Luke Brown
- Metal Gear Solid
- Mass Effect 2
- Mirror's Edge
Luke Brown's Reviews
Madden NFL 25 doesn't quite herald in the next generation of football, but it is a much more competent debut.
For the first time in years, a Call of Duty game actually feels like it's more of the same. Infinity Ward's additions to the formula don't always hit the desired mark, and the single-player is a spectacular disaster. The franchise has been derided in the past for its repetitiveness and lack of innovation, but Ghosts is the first entry that lives down to that reputation. Where once Infinity Ward forged ahead with new ideas and bold narrative execution, Ghosts walks down a path we've been down countless times before.
Powerstar Golf doesn't quite match up with its contemporaries, but it's a solid first effort from Zoe Mode longtime golf gamers will appreciate.
Dead Rising 3 not only shows off the Xbox One's power, but also happens to be a solid zombie survival game to boot. With it's vast open-world, seemingly endless weapon combo system and New Game+, there's virtually no end to the fun you'll have trying to survive in a world overrun with the undead.
From what our top men have been able to glean from the materials included within, there is another world out there that is ever changing. The dangers are vast, but the prospect of being the first people to explore this new frontier is too great to turn away. It seems no matter how you left our world, you always ended up in this strange place with nothing but the clothes on your back. The learning curve was a bit much for the first few to be sent there it seems, but as more went, things grew easier over time.
While it was definitely interesting to see all the pieces fit together in regards to Dead Rising 3's story, Operation Broken Eagle just doesn't offer enough new content. The experience is over all too quick, and even though there are some extra missions, it all seems like filler rather than a necessary addition. The new weapons are appreciated, but we hope the next add-on has a bit more depth and purpose
While her story is quite different from previous DLC protagonist Adam Kane's, it's still just more of the same.
There's actually some fun in traversing the asylum with friends around, or by streaming it online via the PlayStation 4's many sharing options. Plus, there's a decent enough mystery at the core of Outlast, and uncovering it bit by bit can be enjoyable if you're able to get invested. There's just not enough engaging material to keep you from getting bored after a few hours. There's plenty of room in the survival horror market for someone to come along and really revitalize the genre. Outlast just isn't that game.
Strider wears its influences on its sleeve, but ultimately, this reboot doesn't bring much to the table beyond its stellar presentation.
All-in-all, Garden Warfare is a fairly unremarkable experience. The gameplay is fun, but it's definitely also derivative of elements we've seen executed better elsewhere. That's not to say there aren't some interesting aspects. There just aren't enough to make it stand strongly on its own. Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare isn't a bad game, it's just not a very inventive one despite its catchy premise.
It's definitely one of the most entertaining multiplayer shooters we've ever played, but it's still too rough around the edges to truly challenge any of the incumbents right now. Still, Titanfall stands on the cusp of this new generation, ready to blaze its own path to greatness. Titanfall is not a perfect game, but it sure is fun. Sometimes, that's all you need.
As a way to show off all these new controls and concepts, Ground Zeroes is a success. As a full game experience, Ground Zeroes doesn't quite stand up. For everything Ground Zeroes does new and exciting, it's just a glimpse into the future of the franchise, and isn't a full-fledged game. Does it have us even more excited for The Phantom Pain? Absolutely. Did Ground Zeroes warrant a full retail release across multiple platforms? That's a bit more debatable. There are just too many empty calories here, and despite all the new facets presented, Ground Zeroes left us wanting.
Even though Sucker Punch still hasn't evolved the moral narrative of the Infamous series, Second Son is thoroughly enjoyable game. The abilities are awe-inspiring, the combat is easy to understand and master, but most of all, it's fun to play. Whether you choose to enjoy Infamous: Second Son as the hero or the villain, Sucker Punch once again shows just how great it is at developing exciting superhero adventures. We can only hope that next time around, we actually feel the weight of our decisions, and are compelled to choose by more than carrots at the ends of ropes.
While not as impressive as its predecessor, Trials Fusion still offered a good sense of achievement, even if it was missing a lot of the fun.
The good news is, MLB 14: The Show translates wonderfully on the PlayStation 4, but outside of improved presentation, there isn't much new to be excited about.
Super Time Force may not look like a complex shooter that's full of depth, but as that old adage goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Most of those words are going to be expletives when playing STF, but cursing at a game has never been more enjoyable. When you add in the stellar chiptune soundtrack, loads of replayability and a silly narrative packed with sophomoric charm, it's easy to understand why we've been making so much time to play Capy's Super Time Force. You should, too.
As Johnny Cash once said, "I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back." In Always Sometimes Monsters, you're already carrying that darkness. It's just a matter of how far you can go with that much weight on your shoulders.
As this is the first game for a new set of consoles and with a new development team, growing pains are expected. We just didn't expect them to revolve around concepts previously implemented in older titles. At its core though, EA Sports UFC is a great first step for the franchise. We just hope that over the course of development for the follow-up, many of these missteps are corrected.
Bigger, badder and muy caliente than before, Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition makes an already great game even more enjoyable.
It's unlikely the Destiny of today will be the same Destiny we're playing in a few weeks or months, but the reality of the matter is the Destiny of today isn't all that amazing. It has moments, sure, but right now Destiny relies too much on promise, and not enough on delivering.