Kyle Hilliard

We finally got to experience a full, proper, no-asterisk Zelda adventure without having to explain, “Actually, you play as Link,” and are am grateful for the experience.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fantastic reminder that the franchise that began on the Super Nintendo in 1994 is a real competitor for Nintendo’s best 2D platforming series, an extremely competitive landscape.

It may not be the revolutionary VR title that unequivocally makes the platform become widely adopted, but I would absolutely count it among my favorite VR experiences alongside games like Beat Saber and Half-Life: Alyx.

An absurd tone with surprising pockets of earnest pathos, fun characters, and bombastic action are all present and accounted for here.

Despite the difficult revelations Silent Hill 2 unveils along the way and how uncomfortable the experience made me (by design) I was eager to immediately start the journey again after seeing the credits.

Time will tell if Capcom pushes Kunitsu-Gami along the same track as games like Monster Hunter or Resident Evil, but I would be perfectly happy for it to forever exist as an excellent standalone experiment that delivered satisfying results.

As a means to participate in some nostalgia with local friends and play classic games for exactly as long as they’re fun, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition succeeds in its intention.

This HD version is not a radical reinvention of the handheld game, but it’s a well-executed port of an experience that always deserved a little more.

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is a fantastic puzzle game I already wish I could play again for the first time.

I am grateful that this shined-up version of the GameCube classic I missed is finally available on a contemporary platform.

I may not have had strong connections with most of the cast and was annoyed with a number of specific sections, but I liked spending time in Sand Land (and beyond) and seeing my garage upgrade and grow.

Princess Peach: Showtime could be a decent first game for young Peach fans, but longtime Nintendo players looking for the Princess’ equivalent of a quality Kirby platformer will likely be underwhelmed.

Super Mario RPG is not entirely innocent of the sins of video games past, but old fans will relish the chance to see the game in a new light, and I’m confident newcomers will find something to love.

Even in the moments I was most frustrated, I still admire Remedy’s commitment to creating a unique experience and embracing its weirdness.

I don’t know that I will ever fully understand what transpired during my molecular journey on Cocoon’s alien world, but its imagery and puzzles will stay with me for some time.

Sea of Stars is a smooth, consistently thrilling adventure with fun combat, all in a gorgeous and inviting world.

Remnant II ultimately doesn’t do enough to separate itself from the genres and games that inspired it, but its third-person shooter take on mechanics and ideas borrowed from the Souls games continues to be solid.

Pikmin may never rise to the top of the Nintendo heap, and it’s probably unfair to expect it ever could, but the latest Pikmin is the best effort yet.

Every level in Viewfinder feels like it is trying out a new idea based on the core concept making it a consistently novel experience throughout.

They say you can never go home again, but I adored returning to Hyrule with all new tools.