Umbrella Corps is a bad competitive shooter that doesn’t even know how to take advantage of its few strengths. Its mechanics frequently contradict each other, balance is absurd, controls are clumsy, and it fails to pull anything meaningful from the Resident Evil universe other than some recognizable settings. With no great story hooks for horror fans and mechanics that can’t compare to most modern shooters, Umbrella Corps feels like a game made for no one.
Frustrating controls keep Robinson: The Journey from being much more than a pretty dinosaur exhibit.
Daylight's horror atmosphere starts strong, but repetitive corridors and nonthreatening enemies squander it quickly.
Great horror stories are many things, but tedious isn't on the list, and that's exactly the feeling that's born of Knock-Knock's inability to explain itself. A game that doesn't tell us how to play and has no consistent rules is a frustrating experience, no matter how eerily beautiful it is. Knock-Knock's confusing mechanics give little reason to answer the door.
Ryse is an entertaining ride that often values spectacle over skill.
Zumba Fitness: World Party isn't great at bringing in new people, but the dance workouts are fun regardless of skill.
Kinect Sports Rivals isn't a knock out, but it does enough well that I'm excited for Kinect's future.
Despite some ho-hum combat, Zombi's handling of death and exploration make it a worthwhile horror game.
Wii Fit U's variety of exercises and routines are fun, fast, and most importantly, they work.
Eagle Flight surprised me with how quickly I felt at home flying and fighting with other birds above Paris. It features some of the best and most responsive and comfortable gameplay available on the PSVR, though like most current VR games its appeal may be short-lived if you’re not a completionist who’s crazy about collectibles or high scores. This is a weird idea, well executed, that soars high.
Like its flat, plain protagonist Qbby, BoxBoxBoy! is deceptively capable. With one simple yet flexible mechanic, it uses crafty level design to constantly push the boundaries of what seems possible with just one tool. There are a few times when this puzzle-platformer leans too heavily into classic run-and-jump territory it’s not suited for, but when it stays the course, BoxBoxBoy! is a great example of how to do a lot with only a little.
Plants Vs Zombies: Garden Warfare does right by its namesake, putting the characters and charm to good use.
This huge, wide-open shooter constantly shows its flaws in its mission variety and vehicle physics, but its strong, sandbox-style gameplay and seamless co-op kept me coming back for more madness. If you must repeat experiences over and over, you could far worse than helicopter chases, assassination missions, or drug busts gone wildly wrong.
In a time when shooters are competing to have the most modes, the biggest campaign, the most guns, and generally the most “stuff,” along comes Killing Floor 2, totally unconcerned with running that race. Its lack of modes and bosses will eventually turn away anyone but the most dedicated of fans, but its foundation is so fun and rock solid that, even if you only plan on playing for a few weeks with your friends, there’s plenty here to enjoy.
Battlefield's first foray into stealth makes for a fresh campaign, and the multiplayer has something for everyone.
Vault-Tec Workshop’s wealth of new structures and tools make it essential for hardcore crafters and Overseer wannabes alike. Its handful of hilarious characters and quests don’t stand up on their own, but they’re not the reason you’d attend the show in the first place. This is settlement builder’s dream, through and through.
A lot of games tout the ability to “play how you want to play,” but Sniper Elite 4’s missions and mechanics actually are robust enough to back up that claim. Picking apart the Nazi war machine piece by piece, using whatever plan comes to mind, is a blast. The way it encourages you to stay mindful, experiment, and get better is a refreshing vote of confidence, even if it doesn’t always reward the extra effort you’re putting in.
Samurai Gunn's fast-paced combat is a ton of fun, but only if you can round up four friends.
Gears' strong style and great gameplay make it enjoyable even today, nine years after the original was released.
Her Story's deep, dark story makes excellent use of old-school full-motion video.