Reviews
731
in total
published by Polygon
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Pokemon UNITE
A review for Polygon2021-09-28
Pokémon Unite is at its most enjoyable when dedicated players are going head to head. I was looking for a game to play but fell into an entirely new hobby unto itself. I picked up Unite for the Pokémon but ended up staying for a compelling new challenge. It gave me the opportunity (and the excuse) to apply myself and learn to play a MOBA well. And when it comes to MOBAs, that’s no simple feat.Read entire review on Polygon -
Cruis'n Blast
A review for Polygon2021-09-21
Cruis’n Blast borrows a lot from films like the Fast and Furious franchise. But as those films get higher budgets and more polished visual effects, their creators could learn from a game like Cruis’n Blast: Too much polish can conceal all the fun.Read entire review on Polygon -
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
A review for Polygon2021-09-20
Inspirations should always serve as a jumping-off point, something to build upon. But it often feels less like Kena: Bridge of Spirits was inspired by things, and more like it decided it could squish its beautifully realized world of magic and spirits into a ready-made mold. The result is a thoughtless blend; a hybridized paste. Vibrant and undoubtedly beautiful, Kena: Bridge of Spirits shows us every color in the spectrum. But strangely, it all feels brown — a muddy, grayish brown that comes from having mixed together every color on the palette.Read entire review on Polygon -
Eastward
A review for Polygon2021-09-14
Details like Earth Born are what make Eastward special for me. Not only is the gameplay both challenging and clever (and sometimes, punishing), but the worlds are built with depth. In both its dungeons and places of reprieve, Eastward is continually worth exploring.Read entire review on Polygon -
No More Heroes III
A review for Polygon2021-08-26
You don’t play a No More Heroes game for its story. You play it for its style, and No More Heroes 3 has style in spades. The best thing I can say about No More Heroes 3 is that its combat and open-world design stay out of the way, letting its style take center stage, occasionally facilitating some truly great one-off moments. Its clashing styles, tricks, and references are a testament to the powerful draw of the superficial — yet somehow, it manages to be earnest about its love for pop culture and art in a way that still feels special, even amid our current metaverse hellscape. I know it worked because I’ve started looking into Takashi Miike films. They sound pretty cool.Read entire review on Polygon -
Aliens: Fireteam Elite
A review for Polygon2021-08-23
It’s been eight years since the disastrous Aliens: Colonial Marines, but its shadow still looms over Aliens: Fireteam Elite. The game presents a solid foundation that manages to surprise in a few respects, but doesn’t quite take the plunge in full. I was hoping this iteration on the Aliens universe would finally be the one unafraid to take risks. But I’ll have to wait for the next attempt to find out if it’s not just a hopeless wish.Read entire review on Polygon -
The Ascent
A review for Polygon2021-08-10
As it stands, The Ascent is less a purposeful amalgamation of ideas, and more a palimpsest of warring philosophies. Like the precarious dystopia it takes place in, The Ascent’s glittering sheen so often feels like sleight of hand, distracting my gaze from the flimsy pillars holding everything up.Read entire review on Polygon -
NEO: The World Ends With You
A review for Polygon2021-07-26
If you’re a fan of the franchise, there’s a lot here for you specifically. If you’re coming in fresh, the game is going to throw a lot of jargon at you in a very short amount of time, and then it’s going to hit you with references to prior events with which you won’t be familiar. You don’t need to play the previous game or watch its anime adaptation, but doing so might help with context. If none of the narrative stuff interests you, there’s plenty of in-game stuff to collect: I’m currently working on completing my pin collection, whittling down my Noisepedia and hunting down graffiti (the game’s version of achievements). When this game shines, it really shines, even if maybe too much of that shine is refracted by its past.Read entire review on Polygon -
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
A review for Polygon2021-07-21
It’s brilliant in ways other Zelda games can’t be, thanks to its refined combat, meticulously built dungeons, and surprisingly heartfelt story about coming to grips with destiny. Revisiting it in 2021, with its more rigid traditions now broken, it can breathe a little easier. It’s played its part.Read entire review on Polygon -
Mini Motorways
A review for Polygon2021-07-20
Mini Motorways is an excellent chill-out game, and there’s enough variety to keep things interesting.Read entire review on Polygon -
Chicory: A Colorful Tale
A review for Polygon2021-06-25
The juxtaposition of Chicory’s lightness and darkness creates a necessary balance. Without it, the game might have felt overly sweet or unnecessarily grim. Instead, Chicory’s earnestness in the highs and lows finds the perfect tone. [Recommended]Read entire review on Polygon -
Mario Golf: Super Rush
A review for Polygon2021-06-24
I can’t imagine spending much time playing traditional golf in Super Rush. I have plenty of alternatives I could turn to for that. Mario Golf: Super Rush is the only game that lets me body-check Luigi on the way to notching a birdie on the 18th hole.Read entire review on Polygon -
Minute of Islands
A review for Polygon2021-06-14
The darkness of Minute of Islands is punctuated by its light and airy art style; it’s a colorful, cartoon world that, from afar, looks like a place I’d love to live in.Read entire review on Polygon -
Game Builder Garage
A review for Polygon2021-06-10
Children are like sponges, eager to learn and soak up new knowledge to apply to the decades ahead of them. If you’re an adult who’s curious about how games work, Game Builder Garage is a fun, informative experience most of the time — but it’s one you may prefer to experience in short bursts, lest the slow-moving lessons force you to snap your Switch in two.Read entire review on Polygon -
Knockout City
A review for Polygon2021-05-21
The other back-of-the-mind tingling I have about Knockout City is how little time it takes to feel like I’ve played something meaningful.Read entire review on Polygon -
Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir
A review for Polygon2021-05-12
Famicom Detective Club reminded me why I love mystery games. It’s also current proof that the genre can be complex in its simplicity, and that it deserves its longevity.Read entire review on Polygon -
Returnal
A review for Polygon2021-04-29
Even after more than 60 runs of Returnal, the enchanting presentation and sense of discovery still remain. I now feel vigorous compared to the creatures that have tried to defend their territory against an unwanted visitor. The last boss only took me one try to beat it, yet I could barely make any progress in finding the right answers. I feel like I’m running in circles. But I’m not giving up.Read entire review on Polygon -
New Pokemon Snap
A review for Polygon2021-04-28
New Pokémon Snap is video gaming’s equivalent of visiting Jurassic Park — without the whole eating-the-tourists thing — or landing a gig as a Planet Earth photographer. And you can make the trip from the comfort of your Switch.Read entire review on Polygon -
Pac-Man 99
A review for Polygon2021-04-15
I’m still often confused about what’s going on, and why, but it’s impressive how the bones of Pac-Man fit so neatly into a battle royale experience, with so much thought put into the use of intel and basic strategy that the skill ceiling is currently hard to fathom. Then there’s the fact that you can have the whole game loaded and be in a full match in just a minute or two. The result is both confounding and empowering. When I win, it’s of course due to my skill, and when I lose? Well, I don’t really know what’s going on, do I?Read entire review on Polygon -
Cozy Grove
A review for Polygon2021-04-06
That’s what ultimately makes the daily bursts of Cozy Grove, something I can be embedded in for 20 to 30 minutes a day, a perfect balance for my life right now. New Horizons was perfect for its time in 2020, but my brain needs something even simpler today. Playing Cozy Grove in a meaningful way only takes a small period of time, and it’s something I don’t need to dedicate precious mental energy to.Read entire review on Polygon
