"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."
"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."
"I can see die-hard RTS fans enjoying Siegecraft Commander. I just don't expect it to make any gamer a fan of the genre. The story for both campaigns is interesting but it won't take anyone on a wondrous journey of entertainment. It's unfortunate that the gameplay may be even worse in that regard. The idea that everything you craft is connected is a cool idea but it falls flat due to inconsistent spawning methods, low structural health, and longer than needed respawn times. Nothing good can come out of the difficulty of a game stemming from mechanics rather than the enemies themselves. With a few improvements the title can be something noteworthy but at the moment it's something I can't recommend wholeheartedly."
"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."
"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."
"I guess the ultimate question is did I feel relaxed in this space? I suppose so, but only for a few minutes at best. The graphics weren't good enough to sustain a truly beautiful location and the lack of positions to take in the sights didn't offer any complexity. More to the point, only three maps to "escape" to make this ten dollar purchase feel like a tech demo. Sure the PS4 Pro might enhance the experience but I doubt it would change anything major. Luckily, if you just want to listen to some peaceful music, Perfect has you covered. Plus, some of the nature effects are just lovely. This PSVR escapade is a decent starting point for what it's trying to do, but it's just that. A starting point."
"The story and writing really let Final Fantasy XV down. Even the least favorite entries of the series have a coherent narrative albeit some unlikable ones. Characters are either here for no reason or haven't been developed in any way and certain actions/lack of knowledge between our main heroes really deprive this experience. I'm just glad the gameplay, combat, and interesting open world to explore redeemed Final Fantasy XV from obscurity. I take no pleasure in feeling this way about the highly anticipated title and I literally fell into a small depression after I beat the story. There are good ideas to like here but none of it comes together better than a high school literature project. If gameplay and exploration isn't enough to sate you (ala No Man's Sky) then this title may well be one to avoid."
"Dishonored 2 will absolutely dazzle you with its gameplay, level design, crafting, and exploration methods. Never have I had a more thrilling experience making my way diversely through a world. Just don't expect that level of joy with the rest of the game. The story won't get to you emotionally but it is passable. The real problem you have to worry about is that the A.I. makes a bag of rocks look like a meeting of top thinkers. Not without its flaws, then, the game is still easy to recommend for fans of the previous title and whomever likes non-linear adventures."
"Thumper offers enough to get people thinking about the future of rhythm games that don't include Guitar Hero or Rock Band. The visuals and soundtrack offer something that developers seem to shy away from nowadays and the gameplay, while not without its problems, is fast-paced and exciting. Gamers will probably be disappointed with the fun factor shift halfway through the experience but what's here is definitely a promising start for the genre within the PSVR ecosystem."
"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."
"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."
"In the end, Headmaster is pure, simple fun. It's a basic premise but it was a lot more entertaining then I thought. The experience is definitely enjoyable in slow bursts and even exhilarating in my opinion. However, play it for longer than an hour and the cons will become apparent. As for if it's a good launch title, I would err on the side of yes absolutely. If you're a sports nut in particular, I'd say you would get the most out of this VR effort."
"The matter of the fact is you have to enjoy walking simulators to appreciate the few good things The Assembly brings to the table. Even then there still might be some frustration. Certain gameplay mechanics, and especially the graphics, will warrant a few breaks for this short lived adventure. If you can somehow muster to the end, there are some interesting options but the whole thing felt like it could have been grander. What we get instead is a middle of the road and slow-burn mystery that doesn't have a hook. Let alone a compelling narrative."
"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."
"In the end the gameplay isn't great. It's up to you and your compensation to pull through on that regard. However, every other aspect of 100ft Robot Golf is excellent. Largely thanks to the campy, cheesy story and hilarious dialogue. Which I found more than enticing to deal with the title's gameplay shortcomings. It's just a shame that once the plot ends, you basically have a broken golf game. I'm sure patches and fixes will improve everything considerably but at the moment all we have here is an arcade-like golf game failing to reach the plateaus it strived for."
"A Bastard's Tale is definitely for the old school and self-hating gamer. Its core design is good and can provide a nice, "screw you" challenge that some of us love. I just wish that it wasn't so hard to tell which way to defend sometimes. The complete experience isn't terribly long but for the price and what's included is fair. It's just up to you if you want to hit a roadblock on most levels and hope you get lucky one of the many, many, many times you retry a level."
"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."
"Lichtspeer had all the components for a great arcade “reverse angry birds” game. You predominately throw spears, while stationary, at hilariously designed Germanic creatures and try to eviscerate their faces with their own blood. Alright, I may have gone a bit too far but that is essentially the point of this game. Sadly, certain design choices and technical slip-ups kept Lichtspeer from being a title that wants you to play it for over one hundred hours. Yes, there is a trophy that requires you to play the title for that long."
"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."
"Unholy Heights is a great real estate, simulation title. I originally enjoyed controlling prices, amenities, deciding who got a room, meeting all the various creatures, and in turn controlling satisfaction. It's just that this might get old because of the many difficulty spikes in order to extend the game's completion time. As tower defense experiences go, Unholy Heights is enjoyable but just kept from being a must buy due to difficulty mismanagement. Seeing as how this was released on the 3DS, I could easily recommend this for short/medium drives with the Vita's remote play feature."