Assassin's Creed 4 is constantly waiting for its dare-to-be-great moment
Bayonetta 2's blatant over-sexualization puts a big dent in an otherwise great game
Andromeda succeeds, despite a host of problems
Borderlands 2 is unquestionably a better game than Borderlands. The new emphasis on elemental weapons and dismemberment make for better combat scenarios, and the constant character improvement is a great push forward for players looking for long-term rewards. But sticking around for those payoffs requires more patience than I'd hoped.
In areas where Battlefield has always excelled and pushed forward, Hardline presents experiments, rather than refinements or fixes. The result is multiplayer that feels very familiar, very quickly. But its campaign, while feeling not completely sure about what it wants to be, is more interesting and certainly all-around better than the last few years' worth of Battlefield games.
Forza Horizon 2's foundation is stronger than the underwhelming tracks built on top of it
Double Helix has competently filled the gaps in Killer Instinct's foundation
Low gravity makes The Pre-Sequel more than a simple rehash of the Borderlands formula
Strike Vector can't quite stick the landing
Black Ops 3 doesn't meaningfully move the series forward
The Division's MMO aspirations get in the way of its shooter fundamentals
Titanfall 2 has the basics down, but loses much of the focus
At around six hours long, Song of the Deep doesn't have enough time to become a disaster, and there are redeeming aspects of it. The character, the voiceover, the presentation are all a change of pace from the video game status quo, and the sense of discovery the first half offers is welcome. But it's hard to shake the feeling of a game with potential that never quite figures out how to deliver on it.
If more of what Sonic is what you want, then this is very much that, but more, and bigger, and faster. But for me, as someone with fond memories but key criticisms, Sonic Mania seems content to paint over some of the series' problems rather than fix them, making for a game that falls a little short of what might have been.
Titan Souls finds its best moments when its willing to spare the rod
Dying Light too often loses track of what it's best at
Unity falls short of the fresh start Assassin's Creed needs
Isolation isn't the worst Alien game, but it is the most disappointing
Child of Light seems content to only scratch its own surface
Street Fighter V is the skeleton of a great fighting game