Mass Effect: Andromeda severely disappointed me with the way the game performed even down to basic things, and I have to reflect that in my final score. I have high hopes for the next installment in the Dragon Age franchise, and I honestly hope this game does not spell the end for Mass Effect. There's clearly another trilogy worth of content here. Please do not abandon ship.
Injustice 2 doesn't really deviate from the formula it has already established. Offering a fighting system that fans have come to know and love, a deep gear and unlocking system to keep pulling people back, and the ever popular online modes, this is a game that is going to see a lot of action out of fans until the next big thing comes along.
The level of creativity that exists within Prey is reason enough to give this one a chance. Veterans of other titles from Arkane Studios will instantly feel right at home, and that's a good feeling. There were a few hiccups along the way, such as game freezing and enemies glitching out, but other than that, it held up well. Offering a style perfected with the Dishonored series and a difficulty that does not mess around, Prey will keep you busy for hours on end.
Disgaea 5 Complete marks the return of the series to Nintendo consoles, and it feels like it never left. If Sony doesn't produce handhelds going forward, it's nice to know that the franchise will always have a home on future Nintendo systems. With all of the DLC included for free and the complete package that was offered on the PS4, if you have yet to experience this game, now is the perfect time to jump in!
NBA Playgrounds will absolutely fill the void left behind by NBA Jam in regards to a strict 2-on-2 basketball experience. However, there isn't enough here to really keep gamers coming back for more after the initial newness period wears off. It can be fun in extremely short bursts, but the boredom kicks in quick.
Seasons after Fall is a game that deserves all the praise and attention it will undoubtedly receive. Offering a unique style of gameplay with the ability to control the seasons, and a lovely artistic style that other games only dream of having, this is one that fans of platformers everywhere need to experience. Get lost in this word, and let the feeling of walking through nature as a child and appreciating every little thing engulf you once again. You won't regret it.
In the end, Operation Babel: New Tokyo Legacy falls into a lot of the same traps that other first-person dungeon crawling roleplaying games also find themselves in. While the new gameplay mechanics and cast of characters remain a strong point, the overall design of the dungeons themselves and the lack of a compelling story make it hard to stay engaged throughout the 25+ hours needed to complete the game. For those that don’t have any experience with these types of games, the learning curve required might be enough of a frustration to avoid purchasing it. But, if you feel like you can either figure things out easily, have enough patience to really understand the mechanics, or have played through other Experience Inc. games like Demon Gaze and Operation Abyss, then certainly look at Operation Babel as another solid entry into this genre.
Without a doubt, Persona 5 has climbed the ranks into one of my favorite games of all-time, if not being at the very top. It’s going to be hard for ATLUS to top this one when the eventual Persona 6 releases, but you know what’s funny? I said the same thing after finishing Persona 4 Golden, and guess what? They succeeded with Persona 5. I have full confidence they’ll be able to do it again in a few years time. There is a new measuring stick by which all future JRPG’s are going to be compared to, and it has successfully changed the landscape for what it means to be a Japanese developed roleplaying game.
This is for the simulation fan, or the gamer that has always had a desire to shape life and see what types of worlds they can create. Better yet, Birthdays the Beginning is perfect for anyone that has ever dreamt of visiting an alien world, and wondered just what it might like look. Because here, you have the power to make it look like anything you want. And the best part? No two worlds will ever look the same or have the same history.
Super Bomberman R could have been the return to glory of a franchise that has been missing for quite some time, especially over here in North America. Not counting small releases that hit platforms such as Xbox Live Arcade on the Xbox 360, the PlayStation Store on PlayStation 3, and the eShop on the Nintendo Wii, we haven’t seen an actual Bomberman game since Bomberman Land on the Wii back in 2008. That’s a fairly long time to go without any new releases on a franchise as popular as Bomberman once was. It’s sad to say, but Super Bomberman R is not going to rekindle the love for the series that fans were hoping for. Maybe one day we’ll get lucky, but that day is certainly not today.
Square Enix and PlatinumGames really knocked one out of the park with NieR: Automata. Do not let this franchise die and fade away! It deserves to be one of the main staples right up there alongside Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, especially if it continues to have as big of an impact as this one did over the original. When we set out with Level Down Games, never in our wildest dreams did we imagine that we’d have three masterpieces release in the span of one week. But that’s exactly what happened.
