition is a keyboard made for e-sports. It ups the performance and the mobility to suit the lifestyle of the competitive gamer but excludes a lot of the features that make the Huntsman line so great. Overall, it's a minimalist keyboard that does what it sets out to do.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare hands-on
After playing the beta, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's core mechanics feel as good as ever. The discovery of potentially predatory microtransactions, however, could undermine the experience. With microtransactions sullying the gameplay of Black Ops 4, we can only hope player criticism has been heard.
Madden NFL 20 review: Get ready to run
Madden NFL 20 brings Ultimate Team and Franchise mode to the next level thanks to the overhauled player ratings system and easy-to-follow progression. But the run game feels like a cheat code, and the new Face of the Franchise career mode is contrived and underwhelming.
Apple Arcade’s mobile spin on subscription gaming is definitely worth your time
Apple Arcade arrives on September 19, offering a game subscription service that grants access to over 100 games for $4.99. “Extraordinary” and “redefining” have been used to describe what’s to come to the service, and we played some of the titles included to see if they live up to those expectations.
Final Fantasy XIV Shadowbringers review: Embrace the shadow
With the launch of the latest FFXIV expansion near, we dove into Early Access to get a taste of what to expect. With a shift in the story and tons of new content, we found that Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers builds upon the critically acclaimed MMO in all the right ways. It's a contender for the best expansion yet.
Sega Genesis Mini review: As good as you remember
Taking us back to the glory days of Sega versus Nintendo, the Sega Genesis Mini proves to be the most charming way to play some of the very best Genesis games today. The only thing it's missing is the handy rewind feature, which is a disappointing omission.
HTC Vive Cosmos hands-on review: Flippin’ genius
HTC wants to make VR a bit more social with its latest Vive Cosmos headset. Featuring an inventive flip-up mechanism and built-in sensors, the Cosmos goes a long way toward making VR more convenient for use in your home. But does this $699 do enough to convince people to jump into VR for the first time?
NBA 2K20 review: Double dribble
For the first time in 2K series history, the story mode is engaging and meaningful in NBA 2K20. That's progress, and so is the inclusion of WNBA teams and players. Other than those important additions, however, NBA 2K20 feels like a lateral move on the court and in its most popular game modes.
Xbox One S All-Digital Edition review: No-Disc Dystopia
The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition removes the disc drive and lowers the cost as a result, but the money you save isn’t worth losing physical games. The slightly more expensive Xbox One S will still be the better value in the long run when factoring in used game purchases and retailer sales.
Asus Chakram gaming mouse hands-on review
Joysticks might be the odd-one out in typical gaming controllers, but not with the Asus Chakram. It's a gaming mouse with a dual-axis joystick built into it, and it's a bizarre little rodent that few will find perfect for them. But for those that do, it could be a great addition to their gaming arsenal.
Lenovo Mirage AR with Marvel Dimension of Heroes hands-on review
Lenovo has widened its partnership with Disney to bring a Marvel superhero game to its Mirage AR phone-controlled augmented reality headset. With a new set of controllers, the system is a better gaming experience than the previous Star Wars edition, and we've given it a try.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne review: It won’t leave you cold
Colossal in both scope and enjoyment, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is more than the average expansion. A fun story complements the interesting new biome, while the monster list includes both old favorites and compelling new monsters to topple. Iceborne is a formidable, constantly rewarding challenge.
Gears 5 review: A much-needed win for Xbox
Gears of War 4 showed The Coalition could trace from Epic Games' work, but Gears 5 proves that the studio is capable of creating an innovative game all by itself. Huge leaps in storytelling, fantastic competitive multiplayer, and several cooperative options all add up to one of the best games on Xbox One.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 is a hair-raising ghost adventure fit for Halloween
During PAX West 2019, we went hands on with Luigi's Mansion 3 and explored one of the spooky hotel's haunted floors. Using new and old abilities, we fought off ghosts and solved puzzles in a way we've never experienced in the series before. In fact, this could be the best entry in the series yet.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake doesn’t need turn-based combat to be good
We played Final Fantasy VII Remake at PAX West 2019 and jumped into the renewed version of Midgard for the first time. After exploring and facing off with a few enemies, we found that while the remake ditches classic turn-based battles, it still delivers on the original game's satisfying tactical combat.
