Max Parker's Reviews
The development team at Dontnod have successfully crafted a story that explores the mental strain of growing up. The subject matter is mature, but because of its stark exploration of humanity rather than shocking violence. After three episodes, "Life is Strange" rivals some of the most intriguing prime time dramas on television.
This year's "Show" continues the series' tradition of being a gorgeous taste of what its like to play professional sports. It's so gorgeous that it's not only the best looking sports game out there, it's in the running for best looking game period. Some scenes make it difficult to differentiate from the real thing. This is the baseball sim gold standard, but compared to what? It's the best baseball game because it's the only baseball game. Marginal improvements will continue to be the trend for this series until another team comes along to give it some competition.
"The Handsome Collection" doesn't reinvent the wheel of remastered games. It's a standard fare that we should now be used to in the current-gen era of rehashing old games with new graphics. That doesn't mean this collection isn't worth the money. "Borderlands 2" alone is nearly worth the price of admission for serious vault hunters. If you're gung ho about revisiting the world of Pandora, "The Handsome Collection" is an attractive offer.
While "Bloodborne" features attack and dodge maneuvers, it is not a hack-and-slash game. Approaching it as such would result in many deaths, and wouldn't be any fun for the player. This game requires saint-like patience and its difficulty increases as patience is lost. Because of this, not everybody is going to love "Bloodborne. But if it's approached as the game is designed, it's is one of the best experiences of 2015.
"Ori and the Blind Forest" is much more than a pleasant surprise of 2015. This is a must-play game in the Xbox One and PC library. It's a rare find that molds gameplay, level design and a heartfelt story to tie it all together.
"Screamride" could have been a respectable evolution of the popular "RollerCoaster Tycoon" franchise, but it veered off the track along the way. The roller coaster design sections contain strokes of genius, but that genius is constantly mired by boring gameplay that make up two thirds of the game. This lack of cohesion creates a seriously bumpy ride.
"The Order" will likely become a long running franchise for Sony. It will be interesting to see how it evolves. It could stay in content with being a game that is only interested in presenting a cinematic story with gorgeous graphics, or it could evolve into a game that grants players with more creative freedom. Its current form is a step back from what modern games have become. "Shadow of Mordor," "Dragon Age" and "GTA V" achieved accolades because their settings were molded and enhanced by the player's freedoms. "The Order" feels confining. Galahad is trapped between the gorgeous buildings of London with nothing to do other than play out his story. The player has nothing to do but watch.
For 3DS owners and people who missed "Majora's Mask" 15 years ago, this is the perfect time to experience one of the most underrated games in the series. The game seems to force itself to take advantage of the 3DS hardware, and not every part of the game is enjoyable, but that's par for the course when it comes to the "Zelda" franchise. The layered narrative is worth your time and money. It's a shining example of why "Zelda" is such an artistic representation of the medium of video games.
"Grim Fandango Remastered" is a great opportunity to introduce a new generation of gamers to this timeless classic. It still plays like it came out recently, and the story remains unlike anything out there even after nearly 17 years. Pay the $14.99 and see how influential it is to many of today's popular games.
But is "Far Cry 4" fun? I enjoyed "Far Cry 3," so it's safe to assume that I also enjoyed "Far Cry 4." There just isn't much new here to call it a sequel. "Far Cry 3" was a change in direction from "Far Cry 2." I expected that same innovation from "Far Cry 4," but instead saw more of the same. Kyrat is a wonderfully crafted open world that encourages players to seek out all of its hidden adventures, but the sense of discovery is lost when it feels like the second time around.
If any game in the "Super Smash Bros." series has ever been the go-to game to play with your group of friends, this new Wii U version will replace it. A new "Super Smash Bros." game is the only suitable successor to a previous "Super Smash Bros." The king is dead, long live the King.
Regardless of the innovation that is or isn't present in "LittleBigPlanet 3," the series' PS4 debut will undoubtedly make longtime fans happy. The numerous new features will pave the way for some of the deepest user-created levels the series has ever seen. I can't wait to see where users take this experience.
The "Halo" series has had a pristine record when it came to online stability at launch, but now that record is tarnished. This review will be updated again once these multiplayer issues are rectified, but right now this is a major disappointment. This is a series that was built on multiplayer action, and the online features are a mess.
When you actually think about it, was "Resident Evil" really ever about the story? Was Wesker a well developed villain? That series has always been gameplay over narrative. "The Evil Within" continues that trend. "Resident Evil" has been on the decline for the last decade, but "The Evil Within" can be its honorary resurgence.
Eventually, the game's catalog will grow to contain dozens of fan-favorite tunes from different corners of popular music. When you feel the beat of your favorite song and then wave your hands to alter that song with various layers and tones from the remixes, "Fantasia: Music Evolved" feels more like magic than a video game. Walt Disney was driven by the need to create new avenues for artistic expression. He would be proud of "Fantasia: Music Evolved." It's worthy of his name.
Talion's story captures the essence of a Tolkien story. It's all about the journey. Friends are made, strangers are met and the true evil of Middle-earth is ever-present, but each story revolves around a true hero. Now Talion can stand next to the legends of Gimli, Frodo, Legolas and Aragorn.
Overall "Disney Infinity 2.0" improves on many aspects of the first game. The experience clicks perfectly when playing one of the better Play Sets, and seeing novel creations in the Toy Box often amazes. If you're willing to throw down the money to collect many of the better characters, the experience a memorable one. If you're just planning on checking out The Avengers starter pack, there's more to "Disney Infinity 2.0" than this subpar representation.
"Counterspy" begins as a novel approach to 2D stealth when the levels begin with a simple layout. The gameplay declines in the later levels when it becomes a shoddy shoot 'em up. The action in small doses is tolerable, but the final level tries its hardest to ruin the entire experience.
If "Diablo 3" is any indication, there's a reason that this is an influential series in the annals of video games. This has the makings of being a serious timesink for me, but I'm looking forward to wreaking further havoc in the underworld.