Horizon Zero Dawn is nothing short of a masterpiece that elevates Guerrilla Games to the likes of Naughty Dog and CD Projekt Red. The unique, engrossing story, complex and fast-paced gameplay, absolutely gorgeous open world to traverse, and so much more are brought to life thanks to the Killzone developer. The game has genuinely made it into my top ten list of all time and will probably make it higher once time has passed. There's nothing that should stop you from buying this title if you have a PlayStation 4. Hell if you don't have one, buy a system just for this game. This isn't just a magnificent RPG video game, it's a journey that everyone should experience.
"Simply put, I haven't had this much fun in a Battlefield title since Battlefield 1943 and haven't enjoyed myself in a shooter like this since Resistance 2. The multiplayer is above all fun and the campaign is as exciting as it is traumatizing. The sounds, sights, and atmosphere all scream in unison of a job well done by DICE. This is easily my favorite Battlefield so far and I see myself playing it for a very long time. Rocket League and RIGS will sadly have to make some room. If you had to choose just one shooter this year (let alone for the foreseeable future) Battlefield 1 should definitely be high on your list."
"Let me put it this way. Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue brought back memories of playing a new Kingdom Hearts experience on console for the first time with the highlight being 0.2 A Fragmentary Passage. It's sure to entertain and please fans for awhile with the story, boss battles, and handy carryover saves. The Back Cover, or cutscene movie, may not offer much in the way of answers but it raises some intriguing questions and lays some interesting groundwork for the road to come. Lastly, the Dream Drop Distance remaster may have some minor technical hiccups but otherwise you wouldn't be able to tell it came from a handheld. All and all it's a no-brainer that fans should pick this up. Heck, to some of us Aqua's story alone is worth the price of admission. Now if only money could build a working time machine and take us to a place that has Kingdom Hearts 3 on retail shelves."
"Aragami was a great experience. It breathed life into its world, offered many ways to travel and battle, and will provide you with much replability. With only my recognition of a certain plot point and a handful of minor issues serving as cons, I can't praise this game enough. For stealth enthusiasts this is a must buy and I highly recommend it even for those who would normally like to shoot their way past everything. Lince Works has easily made it to my list of developers to watch out for and I can't wait to see what they'll do next."
"Resident Evil 7 didn't just take the series back to form, it perfected it. Sure there will be satisfying combat but not before running around for your life filled with dread. The story and plot twists were entertaining as they were interesting and all the scares that came along with it. The voice actors did a phenomenal job and so did the level designers. There was never a time where I felt safe and ready to take on the next challenge. Old schools fans of the franchise will love this outing and is a perfect opportunity for new fans to hop on board. Just don't burn the midnight oil alone."
"If you have a PS VR, then you need RIGS: Mechanized Combat League. I would even say that come the holiday season it will be a system seller or in this case, a peripheral seller. The matter of the fact is that the experience and what is offered simply works perfectly with the PS VR technology. The gameplay is new and exciting, the maps and level design are near perfect, and the straight up amount of mechs to wield is impressive. You only have beginning motion sickness and weird screen tilts to thank for holding this mech shooter back. It wouldn't hurt to have more maps and modes but for what was promised, RIGS delivers to be the definitive first party, launch title."
"Telltale is still in master form with the story telling and character development. Old characters help lift up the narrative and new ones bring a breath of fresh air to the emotional tale. The plot itself will keep you engaged (as always) and you'll want to play until the drama ends. Which, for the most part, never does. The only thing holding back episode 1 and 2 of A New Frontier are the classic technical problems that have plagued these games from their inception. The Walking Dead Season Three is shaping up to be the pinnacle of the series and I would do anything right now to play the next episode."
If any virtual reality title would convince people to dive into the technology or take it seriously as an eSport, Sparc is that title. It's simple playground fun with none of the bullying or awkward relationships. Needless to say, CCP Games' creation works and works well. Everything is as smooth as can be for a game that has competitive gaming dreams. Let's just hope that more arenas, items, and modes are added to keep the casual fan base around and even more complexity is inserted for the comp squads. Also, you know...if you like throwing a ball down a hallway, then this PSVR title will make you enjoy it like you were a kid again.
The Council offers gamers a tension filled journey purely fueled by character interactions and mysterious circumstances. Best of all is the evolved gameplay mechanics from what we're used to for an episodic endeavor. I truly felt that I had control of every situation from an ability standpoint and a cleverness one. Wrap up an amazing RPG progression mechanic into a great looking voyage on a mysterious island and you have an incredible start to a game. The seeds of a secret society's leader gone missing have been expertly laid and I can't wait until Episode 2 comes about. Here's hoping this first one isn't the end of where the title shines.
