Steven Ruygrok's Reviews
Having had a great chance to digest the experience of Mirror's Edge Catalyst, I'm left with an open-world experience that doesn't sit on the crutch of weapon-driven combat, and instead lends gamers with a robust parkour system that is extremely rewarding and satisfying, all of which is set in a city that is truly worthy of a screenshot at every turn. It's a story that is touching, powerful and will have you invested in its characters. Mirror's Edge is back and it is here to stay.
Marrakesh provides the most complexity to the Hitman formula yet, and its design and setting make players work harder for success now more than ever before. Overall, Hitman Episode 3 is yet another amazing addition to the series this year and I can't wait to get lost in its fourth episode.
Some remasters can feel a bit mailed in when it comes to how much they’ve actually been improved, but Dead Island: Definitive Edition is not one of them. Who knows what is going to happen to Dead Island 2 at this stage, but one thing that is true is Deep Silver has reignited the franchise with Dead Island: Definitive Edition.
Homefront: The Revolution can be a great game, and maybe a few months from now Dambuster Studios will have fixed everything that's wrong with it. However, with the current state it is in now it's extremely difficult to recommend this game, even to the most ardent fans of Homefront.
If reviews of Battleborn were conducted maybe six months from now, this experience might be more fleshed out, particularly on the competitive multiplayer side of things, and I hope it is. However, as this game stands now, Battleborn is a brief game that largely stumbles at the hands of a thin competitive multiplayer and grindy progression systems.
Taking a step back and looking at the entire experience of Sapienza and Episode 2, this location is absolutely brilliant and beautiful. From the level design to the amount of depth found in each section of Sapienza, Hitman has yet another fine episode, even despite its once again thin narrative.
While Stories: The Path of Destinies certainly has some unique elements and beautiful levels for people to enjoy, unfortunately it turns out to be a mediocre RPG that truly struggles to provide any meat. This is a hard game to recommend, though if the price is right or is on PS Plus, it's worth a look.
Taking a step back and looking at the entire Ratchet & Clank picture, it's easy to see how missed this franchise has been from the gaming industry. The combination of wondrous gadgets and galaxies with its unique narrative and engaging characters, Ratchet & Clank on the PS4 has been way overdue, and this initial installment on the platform is simply incredible. I highly recommend it to any longtime fan of the series as well as newcomers who have yet to experience the awesomeness that is Ratchet & Clank.
If you are more interested in Quantum Break for its gameplay, you may want to hold off until a sale or rental fits your budget, but if you are looking for something that takes a daring step forward with how a video game can be made, Quantum Break is perfect for you.
Despite the cynics who might try to marginalize what this game truly is, it's something you must you must experience, whether that is with friends or on your own. The Division shows you can have both an incredible online multiplayer experience, while staying true to the roots of an immersive campaign. The Division is a magnificent revelation and one that was well worth the wait.
What Hitman is now won't necessarily be what it is when the game's seven episodes have all been released, but a strong foundation is there. This game is the most authentic Hitman experience and it will ask you to become intimately familiar with each level. It is something that will test your patience, intelligence and skills, and when you put it all together will reward you greatly for it.
Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 has a massive amount of rich, entertaining and wacky content for players to enjoy. I know I'll be spending another 30 hours on Garden Ops alone, but EA has managed to bring some interesting, new ingredients that help make this series as fun and addicting, as it was the first time around.
Over the course of my seven hours with the game, it was an enjoyable, simple and easy experience. Unravel doesn't do anything special with its gameplay or narrative, though it does have a magnificent soundtrack and stunning visuals. If you're a person who is a hardcore platforming fan, you will most likely be very underwhelmed with Unravel, but if you're looking for a fun, easy and light experience, then maybe this game is for you.
Firewatch has a funny, surprisingly intelligent narrative all captured within a spectacular and grand setting that worth a picture or two. Even though there were some obvious performance issues with the PS4 version of the game, Firewatch is still more than worth playing, multiple times.
When I step back and think about This War of Mine: The Little Ones, I am left with thoughts of a profound and meaningful experience, in spite of its limiting structure, and one that will make you feel like you never had before. This War of Mine: The Little Ones provides an essential illustration of what is the inescapable fact of our existence: we are all human.
LEGO Marvel's Avengers provides a game that I will not be walking away from anytime soon, as there is still so much to discover and experience, even after the main campaign has been completed. It's a game any Marvel, LEGO or gaming fan will thoroughly enjoy, and I am still laughing at many of the excellent touches TT Games has put into this game.
When I step back and think about The Witness, it is a game that challenged me more than any has before. No matter what though, the challenges were always worth pushing through to find a solution because of the rewards that were hidden behind them. There will be a group of people who love this game for how rewarding it is, and at the same time, there will be a group that loathes it for how frustrating it is. All I know is I fell in the group of the former.
Despite an obligatory narrative, Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India is an excellent continuation of this unique spinoff and I can't wait to get my hands on the third game next month.
God's Acre is a very focused episode, with very little backtracking and can be completed just under 2 hours without collecting everything. The core stealth action is the same, and the reduced OMNI abilities never feel like a hindrance. God's Acre is less frustrating than previous episodes and does not overstay its welcome, but does not change the formula enough to stand out.
When I step back and take a look at Rainbow Six Siege, I see a game that does so many things extremely well; better than any other shooter, in fact. It compels players to be tactical and work as a team better than any other shooter, and there is still so much to learn and uncover in this world. Despite a lack of depth in the game's multiplayer objectives, Rainbow Six Siege is a my favorite shooter of the year and truly feels like this is how online multiplayer should be.