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reviews

written and video reviews for videogames for other outlets.

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Call of Duty: WWII – Review (Push Square)

Each Call of Duty since Modern Warfare 2 has put the player in higher positions of power. Whether you’re the unspoken, do-it-all heroes of Modern Warfare 2 or the literal commander participating in all of Infinite Warfare’s combat, feelings of helplessness and limitations have been de-emphasized. This also extends to the series’ adoption of wall-running, boosting,…

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The Evil Within 2 – Review (Push Square)

There’s a certain genius to madness. That’s especially true for crafting superb survival horror that balances the irrational and bizarre with careful consideration. The Evil Within, which put players in a psychopath’s mind-made reality, was one such example. There was tension-inducing enemy encounters amid erratic pacing. Calling it a diamond in…

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Metroid: Samus Returns – Review (Tech Raptor)

Samus Aran has been in retirement. It’s not only been seven years since her last major game (the controversial Metroid: Other M) but also nearly twice as long since her own 2D platforming title. After the general disaster that surrounded Metroid Prime: Federation Force, Nintendo’s long-winded reluctance to approach the legendary franchise makes…

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Sparc – Review (Tech Raptor)

As I figuratively stepped into the world of Sparc, I could instantly tell it would own up to its inspiration. It unabashedly apes the concept surrounding TRON‘s iconic disc battles but does so with a sense of class and faithfulness that lets you live out movie scenes in the comfort of your own…

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Absolver – Review (Tech Raptor)

When you go into a fighting game, you expect your character to have a predefined list of moves. It’s just a matter of taking time to memorize them and making out viable combos that prove to be the main learning curves. Once you’ve generally mastered these steps, you observe which…

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LawBreakers – Review (Push Square)

Arena shooters aren’t all that common on consoles. Sure, we’ve had general examples like Unreal Tournament, Team Fortress 2, and DOOM land on PlayStation platforms, but these titles are best experienced and sometimes exclusively made for PC. LawBreakers was going to be no exception with its focus on insanely fast speed and chaotic combat. However, Boss…

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Smashbox Arena – Review (Tech Raptor)

I know what you’re thinking, so don’t deny it. It’s easy to judge Smashbox Arena right off the bat. It looks like an HD version of Roblox with an artistic direction guided by the philosophy “let’s throw everything generic at the wall and see what happens.” The visuals are a bear to get past…

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Tacoma – Review (Tech Raptor)

There’s an age-old question that game theorists have long thought futile to answer: What is a video game? No one agrees on the exact parameters or qualifications, but it’s still an important debate that challenges our preconceived assumptions about the medium and what can be classified under it. Back in…

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RiME – Review (Tech Raptor)

There is nothing new under the sun, and video games are no exception to this proverbial truth. Titles boldly pioneer new mechanics or ideas yearly, but everyone is inspired in some fashion by video games and other media that have come beforehand. While most attempt to quietly imbue borrowed concepts,…

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