Kevin O'Connell
After almost a year of waiting for the right simulation racing game to come around, Dirt 4 has me zoned-in for the duration.
The Golf Club 2 could have been a non-sponsored, better priced game as an alternative to the full-pro games out there, but it really needs a good shakedown to be a valid option. A better swing system, a better putting system, and an overall touch-up to the aesthetics (crowd, graphics issues, player) would make this a viable alternative to sponsored games costing 20-30 dollars more but have a fancy name on the cover.
At the end of the day, Super Cloudbuilt is a well-designed and challenging game that just needs some minor tweaking to be a major player. The story is just uninteresting and the rewards for completing the levels of the game are lousy. There is definitely enough here – 4 branches of 9 or so levels, plus a hoard of challenges – to keep a parkour person happy... just don't look for a higher meaning.
F1 2007 is the best racing game of 2017 thus far and is astounding from start to finish. A-1 graphics, driving feel, skill-tree, and most importantly – career mode, there is just nothing better out there.F1 2007 is the best racing game of 2017 thus far and is astounding from start to finish. A-1 graphics, driving feel, skill-tree, and most importantly – career mode, there is just nothing better out there.
When I first started up Killing Floor 2 I had no idea what to expect. The game looked like a very grim, zombie-killing game. What it actually was - a ridiculously impressive and immersive strategy game… that was very grim. There are a few technicalities, but overall there is nothing out there that gives you such a feeling of fight-or-flight – while at the same time – giving you a giant adrenaline rush from decimating mass amounts of baddies. And I can tell you after some 25 hours… it doesn't go away.
With all of the trailers, experts, and attention to detail, I expected Project Cars 2 to take the trophy as racing sim of the year. It is definitely not. What you DO get is a game that challenges you to a frustrating degree and does so with beautiful precision. It sadly also takes a bunch of the fun out of it too.
After 25+ hours of gameplay, I can honestly say Forza 7 is outstanding.
Pinball FX3 is a game that makes no excuses for being a tried-and-true game with the standard jackpot fix that arcade junkies need. The "free-ness" wears off quickly and there will be trepidation for spending "X" amounts of money on multiple boards, but the challenges and rivalries will earn a bunch of those coins back. My take on Pinball FX3 is to wait for the prices to plummet on the extra boards. That infusion of 30 boards or more will make the game shine… like the quarters you once put into the machines.
Need For Speed : Payback is a game that everyone hoped might put the series back into the limelight of seat-of-the-pants racing. Instead, the game has middle-of-the-pack graphics, weak storyline, emotionless driving and a poor upgrade system. This game is definitely a car in full-throttle reverse instead of speeding off in the right direction.
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is a tried-and-true game for young kids everywhere who like the Marvel universe. There is a bit too much frustration with some parts of the game and the fighting can be very ho-hum for anyone out of diapers. That said, the humor, collection of heroes, length of the game, and overall quality makes this a no-brainer for kids everywhere. Just be ready to help 'em out.
Battle Chasers: Nightwar is easily the best turn-based RPG I have played in a long time. There are a bunch of different characters to customize; hundreds of monsters to battle; gobs of loot to find, and a reasonably good storyline that keeps the game moving along smoothly. Add to that a fair starting price (that is now a heck of a deal), and you have a 40-hour beast-bashing game to chase after.
Railway Empire is a game that has a lot of promise, plenty of substance, and can be enjoyable to those who have 20ft train sets in their basements. However, most will find this game poorly designed, easily finished, and a tedious use of their time. Suddenly doing laundry sounds like a good idea.
Nit-picky things aside, you end up with a game that plays easier than Madden, is downright hilarious, and won't break the bank to purchase. It really could use a full set of teams (then maybe some fake ones) and players that can speak English, but it doesn't take long for the game to remind you why you are playing in the first place – to kick the snot out of your opponent by any means necessary.
Bridge Constructor Portal is a fantastically challenging puzzle game that is dressed in $10 looks. You will not be awestruck by anything the game does, but the challenge will have you wanting more, the humor will keep you smiling, and the silly horn at the end of the level will be enough to know you "did it."
Q.U.B.E. 2 is a puzzle solver's dream in a gamer's nightmare. There are dozens upon dozens of simplistic button and jump puzzles to complete over a five-hour time span.
Titan Quest is a hack-n-slash game that captivated a great many players for over a decade. There have been thousands of mods, skill-sets, skins, and even a few full games made in its wake because of how good it was. Now on console, the game lives again. Maybe a bit too close to the flawed original, and maybe not as hack-friendly as the original, but it gives a chance for a new set of players to battle a titan… and that should be good enough for anyone.
Ys is a well-made side-scrolling hack-n-slash game with minor character development and zero loot system, but a well written story-line and easy-as-pie gameplay. There are hours of fun to be had and twists in the story you won't see coming... just make sure to bring along some other music.
Atomic Heist is a side-scrolling action shooter in the same line as the NES game Gradius, but with a harsh difficulty level and a beta-looking design. I've never played a game this unforgiving and could not find anything - music, story, sounds, features, or graphics - to bring me to play any longer.
I was very pleased with the simplistic, fun-to-play nature of Super Mega Baseball 2. The game plays very well with only a few shortcomings and does so for a small amount of bucks. You will not see Mike Trout hitting a home run, but you can have Tony Stark stealing home.
Trailblazers is a race-and-paint game for children. With its smooth, consistent gameplay and simplistic challenges, a group of toddlers could be content for hours. Just don't be surprised when the 12 year old is reaching for Grand Theft Auto instead.