Sony

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers (PS4)

The world is literally in pieces when World Brothers begins. Ignore the physics of this situation – the EDF team seeks to put these individual blocks back together by defeating alien motherships. For some reason, that works. Just go with it. World Brothers does. Don’t arrive at World Brothers looking for a formula twist; this… Continue reading Earth Defense Force: World Brothers (PS4)

Sony

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla (PS4)

Journeying from their home to new lands in England, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla’s viking tribe comes near the shore, noticing crucifixes adorning churches. It’s hilarious to them – a religion that celebrates not only a defeat, but symbolizes the torture device that killed the Christian’s prophet. It’s a clever way to sell Viking beliefs and culture,… Continue reading Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla (PS4)

Sony

Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues (PS4)

Cobra Kai’s joke – the show’s joke – is that two 50-year-old men can’t let their feud over a high school karate tournament go. No one else cares, because it’s stupid, masculine posturing. Whether by choice or by budget restraints (the latter, most likely), Cobra Kai’s game spin-off nails that nuance. As the dueling karate… Continue reading Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues (PS4)

PC

Mafia: Definitive Edition (PS4)

There’s nothing revolutionary in Mafia’s organized crime story. The cliches and drama all play to form, but Mafia does allow an exploration of America’s depression era, including the desperation and sheer naivety of alcohol prohibition. It’s not that Mafia allows players to gun down cops en masse with a machine gun (many games do), so… Continue reading Mafia: Definitive Edition (PS4)

Sony

WWE 2K Battlegrounds (PS4)

Odd that WWE Battlegrounds is more authentic to the WWE than other prior licensed wrestling games. McMahon exists in the story’s background, taking credit for success, while keeping profits high by stuffing talent onto cramped buses as they move across the country. Unlocking new wrestlers means cycling through a menu where talent is encased in… Continue reading WWE 2K Battlegrounds (PS4)

Sony

Marvel’s Avengers (PS4)

Five years after the Avengers were forcibly disbanded, a government-supported, rogue military group (AIM) begins rounding up “inhumans,” putting them in cages, and biased network news cheers them on. To get these obvious parables now leaves one to wonder what future Trumpian parables hold. Captain America draws a direct line to AIM and the Nazis.… Continue reading Marvel’s Avengers (PS4)

Sony

Life is Strange 2 (PS4)

Life is Strange 2’s first antagonist is a cop, recklessly drawing a gun, leading to tragedy. Then come the racists, the bigoted conservatives, cultish Evangelical Christians, and finally, the border wall. Life is Strange 2 follows two Mexican boys – orphaned by police violence – as they road trip through Donald Trump’s America. It’s obvious… Continue reading Life is Strange 2 (PS4)