While the story in Eden Tomorrow is intriguing, there are simply too many frustrating mechanics to look past. The quality of the narrative is overwhelmed by repetitive puzzles, and a strange combination of completely linear gameplay and an occasional lack of direction. This is a game that would have been much better had the developers given up on the puzzles, and simply told a story.
Far Cry New Dawn reskins the entire map of Far Cry 5, adding enough new mechanics to prevent it from feeling like a retread. While the new villains are lackluster, the return of Joseph Seed is very welcome, giving new depth to the character and his world. With Outpost invasions, Expeditions, and treasure hunts, there is a ton of content here, and almost all of it is fun. There is very little filler in Far Cry New Dawn, and by streamlining the content, Ubisoft has delivered a game that is razor sharp.
While there are a few rough edges, Intruders: Hide and Seek is well worth a look for stealth fans seeking something different. Crawling around in the shadows of your family's ultra-lux vacation home with only your wits standing between your family and certain doom is far more engaging than I expected. Despite some wooden performances and a rough checkpoint system, Intruders is fun and amusing. A great game for a snowy afternoon.
Anyone's Diary might be worth a look for anyone interested in game development and this game's particular history. The visuals on display are often impressive. But for the average player, I suspect that the game's bugs and short length will be deal breakers. When a game is regularly erasing your progress, the best intentions in the world won't save it.
While it's hampered by blurry visuals and some difficult object handling, The Mage's Tale still comes out on top with goofy surprises, fantastic puzzles, and satisfying exploration. Delivering up to 10 hours of play, this is a sizable experience that remains entertaining from start to finish. All in all, this is a welcome addition to the PlayStation VR library.
NightCry goes beyond the usual borders of broken games and into new nightmarish territory. I have frankly never played a game as rife with issues as this one. If ever there were a game that could be labelled "unplayable", NightCry is the game. Outside of not loading at all, I can't think of another way this game could fail. If NightCry were the last game on Earth, I would not play it. I mean that literally. It's that bad.
A Fisherman's Tale tells a charming story with surprising depth that is unfortunately marred by technical issues. Within its brief playtime, the game's story packs in enough thought provoking content that I found myself thinking about it for days after playing. Though I'm not recommending A Fisherman's Tale, I wouldn't blame you if you decided to play it anyhow.
Gun Club VR is exactly what it sets out to be - a game where you shoot real world guns on the world's most elaborate range. It turns out that all by itself, this is really fun. A bit of strange UI and glitchiness aside, Gun Club VR is well worth a look - both for gun enthusiasts and gamers that enjoy well made products.
With achievable puzzles that never slow down the story and a great control scheme, Red Matter sets a new standard for the VR adventure genre. This is a game that deserves to break free from the crowd.
Space Pirate Trainer is a very high quality arcade-based wave shooter - nothing more, nothing less. If you are interested in pushing your high score up the leaderboards, there is plenty of polished gameplay for you to enjoy. If you are seeking a deeper experience, however, it is probably best to seek elsewhere.
Arca's Path combines fun and accessible gameplay with an amazingly intuitive and inventive control scheme. What could have been a debacle is instead a triumph. Arca's Path is a small game with giant ideas, and it deserves attention and praise for the ridiculously high level at which it is executed.
Only a game due to the fact that one must handle a controller to experience it, Affected: The Manor is better described as a brief trip into a decently designed fun-house. There's nothing wrong with that, but there's also nothing notable about it. With no gameplay to speak of, Affected is strictly one and done.
Squishies is a beautiful game that introduces a new, unique gameplay mechanic that unfortunately simply isn't very fun. With a game design that requires precision, vaguely influencing characters with wind is incredibly frustrating. Don't be fooled by the attractive art-style, if you are seeking a kid-friendly puzzler, this ain't it.
Farming Simulator 19 is a very visually appealing simulation/strategy game that absolutely nails the look and feel of the rural United States. Unfortunately, some very rough AI and a non-existent tutorial are barriers to entry. Series newcomers had best stand back and let the veterans clean this one up through mods before giving it a go.
Transpose is an original and satisfying puzzler that is using a clever mechanic that is unique in the VR space. Visually arresting once it really gets cooking, Transpose should not be overlooked in the busy holiday gaming season. This one has sleeper hit written all over it.
Grip: Combat Racing offers an enormous amount of fun content for a reasonable price. Frankly, this game could go toe to toe with a lot of AAA racers and come out on top. Blistering speed, amazing track design, wild action; if you can get past some mild frustrations, Grip fully delivers and intense, jaw-clenching good time.
Fun Train has delivered a game that, for a franchise title, is surprising in its quality. Though there are some minor technical hiccups, content-wise, this game stands with the best offerings of its legendary franchise. It is often said that The Exorcist is the scariest film ever produced. The Exorcist: Legion VR is scarier.
Starlink: Battle for Atlas is a stellar achievement. Through its fun and accessible cast of characters, solidly made toys-to-life component, and beautiful graphics, Ubisoft has hit the ground running. With the addition of a healthy amount of Star Fox content, the Switch version is definitely the preferable way to go, but regardless of your system Starlink is a remarkably entertaining game, and an auspicious launch for a new gaming universe.
Joggernauts presents a smiling face to the world, bouncing happily in place and waiting for someone to love it. But before long, it rips its mask off and reveals that it is, in fact, a ludicrously difficult game.
The Council is a revelation. While the technical aspects of the game are somewhat questionable at times, the storytelling, world building, and RPG mechanics are simply stunning. I found myself propelled from episode to episode, salivating at the idea of advancing the story and outsmarting the game's lifelike characters. With twisty surprises, diabolical puzzles, and rich historical context, this is a game that makes the player feel intelligent for playing it. The fact that the story is deliciously twisted is just the icing on the cake.