Lara Croft Go is an exciting entry in the series, with obvious blemishes. They don't outweigh the good stuff, but they do prevent it from being as good, which is a shame, because it's one of the best puzzle games of 2016, and it could be argued it's the best on the PS Vita this year. Still, with long load times and testy controls, it feels like the price of entry to this deep and exciting puzzle title could be a bit too high to call it a must-have title for anyone who hasn't experienced Square Enix's Go franchise just yet.
It's hard to recommend Don't Disturb, because there seems to be a severe lack of content; content that is either broken or excellent. The beautiful world is realised just fine, but the issues that soon appear bog the experience down. The short play time means that getting around the one-chance puzzles and irritating save system is much easier, but is that trade-off worth it? Still, for those who find the beauty in the rubble, it will at least feel like a short time well spent.
Quest of Dungeons is what happens when a formula is refined, but largely left the way it is. It's not going to appease those who are sick of the same old, but it will make those who want something that is refined happy. It's clearly not for everyone, but for those who have already dropped hundreds of hours into other dungeons, this one is worth the visit, so definitely jump on in.
INVERSUS is a powerful example of how to take one mechanic and give the player the power to explore it. It's at its best when two gamers are going after one another, but even the arcade experience is fantastic. There's limited space for exploration, and perhaps the most useful weapon could be a bit easier to use. Still, any fan of shooters or competitive games needs to give INVERSUS a shot, even if they try nothing else. It's clearly the best couch co-operative game of the year, and with arcade mode and online play available, there's still enough here to make this a classic.
Xenoraid is just not very much fun. It has some interesting ideas, and some that are just confusing, but for the most part it's the same space shooter that has been seen time and time again. It's like the Expert mode of an old shooter, where things have been tweaked, but it largely feels like the exact same game. While the upgrade system and loadouts are pretty interesting, they feel like an exciting game leading into something much less appealing.
Gone in November manages to be a nice insight into someone's final days, but it never really justifies being a game. It's confusing, often directionless, and its poor decisions involving text make it hard to follow the small grains of plot you're supposed to be finding. Perhaps in another life, it could have been a book or short film. Unfortunately, in this life, it is a game—and one that doesn't really work very well.
Sceal is, in term of narrative driven games, a must-have. It comes with considerable baggage, but at the end, it's clearly worth the time spent. Again, if too much story and very little gameplay sounds like a big flaw, steer clear. As for everyone else, there's something incredibly unique to be found here.
Ninja Pizza Girl is an unfortunate example of a game falling apart due to poor execution. It shouldn't be overlooked for platforming or runner fans, but it's not going to change your feelings on either genre. For all it does right, it manages to do twice as much wrong. If the controls were refined, alone, it would be one of the best runners available, but even then, there are too many rough edges to overlook.
Knee Deep is just as flawed as the souls who traverse its story. The important thing to remember, though, is that it's worth it. The story is original, the gameplay is exciting for how simple it is, and moments rarely feel dull or meaningless. Its wrinkles don't detract from the game enough to keep it from being an absolute must-have for any adventure fan. Hopefully, it'll get the attention it deserves.
140 is a charming, difficult, and incredibly short experience that manages to be both sadistic and inviting the entire time it's on. While it may not last too long, it's still a game any platformer or music fan should invest their time into. While a true platforming juggernaut could finish everything in the game in a few hours, it's the only experience like it, and it's one of the best rhythm platformers ever made.
Puzzle Puppers has some issues, but it isn't a bad game by any means. It's just not a particularly good one. Instead, it sits in the middle, seeming like a lot of game design choices that feel safe stacked on top of each other. It's hard to say what could make it stand out, because it's enjoyable for what it is. What it is, unfortunately, is a game that falters for one of the most bizarre reasons out there: it's just too safe.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is not only a fully functional party game, but one of the best anyone could pick up. Its rules are very confusing at first, and since new modules get introduced fairly frequently, it can be a bit daunting to try and keep up. Don't be deterred, though, because this is a tense, exciting party title that should never be overlooked, and has plenty of content to fall in love with.
Was it what you guessed it would be? Fans of puzzle games and first-person shooters alike will probably find a lot to love in Lovely Planet Arcade, but much of the game is spent feeling stupid for something you wouldn't have known anyway. While the simple graphics are charming, and the music leaves a lot to be desired, Lovely Planet Arcade will either feel like a challenging mentor, or a schoolyard bully, depending on how you as a gamer play.
The Technomancer is, after all, a video game. It had time, energy, heart and soul put into it. It never feels lazy, and it never feels like a cash grab. It just never manages to feel inspired or fun. In fact, it manages to be frustrating more than it is fun. Perhaps you'll find a nugget of charm underneath all the tedium. Unfortunately, The Technomancer only really manages to feel bland, if not devoid of life all together.
Causality takes the tried and true time mechanic many puzzle games use, and gives it a lot of depth. By pacing the introduction of new mechanics, and just being incredibly charming, Causality shows it knows how to mix form and function, and leaves gamers with an experience they truly can't get anywhere else. Its flaws are minor, and this leftfield title is sure to keep you playing with time for a while.
Uncanny Valley is going to catch some players' eyes, and leave a lot of others wondering if they missed something. The painful truth is that they didn't. The game is often too counterproductive to be enjoyed, as it manages to tackle every good idea with a bad one. At first, it feels like Silent Hill, then the dread sets in that it might just be the parts people were indifferent to, or didn't like. Any survival horror fan should check it out, but don't expect anything more than a game with a lot of potential that never quite realises it.
Flywrench may be hard to explain, but it's not hard at all to recommend. The difficulty manages to be mostly fair and wildly satisfying. While it may take some getting used to, it would be a disservice to yourself not to at least try out this indie underground legend, now that it's finally coming to the mainstream.
A Pixel Story is as close to perfect as a game can get, but it falls a bit short. It highlights a lot of the issues other Metroidvania games have, and can feel like an aimless walk from time to time. Rest assured, though, every annoyance you stumble across will be paid back in kind, and with a game so fun and enticing, you may find yourself lost in the System, as well.
Save the Ninja Clan is a solid platformer that might be a bit overzealous in the difficulty department, and may not be the prettiest thing you've ever seen. Still, it's a good way to spend your time, and while it may not feel fresh, it definitely feels complete. While it feels like a fairly typical platforming experience, it's a great experience nonetheless.
Phoning Home doesn't seem to want to be the flashiest of the survival genre. Instead, it seems to want to be the most accessible and the strongest. While it doesn't always succeed, it hits enough of the right notes to be both a recommendation and a surprisingly unique member of the survival genre. With a bit of polish, it could easily be one of the best.