Jason Hidalgo's Reviews
Overall, I think Splatoon is a much needed shot in the arm or tentacle for a genre that could really use some new blood. With its fresh core mechanic, a solid campaign and an addicting and buttery online mode, Splatoon delivers a new and wonderful experience while adding Nintendo's trademark gameplay to the shooting formula. I give two thumbs — and nearly eight tentacles — up.
Tropical Freeze is easily one of the best controlling games I've ever played. If you get stressed out by bottomless pits, disintegrating platforms and precision jumps, then get down on all fours and run away from this game as far as you can. If you welcome such challenges and love old-school platforming and goofy characters and bosses, however, then you'll go bananas over Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. Funky Kong's addition to the Switch version is also a nice touch that makes things a bit more manageable.
If you're a fan of Mario Kart, getting this game is a no-brainer. And if you're someone who took a break from the series, I still recommend trying Mario Kart 8 out. It just might rekindle your love for Mario-style racing.
Despite its issues, however, Arkham Knight is a great addition to the series overall thanks to excellent visuals and presentation, solid storytelling and tight gameplay. If this is indeed Rocksteady's swansong for the Arkham series, the developer will be ending it on a great note by serving up one of the best games of the new console generation or any console generation, for that matter.
Overall, though, solid action and likeable characters make Bayonetta 2 a great followup to the original, which, by the way, is included for free with the game. It's definitely a title that harkens back to a time when lightning-quick Japanese action games such as Devil May Cry ruled the roost. If you prefer more deliberately paced action such as the 3D Super Mario Bros. platformers or even Tomb Raider, then the kinetic action of Bayonetta may be too fast and complicated for you. If you love more technical action that relies heavily on countering foes and view nonstop boss and mini-boss fights as mana from the heavens, however, well, Bayonetta 2 was definitely made with you in mind.
[W]hile I quite enjoyed the change of pace from having to use my brain for some logic crunching, some folks may feel that the episode's puzzles bog down the flow of the game.
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.
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.
Despite its issues, however, Super Mario Maker remains an enjoyable title that makes the Mario world your oyster, er, Koopa shell. Whether it be the game's ability to nurture your inner level creator or inspire future game designers, Super Mario Maker is a great example of the potential that lies in tapping the power of the crowd. Even if you're terribad at stage design, being able to enjoy the crazy creations of other folks makes it worth the prize of admission. Now how about a Super Mario RPG Maker, Nintendo?
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.
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.
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.
Although many video game re-releases are satisfied with slapping on some upscaling and calling it a day, Odin Sphere Leifthrasir goes the extra mile with its redrawn visuals and additional gameplay polishing. The result is one of the best representations of the classic 2D, sidescrolling action genre or any action game for that matter. This definitive version of the game is a video game remaster done right.
XCOM 2 doubles down on the trademark gameplay of the franchise while adding some new elements to help keep things fresh. A challenging jaunt, the game is at its best when testing players' limits and layering the feeling of dread and hopelessness from fighting a superior foe. The random nature of the game can feel unfairly difficult at times and an assortment of bugs and niggles keep XCOM 2 from achieving perfection. For lovers of strategy gaming, however, the game is an excellent representation of the genre.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ultimately, MH4U certainly won't be for everybody. If your idea of fun action involves the hyper fast gameplay of titles such as Devil May Cry or Bayonetta, MH4U more deliberate pace might feel plodding to you. Every swing in a Monster Hunter game must be done with thought and purpose as well as an exit strategy in mind as being rooted to one spot is a recipe for being hit by a monster attack. Like Mordor, one doesn't simply walk into Monster Hunter and button mash. You need to think about positioning, not tripping your teammates and cancelling attacks via rolling so you can re-position and attack again. It might sound complicated but it really isn't in practice. Just be careful and don't be greedy and you should do fine. The payoff is certainly worth it. For folks who give Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate a chance and jump on it, the game should prove to be a fun and wild ride.
Fire Emblem Fates builds on the strengths of Awakening by serving up three great games while presenting much improved storytelling that's backed by impressive production values. The piecemeal approach to enjoying the full Fates experience for those who miss out on the special edition is unfortunate as it unnecessarily punishes the most loyal fans. For gamers who want more Fire Emblem, however, having not one but three games to play in Birthright, Conquest and Revelation pretty much equates to gaming heaven.