"Imagine if the show Metalocalypse and the movie Heavy Metal had a baby. Now throw in even more bloody, visceral, H.P. Lovecraft-esque exploits that would make any hardened warrior blush. Seriously, if there was an alternate dimension that was a literal hell landscape, Slain: Back From Hell would be a perfect depiction of it. The art, music, level design, and creatures all come together to form an unforgettable, gothic horror experience. Although with all the headbanging I did to the soundtrack, I might not remember much in the long run. After all metal never dies."
Ubisoft needed to recapture the magic that made the series great in the first place, and it seems it has done so. It's just all the quintessential problems within said magic tag along for the ride.
"Minus some major and minor technical issues, Sniper Elite 4 is the pinnacle of the series. The story is straightforward and enjoyable but the gameplay is where the fun's at. Its diversity and amount of possibilities are good ol' sniping fun. You will spend hours in each map performing objectives and taking names through the X-Ray system. Which are brutally and beautifully on display thanks to the graphics. They also bleed over nicely into the rich environment. Here's hoping some problems are fixed because semi-open world stealth/action games are rarely this consistently entertaining."
Hue may have fallen slightly apart at the end but it is a delightful puzzle platformer you should try out. The story, even if told in exposition, kept me interested and I really wanted to solve the mystery of the mother's disappearance. The plot was further enhanced by the music and art. Everything technical wise was astounding in this game. The notes, the colors, the art design, the style, you name it. This game is simply beautiful. The puzzles themselves were even enjoyable because they were a good type of challenging (until the end anyway.) As far as puzzlers go this is one great entry into the genre.
Night in the Woods is one of those art forms that takes you on a journey rather than providing exciting gameplay. This could have been a book or a movie and I would still relish the chance to dive into the world once more. The characters come to life like few other video game icons can and the conversations through written dialogue is some of the best gaming has to offer. It says something about a title when the only things you have to worry about are slight dips in pace and repetitive day to day motions. Although that very well could fit in with the game's theme. If you're looking for a unique and meaningful tale of self-discovery, Night in the Woods needs to be in your virtual library as soon as possible.
"Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is better than its predecessor in every way even if it brings along more of the same problems. Still it stands strong as the best in the series for the gameplay alone. The scenarios you'll find yourself in will be greatly entertaining and the amount of content here will last you for a very long time. Just understand that loading screens may play a small part in that. I can say with confidence if you're a DBZ fan, you should buy this game. Consequently, I'd even recommend it for those who just like action/fighting games in general. Let's just hope the post-launch support breathes additional life into this grand world."
"Lethal VR is a neat simulation that provides mostly accurate representations of a virtual reality shooting range. The tracking works perfectly, except for throwables, and the sound effects bring a nice but minor touch to the realism. The many easter eggs were also enough to make me smile. It's just that those references went as far as the game's total content, which isn't much. You'll blow through this title in about an hour and anything after that is all about achieving better scores on each level. Still the price point is fair and Lethal VR is another great addition to our PS VR libraries."
INVERSUS may be short on content overall but the way it’s designed will ensure you’re having a great time with all the varied experiences. It’s a true return to form of the arcade, cabinet experience. Just hearing the “pew pew” noises of your square’s shots brings back memories of the 80’s and 90’s machine scene. Chaining together kills, wiping out the entire map due to a well placed shot, and not only having to act as well as think was truly gratifying. I can’t wait until the game releases so I can play more players and see what other situations are brought about.
"Semispheres is a short, sweet, and succinct puzzle game. It's not too hard and the learning curve is fairly kind so non-puzzle gamers have nothing to fear here. The last few stages and levels will make you think though unless you exploit around them. Most will certainly appreciate the art and music which are arguably the game's best features. Hell, you could legitimately meditate to the tunes if you truly wanted. I can easily recommend this title to fans of the genre, just understand how long the experience will last."
Athletes in general will find something to love with Disc Jam. The gameplay and controls are marvelously well designed that will bring out the competitive spirit and sport adoration in any fan. Matches are relatively short, intense, and bring what many arcade experiences fail at. Just something about throwing a metal disc is so much fun. Nevertheless, that doesn't excuse only having two online game modes and a lack of stat keeping. It's a good thing that a team is throwing tournaments so often. In the end though, as a PlayStation Plus title we could have gotten worse. If you enjoy sports definitely download this game.
Everybody’s Golf isn’t going to disappoint any fan of the series or the sport in general. It offers enough life and good ol’ golf fun that you’ll be more than happy with your purchase into this particular genre. It’s just that the open world mechanic that was advertised doesn’t really do anything and this effort could have been used to add more modes or online options. The repetitiveness will break through after a while and may make this title one that will take a backseat to other video games.