Horizon Zero Dawn is a game that almost every owner of the PlayStation 4 should experience sooner or later. It doesn’t just appeal to roleplaying game fans or action adventure enthusiasts. This is a game that almost everyone can enjoy in some fashion, and it shows with how well the game has been performing since it’s release one month ago. This is an impressive piece of art for both Sony and Guerrilla Games, and we simply cannot wait to see what is coming next.
We got used to The Legend of Zelda as it was and as it has been for thirty years. The previous entries in the franchise can still stand the test of time as some of the greatest games ever conceived. But there hadn’t been a true evolution for the series since Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64. Breath of the Wild is that next step in the evolution and blew open the design of what it means to be a Zelda game, and it feels extremely satisfying. I pray that we aren’t in for another six years before the next game, but even if we are, there’s a ton of content here to hold fans over for a long, long time. Hands down, this is one of the best games ever made. Bravo Nintendo, bravo.
It’s a silly phrase to say because it doesn’t make much sense, but I really was hoping to like For Honor more than I actually did. Everything leading up to the release of the game looked very promising, but after seeing it firsthand and spending time with it, I found myself a lot more bored than I anticipated. The single player experience is basically non-existent, with the campaign being finished in a mere couple hours. Multiplayer is the meat and potatoes, and if that just isn’t your thing, I’d recommend holding off on it for now. But, if the thrill of one on one duels and the nature of the combat sound appealing, you’ll find more than enough to satisfy here.
Ys Origin does a great job at detailing the major plot points that occurred in the past that were instrumental in setting up the story of the Ys universe. A finely crafted roleplaying game, fans of the series and of the genre itself are going to find a lot to love with this one, as well they should. It was a great experience from top to bottom, even if it was a little on the shorter side. A typical playthrough on normal difficulty will take the average player anywhere from 7 to 9 hours depending on how much leveling up you do on the side. Do not sleep on this game. Ys Origin is one of the better Action RPG’s currently available on the PlayStation 4, and will provide a nice bridge between now and when Lacrimosa of Dana launches later this year.
Tales of Berseria feels like a much needed leap forward for the franchise. It still suffers a bit graphically since the game was released on the PlayStation 3 over in Japan, so hopefully the next entry is fully developed for the PlayStation 4 and PC so we can get an advancement in terms of the visuals as well. Fans of the series are absolutely going to adore this game, as well fans of roleplaying games in general. Hopefully we’ll get a taste of what’s to come later this year at the Tales Festival.
Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan is certainly not a perfect game, but it’s a great first step for Kiro’o Games. There needs to be more of a focus on the Central African region within the gaming medium, as there are certainly more stories that need to be told and experienced. With this as a great foundation for future projects, I will be eagerly waiting to find out what this team has in store for us next. Fans of the genre should definitely consider picking this up on Steam whenever you’re in the mood for some folklore and something entirely different than roleplaying game fans are used to.
Earthlock: Festival of Magic was an enthralling concept that failed to materialize into one of the better roleplaying games this generation. The potential was certainly there, but the lack of an interesting story, characters that do not feel memorable, and strange difficulty spikes that require a lot of grinding hold the game back to a certain degree. The combat and battle system offers a lot of enjoyment though, and is where the game really shines. Still, even with the complaints, fans of the genre are going to find something to love in Earthlock.
Nioh is a clear depiction of Team Ninja being near their absolute best. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt so good about a Team Ninja release, and I’m excited to see what they do next after playing through and experiencing Nioh. While it isn’t fair to say that this is better or worse than the Dark Souls or Bloodborne games, I can confidently say that fans of those games will absolutely find something to enjoy within Nioh. Its brutal difficulty yet fast-paced gameplay strike a nice balance that feels very rewarding. If you like what you’ve heard so far about it and have seen in the many videos released about it, give Nioh a chance, especially if you are a fan of FromSoftware’s work. You won’t regret it.
Digimon World: Next Order is going to be the perfect game to satisfy the appetites of the diehard Digimon fan base and community. The game seriously has a lot to offer, and if you invest the time and energy needed to really appreciate everything it has going on, you’ll definitely want to keep coming back for more. A really solid roleplaying game foundation lies underneath the steep learning curve presented to the players, we’re just afraid that particular issue is going to scare off a lot of potential newcomers to the series.