Gaming

Impressions: Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition

July 4, 2025 Gaming Articles

An epic quest to save humanity and explore an alien world.

Having never played a game in the Xenoblade Chronicles series, I had no idea what to expect as dipped into Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, but having heard widespread acclaim and a number of friends’ recommendation to play, on top of an undeniably good launch discount from a nearby store, I picked this title up in April as an addition to my handful of games for the Nintendo Switch Lite. Little did I know I would be diving into such an in-depth, quality experience.

Monolith Soft have proven to be a team of extraordinary talent, and Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is but the latest in their list of fan-adored works. Considering this is the first game in the series I’ve ever tried, I’ve not played the original version of the game, but I’m aware that this “Definitive Edition” brings countless quality-of-life changes as well as incorporating the original’s DLC and some new content. All in all, it’s a mighty package of gaming in one small game card, with HowLongToBeat™ clocking its main story alone at 62 hours. I’ve played just 21 hours and remain quite early in the story, having spent a lot of time exploring, leveling up, and enjoying the countless quests there are to find and complete.

Extraterrestrial Lands to Explore and Discover

The start of the game has you trekking through the wilderness of the alien planet Mira to the game’s hub location, New Los Angeles, humanity’s last bastion of hope. The opening segment does a great job of introducing the player to the combat, simple to understand but tactically engaging, and what gameplay outside of safety will be like. Wild creatures are everywhere, some dramatically higher level than you, an early lesson to pick your battles and avoid taking on indigenous beings you are not yet ready for. It’s a great way to gently control what the player engages (though the opportunity to pick such fights is always there) and is refreshing considering most modern RPGs and open-world games either scale the world to the player’s level or separate regions by difficulty. In here, you may find a level 57 beast roaming the canyon you’re exploring while you’re merely level 15, and depending on whether it’s the type to aggressively attack on sight or simply pass you by, you’ll have to be prepared for any potential encounter, or escape.

Once you reach the city, the game opens up, and you see just how much there is to do and accomplish, between countless quests of all varieties, and a positively absurd amount of gear to purchase, earn, and unlock, both for statistical growth and cosmetic value. The whole city itself is a wondrous place to explore, bathed in “Affinity” quests, missions you take on to grow closer to other characters and learn more about them, as well as a fine sprinkling of other quests and events as well. It seems like the flow of content never stops, and as you advance through the main story missions that send you far from home to progress through each chapter, more features and functions unlock, and the already expanding, engaging world becomes that much more interesting.

A Living, Breathing World

Diving into this game without any expectations, save for others’ high praise, meant that I didn’t really know what to anticipate in terms of any particular element. The thing that perhaps strikes me as most impressive is the game’s high-fidelity visuals. I’ve been playing exclusively on a Switch Lite, so I can’t speak for the looks on a large-screen display, but the game’s graphics are brilliant. The texture resolution is fantastic and everything is so clear, it does so much to make the world feel exquisitely detailed and lush, along with animated foliage, and needless to say, intricate, unique creature design. Characters’ armor glistens in the sunlight, the dynamic weather system and spectacular time of day mechanics make every area feel different, even when revisited countless times; it’s clear that a lot of passion was behind making Mira a world you fight to survive in and discover, and not just a playable area dotted with things to fulfill. Immersion is a powerful tool, both for storytelling and for effectively bringing players out of their real world and into the digital one. It is a strong factor in this game’s strengths.

Unlocking new skills and arts, meeting and learning about more characters, and plunging further into the story are but a few of the many things I look forward to as I push further into Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. It is an expansive game with an abundance of substance, worthy of my recommendation to others, without doubt. If you’re looking for a science-fiction/fantasy RPG where you decide your pace and how you most wish to spend your time, Monolith Soft’s grand adventure is waiting for you.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is available now for Nintendo Switch

Impressions: Honkai Star Rail

June 24, 2025 Gaming Articles

A turn-based RPG with gorgeous graphics, rewarding gameplay, and so much to see and do.

I may be late to this party, but it simply means I get to enjoy years of added content and improvements! Honkai Star Rail is an experience I’ve only recently delved into, but it’s been a blast so far. Only time will tell if that impression holds up, as free-to-play titles like this can become quite a grind, but as I move along the early chapters, I am so far very impressed.

