Javy Gwaltney
The costumes are loot for fans, and the Trial of the Sword is an entertaining test. Even so, nothing here substantially builds upon the core game
Fire Emblem Warriors manages to stay consistently entertaining despite pacing issues and an uneven balance between action and strategy
When it isn't dragging its feet, the latest episode of Telltale's take on Batman offers some engaging twists and turns.
The primary characters are more fleshed out now that the story is occupied with making us sympathetic to them rather than showing off Westeros and Essos. As a result, this is a game that now feels more confident and standalone than it did a couple of months ago, more of a work that justifies its own existence than it does a dull, flimsy tie-in being hawked by HBO for marketing purposes.
Like Don’t Starve, Shipwrecked is fun for a time but often too punishing and meandering for its own good
The finale is an inconsistent episode, but its highs are memorable
On the whole Syndicate is entertaining and good at providing an enjoyable time while you thoughtlessly grind away at the completion meter, checking off lists of items and missions as you go along.
After a dull start the tension amps up, resulting in a promising-but-rocky beginning
A charming story and enjoyable combat make the journey worth taking even if sub-par puzzles, technical issues, and frustrating controls drag down the experience
The rest of Brutal doesn’t live up to its inspired visuals but it still makes for a good time
Provides the challenge hardcore players seek, but the experience comes with its fair share of frustrations
Ruiner's messy brand of violence and stylish visuals make for a fun and chaotic (if brief) ride
The Pact weaves a convoluted story that's an improvement over the first episode and ultimately entertaining if you're willing to suspend your disbelief.
The delightful story and atmosphere just narrowly make up for the lack of compelling gameplay
When the credits rolled I was relieved. The final part of Roundabout was agony, a funny game that had overstayed its welcome and told all its jokes four times over.
Perhaps the best that can be said about this expansion is that it's ultimately a step in the right direction for one of last year's most disappointing games and offers a glimmer of hope that Destiny might, within a few years time and a handful of updates, actually be a consistently great game rather than a pile up of both great and poor design decisions that frustrates just as often as it delights.
Luckily the foundation of the series is still strong in and out of the campaign, with the multiplayer suite of Horde and Versus being as fun as ever. Escape, clearly inspired by Left 4 Dead, is also a great way to kill an hour if you've got competent squaddies for the ride. Ultimately, I had a fair amount of fun tearing my way through swarms of foes with shotguns and chainsaws, but there's definitely a part of me that's disappointed Gears 5 isn't the evolution its bloody heart is set on being.
When Shadow Warrior 2 is firing on all cylinders, it's an enjoyable action-packed experience, but those moments are few and far between in a campaign that's too long for its own good
If you're willing to push past a large number of technical issues and poor stealth gameplay, there's a fantastic story buried deep in The Occupation's heart
Ultimately, Rise of the Tomb Raider is akin to a direct-to-DVD sequel. It apes the look and style of the original but nothing comes together in a way that's nearly as impressive. I played the reboot four times over and it remains one of the few games I've reached 100% completion, going around and collecting every trinket just because I wanted to explore every inch of its fantastic world. I doubt I'll ever touch its sequel again. It's a decent action-adventure game with some nice moments but it's also lacking in the ambition and artistry embodied by its predecessor. In the end it's merely a fun but mostly forgettable time.