Jason Hidalgo's Reviews
Although it maintains the tension that classic Resident Evil is known for, the game is unapologetically tied to the original to a fault so newcomers might be turned off by the older camera and controls mechanics. If you're a fan of classic Resident Evil, however, you'll get more mileage from this remaster for new consoles.
"Mario & Luigi Paper Jam" brings together two Mario worlds and manages to pull it off. The game continues to do a great job in combining RPG and action elements in its combat, which remains the biggest strength of games in the series. Admittedly, the micromanaging and multitasking can get too hectic at times for some folks. The story, while cute and charming, also doesn't have the meat that RPGs are typically known for. Folks who enjoy Mario's RPG series or want and engaging old school-style JRPG experience with Mario characters, however, will find this game to be jamming in a good way.
Rise of the Tomb Raider is a solid followup to the series' reboot, offering a nice mix of adventuring, puzzle platforming and action in a pretty-looking setting. Admittedly, it doesn't really break any new ground but it's a very polished rendition of the genre that continues the story of everyone's favorite Croft. If you're a fan of the reboot or never tried it but love the classic games in the series, Rise of the Tomb Raider is one game you'll want to climb onto.
Like the series overall, Episode 4 of Minecraft Story Mode is a tale of two games. On one hand, you have a charming adventure that should delight younger audiences. On the other hand, it may not have enough of the serious meat that older gamers would like to see in their point and click adventure. As for what the finality of A Block and A Hard Place entails for the next episode, we'll all just have to wait and see what Telltale has in store for it.
After years of incremental to non-existent progress that led to the scuttling of the franchise, Guitar Hero Live resurrects the series with new controls and a new look to boot. Yes, you'll want to slap your cheesy bandmates sometimes — perhaps even a lot. Folks used to the old controls might also find the new button layout maddening while content gating can be a bummer. The added interaction combined with some new fun modes, however, make this a promising reboot for the franchise.
"Minecraft Story Mode Episode 3: The Last Place You Look," ratchets up the drama while also taking out the split paths that made the previous episode feel a tad short for folks who decide to just do one playthrough. Admittedly, the cartoony look dampens the serious moments and the occasional graphical glitches continue to be a bummer. The witty writing, however, makes this one suitable for both young and old.
RIDE does a good job with providing a solid racing effort for motorcycles and filling an underserved niche but it admittedly lacks the extra oomph and polish seen in triple-A car racers. Fans of the genre will love the myriad options for bikes and customization. Load times, dated graphics and some bugs, however, knock down the experience a peg or two. It won't be for everyone but folks looking for a solid bike racing experience on the track and the street might want to give this game a proverbial ride.
Thanks to over-the-top game mechanics that encourage not just mayhem but also creative ways of unleashing them, the game can be a hoot to play for action lovers who have imagination and a sense of humor. Some parts are admittedly shallow and the game could use a more memorable plot. If you like campy action, however, Just Cause 3 is for you.
Although Telltale's "Game of Thrones" series started out on a promising note, the constant barrage of shocking and depressing developments involving its protagonists will test even the most well-adjusted person. The fact that episode six fails to provide a resolution to House Forrester's story and kicks the can down toward a second season also leaves players hanging. Fans who enjoy Game of Thrones' gritty and brutal storytelling might enjoy the ride. For others, however, the unyielding narrative formula eventually gets a bit old.
Overall, Stella Glow represents a polished rendition of the classic strategy JRPG that fans of the genre can appreciate. It doesn't introduce any groundbreaking mechanics but the mechanics it does have are mostly implemented well and make the game enjoyable. Despite a few issues with character imbalances and tuning sequences that aren't quite dialed down, Stella Glow does a good job overall of providing a modern rendition of the classic JRPG playstyle and should entertain old-school fans.
Xenoblade Chronicles X is a love letter to Japanese RPG fans thirsting for a large open-world experience. Progression admittedly can be a grind and just getting to the point where you get your first Skell requires a time investment that equals finishing a game or two in other genres. The game also could do a better job of explaining things, which would be especially helpful to newcomers to the series. At the same time, the breadth of content and things to do, combined with a wonderfully realized world, makes Xenoblade Chronicles X a mighty filling experience for fans of JRPGs that can last hundreds of hours. If you love the genre, this is one game you'll want to spend time with. A LOT of time.
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is a unique entry in the horror genre that provides players with a different experience from the norm. Admittedly, certain aspects of the game feel dated and the storytelling doesn't quite bring out the full potential of its promising plot. The game's combat mechanics, however, are stellar with the Wii U providing the best implementation of the series' camera controls to date. If you're itching for a classic horror game that's different from the norm, this one's worth a shot — pun so totally intended.
Overall, Star Wars Battlefront does a good job with its main focus, which is providing a fun multiplayer experience for players. Admittedly, the lack of a campaign is disappointing so this might not be the game for you if you play shooters for the story and don't even touch multiplayer. If you're raison d'etre with the genre is playing online, however, Battlefront is one side you'll likely want to join.
Elite Dangerous is a great representation of the space sim genre that will have fans tickled by its large galaxy, open world and solid combat. Admittedly, it isn't for everybody. The more measured pace will be boring for folks who want action all the time and the lack of guidance also will likely turn off newcomers. At the same time, if you love the genre and you're looking for something to sink your teeth into before Star Citizen comes out, this will definitely scratch that space sim itch.
Animal Crossing Amiibo Festival is a spinoff title that features plenty of the charm and cuteness the franchise is known for but lacks the depth of other games in the series. Although the production values are great, the gameplay for the main mode is a bit on the shallow side and the amiibo figure and card integration also can be a bit cumbersome. It's ideal for young kids and family-friendly gaming but likely won't hold the interest of older gamers for extended play. The includes amiibo figures, on the other hand, are freaking awesome. I'd actually get this for those two amiibos alone.
Mario Tennis Ultra Smash does a good job in refining the base gameplay with new mechanics but also suffers from a lack of modes and features compared to its predecessors. Mega Battles also feel gimmicky as opposed to a new game changing feature and amiibo integration could have been better. Although the single-player experience is lacking, however, Mario Tennis Ultra Smash continues to shine in its multiplayer matches, which remain a fun experience locally with friends and family as well as against online foes. Gather a bunch of folks in the living room and get ready for some wacky tennis hijinks and lots of hilarious screaming.
Polarized caps off the Life Is Strange saga with powerful storytelling and one of the more, well, polarizing endings seen in a video game. The middle drags on a bit and some gameplay elements aren't quite as dialed in. Then again, the series does such a good job with making you care that the journey becomes quite a compelling one, even if you may not necessarily agree with the final destination.
After a solid setup from the first game about a world-ending evil, Minecraft Story Mode Episode 2, loses a bit of steam due to a shorter adventure that feels like it's just going through the motions. The foundation is still there for a fun adventure so, but Telltale will need to ratchet things up a notch in the next episode, "The Last Place You Look," especially with the excellent precedent that "Tales From the Borderlands" has set.
[I]f you like old-school action and see yourself not minding the spin wheel mechanic for accessing stages, then Chibi Robo! Ziplash might just be a game you'll want to plug into.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III flips the script a bit by serving what's arguably the weakest campaign in the Black Ops series but redeems itself with a fresher and more content-filled multiplayer with its online and zombie modes. The addition of new specialists and faster, more fluid movement within more layered maps adds plenty of extra polish to the game's traditional mechanics. Zombies mode also gets extra depth in terms of both production and gameplay. Although it doesn't revolutionize shooters per se, it's one of the more polished entries in the genre this generation.