New ideas and innovations help move the franchise forward, but a lot of the same bugbears are still prevalent. Until we get a new engine I believe we are always going to be waiting for that truly amazing wrestling game experience. Until that happens, 2K17 is a nice bridge between that gap.
Ride 2 manages to improve on last year’s release, but still struggles to shift itself above a niche racer for fans of the sport.
Where the story falls short, the gameplay rises up. The fighting is fun to pick up and play, but hard to master.
Final Fantasy XV is a return to form for Square Enix, a showcase of their willingness to adapt more Western approaches in their game development whilst also keeping what gave the series it's charm, flair and personality.
Steep is a solid experience that accomplishes what the developers set out to do. They have a created an impressive world that is both fun to explore and addictive to conquer. The multiplayer feels like a bit of a letdown due to a lack of variety but it is still fun exploring the world with friends
Bridge Constructor is a title that tries to port the popular genre over to console, unfortunately, poorly designed controls and a lack of tutorials mean the experience falls short. Players are never properly introduced to the game's physics, which makes the experience far more frustrating than it ever needs to be.
If there is one game you decide to take a chance on this year, please let it be Yakuza 0 - a game that is as fun and intelligent as it is silly and violent.
At its best, Yooka-Laylee reminds me why I fell in love with colourful platformers, it's a love letter to childhood nostalgia. At its worst, Yooka-Laylee reminds me why we moved away from platforming games: odd design choices and occasional bugs sour the experience.
A reliance on meta-jokes and pop-culture references, alongside irrational puzzle design leave this point and click adventure falling short of its true potential. Fans of the genre will likely find enjoyment here though, if only due to the obvious inspirations behind the game.
theHunter: Call of the Wild is a game that will appeal to those who have a genuine passion for hunting, but due to the general lack of content, a poor UI and the horrendous movement speed, I don't think those outside of the hunting world will enjoy it.
For fans of the series and newcomers alike, Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse is a quintessential JRPG experience, and one that only has some very minor issues.
Dragon Quest Heroes 2 is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, but it doesn't feel like a big enough leap. There are minor gameplay improvements that result in a more unique and refined experience, but at it's core the game is still struggling to pull itself away from the Dynasty Warriors series.
Everything in Touhou just feels pointless; the story is drab, the combat is flat and and the action elements are uninspired. I understand it's a fan made game but I really struggle to find anything to compliment here. I can even imagine fans of the series struggling to like it, which is pretty much the nail in the coffin. Honest opinion: Avoid this like the plague.
Death Squared is an intelligent puzzler that challenges single and multiplayer gamers alike.
For those who want a challenging platforming title on the PS4, DeadCore is right up your alley. For casual gamers out there, I would recommend going elsewhere.
The bloated and often confusing narrative might be a bit too much for those that aren't already fans of the Fate series, but for those willing to brave the ridiculous amount of dialogue a satisfactory Musou game awaits them underneath.
Tennis in the Face is not going to amaze or disappoint players, it's a serviceable physics-based puzzle game designed to provide a short, but challenging experience.
A lot of Caveman Warriors' design feels outdated; it's a title that relies on mediocre action-platforming, on top of average cartoon visuals and a simplistic combat system. It never goes out of its way to impress you, but it also won't leave you wanting more.
Spellforce 3 is an ambitious game that manages to blend fun RTS segments with traditional isometric dungeon exploration in a neat RPG package.
While many will look at Solo and see a gorgeous art style, those who play it will experience an introspective journey about love. Its delivery of core themes can be a little vague at times, but Solo is one of the most charming titles I've played in a long time.