I'm not going to sugar-coat things and try to sell this as a game that everyone can enjoy, but Code of Princess EX does what it does very well. If the $40 price-tag is causing you to pump the brakes, and the gameplay footage you've seen doesn't appeal to you, then pump those brakes, dude! Wait for a sale if you want to, but do keep this on your radar. Whether playing solo, online, or locally with friends, you're guaranteed a bizarre and deceptively deep RPG beat 'em up that's more fun than it has any right to be.
All said, Shining Resonance Refrain does scratch the neo-classic JRPG itch in more ways than one. The story and waifu side-quests are a little cringey, and things get very grindy, but if you're looking to pick this game up, then that's probably exactly what you were looking for. This is a colorful, 40-hour affair that will delight series fans and Otakus everywhere, but it's not for everyone. For the price, I think it's well-worth the gamble.
Be that as it may, I've booted up Mario Tennis Aces every single night since I got it, and it always makes me lose track of time. Missing options aside, I can't deny that this is the most fun I've had playing a tennis game since I was a kid, and I can guarantee that you and your friends will get serious mileage out of it.
Everything that makes a shooter fun - mobility, action, and a sense of empowerment - has been perfected here, and we're already waiting to see what Respawn does next.
Nascar Heat Evolution is a devolution for the series, and even when playing friends online, I can't imagine how you'd have fun with this game for more than a few hours - if you even make it that long.
I might recommend this game for $15 if you have some friends to play with, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it at its current price point and in its current state. On a community forum I saw a deflated Resident Evil fan quip that Umbrella Corps is about 15 patches away from greatness, and I have to say that's my sentiment exactly. I gave this game several chances, but after turning off my PS4 and walking away from it just now, I'm realizing that I have no motivation to boot Umbrella Corps back up when there are so many alternatives that look, sound, feel, and play better. Wait for a sale and pick this up cheaply if you're a die-hard fan, but keep your friends close and your expectations low.
And that's what brings me here: sitting on the edge of my seat, back erect and eyes wide as my match in Dorado comes to an explosive, victorious end. I look with glee and see that Junkrat and I secured the play of the game, and I can't help but feel smug as the entire lobby watches the moment I turned the game around with my ultimate. I watch again as Junkrat heaves back the ripcord to a remote controlled tire filled with explosives. I drove it straight up and over a wall, launched it into the air, landed in the middle of the heavily-defended objective, and exploded to take out 4 defenders who were just about to secure it for themselves. I feel like I'm being lifted on top of virtual shoulders as my teammates upvote my performance during the post-game results. I clench my teeth as the experience bar shoots forward, stopping just shy of the next level and a new loot box. Foolishly I glance sidelong at my phone and notice it's 2:40 AM. "Just one more match."
I understand that it would have been difficult to keep free-roaming intact in a few of the levels without developing a dynamic split-screen system, but that would have been really nice to see and I can't help but feel like Platinum missed a huge opportunity there. Be that as it may, this is still a game that you'll love to play with your buddies. It's a mindless, campy, action-packed, Saturday morning cartoon that you get to control, and that's exactly what we want in a Ninja Turtles game. Rent this one first and see how you like it, or else wait for a sale - it's hard to pay $50 for a game that you can beat (on normal) in less than 7 hours. If you have even one friend who might like to play with you, though, it's totally worth it, and all of the upgrades and secrets will keep you occupied for months.
I honestly think we're looking at a spring blockbuster and a truly worthy reboot of a timeless classic. DOOM isn't for everyone. The blinding speed of play, demonic symbolism, demanding controls, and hyper-violence may discourage some from jumping in. If you can handle it, though, it really is a thrill ride. It's a brass-knuckle punch in the mouth. It's a 2-ounce shot of hard scotch from a skull chalice. It's a shot of adrenaline straight into your eyeball. It's DOOM.
When you're playing and engaged, Hitman is a thoughtful, well-paced, and beautiful introduction to what should be an incredible multi-part adventure. It's hard to imagine how Square Enix and IO could possibly screw up something this good. If nothing else, for $15 The Prologue and Paris Showstopper missions are absolutely worth your time and money. The stages were so lovingly pieced together and offer you seemingly endless possibilities for creative, violent expression. Even after you execute every hit every way you possibly can, you can create your own contracts or take on those of your peers for an extra challenge. It's an incredible bang for the buck, and I can't wait to to head to Italy next month.
Cooperative play is a joy, an abundance of gear means your agent is ever-evolving, and an air-tight narrative set within a game world that is unmistakably Tom-Clancian provides a sense of purpose and urgency that makes it nigh impossible to put the controller down. You'll be like me soon enough: fighting off sleep as you recount recent battles with your friends and think about which branch of your base you'd like to upgrade next. It's an addiction as contagious as the fictional virus sweeping through The Division's New York. The wait was worth it, so get out there and gear up, agent. I'll meet you in Brooklyn.
If you can overlook the temporary content void, I have a good feeling that Street Fighter V will come out on top as the best fighting game of 2016 and the go-to title for tournament play. Expect to see a lot of Street Fighter V on Twitch, on YouTube Gaming, and even on TV as eSports continue to blossom and grow in viewership. It's gorgeous to watch in action, accessible to newcomers, and offers depths of variety that that the competitive and hardcore will be mining ambitiously for years to come.
If you're a huge Marvel fan or a huge Lego fan – and especially if you're both – it's a no-brainer: get this game. You're going to love everything about it. I tend to fall on the casual side of the spectrum in my Marvel and Lego fandom, but I am a fan of great games. I'd say that for people like me, this is a really good game, but it's not as great as I hoped it'd be. I was absolutely delighted by the trademark TT Games humor and playfulness, and I absolutely intend to spend many hours in the game's free mode playing with my favorite superheroes and looking for Stan Lee in every single stage (he makes several priceless cameos). Several obtuse, tedious, or otherwise frustrating objectives and some level flow issues keep me from giving this an unreserved recommendation, but like the movies on which it's based, Lego Marvel's Avengers is a wild ride that many will come to cherish and want to revisit again and again.
When things fall into place, and you do find yourself lost in the moment, Siege will frighten you and challenge you. Stakes and tensions run high whether playing solo or in a group, but the game truly shines when you're working with a coherent team, so pick this game up and find one. When you're on a squad with tactical, patient teammates, Rainbow Six Siege offers a multiplayer experience unlike anything you've played - the kind of experience that you think and dream about long after you've put the controller down.
So what's the verdict? Is Wild Run good enough to bring back estranged early-adopters and entice a new audience? It's all up to you guys. Wild Run isn't lipstick on a pig, it's a frog become a prince. It's proof that for almost a year now Ivory Tower and Ubisoft have been listening to fans and incorporating their feedback into an expansion that finally gives The Crew an identity of its own. Without your own crew, though, the streets of America feel barren and lifeless. If you're willing to make the effort to reach out to a group of like-minded players with whom you can travel and compete, I can recommend The Crew: Wild Run without hesitation.