In the end, Ember is a good RPG that caters more to genre beginners than veterans. The trimming of the traits and the abolishment of classes makes it easier for some players to concentrate on the gameplay instead of character and party micromanagement. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as everything from the gameplay to the story is rather solid despite not really doing anything to stand out from the crowd. Some will argue that making more PC-specific changes, such as familiar mouse controls and more graphical options, would've made the game better, but for the most part, it remains a solid game at a good price. As long as you aren't expecting this to be the next great RPG masterpiece, fans who aren't too deep into the genre should give Ember a shot.
Overall, Boulder Dash: 30th Anniversary Edition is a flawed but fun experience. The base game still runs on a good formula, the challenge is great, and the curve isn't too punishing. The addition of power-ups changes things up a bit, and level creation is a nice addition to a game that's already packed with over 200 stages. However, the presentation feels flat, and the grind can be enough of a deterrent for those wanting to actually complete the game. It's worth checking out, but mostly if you can wait for a sale on it.
The Hell Followed DLC pack is certainly a worthy addition for those still playing multiplayer in Doom. The maps are tons of fun to play in, especially Orbital because of the gravity changes. The Reaper to the Threat Pulse and the three different hack modules feel much more useful than what was offered before, and the new armor looks absolutely excellent. This is certainly the best pack thus far and worth picking up.
Infinite Air with Mark McMorris can be best described as unpolished promise. The idea of a whole game centered around casual riding is pretty brilliant, the presence of a decent amount of user content this early, and a robust means of generating the content equates to a game that can seem infinitely replayable. Having said that, the learning curve for the controls can be too high for some, while others will not be happy about the little quirks that can quickly become big annoyances. Considering the small amount of snowboarding games on the market, it may be tempting to give this a shot despite its grievances, but only if it's on sale and not at the current $50 price point.
Laser Disco Defenders plays like a good arcade game with some hidden depth. The bouncing lasers alone change the game's approach from a mindless shooter to one that requires some real thought in planning your attack. The randomly generated levels and bonus equipment help, and the presentation is nice, but it is really that one change that sells the game outright. Laser Disco Defenders may be a game that you can tackle in an afternoon, but you will want to revisit it often.
In the end, Headlander is a very good adventure game for fans of the Metroidvania blueprint. The gimmicks that come from a flying head are used well, and the idea never feels tired. The action in firefights is good, and the number of areas and slightly hidden passageways in the world makes exploration equally worthwhile. It does feel like a drag whenever you have to perform the same action multiple times in different parts of a level, but the game is short enough that the padding doesn't feel too bad. Overall, genre fans will have a great time with Headlander.
Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls maintains the status quo of the RPG entries in the series. The lighthearted story is a great contrast to the other serious RPGs on the system, though the lengthy visual novel scenes can grate on your nerves if you aren't already on board with the oddball tale. It's a shame that a large swath of the game is taken wholly from older titles with minimal changes, but the improvements in the combat and skill systems make up for that transgression. In the end, it won't sway the minds of those who want deeper and more serious fare, but it will please those who are already fans of the series.
Though it hasn't aged that well, Dead Rising remains a good experience. The game can be tough as nails due to the intentional design choices and flaws that stand out in comparison to modern conventions. The story is fine, and the characters are likeable enough to make it work. While it would have been nice if the presentation had been updated with more than 60fps and a gamut of resolutions, the fact that Dead Rising is playable outside of the Xbox 360 is enough of a reason for series fans to give this a shot and see what they're missing.
F1 2016 is certainly one of the better representations of the sport in some time. The handling of the vehicles is just right, and once you understand the little nuances, the races are thrilling from start to finish. The career mode is more than enough to sustain any player, but the other included modes give the game real value. It still needs work in the presentation area, but for simulation junkies who want to race around in cars they'll never be able to afford, F1 2016 is the best thing going.
In the end, Seasons After Fall is another great platformer that places value in puzzles and dexterity over combat. The puzzles don't feel overly difficult, but their execution is done well. The same can be said for the season changes, where it becomes very obvious which season needs to be used, but it feels satisfying anyway. It feels like a game for those just starting out in the genre, but the presentation is so well done that more experienced gamers won't mind giving it a spin. If you have an afternoon to spend on a game, Seasons After Fall will make that time feel worthwhile.
