Yes, MLB: The Show 16 is more of the same in a lot of ways. However, new features like ShowTime and modes like Conquest give this entry enough new toys to feel like a meaningful improvement over last year's entry. If you're a fan of the series, this year's version is worth checking out unless you're suffering from the most severe of digital baseball boredom.
As a collection of Mega Man 1 through 6, this definitely delivers. The challenges are an especially nice touch and add a competitive element, and the museum of art and music is fun to browse through.
First person parkour is just as much fun in Catalyst as it was in the original. The new combat is a noticeable improvement, and the open world makes this a much longer experience than its predecessor.
This is a tricky one to score. Again, MLB 14 The Show on the PlayStation 4 is a great baseball game, and I undeniably have a great time playing it. Still, as a next-gen debut, it is a little underwhelming. Sure, all of the features of the PlayStation 3 version are here, but the graphical improvement is more of a single than a home run. Of course, sometimes you need those small base hits to win a game, but let's be honest; the homers are more fun.
WWE 2K15's greatest addition is the MyCareer mode. It finally gives us a way to play out our WWE fantasies with our self-made superstars. The new character models are also a nice touch, but they're offset by the loss of customization options.
It's not a technical masterpiece, but Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a deep and fulfilling JRPG. It's a great game to show just how well this genre works with Nintendo's newest system.
Pokémon X and Y might mark a big visual jump for the series, but the structure remains steadfast in its dedication to tradition. These are still fun games that offer the potential for hundreds of hours of entertainment, and some of the new additions, like the Fairy-type, are certainly welcome. But X and Y don’t really stand out from their predecessors, and I really am starting to wonder how much longer Nintendo can repackage what is essentially the same game.
Star Wars: Battlefront is fun. It's a great Star Wars game. What I can't tell you right now, however, is if it has any longevity. Right now, the lack of map variety could mean that you get sick of the game faster than you would otherwise, and EA dividing the community in the future with paid DLC planets may not help the problem. Still, no other game has made me feel more like an actual participant in a legitimate Star Wars battle. I don't know if I'll ever get sick of that feeling I get when I take down a TIE Fighter, and I doubt that chill I get when I hear the main theme play as I run across a crowded battlefield will ever go away.
Rainbow Curse is another successful Kirby oddity. While it lost some of Canvas Curse's features, it makes up for it with a fanciful, clay-based art style. The multiplayer is also a nice touch. It's also nice to see a Wii U game that actually uses the GamePad's features, something that's becoming a rarity.
If you were ever a fan of the series, Soulcalibur VI will feel familiar and fun. And even if you're newer to the franchise, the relative simplicity of Soulcalibur's mechanics will make it easy to pick up and play.
It's not quite Persona 5, but it's still a meaty (down, Chie) role-playing experience.
It's a little sad that Star Fox Zero, a game that wonderfully shows the benefits of the Wii U Gamepad, came out so late in the system's life. Still, it's worth getting for anyone who owns the console, especially if you were a fan of the series in the '90s. Star Fox Adventures now seems like a distant, unpleasant memory.
Splatoon is clever, creative, and fun. The multiplayer is a fun twist on the team-based shooter. However, the single-player campaign is surprisingly the best thing in the game. It offers the kind of quality level design you'd expect from a Mario title, but with a healthy dose of shooter mechanics.
We won't know the full quality of the expansion for a couple of years, but Battle for Azeroth is off to a strong start.
The Switch has had a great debut year, and Mario + Rabbids is another, if unexpected, excellent addition to its software library.
Hyrule Warriors has little in common with a traditional Zelda game. You don't solve any puzzles, you don't explore any dungeons, and you certainly don't break into anyone's house and destroy all of their pottery. Still, it definitely works as a spin-off that focuses almost entirely on action. It's fun to see Link and friends battle with the kind of glitz and glamour you'd expect from an episode of Sailor Moon or Dragon Ball Z. I'm not saying I'd want that in a real Zelda installment, but it works in this surprisingly engaging off-shoot.
Rock Band and Guitar Hero are about playing music. Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved is about playing with music. While it won't have the party appeal that comes with instruments, it's a more intuitive, beautiful, and creative experience. Disney loyalists hoping for fan service in the same style of Kingdom Hearts of Disney Infinity might be a little disappointed, but this is one of the most interesting music games to come out in some time.
This is one of the PlayStation 4's most interesting exclusives.
I missed out on these games when they first came out, but I’m glad Reignited Trilogy gave me a chance to appreciate them. All three of these titles are fun and responsive 3D platformers. But Reignited Trilogy isn’t content with celebrating the past. The new, vibrant graphics make Spyro a playable fantasy cartoon. It’s one of the most attractive kid-friendly games you’ll find.
Sundered is an easy recommendation for anyone who enjoys Metroidvanias. It has all the stuff you'd want, including a focus on exploration and finding new abilities. But it's interesting takes on character progression, death, and level layouts come together to make Sundered feel like something new. And gorgeous 2D art and animations back up the smart design.