Eric Frederiksen's Reviews
[T]here's so much to do, and so much of it is great fun, that I don't miss those elements like I might in a game with art and writing that doesn't climb as high as Dragon Age: Inquisition does.
If you're a huge fan of the character or are desperate for some local cooperative play on the new consoles, you might consider it, but for most, it won't be worth the time. For the rest, though, there isn't much here aside from a time waster when there's a veritable flood of more interesting games available.
It feels like no one at Ubisoft played the game. No one stopped and asked if the game was fun. Or if they did, they knew what they had on their hands and released it anyway in hopes of recouping some of the money spent developing it. It's hard to imagine how a game could go through so many beta tests and still be lacking in so many ways. If a second iteration comes along, as it most surely will, it might be a fun game if they have time to build off the working core. But who's going to play it?
Adventure games have always been tough to get into; they're mind-bending puzzles that many people don't have the patience for. This remaster, though, reminds us what was great about them without making us walk over hot coals to get there.
If you're going to buy The Escapists, do your research first and make sure you know what you're getting into.
The Order: 1886 is an incredible tech demo for the PlayStation 4 and, like Ryse: Son of Rome on Xbox One, will likely be one of the best-looking games on the system for quite a while. It stands tall and should be commended for that. The flat characters, paint by numbers story, and strictly workable mechanics, though, keep the game from being anything more than just a technical demo of the engine Ready at Dawn has created.
ScreamRide for Xbox One does't worry about all the detail of managing a park, you have one goal stretched across three game modes: Amuse and thrill at any cost.
I died 542 times while playing Ori and the Blind Forest. I was frustrated at times, but this is still one of the better games to hit Xbox One (or even next-gen altogether) so far this year.
Bloodborne is a frustrating game, and I don't want anyone to go in thinking otherwise. But it's worthwhile, too. Despite some yelling, I've enjoyed nearly every moment with the game, and it's a world I can't wait to dive back into for more punishment and triumph.
State of Decay isn't a horrible game. It has a compelling idea that it executes well. The team at Undead Labs knows what it is about zombies that makes them so interesting to fans. Despite it being yet another zombie game when there are so many already, its concept gives it legs to stand on. For that, State of Decay is worth checking out.
If you're craving a great shooter and you've already played Wolfenstein: The New Order, then Wolfenstein: The Old Blood might scratch your itch. If you're looking for the story and characters that made the former stand out, though, you'll find yourself wanting for something more.
Not a Hero shows us that Roll7 didn't just hit on a lucky concept with OlliOlli but rather seems to have found a niche for themselves making funny, colorful, and precise action games.
If already bought the game, though, there's nothing new here – just the updated game and assembled DLC. Aside from the visual improvements, this is the same game it was on PlayStation 3, for better or worse.
When the games of this fall start rolling out, we're going to have plenty of opportunities to shoot, stab, and blow up everything we can get our crosshairs on. For now, exploring a sunlit village in Shropshire, England feels like a good, short diversion.
I really enjoyed my time with Until Dawn, and I'm itching to replay it. In many ways, it reminds me of Quantic Dream games like Heavy Rain, except it works and works very well. It respects its characters and the player while offering those same kind of immersive cinematic experience those games went for. If you're a horror fan, Until Dawn is a must-play. It's a love letter and a fresh creation of its own and worth seeking out.
Media Molecule's papercraft world made the jump from PS Vita to PlayStation 4 in style.
If you like fast cars — any kind of fast cars — then Forza Motorsport 6 is where you need to be.
It's an interesting experience that shows at the same time how Frictional is trying to break out of their mold but simultaneously held back by it, and I hope they can stretch out even further the next time around.
Uncharted's compilation transcends simple remasters with attention to artistic and technical detail.
Rock Band 4 is a mix of some new and a lot of old. That's not a bad thing.