Paul Acevedo
Micro Machines World Series is a poorly conceived installment in the generally likable Micro Machines series.
Too many modern shmups are bullet hell shooters, so it’s refreshing to play one that doesn’t totally flood the screen with bullets at every moment. With decently fun gameplay, easy Achievements/Trophies, and a low price, FullBlast offers just enough bang for your buck.
If you really dig level-based twin-stick shooters like this, Time Recoil is a solid purchase – after you've finished Neon Chrome, that is.
The Golf Club 2 is a nicely improved sequel to the launch-era first game. Career mode, online societies, improved graphics and loading times, and strong character customization all make for a larger and longer lasting game. I just wish the actual golfing was friendlier.
NBA Playgrounds comes close to being a good arcade basketball game ... but it doesn't quite score the bucket.
Dying: Reborn isn't a particularly scary game, especially since you can't die. But it does possess a delightfully odd atmosphere and lots of fun puzzles to solve. This style of game, with all its indie seams and quirks, won't be for everybody. But if you can attune yourself to its quirky presentation (or just want those easy Achievements), Dying: Reborn won't kill your good time.
Players who like tough games will love Rise & Shine, but it will never truly shine unless the developers rebalance the difficulty.
As it stands, I'd only consider buying this one if you have a monitor near your chair. And even then, you have much better options like Rogue Stormers and Crimsonland to choose from.
Dead by Daylight is a lot of fun once you get into a match, especially with friends. The tension of struggling to complete objectives while avoiding an invincible killer can't be understated. But the downright unfair difficulty for survivors can be discouraging, especially since you have to play a very long time to unlock useful perks to make things easier.
I found the screen lock and wrap mechanics repetitive at times, and I definitely wished for a story and greater meaning from the adventure.
Despite the quality aesthetics and cool Zelda II-inspired game structure, Elliot Quest is a hard game to recommend.
With great retro graphics, decently witty writing, and fiendish puzzle designs, players looking for an old-school challenge won’t be disappointed.
Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story is not the flashiest or most robust RPG around. But it does possess a lot of charm thanks to the unique setting and mixture of game styles.
Jeopardy! is a decent adaptation of the popular game show. It doesn't have the production values and eye for detail to fully capture the TV experience, but it's still fun as a multiplayer trivia game.
While Road Rage is too uneven to be a true Road Rash successor, it captures enough of the fun of motorcycle combat that made those games great. If you can ignore the dumb story, drab visuals, and lame soundtrack and just enjoy the smooth racing and brutal combat, you're bound to have a good time.
Outcast: Second Contact is still a great game, but you'll have to tolerate some dated elements to enjoy it fully.
Deadbeat Heroes is a good first effort from the small team at Deadbeat Productions. The combat is fast, fluid, and easy to learn – even if it lacks the depth of a good combo system. Enemies are well-varied, as are the environments.
This year's WWE game has a lot to love, from the huge roster to the revamped MyCareer mode. But it also suffers from the same old issues, such as the lack of a proper comprehensive tutorial, stiff and unintuitive controls, rough character models, and a general lack of polish.
The gameplay is so good, with intuitive controls that never get in the way. The fanciful courses are a joy to experience, and there's an endless supply of them to boot. Despite the room for improvement, the core game is good enough to make this an easy recommendation for fans of arcade-style golf.
Good online options and genuinely fun gameplay mean that series fans will have plenty of incentive to keep fighting each other in the months to come.