With varying action sequences, Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter attempts to appeal the series to a wider audience. Almost every case features new mechanics that you'll only use once before moving on, but thankfully these can be skipped if you desire. I've skipped a couple in my playthrough, and never felt like I was taking the easy way out. Why waste time on a poorly constructed trial and error sequence, when I just want to figure out who set the streets of London ablaze in a hailstorm of fire. When it comes down to it, The Devil's Daughter is still a fun experience, giving players the freedom to come to their own conclusions. It's a great way to feel like you are a detective.
While The Technomancer is not the first and won’t be the last title to have a different price tag based on platform (PC vs. consoles). At a cheaper price point on Steam (and just about everywhere else that sells digital PC games), the game’s jank can almost be forgiven at the lower price point, especially when coming from a small independent studio. Sure, there are parts of the game that I do not enjoy, but when you compare this to many AAA and full-priced games that have come out recently, The Technomancer includes much more bang for your buck. On console, however, that is another story altogether. As a full-price $59.99 game, I find it a bit harder to recommend the game on consoles until it can be purchased for a discounted price.
Xona Games has down a commendable job updating one of their most popular titles for the PlayStation 4. Score Rush Extended is an enjoyable experience, featuring a rocking metal soundtrack and colorful, but simplistic visuals. It’s the type of game that you can spend 10 minutes a day, inching your way up the leaderboards or lose yourself for hours. Even without playing with others, I’ve had plenty of fun with the game, but nothing matches the sensation of having four ships blast everything in sight. The game is unforgiving in the difficulty department, but that only adds to the allure and charm of the game, as I am always seeking the thrill of moving past my friends on the leaderboards.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan is an utter disappointment, failing to return the game to its arcade roots. Perhaps it would have fared better as a side-scroller, dropping the regrettable meaningless tasks, and instead featuring the four turtles battling countless of Foot Clan ninjas until you reach the boss. The combat doesn’t feel smooth as the game is limited to 30FPS, instead of the typical 60FPS that PlatinumGames deserve. There are collectible comic book covers to find, but the game’s over before you know it and is almost fully priced as well.
Ironcast can be brutally difficult, but typically it is from poor strategic choices and not due to the lack of certain resources in the matching portion of the game. The inclusion of the Commendation Marks adds to the replay value of the game, as you can experience new content with each consecutive playthrough.
The chaotic and explosive nature of the action in Alienation is both addicting, and a pure pleasure to watch unfold. The vibrant, colorful, neon palette used for players armor and all of the items pop off the screen, along with the sheer amount of destruction. Cars will explode, trees will fall over, wind gusts blow snow across the barren landscape, and everything in the environment is affected by players weapons. Alienation is best played with others, as you can easily be overwhelmed by the higher difficulties when playing solo. The loot and upgrade mechanics were a pleasant surprise, and the inclusion of unique end-game content will expand the life of this twin-stick shooter for quite some time. I just hope that offline cooperative play arrives sooner rather than later.
Dotoyou should be applauded for developing the first game released on the PlayStation 4 in the Western market. However, the experience feels half-baked at times. The soundtrack is breathtaking but at the same time, the repeated chorus portions drag on way too long. Collecting puzzle pieces completes paintings that tell a story, but I never had the drive to find them all. There are unlockable koi to replace the original orange colored one, but I just don’t think it is a journey that I would want to experience more than once.
Black Desert Online succeeds as a sandbox massively multiplayer online game with deep character customization, and a combat system that rivals most action oriented games. The world feels alive, and is a visual marvel as well, just don't expect anything revolution regarding story telling.
Stikbold! A Dodgeball Adventure is an enjoyable and competitive local multiplayer game to play with your friends. I didn't expect to enjoy playing through a story mode about dodgeball as much as I did. It can also be played cooperatively with a friend as well. I’m still working on completing all the objectives from the story mode to unlock the final character, but there are plenty of unlikely goofy characters to choose from for local multiplayer.
