Fans have been sad thatJohn Wick 4 is delayedbut there are still other ways to enjoy this franchise.Bithell Games, the creators of the award-winning gameThomas Was Alone, createdJohn Wick Hexto help fans enjoy the series in video game form.
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WithJohn Wick Hexreleasing on Nintendo Switch, a new group of players is curious to see what the game has to offer. The game certainly has positives though the negatives shouldn’t be ignored.
10BEST: Distinct Visual Style
It’s not easy taking a franchise from the silver screen with real actors and put it into a video game but the team atBithell Gamesmanaged to do so well. The studio deciding to not attempt photorealism was a strong choice as it gave the visualsa unique style. Plus, the comic book styled screens used to tell the story give the game a flair perfect for an action title.
9WORST: Janky Animations And Camera
The replay camera for the game is likesomething out ofSuper Mario 64but worse. It tends to glitch out when players want to watch the epic scene play out. Character animations can be clunky and stiff as well. It’s enough to take players out of the moment which hampers the enjoyment of the game.
8BEST: Tight Turn-Based Combat
The gameplay ofJohn Wick Hexissimilar toXCOMor evenMario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. Players control John’s movement on a hex grid and have a limited selection of what they can do each turn. Players can choose to go in guns blazing or take a stealthy approach.
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Each time players are set to fire, there is a percentage displayed on how likely a shot is to hit. John Wickmight not be a Stormtrooperbut even he is capable of missing sometimes! This adds strategy in what weapons players choose to use and if they are willing to push their luck.
7WORST: Enemies Out Of Nowhere
The best-laid plans of mice and men… The game can be frustratingly punishing when players have cleared out an area and advanced only to have a character ambush them from behind resulting in death. Crafting out cleverly designed plans is supposed to be the highlight of the game. Instead, it feels like a frustrating difficulty spike players would expect out ofolderFire Emblemgames.
6BEST: Brings The John Wick Universe To Life
This prequel story to the movie not only expands the universe of the series but also helps bring it to more life. Most of the original voice cast is here including Ian McShane and Lance Reddick reprise as Charon and Winston. Troy Baker, a voice actor who was inThe Last of Us,BioShock Infinite,andBatman: Arkham Knight, voices the villain of the game. All of this talent combined with a stunning score of music brings the game to life.
5WORST: No Keanu Reeves
Look, we know Keanu is a busy man, but not having him voice the titular character of the game just feels off. He was likely working onCyberpunk 2077at the time but withhow glitchy the game isas well asthe controversies surrounding it, it might have been better for Keanu to lend his talents toJohn Wick Hex.
4BEST: Well Presented Story
Getting to look at the story of John Wick before the movies is a real treat. Fans of the series aren’t here for the deep story, they are here for intense combat. The game still does offer a solid narrative that makes the game all much better while expanding the lore of the series. It’s worth it to learn about Hex and John’s backstory more. Don’t worry, we won’t spoil anything here!
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The game uses a format that isnot unlike visual novelsto play out the story in cutscenes. The art looks right out of a graphic novel and has a distinct and fits right in an action game.
3WORST: Repetitive Gameplay
Players will find themselves doing the game essential gameplay from the tutorial until the end of the game. Sure there are bosses and tougher enemies added along the way but it may not be enough variety to keep everyone’s interest. The levels are all similar too which can lead some to feel the game is monotonous. This is not what fans want out ofan action-adventure game.
2BEST: Challenging Difficulty
Not all playerslike difficult gamesbut those that do will enjoyJohn Wick Hex. The game randomizing patrols and weapons for enemies each time the player dies makes it so that players can just use trial and error only to get through levels. This makes each gamble the players make that much more thrilling and makes them feel like they are in the high-stakes situations the series is known for.
1WORST: Superhot Does It Better
It’s hard to deny thatSuperhottakes the idea of intense gunfights and does it better. Even reviewershave pointed out this fact. The game is just too slow to truly feel like players are deep in a firefight which breaks the immersion of the game. Everyone wants to be a badass who runs in guns blazing but if that’s their desire it’s better togiveSuperhota try.
