ReCore: Definitive Edition

The original ReCore was a good game that Microsoft rushed to market before it was ready, but this remake is, happily, the game the original should have been. ReCore: Definitive Edition's most important improvement is simply that it fixes several experience-destroying technical issues, including reducing the once minutes-long loading of screens between levels and respawns to just a matter of seconds. Returning players will also notice far fewer instances of Joule falling through floors and special abilities suddenly ceasing to work, plus a much improved fast travel system that makes it much less of a pain to move around and complete or switch between missions. All of this means it's much easier to enjoy not just the original adventure, which always had fantastic platforming and pretty good combat, but also the new content, of which there is plenty.

The most notable addition is T8-NK, who makes for a smart and fun addition to Joule's squad of robot aids, helping her traverse gaps via jumps while also providing a quicker means of getting around some of the bigger free-to-explore areas, although he can be a bit finicky to control in closed quarters. The new story -- Eye of Obsidian -- and the environments in which it takes place (including loads of new dungeons) provide plenty of places in which to exploit T8-NK's special talents. And the new areas and increased level cap provide players with good opportunity to experiment with all of the new mods and robot gear that can be earned. The crafting system is still a bit on the basic side, and a greater emphasis on the story and characters would have been appreciated, but ReCore: Definitive Edition is a welcome and impressive update that helps this once almost broken game come close to reaching its full potential.