Although the occasional technical issue and odd mechanic put a damper on things, Aragami has its heart in the right place. It's strict adherence to stealth with no ifs, ands, or buts will turn some people off, but it'll speak to a lot of old-school fans who are sick of experiences that allow you to blast your way out of everything.
I think the most understated element of the new King's Quest though is that we get to see Graham grow up before our eyes -- from a young runt to a wise kingly figure on his death bed. It's a scope that we really don't see that often, contrasted with adventure games that typically take place across the span of a few days or weeks. King's Quest: Snow Place Like Home might be influenced too greatly by modern titles that are essentially interactive novels, but I'm more than willing to see this through until the end.
Azure Striker Gunvolt 2's levels play things a little close to the chest, but the sheer breadth of tactics opened up by the inclusion of Copen make it even easier to recommend than its predecessor. It's a jolly old platforming time, and I hope it reaches the level of success it was destined to hit.
I hope Yo-Kai Watch catches on to the point where we get to see everything else make it westward. The second game doubles down on the idea of celebrating Japan when a lot of developers are shying away from it, and for that and more, it has my support.
In a way, even with their flaws, all of the maps so far have felt like they've added something to the overall package of Hitman outside of Colorado. I hope Japan is better, but Hitman even does filler right.
Destiny: Rise of Iron is a weird cookie. Bungie clearly put its live team in charge on this one, as there's nowhere near the amount of completely new-feeling stuff packed in as there was in Taken King -- and with so many people getting winded, a step that big was really needed. Yet, if I assess Destiny right now as a total package, with four expansions under its belt and hundreds of [good] tweaks and patches, it's easier to recommend.
Picking up BioShock: The Collection for just two shining, flawed stars would still be a good idea.
You still have your patented "safe" approach from Telltale with Batman: A Telltale Games Series: Children of Arkham, but its heart is in the right place. Retreading on Batman themes we've already seen from great writers like Jeph Loeb, Frank Miller, or Scott Snyder isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Atlus has been going strong for over 30 years and they have no sign of stopping. This would have been a cash-in almost anywhere else, but here, Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse was shown the level of love and care most would give aggressively marketed new IPs. It's still no Nocturne, but it'll do.
World of Warcraft: Legion does the greatest job so far of really connecting players to its world. Unlike the past several expansions I really want to be a part of this universe and see this story through until its end. This is the best WoW has been since Wrath -- believe it.
Feral Rites ends up coming across as a budget Bloody Roar beat-'em-up that's not actually budget priced and clocks in around 10 hours. If it was multiplayer (another base issue with VR) and had a more encapsulating setting, I would be more on board with it. The cartoony, arcade brawler subgenre isn't as prevalent as it once was, and I saw flashes of classics like Fighting Force in this project that brought a fleeting smile to my face.
Nearly every Dragon Quest has added something unique to the gaming landscape as a whole, but Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is one of the best of the lot. As an RPG, VII simply begs to be played, though not necessarily on 3DS if you can swing it (or dig it out of a box somewhere).
How much you enjoy Dead Rising hinges entirely on your acceptance of this principle. As someone who doesn't mind playing games over and over until I perfect them, I like the idea of adding some form of urgency, and feel like in most sessions I have ample time to meander without missing out on much. By that same token I also prefer the leniency of the sequels, and enjoy replaying them more often. It's a give and take, but Dead Rising is worth the squeeze and still holds up after all this time.
It's icky at times, but Madden 17 is definitely a step up. If you skipped a year, now is probably the time to come back around. Coming back around? Kind of like the Ravens, who have an open path to the playoffs again with a healthy Flacco. You heard it here first, folks.
Aurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan is staggering for an inaugural effort.
The actual affair of playing hockey is more exciting than it's been in years.
Capcom could just keep making these with different time periods in new regions and I'd keep playing them. As long as it employs a good writing crew and delivers satisfying scenarios, I'm in. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice, you made this aspiring lawyer's day.
Despite its flaws I can recommend Hearthstone: One Night in Karazhan, and every other solo adventure to date for that matter. Even if Blizzard hasn't innovated as much as it has in the past with Medivh and friends, it's still one of the best card games on the market, and the miniature stories that each one entails manage to simultaneously capture the spirit of Warcraft in a patented lighthearted way.
When the zombies mode returns, it'll be in Infinity Ward's capable hands with the Spaceland storyline in Infinite Warfare, and I just might get my wish. But for now, the book on Black Ops III has been closed. Although it had one bumpy DLC chapter, things are pretty encouraging overall. If you want to grab the season pass or the inevitable Game of the Year Edition, you can do it without shame.
The Final Station ends up being a linear game in the end, but this short train is worth riding at least once.