Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash is a mechanically decent game that is slew-footed by a lack of interesting gameplay modes. There's online play, but outside of that there's nothing of real substance to be found. As such, the game feels light and lacking, and doesn't have the type of hook that one would hope for. It's a shame, really, given how great Mario Tennis used to be.
NBA Live 16 is nice-looking and features some interesting modes, but sluggish and problematic gameplay prevents it from being up to par.
Like those before it, Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games had a chance to be a lot of fun, but ended up being a mixed bag featuring both tedium and frustration. It has its moments, and some decent takes on events that we'll see in Rio de Janeiro this summer, but questionable design choices, frustratingly inconsistent AI, occasionally annoying control schemes and a lack of care for the player have all led it to mediocrity.
Mario Party 10 feels a lot more like a lazily produced cash cow than a game that was made with pride and consumer respect.
With Mario and Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games, Nintendo had a great opportunity to produce something fantastic. However, the video game giant failed to take advantage of its source material, resulting in a mediocre and somewhat uninspired final product. There's a bit of fun to be had here, but it won't last for long.
Don't expect anything great or unforgettable from Chaos Rising, the third and most lacklustre episode of Dead Rising 3's Untold Stories of Los Perdidos mini-narrative. It's formulaic in its likeness to its predecessors, and is simply a middle of the road offering.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse has its moments, but is ultimately marred by frustrating controls and questionable game design.
After waiting more than a year to get my hands on it, I was quite excited to finally play through Among the Sleep. However, that excitement didn't end up paying off. Although it's not a bad game, per se, this is unfortunately a rather slow, predictable, ho-hum and sluggish horror game, which prefers fetch quests over interesting and involved gameplay.
Escape Dead Island complements the mainline series' plot well, but doesn't shine in the process. With poor writing, cringeworthy dialogue and mechanics that are merely stolen from other games, it's far from anything to write home about. Still, even with these issues, it manages to be relatively fun and somewhat interesting throughout its six to eight hours.
DriveClub, Evolution Studios' "Forza Killer," has broken down at the starting line. Once it's up and running, it'll surely draw a crowd of hardcore enthusiasts, but being accessible to newcomers is one thing it isn't. Frustrating artificial intelligence and a cheap difficulty system mar what could've been a much more entertaining game.
Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China doesn't look like an outcast, but its tedious and bland gameplay make it the ugly duckling of the Assassin's Creed franchise. That's not to say that it's a bad or awful game; it's simply boring and forgettable, despite featuring decent mechanics and great presentation values.
Deadlight: Director's Cut is worth a look if you're new to this post-apocalyptic tale. However, if you've already played through the game in its original state, there's little reason to return.
If you're looking for another retro-inspired FPS to play through now that you've completed DOOM, Hard Reset Redux is a competent option. Although it's dated and doesn't compare to the polish, scope and grandeur that is present in its competitor, it continues to be a decent and challenging game.
Disney Art Academy has a rather involved and in-depth toolset, but its slow pace may bore people who give it a chance. Kids who love to draw and would relish the opportunity to learn how to sketch Disney/Pixar characters while on the go, will surely find it of interest, though.
A game about love, loss and the human condition, Fragments of Him is a quality, narrative-driven affair with a message. It is, however, more of an interactive movie than a game, not to mention one that moves at a very slow pace. As such, it won't be for everyone.
If you like this type of game, and happen to own a New Nintendo 3DS, then you can't really go wrong with Hyrule Warriors Legends. It somehow manages to be more fun than its console peer, and packs a ton of content into its small game cart.
Obliteracers is a solid and nice-looking kart racer that is ballsy enough to do its own thing. Whether it's successful or not will depend on how many people buy it, and whether those folks become invested enough to populate an online community for months to come. At this point in time, only those who love to battle friends in local action need apply.
Tiny Troopers: Joint Ops exists as a console port of two similar mobile games, which bring with them basic but relatively enjoyable gameplay. If you're looking for something simple and not so taxing, this isn't a bad buy for ten dollars.
Layers of Fear is an unsettling and occasionally frightening game that succeeds in keeping you on the edge of your seat, though it doesn't deliver up to its potential and ends up feeling a bit lacking.
AIPD: Artificial Intelligence Police Department is a solid twin-stick shooter, which takes a lot of inspiration from Geometry Wars. However, while it's fun to play in short spurts and can be made quite challenging, there's little variety to be found and the game's replayability suffers as a result.