3 Up, 3 Down – October 2024
October 2024 was such a crazy month for video game releases! There were so many, and such a high percentage had major hype behind them. A lot of these games scored in the 75-85 range. It was actually hard to create a Bad section this month, because everything was so good! Games like Metaphor: ReFantazio, which is probably my personal game of the year, didn’t even make the cut for this article! Don’t hesitate to check out our Reviews section for more goodness. But for now, here are The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from October 2024:
The Good
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
***click here for our review***
The new Dragon Age game is awesome! Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a reinvention of Bioware’s popular western RPG. It has a new visual identity, that comes across as lighter big movie fantasy. The new combat system is real time, but with frequently accessing of combat menus. The structure has also changed from open world to a hub with different levels. All these changes are for the better, and the entire package is incredibly polished. Our reviewer wrote “Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the most polished and bug-free AAA game I’ve played in a very long time”. Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the first of 3 games scoring 90 or more on The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from October 2024.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
***click here for our review***
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is the newest game in the Budokai Tenkaichi series, which has laid dormant since the PS2. Strangely the Budokai and Tenkaichi titles were made for North America, and in Japan the games had the “Sparking” label in English… sigh. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero has a roster of over 180 characters, amazing visuals, and a perfect modern update of the original games’ fighting mechanics. It’s not an insanely balanced tournament-ready fighting game, but if you think of it as a “Dragon Ball Z battle simulator”, there’s a lot to enjoy. The only blemish on this near-perfect game is the episodic story mode. Our reviewer wrote “The cutscenes are barely animated and include many still shots with voiceovers”. But most players already know the story. If not, check out the excellent Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is highest scoring game on The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from October 2024.
Silent Hill 2 Remake
***click here for our review***
The Silent Hill 2 Remake is faithful to the original! Modern players finally have a way to experience what is arguably the greatest horror game of all time. Some might give this accolade to Resident Evil 4 for its important gameplay, but many consider Silent Hill 2 the pinnacle of video game horror atmosphere and narrative. The audio and visual upgrades are gorgeous, and the new gameplay does away with tank controls, while not empowering the player too much. Our reviewer concluded “With enhanced combat, each encounter becomes more intense, heightening the visceral impact of every strike. The stunning graphical overhaul captures the world’s pervasive decay, while improved lighting magnifies the sense of threat, creating an anxiety-ridden experience.” Silent Hill 2 is a must-play for any horror game fan, and an obvious inclusion on The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from October 2024.