The Gears 5 campaign gets personal, adds more chaos to the bulletstorm
Gears 5 continues to build on what it established in Gears of War 4, adding open world segments, a new implementation of JACK, and a special focus on telling a more personal story. While the campaign makes refinements to the series' successes, it feels more like the groundwork for what comes next.
Blair Witch hands-on preview
With chilling environments, limited resources, and a near-constant blur between the lines of reality and delusion, the Blair Witch game takes you to the Black Hills Forest and challenges you to face your own fears while tackling the dark past of main character Ellis.
Control video game review
Remedy Entertainment’s Control is a mysterious paranormal adventure that occasionally loses sight of its goal in a wave of frenetic action. The basic combat loop and world work well, but it feels like the first step in a potential franchise that can more fully flesh out its best ideas.
The Razer Viper may not be striking, but it strikes fast
The Razer Viper is the latest gaming mouse to join the wired lineup. Despite its nondescript appearance, the Viper brings several new features to the table. An Optical Mouse Switch, Speedflex Cable, and lightweight body offer refined performance when gaming, even if it has a few design flaws
Wolfenstein: Youngblood Review
Wolfenstein: Youngblood introduces the Blazkowicz twins, Jess and Soph, as well as co-op, RPG-style progression, and non-linear missions. When you’re deep in the fight with a friend by your side, Youngblood can be great fun.
Turtle Beach Recon 70 offers clear sound but doesn’t leave a lasting impression
Turtle Beach's Recon 70 headset offers clear sound quality for its cheap price, but it lacks many features we have seen on similarly priced products. A very uncomfortable fit doesn't help things, nor does the headset being packaged in different colors to make it appear that it only works with one system.
The Scuf Prestige is a pro gaming controller that fails to compete
The Scuf Prestige controller offers several customization options and brilliant shoulder buttons, but its high price tag and the existence of the Xbox Elite controller make it less than impressive. It is Scuf's latest in a long line of premium gamepads that also includes the PS4's Vantage.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order review
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 crams 30-plus heroes and more than a dozen heroes into one familiar story. Though impressive in scope, the button mashing combat grows stale and the RPG elements are severely underutilized. It’s fun to play with friends on the couch, but don’t expect much depth.
Super Mario Maker 2 review
Super Mario Maker 2 improves on its predecessor in virtually every way, offering a robust level design toolkit to make your side-scrolling Mario dreams come true. It’s an equally lavish experience for those who just want to play. The lengthy campaign alone is worth the price of admission.
Tritton’s Kunai Pro is an impressive budget headset, but lacks compatibility
The Tritton Kunai Pro headset won't break the bank, but with its Dirac drivers on PC, it provides sound quality we expect from more expensive options. If you don't have a PC, however, it's not for you, as its best features are not compatible with Mac or PlayStation 4 at the moment.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is endearing and wonderfully weird
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is as weird as I remembered. The super cute art style fits Koholint Island so well, while a couple of welcome mechanical improvements help combat and exploration. Framerate issues hampered the E3 2019 demo, but Nintendo will more than likely fix it before launch.
The Genesis Mini will make you wonder how Sega lost the console wars
Sega may have lost the console wars in the '90s to Nintendo, but it has stepped up its game in the "Mini" console wars. We demoed the Sega Genesis Mini at E3 2019. With a solid, large library of games and an authentic hardware design, the Sega Genesis Mini offers a great way to relive your childhood.
Borderlands 3 feels like more of the same, but that’s a good thing
Our Borderlands 3 preview takes a look at new weapons and mechanics that help make it a new but familiar experience. It's your standard Borderlands fare and ultimately more of the same, and that isn't exactly a bad thing.
Cyberpunk 2077 looks like an astonishing evolution for action RPGs
Cyberpunk 2077's E3 2019 gameplay presentation once again pushed the envelope for open world RPGs. From staggeringly cool hacking mechanics to fluid first-person gunplay to a dizzying degree of customization, Cyberpunk 2077's latest hour long demo has us more excited than ever to enter this dystopia.