Jason Hidalgo's Reviews
A solid story, large open world, tight combat and plethora of content and things to do make Fallout 4 yet another stellar outing in the popular series. The sheer amount of content admittedly can be overwhelming and occasional glitches are unfortunate. Overall, however, a well realized setting and excellent variety in gameplay makes Fallout 4 one of the standout games of 2015.
Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance is another solid entry in a series known for its kooky humor and deep tactical chops. Even with its additions to the core system, the game likely won't change the minds of folks who have fallen out of love with the series in general. For folks looking for a filling and satisfying tactical JRPG, however, Disgaea 5 will be just what the demon lord ordered.
Yo-Kai watch is a promising addition to Nintendo's stable of games, thanks to a polished presentation and intriguing game mechanics. Admittedly, the questing can get a bit repetitive and the battle system isn't quite as dialed down as Pokemon's from a competitive standpoint. Still, with its sizable stable of interesting ghosts, solid gameplay and oodles of charm, Yo-Kai watch should tickle the fancies of the young and young at heart.
Tales of Zestiria remains a worthy addition to the Tales series, thanks to likable characters and a top-notch battle system. Story pacing bogs down a bit in the middle and occasional issues with the camera and AI can negatively impact the combat. Overall, however, Zestiria does a good job in scratching the JRPG itch of fans looking for a solid game to sink their teeth into.
Tales From the Borderlands Episode 5: Vault of the Traveler wraps up the excellent story of Rhys, Fiona and company with a satisfying conclusion filled with tense moments, great action and entertaining dialogue from a lovable cast. It bogs down a bit in the middle and is filled with plenty of Deus Ex Machina moments. Nevertheless, it remains an excellent addition to what is arguably Telltale's best series to date.
Fun and whimsical, Minecraft Story Mode's first episode is sure to entertain fans of Mojang's original breakout game. It won't be for folks who prefer Telltale's more mature fare. But if you like Telltale's storytelling approach and enjoy Minecraft or Lego games, you'll want to add the The Order of the Stone to your crafting table.
Like many Warriors games before it Dragon Quest Heroes won't be for everybody. For fans of its established fighting formula, however, Heroes presents a new polished take on the one vs. 1,000 genre. If you're looking for a new Dynasty-style hack and slash to sink your teeth into after Hyrule Warriors, Dragon Quest Heroes is a fun romp that will fulfill your not so final fantasy.
All in all, Hearts of Stone is a breathtaking experience that builds on the excellence of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. If the well crafted story doesn't reel you in, the gameplay and new monsters and bosses likely will. If you loved Wild Hunt, you'll definitely want to give Hearts of Stone a shot.
Yoshi's Woolly World is a polished platformer that's geared toward players of all ages, making it a good option for solo play or clean family fun. Admittedly, the easier difficulty might be a turnoff for more hardcore platforming fans. Still, its unique art style and whimsical gameplay make it a fun ride for folks who like a charming platformer.
Although the much touted MyCareer mode curated by Spike Lee serves more as a distraction than a can't miss feature, NBA 2K16 continues to deliver where it matters, which is the gameplay on the court. Admittedly, it can be intimidating for newcomers but folks who pick up its nuances will appreciate the tightened defense and multitude of options on the court. Add solid production values and graphics and NBA 2K16 maintains its top spot on the virtual basketball mountain.
The Taken King is a much welcome expansion that fleshes out Destiny's lore while streamlining some of its more cumbersome aspects. Matchmaking continues to be an issue, especially for folks who don't have plenty of friends online. On the plus side, the changes with The Taken King helps make things right after the initial release and gives hope that Bungie just might be able to truly realize this game's destiny after all.
Having women's soccer is a welcome addition to the FIFA 16 formula, which continues to have the advantage as far as its bells and whistles beyond the play on the pitch. Changes with defense and passing also improve the core gameplay though it still feels the same overall. One thing's for sure, the series will really need to step up its game next year if it wants to fend off its surging competitor.
Despite a few issues, "Transformers: Devastation" nails close combat with its Bayonetta-style mechanics as well as the best integration of robot and vehicle modes in a Transformers title's gameplay. Add a heavy dose of nostalgia with its G1 characters and you have a worthy addition to the Transformers gaming catalogue for fans both young, old and in midlife.
The addition of vehicular gameplay as well as the ability to play online with your friends makes Superchargers a solid addition to the franchise. The high cost required to fully enjoy the whole game as well as the inability to separately purchase the Nintendo toys, however, is a bummer. Overall, though, fans of previous games in the series will enjoy this one.
Despite some of its logical fallacies and niggles, The Phantom Pain remains a technical and highly polished effort with great production values, solid gameplay and oodles of content for players to sink their time into. If this is indeed Kojima's Metal Gear swan song, it's ending on a high note. It's easily one of the best games of the year or any year for that matter.
Overall, Persona 4: Dancing All Night offers a fresh take on the rhythm genre with a unique interface as well as a meaty story featuring the beloved cast. If you loved Persona 4 and want more stories about the gang and are a fan of rhythm games such as Hatsune Miku Project Mirai DX to boot, getting this is a no-brainer.
At the same time, NHL 16 represents a nice return to form for the virtual hockey franchise. From its various modes to the more responsive gameplay, NHL 16 addresses many of the issues that scuttled last year's game. If you weighed and measured NHL 15 and it left you wanting, NHL 16 could be the game to get you back on the virtual ice once again.
Ultimately, though, PES 2016 does its best where it counts, which is the action on the pitch. Players who prefer the style and familiarity of FIFA along with all its bells and whistles still may not prefer PES' different feel. For folks who crave more dialed down mechanics, more responsive controls and something that feels less arcadey, however, Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 takes the crown on consoles this year.
Ultimately, Happy Home Designer is an adorable and charming game that will delight fans interested in more lighthearted Animal Crossing fare. It might not have enough variety of content for the series' more hardcore fanbase, so if you're looking for another New Leaf this likely isn't the title for you. Folks who thoroughly enjoyed the design aspects of the last mainline game, however, should get more mileage out of Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer.
Overall, however, Forza 6 represents a return to form for Turn 10's racing series. The addition of a large number of tracks and cars, as well as night and wet racing greatly enhances the Forza experience. The absence of aggressive microtransactions also removes a distraction that poisoned some of the goodwill players had in the last game. If you're a fan of the Forza series or racing games in general, this is one ride you'll want to hop into.