Usama Mehmood's Reviews
Final Fantasy 16 redefines the series with a new twist on the gameplay system and a dark narrative that will keep you engaged throughout.
Saros stands tall as a bold evolution for Housemarque, proving the studio wasn’t content with simply recreating the magic of Returnal.
Much like Kyle Crane's return, the series has also returned to form with Dying Light: The Beast. Although not a true sequel, it's a meaningful entry that dials down the tone to a much more sinister and grimier one. It's a reminder from Techland of why fans love the series in the first place—a gnarly yet technical combat system, over-the-top gore, and the thrill of freerunning all composited with a decent enough story, one that's sure to invoke the hope to live and die another day. You can effortlessly mow down enemies with a barrage of new unhinged artillery or viciously tear them apart with Beast Mode—it's your playground here, and it all adds up to make it perfect for veterans to experience while offering a slice to newcomers of what makes Dying Light feel so special. The Beast is awake, and so is the franchise once again.
And with a writing direction that strongly emphasizes character relationships and banter with one another, it is one of the most cathartic video game experiences that I had this year, making me grateful for every minute I spent with Robert and his crew, as well as making me want to support AdHoc in any way possible in a plea for making another season on these whimsy goofballs.
With the release of Phantom Liberty, CD Projekt Red has finally delivered the grand RPG they promised all those years ago.
Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth is a JRPG powerhouse, delivering one of the most endearing stories to date and an aspiring open-world design.
Persona 5 Royal is a near-flawless JRPG, excelling in every regard, from its characters, storytelling, gameplay, and even the stellar score.
RGG has done a marvelous job capturing the old-school Pirate era with naval combat that feels arcade-like and simplistic to have fun with and sea exploration to get lost in for a few hours.
Considering the ending and the fan-service elements that cater to long-time fans, this is not only the best Mafia game to date, but also one of the best modern linear action-adventure titles.
Between the unique twin-stick handling, the risk-reward chaos of the Echo System, and a story that leans hard into its over-the-top anime inspirations, it manages to carve out an identity that feels both fresh and nostalgic. It’s not perfect, but it doesn’t need to be because when everything clicks during racing, Screamer is an absolute thrill to play. For anyone craving an arcade racer with personality and depth with a riveting storyline, this is one worth taking for a spin at full throttle.
This isn’t about surpassing the original; it’s about making peace with its past. And somehow, against all the stacked odds, Deck Nine manages to pull that off in a redeeming fashion. If you’ve been on this journey since the beginning, it feels like closure, the kind that quietly sticks with you long after the credits roll as you're waving goodbye.
And by the time it reaches its final stretch, Prism Peak becomes a game that'll make your chest tighten up from all the moments of adorableness, earnestness, and empathy between its cast of characters.
Mindcop is an entertaining noir detective game that is a welcome addition to a coveted genre of other great titles. Its three-dimensional characters have enough dilemmas and conflicts to make you stray off the case and dig into their own backstories. The writing has a profound balance between melancholy and humor that it will occasionally sprinkle in some wholesome beats. Despite the time management mechanic being somewhat harsh on your actions, Mindsurf and Sea of Thoughts are two gameplay components that make the experience understandable and easy to manage for casual players. Regardless of its few flaws, those are far outweighed by the creative gameplay, unique art style, and strong writing, which tie everything together wonderfully.
Infinity Nikki is a delightful dress-up experience worth checking out on a whim. Its creative gameplay provides countless opportunities to create a perfect look for Nikki with near-limitless clothing options and accessories. While the open world may sometimes feel bland, the various activities and puzzles you discover pull the engagement levels back. Even during its uninteresting story beats, it'll surprise you with an awe-inspiring set-piece that'll make you adore the quality and effort put into its details. If it continues to expand the charming world of Mira even further with new story arcs and events, it'll surely be a top-notch adventure title that isn't too dependent on the controversial Gacha elements.
Through Gordy’s self-destruction, absurdist mini-games, and riot grrrl-fueled soundtrack, Dead Pets tackles feminism, mental health, and societal expectations with surprising nuance and bite. It doesn’t always stick to every gameplay note in my eyes, but emotionally, Dead Pets lands hard—proving that even on the worst days, there’s still music to play and jam to, friends to lean on, and another morning to stumble into headstrong after being a drunken mess.
For some, it may not reach the same tightly crafted heights as Little Nightmares, but it successfully captures that same uneasy magic that made those games special. It isn’t perfect, much like all things in this vast expanse of the medium or the horror genre, but it’s a bold and unsettling co-op journey that shows Tarsier’s signature style is still very much alive.
With an astounding progression system and rich RPG elements, Remnant 2 elevates itself to heights that its predecessor never reached.
Spider-Man 2 is a cut above its predecessor, with significantly improved gameplay and a narrative that tugs at your heartstrings.
The Rising Tide DLC offers great gameplay additions, a masterful Eikon fight, and a decent tie-in story to conclude FF16’s experience.
Destiny 2: The Final Shape is the greatest DLC Bungie has ever put out, rivaling the stupendous quality of both The Taken King and Forsaken.