Ken McKown's Reviews
Samurai Warriors 4-II is a weird step in the series. It isn't a typical remake or sequel, and it would almost benefit if it didn't carry the numbered moniker, even if it does share a lot in common with the previous game. Still, it is yet another solid entry in the series. Omega Force has become a machine at crafting these, and for those not yet tired of the setting, there is still a copious amount of fun to be had here.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 is easily the biggest disappointment of the year for me. Not because I expected it to be great; but because I expected it to at least be enjoyable on some levels. Sadly it fails on almost every attempt. The core skating feels good, but never satisfying, and everything surrounding it just feels flat. I wanted this to the be the resurgence of the series, but it feels more like a budget game wrapped in a AAA game price.
Guns, Gore, and Cannoli is a great, if not short romp. The art style pops and the game play is smooth. Just be aware that it can get frustrating attempting to fly solo. Outside of that I definitely recommend checking it out. It knows what it is from the first level and never tries to be anything else.
Penarium is a great title that channels that addictive nature of "just one more" in its game play. It is just challenging enough to keep me coming back, and forgiving enough to annoy me at times.
Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of Kuma: Vol. 1 is a bad, bad game. I hope the developers take note and fix these issues before releasing the next two volumes, but it almost feels beyond broken. I wanted to love it, I tried to love it, but at the end of the day it just shattered my dreams of continuing the series. Let's hope the original gets backwards compatibility on Xbox One soon. I am really dying to dive back into this world, just not with this abomination of a game.
Pumped BMX + had the potential to be a solid recommendation, but it's frustrating design and lack of fun really drag it down. I have no problem with mobile games getting the port to consoles; I just expect them to receive some care to make that port worthwhile.
The series is getting long in the tooth, but I still think it has plenty left to offer, and if they continue with the vehicles in future games, I hope they iron out the problems presented in this version.
Fans of racing, casual or otherwise need to check out Turn 10's latest creation. It is by far one of the highlights for the system this fall.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the most divisive game in the series for me. On one hand I love the game play. Building up Mother Base, the missions, the stealth and gunplay all feel so refined. The open-world sandbox is endless fun. The Metal Gear portion though sadly disappoints. The boss fights are lackluster, the cut scenes are not as wacky and outlandish as I expected, and the story never really grabbed me. The Phantom Pain is the best "game" in the series by far, but also the worst Metal Gear. Still, it will be hard to top it when it comes time to choose my game of the year.
I have always been super critical of the Infinity series, mostly because I want to love it. The characters are among the best in the genre, and it fills my childhood dreams of playing with my favorite toys. 3.0 finally hits all the right notes, and fixes most of my complaints with the previous entries. I am now on board, and ready for the next Star Wars expansion to arrive. My wallet just got a lot lighter, but the fun I will have makes it all worthwhile.
The Deer God mostly stumbles over its random nature and lack of explanation. It is the kind of game that is best enjoyed with a FAQ explaining all the systems and how to progress. Still, even with that the random nature really drags down some of the quests. Xbox One owners get to try it for free this month if they have a Gold subscription so definitely check it out, but just be prepared for the many issues the game will present along the way.
Once again Madden comes highly recommended for fans of the pigskin, and as always, kicks off the best time of year to be a gamer.
Octodad is a clever game that is fun in the same sense something like Goat Simulator is. It is hilarity, physics-based mayhem that is entirely random. The difference here is that the developers tried to streamline it with actual objectives and level progression, which can lead to frustration.
The games themselves are accurate representations of the original NES ones. The visuals are sharper, but nothing has changed. As I mentioned the slowdown is still there. The controls are spot on, but I still have to adjust to the jump and fire buttons being backward like they were in the NES days. There is a button configuration for those that simply cannot stand it though.
Adventures of Pip looks like just another 2D indie platformer on the surface, but from the first level it shows it is so much more. The experience of the team involved shines through, making this one that definitely deserves more attention.
Toy Soldiers: War Chest is a good game marred by some questionable business practices.
Super Mega Baseball is a great throwback to the baseball games I grew up with and loved. It is the perfect couch multiplayer game with friends, I just really wish online play was part of the package. For anyone who has enjoyed the classic arcade-style baseball game in the past, the genre is finally back to its original, fantastic form. Do not hesitate to pick up Metalhead's latest no matter which console you own.
Sadly this "remaster" is nothing even remotely close to that. It is two games, somehow coded to run on new consoles, and a reminder that backwards compatibility is indeed a possibility. Nothing has been added, no care given, and sadly these games deserve better than that.
Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds Overdrive is a solid game with a steep learning curve without much in the way of tutorials. For those with patience to learn its intricacies, it is extremely rewarding, and a ton of fun. For those looking for a casual romp through a mindless beat 'em up, this is not the game for you.
Fans of puzzle games in general, especially in the vein of Super Meat Boy and Trials will have a blast. This is one massive package that will take a while to master, and perhaps a few broken controllers in the process.