Yet when the credits rolled, we didn't feel relief, but rather disappointment that the adventure was over. There's a lot to criticize in Tales of Zestiria, but the combat and characters make it enjoyable regardless. Like many good role-playing games, it's easy to get lost in, whether that means fine-tuning your strategies or watching the various character arcs unfold. At its best, Zestiria reminds us that the Tales series still has life left in it.
Halo 5: Guardians is a massive game that we intend to keep playing for the foreseeable future. There are parts that let us down, particularly the story, but it's hard to feel too stung when there's just so much fun to be had. Halo 5 has a lot to prove and it seems fully capable of doing just that. It's a pleasure seeing the series in top form once again.
Above all, Dragon Quest Heroes perfectly captures one of the most essential parts of the series: that it prides itself on joy. It's a quality that overshadows its shortcomings. Too many JRPGs are overly serious and shove the same tropes down your throat again and again. The levity and unabashed enthusiasm of Dragon Quest creates a childlike wonder that's still enchanting more than 25 years after the original game.
Plague of Shadows is a great addition to an already wonderful game. There's a lot to experience, and considering the asking price is absolutely nothing, it's a generous offering. It's so good in fact, that we've enjoyed Plague of Shadows more than most other DLC, which sometimes feel like you're being charged a lot for little in return. With our love of shoveling rekindled, we hope to see more of this classically-inspired gem very soon.
Even so, the vast majority of Heavensward is outstanding and it's easy enough to endure the occasional slow patch. A Realm Reborn was an impressive revival when it launched in 2013, and Heavensward elevates the game to an even higher level. Rarely do expansions feel so fully formed. A Realm Reborn is no longer a grand apology, but instead a fantastic Final Fantasy game in its own right.
Make no mistake, though, the Phantom Pain is excellent. It expands and enriches Metal Gear Solid without compromising the qualities that make the series so beloved. Despite the huge scope, hollywood talent, and technical flashiness, there's a subtlety to the Phantom Pain that's truly captured our hearts.
Galak-Z may be rough around the edges, but the core of it is so good that it's easy to recommend regardless. It's a game of ecstatic moments, where you'll kill a boss with only a sliver of life, or dodge a barrage of lasers at the very last second. Galak-Z may not have the highest production values, but it's one of the most energizing games we've played on the PS4 this year.
Heroes of the Storm has plenty of room to grow, but even with its numerous deficiencies, we're simply not having as much fun with any other MOBA. At this point, we've overdosed on so many would-be competitors to League of Legends. Heroes of the Storm is a revitalizing and largely successful attempt at looking at the genre in a different way. Blizzard refused to say "me too" and we're all better off for it.
Splatoon is a great game that may be outstanding in a few months' time. If Nintendo delivers in a big way with the planned free updates, it could absolutely be a must-have for the system. As it stands, Splatoon is a mechanically solid shooter set in a delightful world, but just doesn't have enough to it to truly make it exceptional.
These are small grievances with what is ultimately one of the best games to bear the Obsidian name, which isn't said lightly. Like so many RPGs, Pillars of Eternity is immense with an abundance of things to do. But unlike so many RPGs, it manages to fill its many spaces with craft and care. The towns aren't just towns, the dungeons aren't just dungeons, and the characters aren't just an assembly of stats. Everything takes on a very believable form, transporting players to truly fascinating places.
Despite these complaints, the character and tone of Broken Age are hard to resist. Act two may not capitalize on the potential of act one, but there are still plenty of moments that can bring a smile to your face or cause you to laugh-out-loud. Even at its worst, the world is a pleasure to be a part of, putting Broken Age in one of the most frustrating positions. There's already a lot of goodness within it, but it's almost impossible not to think of what it could have been.
Hotline Miami 2 is ultimately a lesser game than its predecessor, one that has just as many failings as it does strengths. Yet some of its ideas are so outstanding that it's absolutely worth playing if you can summon the appropriate amount of patience. It's an audacious game that takes risks and embraces experimentation. When so many franchises seem content on retreading the same ground, Hotline Miami 2 feels like an important, if often frustrating asset.
It may not be Kirby's most triumphant outing, but Rainbow Curse is still an entertaining ride. The abundance of ideas and charming look trump the few but severe shortcomings. Once again Kirby does something a little different, and we're certainly glad he did.
Evolve may not be as fleshed out as other multiplayer shooters, but it's still one of those rare games that chases after something different and actually succeeds. It's built for incredible, player-driven stories; when you just barely triumph over a level three monster, or when you wipe out a group of hunters within a few minutes. Our biggest fear going into Evolve is that it would only be fun in short bursts, but every time we play the session lasts for hours. Even now, there are still so many things we want to get better at and experiment with. Needless to say, we're going to be hunting on Shear for the foreseeable future.
It's hard to get hung up on the game's shortcomings when the core fighting looks and feels so outstanding. Matches are often loud, colorful spectacles in a way few competitors can match. And though the roster isn't the biggest, each character has an abundance of style and complexity. Like the rest of the series, Guilty Gear Xrd takes patience and commitment to fully wrap your head around, but the rewards are so substantial that the investment is absolutely worth it. Nothing is quite like Guilty Gear, and Xrd expertly demonstrates why it's been missed so much.
Yet nearly everything good about Gat Out of Hell has been done better in the main games. We remember laughing out loud during the last two Saints Row outings, but couldn't even muster a chuckle throughout the duration of the expansion. If you're absolutely desperate for more of the third-street Saints, this jaunt into the underworld will just barely suffice, but most will be better off waiting for the next, and inevitably more fully-featured, sequel.
World of Warcraft is an achievement that's never truly been outdone and Warlords of Draenor ensures its reign will continue for the foreseeable future.