2015's Need for Speed is in many ways more grounded than other recent entries. You don't throw spike strips at each other and you don't jump off buildings. It's more about the inherent excitement of dodging traffic and drifting down the side of a mountain. The customization features are a welcome return, and the five-layered career lets you play with different approaches to driving. Some aspects of Need for Speed could use more variety, but it's a solid foundation to move the series forward..
Assassin's Creed Syndicate makes some strides forward with more substantial side quests and interesting story missions, even if the plot itself doesn't really go anywhere. Exploring this recreation of London is a marvel, but the repetitive cycle of taking territory and gathering pointless collectibles quickly wears thin, while gameplay pillars in stealth and combat still feel lacking. It's the most modern Assassin's Creed has been, but the Industrial Revolution doesn't quite bring the series into a new age.
Lasting ten to twelve hours with complex characters, diverse scenarios, stunning new locations, and memorable bosses, this ten dollar expansion stands out in a period when many DLC offerings feel like lackluster afterthoughts. Even though it's an expansion that returns to familiar areas, Hearts of Stone doesn't feel like it's merely piggybacking on the main game, but has its own worthwhile tale to tell.
While the controls can be a little awkward at times, Tearaway Unfolded is a delightful package overall. Its distinctive look is matched by equally creative gameplay that has you interacting with the world and leaving your mark in ways quite unlike anything else. If you missed it the first time, don't let it slip by again.
Forza Motorsport 6 maintains the series' strong handling, robust features, and its ability to bring together players of varied skill levels. There are improvements in virtually every area, but even with additions like night and weather, it doesn't really feel like there's a standout change to push the series forward. It seems like most of the effort this time around went into getting Forza back on track.
Mad Max doesn't break a new mold for open world games or feel like an epic cinematic experience, but it's nowhere near being a cheap movie tie-in either. It's fun to build your car, wreck some things, and explore the wasteland, and it's clear that a lot of attention has been put into building this world. Even when you've been through dozens of bandit camps, it still has a way of surprising you with what's around the next corner. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
Due to its thrilling nature, wide cast, and focus on choice, it's one of the few adventure games we could even recommend for parties. It's more fun than we expected, and we can't wait to relive the night with our own group of friends.
Everybody's Gone to the Rapture is about discovering a story on your own, piecing together the details as you stroll through the countryside. What begins with curiosity in trying to explain what exactly happened soon gets you wrapped up in the lives of who it happened to.
It also doesn't feel like you go on much of a journey. There's little variation in the forests and caves, and you'll be done in about three hours. That said, Feist is still worth checking out if you're curious. It establishes an eerie mood, making you feel vulnerable to what lurks in the shadows. It just gets hung up in awkward moments at times.
Tembo: The Badass Elephant may be a bit short and straightforward, but the gameplay is solid and the destruction is satisfying. Game Freak has played to their strengths and designed a character that feels immediately iconic. We hope to see more from Tembo in the future as this powerful pachyderm is popping with potential.
After spending more than 100 hours in The Witcher 3, we're still left with dozens of side quests to complete, enormous tracts of land left to explore, and monsters yet to fight. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a thoughtful, diverse, and frequently awe-inspiring adventure. Its stories are deep and satisfying, unafraid to touch on themes of personal character, presenting players with choices and consequences that aren't about turning into a hero or a villain. In the end, it's quite simply one of the best RPGs ever made.
However, the game's main problem is that it's just rather dull overall. Perhaps it's the push to avoid enemy contact or the lackluster sound design or the droning music, but Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China never really comes to life. It's a different take on side-scrolling gameplay, but the added depth doesn't save it from feeling flat.
In all, Titan Souls is for people who don't mind struggling to overcome a challenge, but there's little else to grab your attention. It doesn't carry the same weight or intrigue as the games that inspired it, but there's a fun set of battles to test your reflexes.
Axiom Verge isn't the best in its class, but it takes a familiar structure and adds a tool belt loaded with interesting weapons and gadgets. It's a worthwhile adventure that entices you to unearth its secrets and rewards you for doing so.