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.
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 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.
If this is Nintendo's idea of what a multiplayer shooter should be, then I'm not about to argue with them.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
The game doesn't always flow perfectly, but Codename S.T.E.A.M is certainly a fun little strategy title.