INSIDE is an odyssey I recommend everyone, gamer or not, to undertake. When it’s all said and done, the game did feel a bit short, but every second is worth it. I haven’t felt so strongly towards an indie game story since Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, and that’s saying a lot. After experiencing a monotonous world of where specs of dust in pale moonlight beauty in comparison to flakes of flesh wafting in the sunlight, the credits made me sit in the sun, reflect on myself and the progress of our world. It’s hard to discover any true answers in our world, much like the mysteries still left unsolved in INSIDE’s world of scientific genocide, but it’s easy to understand the massive effort it took Playdead to splice together this masterpiece.
Strategy players can revel in the light that is Total War: Warhammer. Aggressive turn based conquest gameplay mixed with oceans of real-time clashes between foes taken from the depths of Warhammer will capture the eyes of many gamers who may have turned blind to it's table-top counterpart, and at the same time allows old fans to play a slightly different version of the game with people from all over the globe both competitively and cooperatively.
Overwatch released with swords honed, ready to slash the multiplayer opposition. Future releases offer continued enjoyment and possibly the growth I desire, while current models are filled stunning movement and gameplay mechanics. For the first time the lack of currently released story elements excites me; it adds a tantalizing mystery to the plot. I've already spent more time speculating on the Overwatch universe than any other game. This could be a side effect of playing too much Dark Souls 3, but unlike Dark Souls 3, who doesn't provide concise answers to questions of lore, Overwatch will periodically release new videos to fill in gaps in story. Overwatch breaths and bleeds battle contention to the point we know this game was made for and by FPS fans. For this and everything above, I will stand a hero by Overwatch's side till it disappears into video game history.
Instead of naming this current installment Doom 4, id Software decided to rebrand. The all caps'ed DOOM makes sense to me; this game is very much so the original rebuilt with modern technology. We were once given a glimpse of Hell on Mars through a view of 8-bit, now the pain and all its glory shines at 60fps. Changes have been made: the story has been spiced up, Glory kills now fly in your face, the double-jump now creates a ton more platforming, and upgrades of all kinds are everywhere! These changes put DOOM at odds with any current first person shooter out there.
It is most grievous for me to label my first 3DS review with such a low score, but it is imperative that players understand: I don’t even think most fans of the series will like this game, and if fans won’t like it, newcomers will definitely not.
What I love most about UnEpic is the variety of gameplay styles I can try. I can spend an entire playthrough focused on wielding magic, another on shooting at enemies from afar with a bow, a third only using scrolls, or I could just laying waste to everything after purchasing some over-powered UN gear. There are still many secrets for me to discover and different endings to conquer. Maybe once I've solved every mystery my fingers will become unglued to the controller, but as for now I continue to shed light on the desolate halls of Harnakon.
Regardless of length, No Time to Explain was a treat to play, and I'm not talking about a chocolate chip cookie here, but rather a pop-rock covered chocolate habanero.
Looking back on the Leon campaign there were a lot of action button sequences that I felt were a little uncharacteristic for a Resident Evil game, but most of these took place during long boss battles. I’ve been hesitant on divulging information about Resident Evil 6’s story line. I feel many die hard fans will be disappointed with the interweaving of so many characters into one game. Usually a Resident Evil game has you controlling the same duo of characters for most the game, giving plenty of time to establish a well thought out story and connection between characters. However cool the idea of having our heroes together in one game seems, it isn’t well executed.
Never before has metroidvania delved so deep into music and language to create a mellifluous exploration game like Chronicles of Teddy: Harmony of Exidus. Even though I hope I learn some kind of new battle ability that will spice up the battles, the fire is present in a vast array of puzzles and platforming. The game also has a sense of humor. One of my favorite moments was figuring out what to say to a forest guardian that wouldn't let me pass. I tried many different combinations, all of which ended up enraging him to the point of killing me (video way above). When I found out that I simply had to say "please" when asking to pass, I couldn't help but shake my head and laugh.
As a fan of the original game, Day of the Tentacle Remastered is everything I want in a remastered game. Gameplay and originality have been preserved and showcased, never forgetting what put Day of the Tentacle on the map. Double Fine Productions also added TONS and TONS of hidden trophies, each with its own chuckle-inducing title that amused me along the way. The options provided to tweak with in-game graphics, sound, and control allowed me to play the game the way I wanted to, and never left me in sorrow wishing instead to play the original. It is my hope that these practices become mainstream and expected of all remastered games. Too often do new versions of old games forget what they once were. Whether you prefer the original art, or the new look that eliminates pixel bite, the game is bright and colorful, filled to the brim with quirky characters, and jam-packed with laughs, making it a MUST PLAY for point and click adventure fans.
Hitman is being released episode by episode, and I will reviewing each episode as they come out over the next months. Doing so, my overall rating for the game may change in the long run. I get the sense that IO Interactive is beginning to master the art of free-form assassination by providing players with the tools needed to devise a truly unique Hitman experience; thus creating depth in the shallows. One thing is certain: Hitman 2016 is fun and full of replay value.
Upon returning from grabbing lunch, I walked into my room to find it full of laughter. Apparently my wife and roommates had returned from work to find Action Henk still running on my TV, and decided to tackle multiplayer. It was obvious right off the bat that there were different skill levels between them, but great features in multiplayer kept the fun rolling, instead of leaving other players in losing ruts. Action Henk is clearly a game meant for fun, while still providing a challenge for the most seasoned runner gamer.
Ironcast is a must play for match-three puzzle fans! I may have lost to the first boss every time I've faced him (like 10 times), but I'm not discouraged to try again. The rogue-like approach to purchasing boosters and upgrades through Commendations keeps your heart in it for the long haul. I know with enough time my Ironcast will become over-powered in comparison to my wimpy-wimpy Ironcast I'm currently using, and I will not be seeing anymore of these screens.
Things like these, along with easter eggs, and voice acting that makes Randal's Monday a uniquely hilarious play. I do feel the game targets an older 20s and above audience for they would understand the references. I am not too sure how much more of the game I have left, but I look forward to each new monday it throws at me.
There are some really cool things about Rainbow Moon that continue to draw me back. The world map seems huge, and dungeons are designed so amazingly they loop back onto themselves (sometimes causing me to wander in circles). Plus game started me off with a few simple tutorials, and has continued to supply me with quick new tutorials as new mechanics come about. You may say "Yeah that is normal for most games", but I've been playing this game for over 12 hours and have only unlocked 28/37 tutorials. With that in mind Rainbow Moon is an adventure I wont put down any time soon.
I can feel Siralim striving to find its own identity in the old school RPG realm. Siralim puts you into a world where your father died, and as new king you must grow to fill his shoes. In the time I played there didn't seem to be much more to the story line, but new mechanics like Construction Rituals that allow me to expand my castle led me to believe more was out there. Even though game play was a grind, the game allows you to design realms to challenge yourself. With mystery mechanics like Nether Eggs and gem creation, and cool in game items like Arena Invitations, Exalted Emblems, Tickets, and Pandemonium tokens still awaiting my discovery, Siralim is a game I'll continue to play.