All Baobab Tree locations in Tales of Kenzera

[ EA While it wasn’t marketed as being a particularly punishing game, Tales of Kenzera: Zau is by no means easy. You will have plenty of environmental challenges that can instantly sap your life, and the enemies you face — especially the bosses — are no slouches. When you first begin, it will only take a … Read more

Try this Kirby-like Metroidvania while you wait for Silksong

[ Lucid Dreams Studio It’s been a long few years for Hollow Knight fans. The Metroidvania’s long-awaited sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, was announced five years ago. Since then, we’ve barely heard a peep about it outside of one high-profile trailer in 2022 that claimed it would launch within 12 months. That didn’t happen, and we’ve … Read more

The best games on Xbox Game Pass (March 2024)

[ As the Xbox Game Pass program has grown, so has our list of the best games on Xbox Game Pass. After the launch of the Xbox Series X, Microsoft has doubled down on Game Pass, now offering well over 350 games on the console alone. To help you through option paralysis, we rounded up … Read more

Ultros review: a bold, beautiful, and baffling Metroidvania

[ “Ultros is a bold and beautiful artistic vision, but a convoluted Metroidvania.” Pros Psychedelic art Fantastic music Unique gardening system Cons Unclear visual design Underexplained systems Tedious backtracking My bloody quest to kill a grotesque demon is about to reach its climax when I stop to do a bit of intergalactic gardening. Testing out … Read more

The best Xbox Series X games for 2024

[ After an uneven console cycle with the Xbox One, Microsoft’s latest consoles are aimed at getting the ship back on course. The Xbox Series X is a next-generation powerhouse that rivals gaming PCs, while the Xbox Series S is an affordable stopgap for those who are curious about trying new games. There’s no shortage … Read more

Tales of Kenzera: Zau could be the new Metroidvania gold standard

[ EA We’re only one month into the new year, but I’m calling it now: 2024 is going to be the year of the Metroidvania. The 2D action-adventure genre, inspired by the Metroid and Castlevania formula, is already having a banner year thanks to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. That’s only the beginning. With … Read more

2008’s Prince of Persia reboot was way ahead of its time

[ Ubisoft Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a fantastic Metroidvania reimagining of the historic series, but it is far from the first reinvention the franchise has seen under Ubisoft. The most iconic one was 2003’s The Sands of Time, which Ubisoft is currently remaking. That’s not the one I decided to play after … Read more

The best amulets in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

[ Amulets are your main piece of equipment in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. They run the gamut from being simple buffs to completely changing how you play. Some are easy to find, and just need to be bought from merchants, while others are rewards for beating bosses or are hidden in chests that … Read more

All Azure Ingot locations in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

[ The majority of upgrades you get in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown come in the form of new moves, amulets, and traversal options. In terms of combat, you will essentially be relying on your sword and bow for the entire game, but that doesn’t mean you can’t improve them. As is the case … Read more

Play these Switch games before Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.

[ Ubisoft Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is the first critical darling of 2024. In my own four-and-a-half star review, I call Ubisoft’s new game “a monumental achievement in approachable, seamless Metroidvania design.” I definitely recommend you pick that game up once it launches on January 18. And I think that it’s a fantastic … Read more