The first episode, "Faith" plants many seeds that we expect to see return in later installments, but so far, the new episodic series is off to an impressive start. Offering an experience that new Telltale fans are sure to eat up, an adaptation of "Fables" that the comic's fans will approve of, and a story sure to scratch the itch of mystery fans, The Wolf Among Us has already put The Walking Dead in good company.
'Refreshing' could be applied to several aspects of the game's design, with performances and an attention to detail that place it among – if not ahead – of the franchise's best. And with no discernible shortcomings when placed next to its American-Revolution-predecessor, Black Flag is the step into next-gen that many fans have been waiting for.
Turn 10 may not have crafted the biggest, boldest, and most definitive Forza experience with Forza 5, but they have delivered one of the Xbox One's best titles so far. Not to mention a breath of fresh air for the franchise's devoted fan base, and a promising step forward for the series as whole.
The online experiences may be underwhelming or downright frustrating for some, but that's not enough to overshadow the strong precedent Ghost Games has set for the next generation of online racers.
In the end, Ubisoft used an established combat and traversal system to tell a story set in an explosive and ugly period in history. And by letting the gameplay do the talking, it largely succeeds.
Telltale has kept up its quality of writing, atmosphere and mystery, beginning to tie together story threads while heightening anticipation even further. However, there's no question that the relatively slower, methodical pace of this episode will leave less of an impact on some players. Those who favor a slow burn will still welcome the experience, but if Telltale hadn't made audiences wait four months to play this episode, they would have had a much easier time keeping both groups happy.
South Park: The Stick of Truth defies the odds simply by doing the brand justice, but also sets a standard that future South Park games (or DLC) can aspire to. It's not perfect, but it is the game South Park fans have waited for, beyond a doubt.
As it stands, Resident Evil 4 is as strong an experience as it was in 2005, no matter how pretty it looks. But as the "ultimate edition" of the game, this port stumbles where it doesn't have to, and invites criticism instead of silencing it once and for all. A shame, but for those who never played through the title, or those thinking of strolling (or sprinting) down memory lane, this one is a no-brainer.
If you're looking for a Kinect title for the entire family, or one that merely shows the benefits of next-gen hardware hold promise for motion controlled gaming, then Kinect Sports Rivals won't disappoint. If you're hoping for a sports simulator that succeeds at every turn, well… you've likely got a lot more waiting to do.
The mystery is what drives The Wolf Among Us, with the many colorful characters, suspects, and witnesses encountered along the way heightening the overall experience and imbuing it with undeniable style. But with a two-month layoff, the connections to Episode 2 will seem more tenuous than the storytellers would likely wish. So whether that means players should hold off to play the game through in one extended setting, or simply replay past chapters and refresh their memory, it shows just how distinct The Wolf Among Us is from its zombie colleague.