Tales From the Borderlands: Episode One – Zer0 Sum is one heckuva debut. Somehow, the developers allow the action and story to leap off the screen, and they give a sufficient amount of time to each. The visuals are superb, the soundtrack is excellent, the cast is worth knowing, and the overall atmosphere and style is vintage Borderlands with Telltale's obvious influence and flair.
Rocket League is an extremely well designed and presented game, a veritable feast for the senses at times, and an undeniably addictive experience. It blends sports and styles but it also solidifies this bizarre hybrid into a streamlined, hugely appealing presentation. The AI falls a little shy and the single-player fun can't hold a candle to the multiplayer entertainment but besides that, it's hard to find fault.
Batman: Arkham Knight is arguably the best game of the year so far. The technical aspects are not only eye-popping but they're also quite stable. The graphics are slick, the sound is stellar, the control is rock solid, and the gameplay variety is downright tremendous.
All in all, though, Fallout 4 is a masterful production that features a wildly ambitious and nigh-on unparalleled scope. There's just so much to do that it often feels overwhelming, but this isn't going to stop the franchise faithful. In fact, I'm sure they'll welcome the deluge of options, content, and endless exploration.
FIFA 16 added what it needed to add and refined what it needed to refine. It pinpointed the problems bogging down last year's entry and fixed them. Perhaps one could argue they went too far in the other direction, thereby changing the pace of the gameplay for the worse, but I don't agree.
Everybody's Gone to the Rapture is an interactive work of art. Those of us who can be demanding when it comes to the realm of virtual storytelling might spot some minor flaws. Aside from those flaws, and beyond those who complain about the speed and lack of input commands, the game stands tall in its efforts to reach a new level of interactive storytelling.
MLB 16: The Show is one of the best sports games you'll ever play. I haven't seen fit to hand out a 9+ score for one of these titles since 2011, and I really thought last year's entry wasn't anything special. They're all great games, don't get me wrong, but this is the first installment of The Show that absolutely feels like a full, complete, and rewarding package that hits just about every sweet spot.
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.
Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection is exactly what you'd expect. The first game doesn't quite measure up and could turn off newcomers (always a concern), and the games really don't have a lot of "new" in them. But really, the brilliance of this top-tier action/adventure series remains in full view throughout, and the remastering veterans at Bluepoint did a good job.
Rainbow Moon for the Vita is everything you expect it to be and maybe a touch more. There isn't much different when compared to the PS3 version, with the exception of the cross-save feature and the better menu presentation. But of course, this means you can now take your addictive adventuring on the go, and that's reason to celebrate.
I'm in the latter camp, as most of you are aware, but this is all about the gameplay. It really is. The atmosphere and combat is the focal point and as such, the story and characters take a back seat.
inFamous: Second Son is a blast. It shoots from the hip and revels in its spontaneous, visceral display of power vs. power.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a game that delivers the fantasy goods in spades. The ultra-anal Tolkien lovers might take issue with Talion and how the game is presented, and the AI and frame-rate issues are clear. That being said, this remains a wildly immersive, engaging adventure with an excellent combination of action and platforming elements.
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.
Resogun also falls a little short when it comes to a lack of variety. It's nice to have three ships but there are only five stages, and this – coupled with the basic nature of the gameplay – makes things feel somewhat repetitive. Besides that, this is an old-school shooter with a massive, awesome upgrade, one that's slick, polished, and ceaselessly entertaining.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an incredible achievement. It's impossible to list all the positives and highlights. There's a sense of awe and wonder it elicits, from the moment you pick up the controller.
Tom Clancy's The Division is an extremely entertaining and well-developed game, featuring surprisingly fantastic story-based missions, a rock solid technical presentation, a fantastic blend of accessibility and depth, and a sky-high fun factor. That fun factor doesn't fall as far as you think when you strike out on your own, and for all you loot-hounds - man, this kinda reminded me of my manic drive for loot in Diablo III! - who love a challenge, you gotta give it a try. Just don't spend too much time in the Dark Zone because I think it might have an adverse effect on your gaming psyche.
Mortal Kombat X is full of gory fun. It's fiercely fast, wildly engaging, and wonderfully diverse. Not all modes are equally strong and I still say more could've been done with the promising story, but it's nice to have such variety.
Madden NFL 16 represents a logical step in the history of the franchise. Rather than restricting the experience to the die-hard few, why not make a game that satisfies both the latter group and the more casual fans? It may seem a little intimidating at first but this well-appointed simulator is amazingly flexible, and gives you the chance to play exactly the way you wish. The intro is poorly conceived, I believe, the loading times are still pretty ridiculous, and there are a few lingering gameplay issues (wacky occurrences can be prevalent) but aside from that, this is the best Madden entry we've seen in years.
Broken Age is exactly what Schafer fans expect, which makes it an automatic success. The creativity and imagination is here in spades, the strict adventure style is prominent throughout (and it doesn't deviate; there are no ill-inspired action sequences, for instance), and that atmosphere and charm ties it all together. You could say some of the puzzles get a little tiresome and the lack of direction is annoying at times.