Another Star in the HoYoverse Skies

MiHoYo has been on quite a roll over the years, with the needn’t-be-introduced Genshin Impact having engrossed millions around the world, on top of the existing Honkai series of games and 2024’s Zenless Zone Zero. I’ve played their other titles and have great respect for them, though I don’t find myself personally attached to any.

I decided to try Honkai Star Rail purely out of curiosity, and as some friends of mine actively enjoy it. The biggest takeaway I have so far is that there is so much to do, and I consider that a very good thing. The story is at the forefront of progression, but as you step forward, you unlock more and more ways to spend your time in the game, from roguelike modes for tracking down gear, to minigames that can be played with others, all of these contributing to the collection of items necessary to strengthen your characters.

A Little Personality Goes a Long Way

I adore games with personality, and HSR is absolutely oozing with it. There are a multitude of characters to meet, many to collect as well, and they all have distinct personalities and traits. The localized dialogue, as is typical with HoYoverse games, is well-written and more than satisfactory. The story, just in my early steps, has already touched upon powerful themes such as discrimination, xenophobia, and what true justice is.

Something else I love in a video game is a great sense of humor, and characters like Herta, master of the Herta Space Station, chime in with entertaining dialogue to string you along in their quests, or March 7th, whose name alone summons the player’s interest, even if explained almost immediately, but it all adds depth and allure to a cast that covers a broad spectrum of types and tropes, all that stand strongly on their own.

HoYoverse’s Graphical Fidelity and Style Shine Brightly

For anyone who has played Genshin Impact, you know what to expect in the visual department. Unique character designs with strong colors and aesthetics are complemented by some of gaming’s finest animation work, from the satisfaction of controlling a character in the world via travel and pre-emptive strikes, or the raw graphical feast that is the combat animations, sprinkled with particles and both visual and audio feedback that bring the world to life.

Part of the core appeal of a game like this, collecting featured characters, is all about the strong visuals. Knowing that someone you get can be enjoyed in photo mode and while exploring the world of Honkai Star Rail makes the urge to pursue characters all the greater. Again, though I’m early in the story, I’ve been able to enjoy the space station and the first world, and both have been a delight to see and explore, with details in every corner that make each trip worthwhile.

How “Free” is Free?

I’m a massive skeptic of free-to-play games, and be a game free or paid, I avoid microtransactions, battle passes, or any such content at all costs. Because of this approach, I would say I’m particularly stingy about games that feel like they’re wasting the player’s time or trying to tunnel them into making a purchase. HSR contains the usual culprits: both premium currency that can be used in exchange for certain items, most specifically to pull for characters, and a season pass feature where the player has several tracks in which to earn items, some free, some behind the paywall.

So far, I’ve not felt that the game has expected or demanded me to spend a cent on it in any way. Through gameplay, you can earn currencies that can be exchanged for what you want or need, it’s just a matter of the fact that, of course, grinding through gameplay is more effort than swiping your credit card. However, the game is completely free to download and play, and whether you spend money on it, as is the case with other titles be they free or not, is up to you and what complements your experience.

Thus far I have obtained a number of great characters and an abundance of necessary items for growing them, and I’ve not felt I am lacking in either department. An incoming collaboration with Fate has me saving the “special” tickets for pulling featured characters, and it will be my first time I aim to get a specific character, in this case, Saber. But as usual, all of these things come down to individual experiences and expectations; I’ve played enough of these types of games to not truly care if I get a character or not, though it’s always exciting if they do arrive. Regardless, there is a whole story and world to explore, and that’s more than enough to keep me busy until it becomes tedious, if it ever does.

Why Not Give It a Try?

Honkai Star Rail greatly expands with each update, furthering a game that is enjoyed by many players for the many reasons I’ve given above, and more. I struggle to find games that capture my attention these days, as I have limited free time and specific tastes that seem harder to fulfill as modern gaming trudges on. I feel that HSR is a great pick-up-and-play game; I can log in, do a few activities, and disconnect whenever I like, without feeling like I’m being punished for being away or spending my time elsewhere. This, added to the beautiful art, satisfying gameplay, and rewarding activities to engage in, all contribute to my personal recommendation that HSR is a game worth at least a try.

You can download and play Honkai Star Rail for free right now!

Honkai Star Rail is available now for PlayStation 5, Android, iOS, and PC

Review: Oblivion Remastered (PC)

June 18, 2025 Gaming Articles

A timeless romp through Cyrodil refreshed with superior graphics and quality-of-life changes whilst maintaining the charm and quirkiness that made the original a classic.

