Recent reviews by Arcnode

Very fun.

This is the best open-world racing game since Most Wanted (2005). Forza Horizon 6 is an immediate classic and a very special racing game.

As a Forza Horizon title, this game comes incredibly close to being everything you could ask for. For fans of the Horizon series, this iteration is firing on all cylinders (pun intended). It’s nearly an exact implementation of what fans hoped this game would be.

Of course, the star of the show is the world design and setting of Japan. This goes hand-in-hand with the breathtaking graphics. You’re also going to experience some top-tier sound design here. You MUST play this game with good headphones or speakers. The music this time around is AWESOME.

Pinning the throttle and letting your car scream through the mountains and tunnels of Japan, then lifting off to hear the violent crackle of your exhaust, is exhilarating and a real highlight. The vibes of downtown Tokyo are immaculate. Car customization and tuning across 638 cars from 82 manufacturers (at launch) is another major highlight. Now there are some bangers missing here from the car list but it’s still legit. There seems to be some no brainer JDM models likely saved for later updates and seasons I assume.

What really makes this game special, though, is how all of these elements come together. There are moments where the artistic direction and technical prowess click perfectly, and that’s when you realize you’re playing something genuinely special.

Sure, the game’s “story” can bring some cringey dialogue and uncharismatic characters, but I think we can all agree those aspects are secondary in a game like this. In my opinion, they don’t really take away from the experience. Sometimes the corny dialogue and missions even create hilarious moments when you break the game with meme builds.

Japan, touge events, incredible graphics and audio, awesome cars, enjoyable simcade-style racing, deep tuning customization, garage customization, race/activity builder, tons of content and more.

PLAY THIS!

Good

For $40, I think this is an easy recommend. The game has launched polished, fun, and full of potential. The art style and world building really elevates the game to something worth playing.

This game must be experienced.

It's the greatest stealth action video game ever made.

Arena Breakout Infinite nails the fundamentals in a way a lot of extraction shooters don’t. The optimization is WAY better than Tarkov, which makes the whole experience smoother and way less frustrating. The faster-paced gameplay loop keeps things engaging without demanding weeks of time just to feel like you made some progress. You get in, make smart decisions, get into fights, extract, and it actually feels rewarding. Gunplay is solid and the risk-reward balance hits a nice middle ground between realism and fun. The biggest downside is the state of cosmetics, which are leaning more and more into goofy thirst-trap territory that clashes with the game’s otherwise realistic aesthetic. That said, it’s a free-to-play title from an Asian dev, so let’s be real, you knew some of that crap was coming. As long as it stays cosmetic, it’s easy to overlook, because overall this is a strong, well-optimized extraction shooter that does a lot right. Lot's of content and fun to be had here without spending a single cent.

Great

What exactly is Elden Ring? To the blind, it's the light. To the hungry, it's bread. To the sick, it's a cure. To the lonely, it's company. To the sad, it's joy. To the prisoner, its freedom. For the poor, it's treasure. For me, it's the greatest game to ever be released on the personal computer.

It's a nice nostalgia ride if you played these games as a kid. There is a lot to like here, but you will realize these games are best left in the past. Some clever boss fights totally ruined by the lack luster combat. The performance of this port is pretty bad too.