If anything, Gears of War 4 shows that The Coalition can handle the series going forward. From the single-player to the co-op and multiplayer, every aspect of the game sings with quality as they successfully blend old traditions with new mechanics. There's already a ton of content in the game, which is great at giving you many possible ways to access it all. While the PC is the preferred platform to play the game, the Xbox One version is no slouch, as it still comes up with a solid experience. Overall, action fans will have a blast with this title.
In the end, God Eater 2: Rage Burst is a good adventure game that remains accessible for genre newcomers, and the wide variety of weapons and power-ups ensures that you'll find your favorite style rather quickly. The fights aren't overly strategic, but you are rewarded if you know the weaknesses of monsters you're facing; there are tons of these fights, and each is rather short unless you pump up the difficulty. The story could be better, and it would have been nice if the online community were more active. Those coming fresh off of God Eater: Resurrection won't find much of a difference. God Eater 2 is solid enough that it comes as an easy recommendation for PC players looking for that Monster Hunter fix yet weren't quite sold on Toukiden: Kiwami.
The premise for Ian's Eyes has potential. If done correctly, a horror game that revolves around a glorified escort mission can be a tense and entertaining experience. However, there's nothing here that can be considered well done, as the game simply strives to emulate all of the bad parts of the old survival-horror games without the good parts with that came with it. Even if you're a die-hard survival-horror fan, there's very little that's worth checking out in Ian's Eyes.
The answer to whether or not the Unto the Evil DLC is worth it depends on what you're looking for. If you're in it for the new maps, then you're better off waiting for the private match option since it can take a long time to see them under normal circumstances. If you want it for the customization, then the DLC has lots of satisfying options. If you want the weapons, then you'll be fine since both the Kinetic Mine and Harvester are great additions, while the pistol is only there if you want things to be tougher. At $15, the DLC is pretty expensive by itself, but if you want to add to the multiplayer experience, this isn't a bad pack.
Hue may be a short experience, but it is a very fun one. The color-changing mechanic is handled quite nicely and adds a little something to the basic block-and-switch puzzle the game uses most of the time. The puzzles don't get complicated until you're much closer to the end of the game, but they never feel frustrating enough that you'll be forced to quit. The story is fine, but it is the presentation that players will find quite charming. For puzzle platforming fans who want something that's fun but not too involved, Hue is worth checking out.
Your enjoyment of Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X depends on a few things. If you're looking for a great rhythm game for the PS4, this is it. It has been a while since we've seen a rhythm game that doesn't need peripherals, and this title is loads of fun, especially if you're into the music. If you're a Miku fan, this is still fine if you can live with the absence of modes from prior games. For those players, they might want to look into importing Future Tone instead if they can't wait any longer to see whether Sega releases that one stateside.
Your decision to pick up NHL 17 will depend on your experience with the previous two titles. If you haven't picked up a NHL title this season or you stopped at NHL 15, you absolutely must purchase NHL 17. The game has been refined with loads of changes for both pros and novices, and the number of modes present, along with their depth, will ensure that this stays in rotation until the hockey season starts. If you already have NHL 16, then there isn't much of an impetus to grab the NHL 17 version. The extra modes are indeed nice, but you already have access to just about everything, so those additions might not feel that impressive. Either way, NHL 17 remains a solid game, and one hopes that the momentum continues into next year's title.
Uno makes for a good alternative to the type of fare typically seen on a console. Despite its simple rules, it remains fun thanks to the decent AI and the good-sized online community. It may not be as cheap as the Xbox 360 release was, but if you're looking for a fun card game on the PS4, you can't go wrong with Uno.
Inside shows that Playdead has a knack for the short but powerful puzzle-platformer. The puzzles are logical and challenging, while the story is told well without a reliance on the usual things like dialogue and cut scenes. The balance between both creates a game that has a ton of memorable moments, and the flow is smooth enough that you're compelled to keep playing until you reach the thought-provoking ending. With a presentation that adds greatly to the narrative, Inside is well worth your time.
In the end, Hunter's Legacy could use some improvements. Combat could certainly be tightened up, and the rewards for exploration could've been much more enticing. It also could've done better in the presentation department, since it doesn't stand out in this area, either. The title has the basics down well enough that it can remain enjoyable, and those who aren't too picky can have a good time with this, especially when you take into account the relatively low price of $6.99 on Steam.