Peter Glagowski
- Street Fighter III: Third Strike
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- Metal Gear Solid 3
Really, anyone should be able to pick up and play Super Rude Bear despite its perceived difficulty. It may not be a classic, but it does enough right to warrant your time and attention.
Simplicity is the biggest strength of Old Man's Journey. It doesn't require you to be a genius or a master gamer, but to have a penchant for something more oft-kilter. That it manages to be a satisfying experience all without saying a single word is remarkable and definitely worth a look.
The low price of admission is also nice, since spending $5 is hardly what I'd call expensive. I don't know if I care for choose-your-own-adventure games (they, effectively, have no drama), but Emily is Away Too does enough right to make it easy to recommend.
In the end, isn't that exactly what Danger Zone should be? It may be short, but it is ever so sweet. Hopefully we can see more of this, either with a full-on sequel or some DLC, because it's been too damn long since we've had a proper Burnout game. Arcade racers need a comeback and Danger Zone would be a perfect reigning champion.
OVIVO may be a bit artsy for some people, but the game is relatively short and always throwing something new your way. Even if it doesn't leave a lasting impression, the game is good while it lasts.
With better care given to the other modes and maybe some concrete rally tracks, this could have been the definitive rally racing game. As it stands, though, DiRT 4 is a hardcore simulation with limited appeal beyond a specific audience. Those fans will absolutely love this game, but any newcomers should try to cut their teeth somewhere else.
Unless you're just dying for something different, Valkyria Revolution isn't worth your time. Its attempt at genre blending just leads to a confusing mess of styles that never quite works.
Were it not for the successful conversion of the multiplayer mode for this port, I would have rated this game lower. Even without an active player base, though, the prospect of getting friends involved for a night of classic fragging is really tantalizing. Hopefully more people get this in the future, because letting these crazy weapons go to waste is a damn shame.
Sadly, YANKAI'S PEAK is yet another in a long line of mechanics driven puzzle games. Its goal is simple, its execution is sound and it provides a hefty amount of individual challenges to keep you engrossed to see it through to the end, but it never does anything more to remain in your mind.
So overall, Redeemer is a bit of a dud. While it certainly has a good premise and delivers on its promise of blood and brutality, it just feels like the game came out of the oven too early. Hopefully after a few patches and some more polish, Sobaka Studio can iron out the bugs present and tighten up the flow to create a decent little brawler. Until then, give this a pass.
Really, Immortal Planet is mostly a game for Souls fans that just cannot get enough of FromSoftware's particular brand of action. While it could also work as an introduction to the series proper, what with its short length, Immortal Planet doesn't bring enough new to the table to really justify a purchase for anyone not already familiar with the Souls series. That it starts to recycle content in such a short time frame is also a crime, even if the combat can be engaging.
Really, you can't go wrong with Kiwami. I would have liked it if every aspect of the game had been fully redone, but we don't see remakes like this come along often. I can deal with a few stumbling blocks when the core quality of what makes Yakuza so unique and engaging remains untouched. At least now more people can have a chance to experience this classic, which is the best thing about Kiwami's existence.
While Mages of Mystralia might not live up to its full potential, the game has some charm and is fun enough to be worth a look. The $20 price tag is also pretty solid.
If you can get friends interested, though, Windjammers makes for an almost no-brainer local purchase. The intensity of the gameplay and sheer attitude the game exhibits is truly a joy. I do wish the Vita version had ad-hoc multiplayer, but since this is a cross-buy title, you'll have access to the better realized PS4 version regardless of which console you buy this on.
The concept behind Absolver is intriguing, but its execution and lack of staying power make it a very tough recommendation. If you're willing to put up with tedium, maybe joining a guild and learning new moves will be for you. For others, I'd say give this a pass.
For $1, I cannot be too harsh on Puzzle Dating. It doesn't offer a lot of content and it mostly exists as a joke, but it's fun and cute enough to get by on charm alone.
Pylon: Rogue just doesn't do enough right for me to recommend it. While I'm sure there will be plenty of hardcore fans, for most people, this is just going to be a hard pass.
This may not be the best classic revival around, but Road Redemption is a lot of fun with a pretty well implemented roguelike system. The inclusion of multiplayer is also sure to make this a great party game for some likeminded friends.
I really hope that Turn 10 takes an honest look at what these prize crates have done to Forza, since the game is otherwise solid. I would have an easier time accepting some flaws if I could make honest progress in the career mode or have a chance in hell of acquiring the cars in a reasonable amount of time. Instead, Forza 7 just makes me think of how much time I'll be wasting and what else I could be doing instead of racing on Spa for the 90th time.
Bullet Soul Infinite Burst doesn't reinvent the bullet hell wheel, but it offers a very approachable game for newcomers, as well as a highly addictive gameplay loop for those who get sucked in. It may not be a classic, but it's certainly good fun.