Ken McKown's Reviews
Still, for those looking for a punishing experience on console or PC, 1001 Spikes definitely delivers on that promise. I died and died, yet kept coming back for more.
As it stands today, UFC is a title that only the most die-hard fans are going to want to take the time to invest in.
Wolfenstein: The New Order is fantastic and one of the best narrative-driven FPS games I have played since Bioshock.
Mario Kart 8 is certainly more Mario Kart, but that isn't a bad thing. Any series that can last over two decades and still generate this much love from gamers has to be doing something right. While the latest entry doesn't set the world on fire with its innovation, it makes up for it by delivering some of the best tracks in the history of the franchise, and rock-solid visuals.
Bound by Flame is a great, terrible game. Something about it kept me wanting to push through its problems to find the enjoyment buried within. I can't explain why a game that does so much wrong entertained me so much. I couldn't stop playing it despite its issues. There is just something endearing about this game.
Fans of baseball and even those only slightly curious have yet another great title for the new console.
It is still fun to swing around the city, and some portions really shine, but a full-fledged, full-price experience Amazing Spider-Man 2 is certainly not.
There is a lot to love about Mario Golf: World Tour. For those that really enjoy the more light-hearted approach to golf that games like this and Hot Shots provide, this is a no-brainer. World Tour does so much right and mixing it with the familiar Nintendo universe seals the deal. Anyone with a 3DS has yet another must-own title to pick up for the handheld.
Fans of Tolkien's work or the recent movies are sure to enjoy the journey there, and back again. For everyone else, this is another LEGO title. For better or worse, the series keeps on chugging. Thankfully it is always of high quality.
Kinect Sports Rivals isn't going to sell anyone on an Xbox One, or even Kinect for that matter, but it is definitely the best use of the device to date. For those looking for a fun way to get active with their new $500 machine, this is the best example of it yet. I love Rare, and think they still make some of the best software. Rivals definitely feels polished and carrying that quality.
Those looking for a new experience on their shiny new consoles would do well to check it out if they enjoy these types of experiences.
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes delivers a solid package for fans of the series. While the main mission's brevity may turn off some, I compare it to when I was younger and telling myself I would pay half the price to get to play games early.
inFamous: Second Son is a gorgeous game that will definitely satiate PS4 owners starving for a new title for their collection. I still feel like it falls short of being that system-seller everyone has been waiting for, but those already invested definitely need to pick it up. Linear story and forced morality don't tear down the otherwise fantastic experience.
of the original will likely find parts they love about Garrett's new adventure, but anyone bred on more recent stealth games likely won't see what all the fuss is about. Eidos Montreal has done an admirable job, but too much holds it back from being the reinvention of the franchise we all were hoping for.
[I]t takes a lot to bring me back into the online shooter fold, and Titanfall has definitely dragged me back in. I can see myself enjoying this for months to come; I just hope they deliver enough support to keep it interesting beyond that.
Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze might be a disappointment in theory, but once I started playing it, I couldn't help but fall in love. The level designs are some of the best I have seen in the genre, the soundtrack is stellar, and the difficulty is tough but never unfair. For the audience that owns a Wii U and desires platformers crafted to perfection, this is a must-own. Nintendo continues to pump out stellar releases for its console; I just wish the audience was there to purchase them.
Thankfully this isn't a quick or cheap port that does a disservice to the original experience. This is still one of the best games of last year, and the enhancements make it one of the best looking games to come out in a while.
I love seeing Nintendo re-imagining classic franchises, especially ones like Dr. Mario that don't get enough love, but this small package does more to whet my appetite than satiate it. Still, for $15 fans of the formula cannot go wrong. This is as close as we are going to get to a proper Dr. Mario sequel for a while, so while the prescription doesn't cure all woes; it does help dull the pain.
NES Remix is a fun time waster that had me reliving the memories of my childhood once again. For $15 though it feels like a bit overpriced for what I got out of it. Still, with the Wii U library needing a bit more diversity it is a fun purchase and one that will entertain fans of NES era games enough to warrant picking it up. Just don't expect a lot of modern design to make its way into the experience.
Just remember before going in where this game originated, and set expectations accordingly.