Author’s Note: Oblivion is one of my favorite games of all time! I have strong, positive feelings about it and pleasant memories associated with it as well. My review and any thoughts and opinions about Oblivion Remastered are absolutely affected by how highly I think of the original.

“Close Shut the Jaws of Oblivion…”

The Elder Scrolls series may be most recognized for the wildly successful entry Skyrim, a game so loved that its open-world mechanics and gameplay elements continue to inspire countless games today, but the success of that title is partly owed to all the things that Oblivion did right. Now, in 2025, players are presented with the opportunity to revisit the world of Cyrodil, or dive in for the first time, through Virtuous’ Oblivion Remastered.

So, how is it?

A Lush World with Open-Ended Gameplay

That first moment, when you finally exit the Imperial City Sewers and the fantasy world of Cyrodil is laid out before you, is the very instant you realize what Oblivion is all about. This world is yours to go and explore, to find treasure deep in caves, to enter towns and settlements in search of quests, vendors, or an inn, and to scour every inch of the wilderness and civilization to find what secrets lie in store.

For those who have played the original, gameplay remains entirely unchanged, and that’s not a bad thing. The simplicity of combat, freedom of action, and natural exploration all reflect a gameplay loop that remains easy to get into and enjoy, in sessions as short or long as you like. The open world genre has exploded since the days of Oblivion’s 2006 release, and the coziness of Cyrodil, a world littered with quests and places to explore, but nothing too overwhelming, can be refreshing if you’ve come from a modern, bursting-at-the-seams RPG. Games have changed much in 20 years, and playing Oblivion Remastered feelings like diving into a time capsule of how things used to be, mostly for good, a little for bad.

Gameplay being identical to the original means issues are identical as well. Characters get stuck on scattered terrain or the odd object on a path. Quests sometimes won’t trigger or advance, requiring the player to independently determine to restart the game or force time to advance. Most of all, though the original was plagued with some crashes, I feel that they are more frequent here. Thankfully, Oblivion’s save system allows the player to constantly safeguard their data via the ability to save anywhere and frequent autosaves, but that doesn’t disqualify the fact that the game crashes far more often than it should. That said, the crashes were a mere inconvenience during my playthrough and did not affect my overall impressions of the game. Ideally, a future patch will iron out the technical issues.

A Mighty Visual Overhaul with some Technical Drawbacks

Somehow, the developers at Virtuous have managed to make a game that looks entirely different and yet captures the original’s atmosphere with impressive accuracy. Oblivion was limited by the technology at the time, and respectfully, Bethesda’s capabilities. With Unreal Engine 5, Oblivion Remastered delivers a beautiful, modern reimagining of a 20-year-old world, bringing the foliage, creatures, and architecture to life in a splendid way. The player character and NPCs, though improved, still carry a lot of the “personality” of the original game, where some look alright and others look like someone fooled around with face shape sliders far too much.

All in all, the game is a visual treat, though it can be quite demanding. Interior sections run smoothly and look stunning with realistically lit torches, cracks of sunshine in caves or through windows, and dazzling shadow work that brings gorgeous contrast to the world. However, the exterior sections, the large open world, experience dramatic fps differences that seem to be swayed only a little by changing visual and graphic settings. On PC, this can be somewhat alleviated by modifying frame generation settings and resolution scaling, but ultimately, questing out in the forests and fields of Oblivion’s world is technically demanding. I adjusted my settings to reach an acceptable performance level, but the experience will vary by player, and even by play session.

Fantastic Music and Sound with Infamous Voice Performances

Like the gameplay, Oblivion Remastered’s audio remains identical to the original. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; the audio design for the world and environment are top-notch, and the soundtrack is a delight to the ears, between the tense themes of combat and the easygoing, whimsical melodies that play when at peace in the wilderness. The voice acting however is hit or miss, depending on your feelings about Oblivion’s easily recognizable dialogue.

The original is well known for lines that have been meme’d for nearly two decades, including actual mistakes in the delivery of a few of them. They’re all here, in their splendor, the vast majority untouched. You will recognize a handful of the performers managing the game’s swatch of numerous characters, but a Bethesda title like Oblivion (or Skyrim for that matter) isn’t where you will go for world-class, epic line deliveries, with respect.

