Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare is a very solid shooter with a lot of variety and charm. It offers players of all ages a dynamic, entertaining experience that encourages practice and experimentation.
The Last Tinker: City of Colors is like the nicest kid in school. He's not the best athlete or student; he's just nice and because of that, you want to like him. To some extent, you do.
Hohokum can feel like a chore at times but for the most part, this is an original, inspired piece of interactive art. Perhaps that's the best way to describe it. No world has a clear focus, which can be a drag, but you're always drawn in by the unparalleled visual presentation that has a bizarre caressing quality.
Metrico isn't a bad game. On the one hand, you're immediately captivated by the unique gameplay. On the other, the interface keeps hindering your progression and immersion.
Road Not Taken is an interesting little game. It's tough and sometimes even unforgiving, and I should add that it's not entirely stable. I came across several bugs in the game and it crashed on me twice, so that should be mentioned.
Saying The Last Of Us: Remastered is an absolute triumph seems redundant. I said it when the original released last year, after all. And yeah, it's basically the same game with a glossier coating and a few additions.
Sniper Elite III is a step in the right direction. We've still got a ways to go but the improvements here are obvious and appreciated, and greatly enhances the fun factor and general quality. It's on next-gen consoles and although it doesn't feel "next-gen," there's no doubt that Rebellion took advantage of the extra power.
Even so, if you're a big fan, I can see you grabbing the Super Turbo Championship Edition. The bottom line is that Guacamelee! is one of the most entertaining, engaging, and even innovative titles we've seen in the past year, and all avid gamers owe it to themselves to give it a try. The "Metroidvania" structure somehow blends beautifully with the gaudiness of the Mexican Luchadore theme, and you just never want to stop playing.
Above all else, the expansion highlights the game's inherent strengths. The AI isn't bad at all, and the various enemy types will continue to utilize different tactics. Remember, your opponents have their own goals; they're not just running around trying to kill you.
UFC isn't as polished as it needed to be, but I suppose it'll give avid fans a thrill. There's plenty of content and if you've got the requisite diligence and patience, your training can really pay off. The designers do a good job recreating the tension and invigoration one feels when squaring off against an equally powerful opponent, and the freedom to create and build any fighter you wish is intoxicating.
Entwined isn't the beautiful masterpiece Sony wanted it to be, just because it doesn't travel far enough down that meandering road. There are plenty of visible flaws; the control isn't perfect, guiding two creatures at the same time may never click, and more could've been done with the concept. Of that, I'm certain.
Murdered: Soul Suspect is a valiant effort and that's always worth acknowledging. In spite of all the flaws, I do continue to go back for more, and I'm frequently driven by a desire to learn more about that ghostly world. This experience has nothing to do with making a character more powerful, or taking down a host of rampaging enemies (via weapons or guns).
Watch Dogs has the guts of a masterpiece. This ambitious project had the foundation to be one of the most amazing interactive experiences in history. Therefore, it's with a somewhat dejected heart that I must deduct points for falling short in several areas.
All in all, the stellar concept and artistic style of Transistor is nigh-on unparalleled. The mystical aura surrounding and permeating the entire game is original and attractive, the blending of real-time and turn-based gameplay is inspired (and yeah, it works exceedingly well), and there's a surprising amount of humanity injected into this otherwise sci-fi presentation. I don't like some of the stumbling blocks they purposely throw in your way, as they speak more to the action side of the game (and I prefer the strategic side), and above all else, the potential of the game is just so much…more.
Wolfenstein: The New Order didn't just surprise me. It shocked me. My expectations for this one were decidedly low but within the first hour, I was chastising myself for having doubted MachineGames.
MLB 14: The Show on PlayStation 4 is certainly the version you'll want if you're a hardcore baseball fan. It's achingly pretty (with only a few minor drawbacks), it sounds great, and the gameplay is top-notch. There isn't a lot to complain about, unless you don't really care about the quick count feature, and online multiplayer isn't your thing.
It really just boils down to one question: Can you ignore the missteps and missed opportunities and simply focus on the entertaining gameplay, or will you be unable to get past those flaws? That's the key. This is why you're seeing such a discrepancy of scores. Some people can get past the flaws and enjoy themselves; others can't.
Trials Fusion can be addictive and wonderfully intoxicating at times. At other times, it will make you burn with a frustrated rage others might find frightening. The good news is that you spend a lot more time smiling than frowning, as you'll love the zany courses and enticing backdrops, as well as the various challenges available for each track.
Daylight tries to offer horror fanatics a unique, dynamic experience by giving them a procedurally generated environment and an intriguing system of "social" integration. However, just about all of it falls well short of the intended goal. The gameplay is uninspired and repetitive, the story is a mess, nobody will care about the protagonist, and the challenge is minimal.
Child of Light shines in a sea of dark, gritty, often ugly imagery. That shine isn't especially bright or piercing; in fact, it's softer, muted. It lures us with its softhearted coo, rather than blasting our senses with extraordinary strength and brilliance.