Ultimately, Here They Lie is not a particularly great game. It's very average, and if this wasn't taking place in a virtual setting, and wasn't one of the original show pieces for the tech on PlayStation, it'd probably be borderline bad.
Batman – The Telltale Series Episode 3: New World Order continues to solidify this game as one of the best that Telltale Games has done to date.
Dishonored 2 is an amazing sequel that fans of the original game should absolutely play, and cements this as a (hopefully) permanent franchise for Bethesda and Arkane Studios. Being able to play a number of different ways, changing the world and story on a whim, and having the ultimate freedom at your fingertips, it’ll keep fans of the series coming back for more for quite some time.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is one of the best in the franchise released thus far. With a truly engaging campaign that makes you really feel for the characters and what is happening both at home and abroad, as well as a villainous group that you’ll love to hate, it has a lot going for it.
With a campaign that tells a tantalizing story, and a multiplayer mode that belongs near the top of its class for the series, fans of the franchise have plenty of reasons to keep coming back to this until DICE releases another game. Battlefield 1 takes me back to the Medal of Honor era that I thoroughly enjoyed and quite miss, and makes me realize how badly we needed a historical setting once again in today’s first person shooter market.
Dragon Quest Builders is one game that is definitely worth your time and commitment if you are a fan of the series, a fan of creation within games, or even better, both of those combined.
Fans of the Hyperdimension Neptunia franchise will absolutely adore this game, and I can say that with full confidence being one myself. Newcomers to the series may be a little lost, but they should have no issues adjusting and enjoying the game for what it is. Either way, Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls is a great addition to the series, and one that should certainly be experienced.
I had high hopes for Mafia 3. It was one of my most anticipated games for the rest of 2016, and I'd by lying to you if I said I wasn't slightly disappointed. Certain aspects of the game are still rather enjoyable, especially the storytelling and the way the game is presented to the player. But I'm not sure if that's enough.
I honestly wasn’t expecting to enjoy this entry as much as I did the previous trilogy since it changed developers, but how silly I was to even think it’d be anything less than amazing. Gears of War 4 is hands down one of the best games released so far in 2016. The Coalition nailed the feel and atmosphere of the series perfectly, and the future for fans is looking brighter than it ever has.
Aragami is definitely recommended to anyone looking for a game that has a sense of style and stealth to it that are hard to come by these days.
Hitman: Episode 5 – Colorado is a great attempt at recapturing the magic that the Paris and Sapienza levels had earlier this year. While not quite on that level, it is a much needed improvement over Marrakesh and Bangkok, and one that will keep players coming back until the final episode is released.
Telltale’s take on the universe is fresh, and it’s nice playing through a Batman story where you ultimately aren’t sure where things are going. Batman: The Telltale Series is quickly becoming one of my favorites that Telltale has worked on to date. Hopefully this continues with the final three episodes still to be released.
Games like Virginia are extremely rare in the industry. It will grab at you from the opening moments, and it will refuse to let go until well after the credits have rolled. It’s also on the short side, as a complete playthrough should take about two hours, three if you actively seek out the few collectibles it has to offer. While not a perfect game, as it does have small hiccups here and there, it’s definitely one of the better adventure games that I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing in recent memory.
Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas is a quick experience into an alternate dimension Legend of Zelda title. While some are going to find the trip a remarkable one, others are simply going to see Oceanhorn as nothing more than a game imitating a much better game. I did enjoy the time spent on the journey, but it just didn't offer enough for me to really want to dig deeper into it. I am excited for the future of the series though, as Cornfox & Bros. can really do something amazing with the sequel.
While Dear Esther is still a fine game and one that should probably be experienced by fans of the genre, the fact remains that it is still almost a decade old. Games that have since released, such as Firewatch, The Stanley Parable, Gone Home, and even games like Journey and Abzu, offer so much more than what Dear Esther provides. Even The Chinese Room’s own follow-up, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, has more going for it. But don’t let that sway you from experiencing the original walking simulator, and seeing the story that is told on this mysterious island.
While Realm of Shadows certainly didn’t hit as hard as some of the first episodes Telltale Games has done in the past, there’s enough here that will leave fans wondering where the story is going and wanting to come back for more.
If Blizzard can truly stick to their plan now of releasing more content for each expansion, while releasing newer expansions at a slower pace, we could be returning to a golden age for Warcraft once again. The current subscription numbers since launch could also be a reflection of that, based on what Blizzard has come out and said. If you’ve ever played World of Warcraft, if you currently still do, or even if you never have. Legion is the perfect point to jump in, and start shaping your story and your legacy in Azeroth.
Bangkok definitely had a lot going for it. The intricate mazes that the hotel design presents is a fun way to get lost exploring every nook and cranny there is to find. But that still doesn’t take away from the fact that the story and targets just haven’t been as good as the two episodes IO originally released. With two episodes to go, one can only hope that the plan is to finish out the content with an absolute bang.
For some strange reason, the game hooked me, and I kept playing through. I wanted to see what happened to little Ian and his trusty dog North. I wanted to find out why this all was happening in the town of Wintreal. And I wanted the satisfaction of actually completing this brutally difficult (thanks to the controls) game. Ian's Eyes is definitely not for everyone, and I wouldn't even recommend it to the hardcore crowd. But, there is something to be had here. Clocking in at just over four hours, it isn't a long experience, so if you find yourself on a dark, stormy night with nothing to do.. and you're a glutton for death and punishment.. perhaps you actually might want to give this a try.
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X is certainly not for everyone. Those that cannot stand the idol culture in Japan probably won’t find much enjoyment out of this, even if they are a fan of rhythm games. However, those that greatly enjoy rhythm games, and can look past the cutesy nature of what’s there (or those that are truly in to that culture) will find a very enjoyable game here. And if you walk in to this with an open mind and an open heart, you may just find yourself falling in love with what Hatsune Miku has to offer.