Wolfenstein: The New Order suffers from minor inconsistencies in nearly every aspect of the game from its storytelling to its action, but the good news is the game never feels consistently bad. Things are at least kind of interesting even when the pace lags or the story and gameplay don't quite line up. And from minute to minute you're engaged in meaty, challenging combat that rewards smart, tactical play that results in plenty of dead Nazis -- even if there are a few kinks.
The real enjoyment in Luftrausers doesn't really come from experimenting, it's more about finding the right fit. It's really about performance, not options, and the game's longevity and value come from excellent tuning and feedback. You launch, then you thread the needle, push the envelope, curse your foes, and go out in a blaze of glory.
The most surprising thing about TowerFall is that its attractive 16-bit aesthetic also hearkens back to a classic approach to unlocking hidden secrets. The way new characters and stages are uncovered by naturally playing and exploring the game is really rewarding. It's easy to have fun with TowerFall, and there's a lot to like on the surface, but players who put more into it will certainly get more out.
It's not exactly a perfect run for Garrett, but players will still find many things worth taking.
To put it plainly, Nidhogg is incredibly fun. If you can appreciate the game's style for what it is and you don't have an ego as fragile as glass, you'll delight in testing your mettle against another's. And even if you lose, at least you didn't get eaten by some horrible beast.
Ryse is well-suited to make its entrance alongside a new console, as some of its faults can be overlooked for its commendable bravado and convincing demonstration of power. The bloody spectacle of war and gladiatorial combat are thrilling to behold, and Ryse demonstrates competence even if it falls short of mastery. If Rome were to Ryse again, one would imagine it would be greater.
Resogun lays out all your tools in front of you and has you gunning for a high score simply for the sake of improving your game. You can look at this as a virtue, but even with the addition of online coop, Resogun doesn't completely explore its promising possibility space. It feels almost inevitable that the game will see some sort of update to offer more ships and more levels in the future. The game is currently free for PlayStation Plus members. As it is, it's a great companion for a new console.
It would be hard to recommend a player try the expansion without playing the original first, but fortunately running the game on Steam requires ownership of Enemy Unknown and the console release will include both old and new versions. Enemy Within isn't the definitive version of XCOM, but it's a smart and satisfying extension of a game ideal for enticing players back for a second, third, or fourth playthrough.