It can feel a bit silly when you speak with one quest giver just to find that another character or two just beside them are all clearly voiced by the same person, but it’s something you will either get used to, or that could negatively affect your enjoyment of the game. For me, I’m used to it and I consider it part of the original’s nostalgia.

A Modern Take for a Modern Audience

Over the years, many things have become standardized throughout the gaming industry, and I can happily say that Oblivion Remastered benefits from this growth. A variety of accessibility options helps players finetune the experience for their own personal desires, and full controller support for the PC version was desperately needed and is so appreciated.

There are an abundance of quality of life changes scattered throughout the game, from improvements to movement, to tweaks in the way the player interacts with characters and the world, all designed to make the experience more smooth than the original. My personal favorite addition is the ability to sprint, which fits perfectly well into the existing game by using the already present fatigue mechanic.

Closing Thoughts…

As a diehard fan of Oblivion, this remaster checks every box on the list for me. It respects the original in every way, while improving in places where the 2006 game was lacking, most of all visually. There are some technical issues with performance and the occasional crash, at least on PC, but these issues didn’t detract from my ability to enjoy the game experience what the developers had intended. I highly recommend Oblivion Remastered to anyone who wants to relive the classic experience, or newcomers looking for a grand RPG to sink dozens of hours into.

PROS

  • Near faultless open-world gameplay that rewards those who wish to explore and seek adventure.
  • Outstanding graphical upgrade with a gorgeous world and fantastic creatures.
  • Immersive sound design with a lovely soundtrack that complements roaming gameplay.

CONS

  • Quest bugs and gameplay hiccups from the original plague the experience in a minor but sometimes frustrating way.
  • The new graphics package comes with performance issues that can make exploring in the open world a struggle.
  • The original’s infamous voice acting makes a return, for better and for worse. The characters have great personality, but hearing the same performers over and over again can get repetitive.

4/5

Oblivion Remastered is available now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles, and PC.

Hype Train: Code Vein 2

June 16, 2025 Gaming Articles

With the recent reveal of Code Vein 2 at Summer Game Fest 2025, the hype is building up for this highly-anticipated sequel!

Released in 2019, Banda Namco Entertainment’s Code Vein found great success with fans who loved the anime aesthetic tightly wrapped around gaming’s increasingly prevalent soulslike mechanics. The game was part of a vast array of well-received titles the publisher released during the last gaming generation, alongside titles such as Scarlet Nexus and Tales of Arise. As of March 2023, Code Vein has shipped over 3 million copies, an impressive milestone for a brand-new intellectual property taking on a genre with some industry-defining experiences, and evidence that it’s a smart decision for Namco Bandai to pursue a bigger and better sequel, one that may reach greater heights.

Code Vein 2 Screenshots | Bandai Namco Entertainment

Part of the game’s success among fans was the incredible character creator, an editor for the player’s protagonist that allowed an immense depth of customization, leading players to recreate their favorite characters from other franchises, or make unique and exquisite new ones altogether. An improved and expanded character creator would invite great enthusiasm and hype from Code Veins fans and interested newcomers as well.

Early reveal details indicate a grand new story for players to experience, as well as enhancements to the series’ unique take on the genre’s typical combat systems. It’s not known yet whether this sequel is directly linked to the original’s story, but either way, players can expect a dark and gritty world in which to explore, fight, and survive. Taking on the role of a “Revenant Hunter”, the player must travel through time alongside new character Lou to save the world from imminent collapse. Namco Bandai Entertainment has also shared that partner characters will be making a return, powerful allies with which you can fight and grow bonds. In the original Code Vein, players could quest alongside a companion of their choice.

Personally, as someone who isn’t strongly into soulslike games, I had a great time with Code Vein, and I can admit a large part of that was due to the visual style, freedom of character creation, and the high quality of the game overall. The different approach with this title allowed me to enjoy a type of game I usually wouldn’t pursue, and that says a lot about the great potential of the property as a running series. The more we learn about the sequel, the closer we’ll get to seeing if it can live up to the original game’s success, and possibly even surpass it.

Time will tell what Code Vein 2 will bring to fans new and old alike, but the developers at Bandai Namco Studios will surely capitalize on the success of the original game, mechanically and stylistically, to bring back excited fans and simultaneously introduce fresh ones into the fold over half a decade later.

Code Vein 2 is set to release in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles, and PC.