Given the volatile and unpredictable nature of the social media environment, this experiment could have blown up in Other Ocean's face. Instead, I get to enjoy one of the wackiest and fun games I've ever pressed start to play.
The nature of experimentation means that some ideas could falter, however, and Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a prime example of not quite getting the results that I hoped for.
Developer Frontier Developments calls this new game a "spiritual successor" to Roller Coaster Tycoon, and the game fills its end of the bargain quite admirably.
Adventure buffs and those with a flair for the nostalgic need to make Ori and the Blind Forest part of their collections immediately, for it will take players back to the glory days of adventure games in the best ways.
The game doesn't always flow perfectly, but Codename S.T.E.A.M is certainly a fun little strategy title.
There are some new elements of course, but where I expected a build on the previous game's mechanics into a brand new experience instead became the same basic feel in a different scenario.
Axiom Verge plays so closely to the original Metroid game that I'm wondering if it was meant to be a tribute or an imitation.
I wasn't sure if the transition would succeed, but this port is just as impressive and fun as the original Wii release, so anyone who decides to first experience Xenoblade here won't miss a beat.
Mortal Kombat X continues to launch the game to new heights. It's a bloody, gory bout of glory with intricate controls, a varied and balanced roster, and a ton of ways to play both online against peers or alone on the couch. I had a blast fighting my way through the game, and I suspect I won't be the only one.
I don't fault Ubisoft for trying something different with its acclaimed Assassin's Creed franchise, and in some respects there's a lot to like. However when the game stumbles it does so in grand fashion, creating an infuriating experience that makes me want to throw my controller more than continue on my quest.
I wanted to like Nero, I really did, but as the credits rolled all I could do was wish I could get my two hours back.
If this is Nintendo's idea of what a multiplayer shooter should be, then I'm not about to argue with them.
Despite that tiny gripe Rare Replay does an incredible job of bringing back some of the best games of the past 30 years into one convenient place. It's a great trip down memory lane, one that I bet will bring a lot of smiles to faces young and old.
Online aside, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is exactly what Gears fans could ever want from a remake of the original game: enhanced controls, powerful new visuals and a complete transferring of the full Gears of War experience — PC exclusive missions included — from the previous console generation to the current one.
Despite a few technical shortcomings, Mega Man Legacy Collection is a love letter to one of the best franchises in retro gaming history.
It's tough for an annual sports franchise like Madden to spice things up from year to year, but Madden NFL 16 brings just the right amount of change to make things interesting. Nearly everything it adds works incredibly well, most noticeably in the passing game, while a few other things still need a bit of work. Ultimate Team continues to grow, Draft Champions is the coolest mode ever, and even just a quick game against a friend is still as fun and footbally as Madden has ever been. There's a lot to like on the gridiron this year, and I can only hope that this upward trend continues to grow.
As weird as the concept is, the critically-acclaimed mobile game Leo's Fortune makes a surprisingly graceful transition from phone screen to TV screen.
There's one enemy that even Max can't overcome however, and it defines the entire Mad Max experience: repetition.
On the surface this is not a gigantic game . . ., but this little software that could allows for more imagination than anything else I've played this year.
Year Walk is a strange game, a brief sojourn into a downright chilling tale surrounding a small Swedish village and the potential horrors abound. There's a lot to like here, especially in the narrative side of things, but the game is too short and some puzzles are more interesting than others. It's worth a try, if for no other reason than to play an indie game and there's nothing else interesting at the time, but don't expect it to last very long. This Year Walk feels like it's only around the block.