Tom Clancy's The Division is an enjoyable shooter with social implementation for those that want to play with friends. After putting 50+ hours into the game, completing the story and running around the Dark Zone as a rogue, Massive will need to keep updating the game with new end-game content. Daily missions are currently the same content, but harder, and running the same missions for the umpteenth time will eventually grow tiresome. The Division has a solid base to build off of, and I'm sure that Massive will keep updating the game with new activities for players to enjoy.
Assault Android Cactus is a charming and addicting twin-stick shooter with personality. Each of the nine characters is unique enough to warrant playing through levels multiple times to chase the high-scores. The additional modes, including daily challenges, provides plenty of content after completing the campaign and the inclusion of the EX options adds variety to the experience.
We Are The Dwarves is a brutally difficult tactical action game with some RPG elements thrown in for good measure. Learning the best way to utilize each of the dwarves' talents is the key to advancing in the game. The isometric perspective provides clear sightlines of the action, but I found controlling multiple dwarves much more difficult than controlling a single dwarf. With more characters on screen, things start to become more hectic, but in a way, the game relishes in the ensuing chaos.
Dying Light The Following is a first-person masterpiece, expanding the already great gameplay from the original, combining it with the joy of driving a buggy. Optional races are available throughout the map, if you feel the need to compete against your friends. The parkour elements have not been entirely forgotten, but it is evident that the focus in The Following is driving the buggy. Four-player online co-op is still the best way to experience The Following, and it is one of the best cooperative experiences this generation.
Layers of Fear is a masterpiece of horror, successfully having me second guessing everything painting, door, and object in the game. There isn't much in the way of replay value unless you feel the need to collect missing achievements/trophies. With that said, I can't remember the last game that legitimately gave me goosebumps up and down both arms.
Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak carries the legacy of the Homeworld franchise, and successfully grounds it to the planet Kharak. The game feels so similar in style and design that any Homeworld player will instantly feel at home playing any of the included game modes. Formations have yet to make a return to the series, and the lack of their inclusion will disappoint fans. Skirmish and Multiplayer lack variable in map selection, but I hope additional maps are added in the near future.
Victor Vran almost does everything right but suffers from the same faults from just about every action RPG on the market. The story is uninspired, and unless you are planning to play with friends, you may have trouble finding other online players at your level. The combat system is enjoyable, as you test out different types of weapons. Even after completing the story, I had places on the map that I never unlocked. If you are a completionist, attempting to complete all of the objectives on every area will keep you busy for quite some time. Not to mention the allure of finding sick new loot, and the constant content being added to the game.
Transformers: Devastation has been a pleasant surprise to PlatinumGames recent lineup. The Legend of Korra featured a similar combat system, but the rest of the game lacked polish. Yes, environments are still repetitive, and textures are lacking in certain areas, but the engaging, dynamic combat system, rocking soundtrack and use of the Transformers license ensure Devastation is an enjoyable experience for fans and newcomers to the series.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 is simply not worth your time and money. At a full retail price of $60, there isn't even content to warrant the price, not to mention the sheer amount of technical issues and the changes to the gameplay.
Destiny: The Taken King successfully adds refreshing content to a game that has been growing stale over the past few months. Not only that, but just about every aspect of the game has been revitalized with the expansion and the 2.0 update. Depending on your view on grinding for gear after completing everything else, you should be able to get upwards of 30+ hours (per character) to complete all of the newly included quests before you reach that moment.
The console (and Vita) release of The Bridge doesn't bring anything new to the table from the original 2013 PC release (considering it already had controller support). Those who skipped the PC release (like myself) will be treated to one of the most surreal puzzle games released in recent memory. Depending on your aptitude for logic-based puzzles, you may breeze through the game, or spend ample time rewinding and resetting puzzles. The simplistic control scheme and slow-pacing helps to make the game casual friendly.