While Super Mega Baseball won't go down as the next great feat around the diamond, it is a fairly good representation of the sport, even this deep in its off-season. The modes are a little short-handed, but the gameplay has its heart in the right place, and the presentation is amusing enough to keep a goofy grin on your face as you belt one out of the park. Play ball!
Had the game mixed up its gameplay a bit – and taken off its endless running shoes – it certainly would've fared a lot better. As it stands, Funk of Titans is a novelty that can only last so long with an audience – and there's nothing funky about that.
While the era of the Micro Machine-style racer may be left in the dust for more conventional material like Forza Horizon 2 with some folks, Toybox Turbos is a festive throwback to the arcade games of old that many will come to appreciate. It's cheap, it's packed with multiplayer options, and it's a good time behind the wheel.
2015 is off to a trailblazing start with #IDARB, a party game that looks deceptively simple but is anything but. Grab some friends and get your party on.
While Riptide GP 2 won't exactly make waves (sorry, bad pun) in the jet ski racing community, it's a welcome addition to the ID@Xbox library, especially for a meager $5 price tag. More could've been done, but chances are that Vector Unit will provide that to us in a more devoted Riptide sequel. Or, hey, maybe Hydro Thunder Hurricane 2. We'd take it. For now, though, Riptide is worth coasting through.
Switch Galaxy Ultra is proof that a mobile concept doesn't always translate well into a console experience. There are some modest "twitch" sessions to take part in here, but with very little diversity to go around, and even less worthwhile content to come back to. Worse yet, the price is jacked up extremely high, and the promise of multiplayer competition is dwindled due to the fact that, well, there is no competition. For a game with the word Galaxy in its title, there doesn't seem to be much to explore here. And that's a shame.
Red Phantom Games has made an interesting – and highly playable – game with Minutes, a title that's too short for its own good, but makes up for it in spades with gameplay that easily welcomes you back for multiple rounds, and a presentation that doesn't go overboard with flash, instead simply letting soak in more game time. These Minutes may go by fast, but it's hardly time wasted.
A classic continues to live on with Super Stardust Ultra. Although its transition to PS4 feels minimal in places (especially with the lack of online play), it's still rich with content, and its shoot-em-up action will draw you in for hours on end – especially if you're working your way up the leaderboards. Besides, those rocks aren't going to blast themselves, right?
A surprise out of left field, No Goblin's Roundabout could've easily fallen apart over the shoddy build of its concept. But the team exceeds expectations with a game that firmly plants tongue-in-cheek, asking us to forget about the casualties on the road in favor of effectively getting our customers where they need to go. It's silly, stupid – and good fun while it lasts.
Ace Combat Assault Horizon Legacy+ won't set your world on fire like another remakes well, but when it comes to staying in the air and doing a great deal of damage, it's a few good afternoons well spent – especially if you're a fan of the original games.
Shiftings would have benefitted from some sort of level guide to help players out should they be stuck too long. A more refined art style – and way better sound – would've been great too. That said, there's some enjoyment in the gameplay here, especially if you bring a friend along with you. Then you can burp and fart together, like the freaks that you are.
White Night has plenty going for it when it comes to artistic essence, but it comes up short in scares, cohesion, puzzle solving, and camera selection. Way short. OSome should've taken the time to make this darkness worth exploring. Instead, you'll simply feel better spending your Night elsewhere.
L.A. Cops isn't a bad idea in itself, as it takes the concept of Hotline Miami and turns it on its head, making you the law instead of the law-breaker. However, its execution is flawed almost every step of the way, between iffy gameplay decisions, a lackluster presentation and having to work to unlock the awesome stuff, instead of just giving it to you right away. If you have to be the ultimate police officer, stick with Hardline instead.
It's about time someone came forth with a good "shmup" for this generation of consoles. Final Form Games takes everything good from the original Jamestown and ups the ante with more content and modes, including co-op support that's way more fun than it has every right being. If you're up for a challenge, or just want something different out of your shooters, make your residence in Jamestown.
Axiom Verge is just the kind of retro-fitted kick in the pants that PlayStation 4 owners needed. While the story and map could've used a little ironing over, the game delivers excitement aplenty, especially with some of the bigger bosses. The diversity of weapons and tools you'll run across will keep you busy as well. Kudos to Tom Happ (with some help from Dan Adelman) for bringing us back some retro goodness for our new system. Now, sequel please. (Or at the very least, that PS Vita port we were promised…)
Bloodborne is going to be a hard game for some players to accept, due to its diabolical difficulty settings and small hitches with presentation and multiplayer. If you can get past these, however, you'll find a welcome challenge courtesy of From Software's team, one with vivid visuals, exciting gameplay, and plenty of additions that make it well worth hacking away with. Action games have hardly felt this diabolical – but with this developer at the helm, that's a good thing.
While Boxboy may not be your top pick for platforming action on-the-go, it's worth a try, especially considering its affordable $4.99 price. Its unique, yet easygoing, presentation does fairly well with the hardware at hand, and the gameplay offers a few good challenges here and there. This is a good one to get, ahem, "boxed in" with when you're on the road.
When it comes to Smash Bros. clones, Paperbound is, well, paper thin. That's not to say the game isn't fun, because if you get the right group together, it can be. The brawling tactics are good, though not great, and the change-up in certain stages can make for some interesting scenarios. But it all feels a bit one-note, especially when it comes to the presentation and lack of variety. It's worth a try considering its low price, but don't go into this expecting the next great party game.
Some more work is needed before it becomes a must-play classic, but, for now, baseball fans – especially those who only have an Xbox One – should be pleased by the results. Play ball!
While Tower of Guns doesn't quite have the substance to be the Doom for this generation, it's still an effective throwback to a simpler time for shooters, and a game that fanatics of the genre shouldn't miss. Plus, it's challenging as heck, and some of the weapons featured in the game are a blast to use. Gotta love that shotgun glove…