Skylanders SuperChargers is a situation where everything seems promising, but one major element doesn't live up to its potential. Regular adventuring is fun, but the second a player has to hop into a vehicle, it's a gamble as how good or bad the experience will be. If the vehicular elements were separate from the story and entirely optional, this would be the best entry in the series. But they're not and bring the rest of the game down.
Party Hard is a surprising game. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did, but it's a thoughtful affair that relies on careful thought and planning to keep up the most gruesome cross-country trip ever. Sometimes it doesn't play fair, but it's still fun.
Tembo the Elephant starts strong. It seems peppy and fun, with a protagonist you can't help liking. Then, it shifts gears. That change in tactics takes something that stands out and feels unique and makes it feel more like others in its ilk. It's the last thing it needed, since so many of Tembo's moves are shared with other heroes. It's entertaining enough, but doesn't quite define itself as one of the greats.
Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight is a huge game. It's the game to point to when asked what a remake should be. The amount of improved and original content added to the title is extraordinary. It not only enhances the experience for everyone who's coming back to it, but opens it up to people who may have been afraid to play it until now. Whether you play for keeps as an expert or casually enjoy a picnic with the Fafnir Knight and his friends, Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold will make sure you have a challenge appropriate for your level.
Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 3 is a solid game, and people who have been keeping up with the Re;Birth retellings of the series will want to see this installment. But, if someone has already played Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory, he or she could take a pass this time. There are new story and gameplay elements, sure, but not enough this time around to really set this entry apart.
Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. felt uneven to me. There's a lot of promise here, and the jovial experience was inviting. I loved the multiplayer far more than I expected to and look forward to many more hours playing it. The problem is a campaign that feels like it takes far too long for things to really happen, especially when all aliens move in real time and you have to clear multiple maps before you get a real stopping point. I like the lore and world enough to hope that this isn't the end for this series, and that instead Intelligent Systems will be given an opportunity to build on this foundation.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is a must play game now, even more so than it was when it first launched. This experimental installment in the series is a boundary-expanding triumph. It challenges people's perception of Link's adventures and action RPGs in general. The time limit makes things feel more real, and the masks make the game more compelling. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D may deal with dark matters, but it will light up your life.
Sony has a habit of putting certain games on pedestals, heralding them as experiences that gamers only see on PlayStation. Typically, these are more experimental titles designed to evoke thoughts and feelings, artistic endeavors that test the boundaries of what games can and can't be. Hohokum fits perfectly into that category, and I'm sure we'll see it used as evidence in many "Are video games art?" debates.
Tomodachi Life is a unique game. It's a simulation, sure, but the random elements and varying personalities of the Miis keep it from being as straightforward as something conventional like The Sims. It's more of an opportunity to put Miis into a virtual world and play around with them. The players won't always have control, but they'll still have a good time. That said, I can see some people who are craving something more straightforward feeling letdown by the fact that don't have total control over the Miis lives and actions. Overall, I think anyone who takes a chance on this unorthodox property will have a positive experience, and hope Nintendo will build upon this franchise.
There's just so much to do in Kirby Triple Deluxe, further proving that Kirby is still our lovably stalwart companion. He's been by our sides as we've grown up, and will undoubtly remain a part of our lives as long as Nintendo makes games. For this, we should be thankful and, it seems as long as HAL Laboratory is around, we will be guaranteed fantastic installments. Kirby Triple Deluxe is an amazing game with tons of replay value and is one of the few games that makes the most of the 3DS' capabilities. It's a sure winner and will long be remembered one of the best games the 3DS has to offer.
One things is clear with NES Remix 2. It is absolutely superior to NES Remix. The assortment of offered games, inclusion of a modified version of Super Luigi Bros., and Championship Mode assure it. Yet, the lag that plagues many of the challenges can be criminal and it's a shame that the emulation issues are present. Regardless, it provides more than enough reason to turn on the Wii U again and keep people busy while we wait for Mario Kart 8, and a part of me hopes that next time we'll get a SNES Remix.
Super Mario 3D World is the closest we will ever come to a perfect Mario game, one that is a culmination of every right decision ever made in the series. Alone, or with friends, the first time, or the tenth time, it does everything right. It's a wonderful adventure, and makes me proud to be a Wii U owner.
Still, while Warframe isn't a perfect game, I have a hard time criticizing it. It is free-to-play, after all, and quite a bit of enjoyment can be had without ever cracking open one's wallet. There aren't many free-to-play games that can make that claim. Granted, I was playing with the PlayStation Plus users' starter pack, which made my life a little more comfortable. It also gets points for being accessible, even to a third-person-shooter novice like myself. Simply put, PS4 owners lose nothing by giving Digital Extreme's third-person shooter a try, and may gain an entertaining timesink to enjoy with friends while waiting for the next wave of PS4 games.