The next-gen systems have now become the current-gen systems. Now that the initial wave of launch titles have been released, it's going to be cross-gen titles for the foreseeable future. It's back to the regularly scheduled programming, at least until Cyberpunk 2077 finally decides to deign us with its presence.
TheGamer has been playing and dissecting each and every one of the major new titles as they have been released. These are our reviews of some of the biggest releases of November 2020, including a Reagen-era Call of Duty game, a war in Hyrule, a trip on the back of a giant bird's back, and a cyberpunk horror adventure.
Call Of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War - 4 Out Of 5 Stars
Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War takes the series to the Ronald Reagen era, with a globe-spanning single-player campaign. The single-player campaign is usually the afterthought to the multiplayer content in the Call of Duty series, but Cold War bucks the trend with one of the most interesting storylines in years. Cold War's story mode has things you wouldn't expect, like player choices influencing the story, optional side content, and a mission that resembles The Stanley Parable. Cold War has a story that encourages multiple playthroughs, and each one is a blast to play.
The only major downside to Cold War at launch are the limited multiplayer options. There are only eight multiplayer maps at launch and only a single map for the Zombies mode. This is an issue that will gradually be resolved over time, but it's annoying that the most popular aspect of the game is so lacking at launch. With all of that being said, Cold War is one of the most impressive Call of Duty games since Modern Warfare 2.
You can check out Kirk McKeand's review of Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War here.
Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity - 4.5 Out Of 5 Stars
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a musou game that acts as a prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It shows the events that happened a century before Breath of the Wild, where Princess Zelda must prepare for the arrival of Calamity Ganon, except this time, she is aided by knowledge from the future.
Age of Calamity is an amazing hack and slash game, with a combat system that manages to stay engaging throughout its run. Each of the characters feels unique, and the ability to switch between them on the fly helps lengthy battles feel fresh. The visuals are stunning, as is the soundtrack. The only major issue with the game is the performance, which tends to suffer when a lot is happening on the screen, or when playing with another person. Age of Calamity is packed with content and it's an essential purpose for fans of Breath of the Wild.
You can check out Cian Maher's review of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity here.
The Falconeer - 2.5 Out Of 5 Stars Stars
The Falconeer is set in an aquatic world, where the last four settlements are cut off from each other. The player takes on the role of a rider, who must fly between the settlements on the back of a giant bird. It's up to the multiple playable characters to broker trade agreements and battle air pirates. The game has a great concept, but the characters are boring, the story never goes anywhere interesting, and it never quite lives up to its potential. The visuals are stunning and the world itself is brimming with the character, but that doesn't amount to much when the flying controls are so bad. The Falconeer, ultimately, just leaves you wanting more.
You can check out Bella Blondeau's review of The Falconeer here.
Observer: System Redux - 4.5 Out Of 5 Stars
Observer: System Redux is an upgraded version of a game that was originally released in 2017. The game is a psychological horror title in a cyberpunk world, about a detective who is looking for his estranged son. This detective has the ability to hack into the minds of others, in his search for clues.
The changes made to Observer: System Redux have transformed it into a must-play game for horror fans. A number of QoL improvements have been added, which have made the frustrating stealth sections easier, the interrogations are faster, and the hacking minigame is a lot simpler. The visuals have also been overhauled and the cyberpunk world looks more fearsome than ever. The original version of Observer was an interesting title that was rough around the edges, but System Redux has improved on every misstep and transformed it into a fantastic game.
You can check out Bella Blondeau's review of Observer: System Redux here.