Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare touches down with passable multiplayer, a tubular, neon-tinged zombie invasion, and the best campaign since the first Modern Warfare.
Ubisoft's follow-up to the Stick of Truth shines with a rewarding combat system wrapped around South Park's distinct brand of humor.
A new commentary duo and improvements to on-field maneuvers helps usher in a new and (mostly) improved Madden era, though it’s not without its issues.
EA's juggernaut sports series delivers its 2015 installment with finesse and prowess, making it worth the attention of both fans and newcomers.
The slime army awaits, wide-eyed and smiling as worlds collide in this inspired Dragon Quest spin-off.
This combat-intensive adventure manages to be more than the sum of its Dark Souls-influenced parts.
As merely the second installment for the Xbox One, Forza Motorsport 6 not only keeps up with the high bar set by Forza 5, it capitalizes on that foundation of quality.
This first return to Sunset City succeeds as a dessert-sampler complement to Insomniac Games' 2014 hit.
An unlikely pairing of Dynasty Warriors and The Legend Of Zelda yields greatly satisfying results.
A finely-made Watch Dogs quasi-epilogue finds a new playable protagonist struggling to tie loose ends
One of the best games of 2012 gets a mild makeover.
Sledgehammer Games lays the groundwork for more futuristic Call of Duty games with a comprehensive multiplayer experience and a faulty but stimulating campaign.
Alien: Isolation is still well rounded and comprehensive in its reverential use of the original 1979 film, even with its shortcomings. I cannot imagine any future Alien game attempting a similar feat with the same level of success. While the interlude made me question whether you can have too much fan service, I respect this kitchen-sink approach from The Creative Assembly. This sense of completeness is all the more affirmed by the DLC featuring the movie's original cast (which I have yet to evaluate). Alien: Isolation's ideal for those with the patience to deal with unpredictable behavior of the alien and who accept the inevitability that you will die once in a while through no fault of your own.
The ideal entry point for any Persona 4 newcomer (and the franchise as a whole) should be the PlayStation Vita enhanced remake, Persona 4 Golden. Yet if you cannot foresee making a 70 hour commitment to that JRPG, Persona 4: Dancing All Night is more than suitable as a gateway experience to the series. It’s themes on teen angst and the value of friendship are in line with the main game, more so than the fantastical Persona Q or the outlandish Persona 4 Arena. It’s not without its tough challenges, but any superb game in this genre should be demanding. As one of the better and more charming rhythm action games to come out in recent years, Persona 4: Dancing All Night is not only an apt and engrossing spin-off, but it’s an effective side story that will help pass the time while we impatiently wait for Persona 5.
Galak-Z: The Dimensional is worth the pain, but it involves a great deal of effort.
Protagonist and his gang are full of personality, and the missions are gratifying stealth puzzles.
Dishonored 2 is just the latest example in a long line of games that continue to illustrate the close relationship between quality stealth games and emergent gameplay. Any given playthrough will present you with myriad chances to both create and react to opportunities, many of which appear with little to no warning. It's in surviving these situations (preferably undetected) where Dishonored 2 delivers its most tangible rushes and most profound sense of gratification. It's a tale of vengeance that's presented in an imaginatively conceived world, one that is as threatening as it is inviting.
Beyond its impressive robustness, Fire Emblem Fates complements its size with substance. It's not quite the equivalent of getting three Fire Emblem Awakenings in a single release, but it's nonetheless an impressive follow-up.
Beyond its impressive robustness, Fire Emblem Fates complements its size with substance. It's not quite the equivalent of getting three Fire Emblem Awakenings in a single release, but it's nonetheless an impressive follow-up.
Like the modern-day protagonists of the series who adventure through accumulated memories and experiences of their ancestors, Syndicate greatly benefits from the design and development experiences from all the Assassin's Creed games that have come before it.