With no prior announcement, Microsoft surprise-launched the beat ’em up Streets of Rage 4 on Xbox Game Pass. While some may have been concerned that Streets of Rage 4 wouldn’t live up to the legacy of its predecessors, the game has proven any doubters wrong. Streets of Rage 4 reviews have been mostly positive, with fans praising the game’s retro-style local co-op action. Streets of Rage 4 ‘s main story may be a little on the short side, but the game otherwise has a lot of content for fans of the genre to sink their teeth i
The mabari companion in Dragon Age: Origins is the one unquestionably faithful friend in the party. No matter what the Warden does, the dog remains loyal. Like other companions, it can be part of banter while the player explores. This results in a lot of humorous relationships between companions and the
Who said spooky cannot also be cute? Polterpup may be a ghost, but it still has all its dog charm. Also, the name is adorable. Fans were very excited when they learned they could pet Polterpup in Luigi’s Mansion
The dog of Fable 2 is most well known for being part of one of the biggest choices in the game. The dog, who is your loving companion throughout the game, dies protecting you in a boss fight. At the end of the game, you get to choose a major reward. You have three choices: a ton of wealth, reviving the people who died or reviving your dog. Guess what a lot of players end up choos
The Yakuza series launched in 2005 to great success in Japan and developed a cult following in the West. Yakuza 0 introduced the series to a more mainstream audience. The games feature semi-open and faithfully recreated Japanese settings in famous Tokyo cities and their seedy underbelly. The first seven games in the series center around Kiryu and are self-contained stories in their own right. The eighth title, Yakuza: Like a Dragon , introduces a new protagonist, Ichiban, with unique motivations and a turn-based combat sys
Dogs are animals with a ton of symbolic meaning. They stand for loyalty and friendship, which often makes them valued video game sidekicks. Players can’t get enough of them. Even when their roles are small they are often the most valued characters. Many gamers are just programmed to love animals, especially d
Rise of the Ronin is an open-world action RPG from the developers of Wo Long and the Nioh series. It is set in 1853 during the final years of the Bakumatsu period in Japan. The setting and swordplay will appeal to fans of the Yakuza prequel, Like a Dragon: Ishin . The combat is challenging with a focus on deflections and landing counter stri
Children of Morta is a rogue-like action-RPG that has players take members of the Bergson family through dangerous dungeons, battling monsters, leveling up, and earning things for their home. The game has a great sense of progression and a lot of forward momentum, so even in failure, players always feel like they’re making a difference. Playing through Children of Morta with a friend in couch co-op makes the game that much more fun, and with each Bergson family member being distinctly different from each other, the game caters to a lot of different play-styles and preferen
The Streets of Rage series returned in 2020 following an incredibly long hiatus. The long wait for a sequel proved worthwhile, as Streets of Rage 4 is one of the best beat-em-ups since the third title. Comparatively, its story is simplistic compared to Yakuza. Moreover, there is little freedom outside combat. However, the fighting system is the perfect throwback for fans of the street brawling in Yaku
Fans loved this dog so much that they would reload their save files if he ever ended up dead. Sometimes that meant undoing hours of game progress! So fans were very happy once Fallout 4 made it so Dogmeat could not die (though some still do not like that the dog can be attacked at a
The Overcooked games have earned a well-deserved reputation for being some of the best local co-op games around. Overcooked 2 is the peak of the series so far, carrying over the fun local co-op cooking gameplay from the original and adding more levels, moves, and more. The game works as both a relaxing experience and an intense one, depending on how serious players want to get about beating high scores and getting all of the stars. Those that enjoy playing Overcooked 2 on Xbox Game Pass may want to consider picking up the game’s season pass, as all of the Overcooked 2 DLC expansions have proven to be a great deal of fun so
The funny part being that this score makes it equal to Fallout 4, a game many fans consider one of the worst (although it ain’t too shabby if you ask us). Still, this is one of the classics in modern gaming and still receives so much support from the community. So an 84 ain’t cutting
Originally a PlayStation 5 exclusive, Ghostwire: Tokyo is also available on PC and Star Wars Outlaws Xbox Series X/S. The visually striking title takes advantage of the more advanced hardware and helps the neon-drenched city of Tokyo come to life in a way that rivals the Yakuza ga
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