Ken McKown's Reviews
Shantae: Risky's Revenge is a classic that deserves more attention, and only makes me that much more excited to finally see the new title come to PS4. It is great for players who enjoy a solid character-action game, and of course the Metroid-style so many games have adopted over the year.-Combine that with likable characters and a colorful, gorgeously pixelated visual style, and this game is a must own.
I tend to take one or two iterations off to keep the series feeling fresh, and Extend has rekindled my love for the series. Definitely recommended for those that still enjoy the wackiness that is BlazBlue.
Batman: Arkham Knight may mark the end of Rocksteady's trilogy, but it goes out with a bang. There is so much to love about it, it is easily in contention for one of the best of 2015. I am truly excited to see what the team is up to next, but their take on the Dark Knight has been the best, and this final entry is no exception.
Capcom has delivered yet another fantastic HD remake. While the company has said they have begun to focus more on these types of packages, it still makes me wish we would see more new entries in our beloved franchises. Before that happens though, can we get that Onimusha HD collection along with an updated Dragon's Dogma package for XB1 and PS4? You know, for science?
LEGO Jurassic World is a fantastic addition to the series, and if it ends up being one of the last ones, it is going out with a bang. Life found a way, so make sure you find a way to play this amazing game.
However, anyone growing tired of the LEGO game formula will likely find nothing here to reignite that love. I really enjoy reviewing and playing each of these games as they come out, but it is definitely starting to feel like some new ideas are becoming necessary.
Spy Chameleon is simple and easy to recommend to players. What it does, it does well, and the price point is spot on. There isn't much to the game, but there is plenty to keep me coming back. Earning better times is fun, and competing with friends is a blast. This is the perfect solution to one of those "I have no idea what to play tonight" moods. Snag it for $5 and thank me later.
Xbox One owners looking for something to fill that Mario Kart void will find plenty to enjoy with Beach Buggy Racing. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, it definitely handles what it sets out to do admirably. Just know what you are getting into before taking the plunge
I could spend pages raving about how good The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is. Rarely do I hand out this score, and I think that speaks volumes about this game. This is easily one of the best games of 2015, but beyond that it is the best fantasy RPG I have played to date, alongside being the best open-world game since Rockstar's phenomenal Red Dead Redemption. This game is a must own, it is worth buying one of these new consoles (or a hefty PC if you have the cash). It will take something special to replace this game for years to come.
Rayman Legends is one of the best games that no one played last year. Now is the time to remedy that.
Splatoon is a novel title that is a blast to play. My biggest concern is longevity. With certain modes and features locked behind players reaching a certain level, I wonder how long its legs truly are. I want it to catch on, but with the paltry Wii U user base, and a quirky new IP at the helm, my fears are that no one will care about Splatoon in a month's time.
Project Cars is a massive package that can be tailored to anyone who enjoys racing games. Some may find issue with the lack of unlockables, but there is so much to see and do that I never grew bored of enjoying what was already there.
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is a fantastic follow-up to last year's rebirth of the series. I hope a full-fledged sequel is in the works, but for now this definitely satisfies my hunger for more Blazkowicz. The campaign will run a little over five hours to complete, and for $20 that is certainly worth the price of admission.
Project Root delivers on its promise of a bullet-hell style game with twin stick controls, but the mixture comes with plenty of issues. Those looking for a grindy-challenging affair that is mechanically sound will not find their money wasted, but I still wish it was fine-tuned for a more enjoyable experience.
Assassin's Creed Chronices: China is a nice change of pace for the series, and a great way to spend $10. I had a great time with the experience, and am on board for the next two whenever they release. If you like bite-sized stealth adventures like Mark of the Ninja, this is definitely one to check out.
Mortal Kombat X is the next step in the series. While not quite as impressive as 2011's reboot, this is easily my favorite game of 2015 so far, and I have a hard time believing it will be topped.
Goat Simulator is the definition of dumb fun. It serves no purpose other than to entertain. I have derived far too many hours of enjoyment out of a game with little purpose.
Mario Party 10 strips so much of what I loved about past games and fills those voids with hoops to jump through to get that same satisfaction. . . . I am not sure if the MP franchise is an internal joke at Nintendo, but it feels like they have been trying to slowly destroy my memories of it for almost two decades.
Ziggurat is an interesting game. I really enjoyed the fast-paced combat and incremental progression, but the technical issues stick out like a sore thumb. Still, if you can get past those there is a neat experience waiting here. Although the price tag feels a little steep, it never felt like I didn't get my money's worth of enjoyment out of it.
Bloodborne is the next step in the Souls series, and the new, faster combat system opens up some new ideas and scenarios. For those that never could grasp the series, this new entry is not going to change your mind. It still represents all the previous games with the same difficulty and non hand-holding it has come to be known for. Still for those with patience and dedication, Bloodborne is the first truly must-own title for the PlayStation 4.