Save State: Neal Bleeds Into Code Vein Duty
With Vincent Mahoney away for a couple of weeks, columnist Neal Sayatovich steps into Save State to revisit the original Code Vein, wrestles with a broken controller and takes another run at Code Vein II’s Mask of Idris DLC.
Star Wars: Zero Company Finds Great Tactics Buried Under Bugs
After a disastrous PS5 experience, Neal Sayatovich gives Star Wars: Zero Company another shot on Steam for the PC and finds a much better tactical adventure, though persistent bugs, weak visuals and uneven design choices still hold it back.
Fresh Look: Against the Storm Is Building Its Way to the Tabletop
Fresh Look’s Neal Sayatovich takes a break from controller problems and a broken DLC to look ahead to Against the Storm: The Board Game, a tabletop adaptation of one of his favorite roguelite city builders, coming soon to a game room near you.
Fresh Look: Dark Deity 2 Scratches That Classic Fire Emblem Itch
Fresh Look columnist Neal Sayatovich this week writes about the turn-based tactical RPG Dark Deity 2, which is inspired by the Fire Emblem series. Players get to command twenty heroes and fight in challenging battles.
Fresh Look: Wishing For a Galaxy Far, Far Away From Unhelpful Chatbots
Fresh Look’s Neal Sayatovich was really looking forward to Star Wars: Zero Company. But a buggy experience on the PlayStation 5 combined with an AI chatbot from the dark side of the Force has left him wondering whether this tactical trip to a galaxy far, far away needed more time in hyperspace.
Ledgerbound Turns Corporate Paperwork Into RPG Gold
Ledgerbound sends an insurance agent into a fantasy apocalypse to save her company from a catastrophic claim, blending streamlined RPG combat, workplace satire and wonderfully dark adult humor into one of Neal Sayatovich’s favorite releases of the year.
Strikers Club Shows Promise but Needs Better Team Play
Strikers Club offers a promising free-to-play take on five-on-five online soccer, with real-player positions, quick matches and cosmetic customization, though the experience can depend heavily on the teammates and opponents you draw.
Fresh Look: Pokemon Makes Gaming on the Go Feel Magical
After a whirlwind trip left him jet-lagged, Fresh Look’s Neal Sayatovich found comfort in portable gaming, revisiting Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Pokemon Legends: Z-A while remembering why the Legends formula works so well on the go.
Fresh Look: Palworld 1.0 Makes Monster Catching Better Than Ever
Fresh Look’s Neal Sayatovich returns to Palworld for its 1.0 release and finds new Pals, helpful quality-of-life upgrades, better base management and plenty of chaotic monster-catching fun waiting inside Pocketpair’s full release.
Fresh Look: AAA Gaming Is Following the Hollywood Blockbuster Playbook
As budgets climb and development cycles stretch, Fresh Look’s Neal Sayatovich worries that AAA gaming is adopting Hollywood’s safest habits with fewer enormous bets on new projects and less room for unusual ideas that might become tomorrow’s cult classics.