Game Rant - Video Game Reviews

Asgard's Wrath 2 Review

Anthony Taormina — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 14:00:21 GMT

When we reviewed the Meta Quest 3, we were impressed with the tech behind Meta’s third-generation VR headset but acknowledged that it still needed a killer app. Now, that killer app has arrived.

Custom Mech Wars Review

Brie Hoban — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 14:00:19 GMT

Custom Mech Wars is the newest title for fans of the Japanese Mecha and Mech-Assault genres. Developed by D3 Publisher, known best for its work on the Earth Defense Force series, the title sees players construct a specialized war machine as part of the civilian-led Four-Seven Squadron. While the title allows players to revel in its B-movie narrative, Custom Mech Wars struggles to deliver an experience worth investing in, as repetition, poor visuals, and a host of frustrating gameplay issues detract from the title's core strengths. In a year that has already seen the release of mech-assault titles like Armored Core 6 Ωthese elements and their implementation make Custom Mech Wars feel like a relic of the past.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Review

Adrian Morales — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 11:01:18 GMT

Perhaps it was because the first official tie-in game didn’t review too well at the time or simply because it has taken over a decade for James Cameron to bring the franchise back to the spotlight; it's clear that the Avatar IP is due for a new video game adaption. There is simply too much potential for a good game set on Pandora. Now, in 2023, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is Ubisoft’s grand attempt at bringing Pandora to life, giving Cameron’s box-office-shattering franchise the video game treatment on the grandest scale possible. Unfortunately, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora misses the mark and also happens to embarrass itself quite spectacularly.

Arizona Sunshine 2 Review

Dalton Cooper — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 16:00:26 GMT

One of the very first VR zombie shooter games to hit the market was the original Arizona Sunshine. The first Arizona Sunshine game proved to be quite popular despite its general lack of content compared to many other games on the market, but that's where the sequel comes in. Arizona Sunshine 2 is a meatier zombie shooter game, and one that feels like a definite upgrade over its predecessor.

The Last Faith Review

Sam Stewart — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 06:54:57 GMT

2D action-adventure The Last Faith doesn't bring much new to the table, but what it does, it does well. It borrows liberally and unashamedly from its inspirations; part Castlevania, part Dark Souls, and a lot of Bloodborne. It takes so much, in fact, that it struggles to embody an identity of its own, and it's hard not to think that, in many ways, it's simply "2D Bloodborne." Yet wrapped up in all the gothic ambiance and nebulous dialogue lies the core of an excellent Metroidvania. A wide array of weapons and spells offer the right amount of diversity without becoming overwhelming; bosses are challenging; and the well-designed, interconnected levels yield their many secrets to thorough players.

Persona 5 Tactica Review

Shane R. Moyer — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 17:00:25 GMT

Persona 5 was one of the most popular RPGs released in the past 10 years, but developer Atlus wasn’t happy with releasing just one successful game set in the Persona universe. After Persona 5 came Persona 5 Dancing in Starlight, Persona 5 Royal, Persona 5 Strikers, Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, and finally Persona 5 Tactica. With so many stories already set in the Persona universe, something different was needed to maintain the series' popularity, and Persona 5 Tactica is striving to be that something. It both hits and misses the mark though, and fans will undoubtedly be split on how effective it is in carrying on the Persona frenzy.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Review

Dalton Cooper — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 11:00:20 GMT

Activision has been releasing a new Call of Duty game every year without fail since 2005, with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 being the latest in the franchise. However, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 finds itself in a unique position compared to other games in the series. Reports have indicated that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 had some serious challenges behind the scenes, with the game reportedly having a significantly shorter development time than its predecessors.

Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn DLC Review

Joshua Duckworth — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 06:40:51 GMT

Tales of Arise stands apart from other entries in the franchise because of its darker, Westernized story, all while retaining its identity in storytelling and combat. The result is one of the best-reviewed 'Tales of' games in the franchise, and Bandai Namco has seen fit to expand that experience with the Beyond the Dawn expansion.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 Review

Dalton Cooper — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 15:00:20 GMT

Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. series has inspired a number of copycats over the years, but few have managed to make much of a splash. One surprising exception to the rule was 2021's Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl. While the game released to mixed reviews, the concept of Nickelodeon characters battling it out in a Smash Bros.-style platform fighting game generated quite a bit of buzz. Many agreed that the game built a solid foundation that a sequel could improve upon, and that's exactly what Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 has set out to do.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name Review

Brie Hoban — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 15:00:20 GMT

The Yakuza franchise returns with Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, a spin-off title that continues the story of veteran protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. Nearly seven years after Yakuza 6: The Song of Life closed the curtain on the Dragon of Dojima, developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio delivers a satisfying return to the spotlight, which functions as both a celebration of the franchise’s past and further evidence of its bright future. In addition to Like a Dragon Gaiden boasting strong core gameplay and combat mechanics, the experience is wrapped in an emotional narrative that carries a surprising amount of weight, despite its relatively short 12-hour runtime. Together, these converging elements make Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name a must-play for veteran fans, and the perfect jumping-on point for newcomers.