Somehow Jonathan Blow has once again managed to prove that his elevated opinion of his own abilities is 1000% justified. Though I am admittedly well within his target demographic, it is hard to shake the feeling that The Witness was a game that was made specifically for me.
Forza Motorsport 6 is a love letter to racing fans that greatly makes up for the shortcomings of the last installment in the series. There are more tracks, racing styles, and vehicles than ever before, complemented by a robust single player campaign. These features join an already stunningly beautiful graphics engine and their already state-of-the-art multiplayer and community tools.
This is a gloriously mature adventure that is well worth liberating from retail captivity.
Everybody's Gone to the Rapture has a subtlety and nuance that is extremely refreshing. Calling this a "game" is doing it a great disservice. It is an experience. Thusly, this might not be everyone's cup of tea. However, those that chose to invest their valuable time in this 5 hour gem will be rewarded with one of the most compelling experiences in recent memory. The truth is out there, just waiting to be discovered. Don't miss out.
It is nice to see that the team over at Sony San Diego has been given enough rope to try new things. The resulting product has once again shown why the MLB The Show series is still one of the best sport simulations in the industry.
When it comes to franchises that are worth revisiting in a new console generation, Valkyria Chronicles Remastered stands as a sterling example of how to do things right. Despite a few nagging mechanics that ultimately still feel a bit unfair on the battlefield itself, this is still an evergreen experience that stands the test of time. This should be required playing for all of the former Xbots that are newly joining the PlayStation fold.
To say that FIFA 16 is a return to form may very well be one of the biggest understatements of the year.
It is one thing to have a variety of different item, crafting, spell and even botany dependent mechanics, but when all of those elements begin to cross-pollinate with each other, I found myself mentally checking out. It was just too overwhelming for my dudebro brain to process all of these tools at once.
As an immersive and anxious experience that also manages to be just as beautiful as it is terrifying, SOMA is in a class all its own. The stunningly well-realized world melds brilliantly with the outstanding score and sound design, begging the player to buy into the atmospheric world that Frictional Games has so painstakingly crafted. It genuinely feels like this is the natural evolution of everything that was started in Amnesia, just done with a bit more careful attention to detail and polish. This is an experience that completely justifies its budget price tag and more than validates the game's five-year development cycle.
Every year people justify not purchasing Madden using the time tested line, "Well it is just a glorified roster update anyway…" Unfortunately for those poor jaded schmucks, no such excuse exists this season. EA Sports has went all out to deliver changes to the core gameplay mechanics, resulting in an authentic football experience, with unparalleled levels of depth and complexity.
In many respects, Homeworld: Deserts of Kharah had the potential to be a really tough sell to longstanding supporters of the Homeworld brand. Yet somehow it managed to not only meet expectations, but exceed them in a surprising number of ways. This is far from a reinvention of the RTS genre, but it is certainly a much needed rebirth for this series. At long last, the king has returned.
If you are looking for a bit more dudebro dipshittery in your life, then look no further. Broforce is a heaping helping of nostalgic happiness in concentrated game form. Aside from a rather repetitive set of mission goals and overly complicated level designer, this is the kind of game that is worth sitting down with four friends in the living room and having at it. This is a perfect reminder of what makes couch play coop so much fun. So party up and buckle in, because this is a ride down memory lane that is sure to have some amusing collateral damage.
The over-arching theme of Rock Band 4 has been fan service. It seems like every aspect of the game from its' backwards compatibility for both instruments and DLC, to its playable music platform approach, ultimately has every Harmonix fan at heart. This culminates in a very welcome return to form for the series, and a very worthy first entry to the new console generation.
Coldwood Interactive has managed to generate a refreshing new take on the puzzle platformer, starring an endearing protagonist that will steal your heart. For those looking to scratch that puzzling itch without having to bite of something as overwhelming as The Witness, this will prove to be a more than adequate salve. As long as you are not a fan of scissors, that is…
Charles Darwin would be a big fan of UFC 2. This isn’t just because of the natural selection angle of the combat, where the only the strongest and smartest survive, but rather because this is the most natural evolution of MMA games as a whole. There is certainly plenty of room for continued improvement in the future, but it is still far and away the best take on the sport to date. Those who have already found themselves smitten with the series will find plenty to enjoy the second time around.
If you are looking for "toddler's first shooter," then you have come to the right place. Plants vs.
Ubisoft most definitely rolled the dice when it came to Far Cry Primal. Stripping down the series to its raw base risked alienating their entire audience. Fortunately for them, the shift seems to have gone off without a hitch. However, the lack of mission variety and combat tools hold the game back from being something truly groundbreaking. Hopefully they intend to continue to transplant the franchise into other settings, because if Primal is any indication, they are at least on the right track.
You are most likely not going to see Lumo appearing on any “Game of the Year” lists this fall, but it is absolutely a valiant first outing for developer Gareth Noyce. The title shows that he has the chops and creativity to take another shot at a style of game that has been long-abandoned.
While far from a dumpster fire, Deadlight: Director’s Cut is a mechanically sound platformer that is ultimately rather forgettable. Bluntly put, it is a game that can be fun at times, but lacks any sort of critical hook to incentivize players to see Wayne’s adventure to completion.
There are quite a few things that make The Walking Dead: Michonne worth the fifteen dollar investment. The solid narrative and always interesting characters provide a fantastic backdrop to further flesh out the world, post-outbreak.