In Too Deep lays a foundation for where Michonne's little side trek is heading, and I am legitimately interested in what's to come. However, this first episode doesn't feel like anything I haven't already experienced outside of story, and I was hoping for a little bit more. Luckily, there are two more episodes to prove me wrong — and I hope that happens — but for now, The Walking Dead: Michonne is just another episode of zombie apocalypse drama to add to the pile.
Far Cry Primal is a bitter world where "survival of the fittest" is the mantra, but the game gives me plenty of ways to become the one who survives. The primitive weapons are great, the authentic sounding language really pulls me in, and the challenge of sustaining this wicked land keeps me going. It's a vast departure from previous Far Cry games, but that risk paid off in a big way as each second spent in this world is a ton of fun. I hope more games give me the opportunity to go back to the primitive age, as it seems a lot more fun than just fighting the same war in modern times over and over again.
In an industry that can sometimes feel cold and sterile, Unravel is a welcome injection of warmth and love.
Fortified is the kind of game that I want to keep playing, but it frustrates me just as much as it entertains me.
Resident Evil 0 HD Remastered is essentially the same RE0 that I played back in the Gamecube days, a dated but enjoyable RE experience. The HD coat of paint gives the game a 2016 glow that truly impresses, and the modern control scheme improves the experience in ways that cannot sufficiently be explained, but the core game remains intact. I enjoyed my trip back in time, but I don't think there's enough here that would make me want to do it again.
Rainbow Six Siege is tactical fun, but the lack of substance hurts the overall experience. It won't take you long to play everything Rainbow Six Siege offers, but what it does it executes very well. You may get bored sooner than you'd like, but you'll have plenty of fun before that happens.
Xenoblade Chronicles X thrives on its open-ended nature, to the point where the idea of reigning the player in is simply nonexistent.
If Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash were a book, it would have the cover of an epic novel and the pages of a children's book.
WWE 2K16 is the studio's latest endeavor, and while there are a lot of improvements from last year's title, the game just can't get the job done.
"Some Assembly Required" retains the silly humor of the first episode and adds some new takes on the Telltale storytelling method, but being able to finish in less than an hour hurts the overall experience.
On the surface Rise of the Tomb Raider is very much reminiscent of the previous game, to the point where someone passing through a room with Rise playing might mistake it for the last entry.
I wanted to like Pro Evolution Soccer 2016, I really did. Sports games are a specialty of mine, and I'm always excited to try the latest versions of the big time franchises. My disappointment with the game rests solely on how recycled everything feels. I want some innovation in my sports games, some new ideas that will challenge me and test my limits, but here I get the video game equivalent of a uninspired shrug. Konami, if you read this, please try something new with PES 2017, as I really don't want to be disappointed as soon as I press start next year too.
If cute things make you barf, then make sure the trash can is next to you every time you boot up Yoshi's Woolly World. Every single thing in the game could melt even the coldest heart.
Minecraft: Story Mode's first chapter proves that the Telltale style of storytelling can fit in any universe, as it's a delightful romp through the blocky world of Minecraft.
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.
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.
There's one enemy that even Max can't overcome however, and it defines the entire Mad Max experience: repetition.
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.
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.
Despite a few technical shortcomings, Mega Man Legacy Collection is a love letter to one of the best franchises in retro gaming history.