Dark Souls Remastered is a nice, shiny new edition of a game that I have never enjoyed. While I respect the game's genre-creating precision gameplay and acknowledge it's place in gaming history, I just don't like this game, and can't recommend it to new players. That said, it plays fine, and looks better than it ever has. Dark Souls fans already know who they are, and will enjoy this new edition immensely.
Defender's Quest represents something new and unique. By dipping the tower defense “chocolate” into some RPG “peanut butter”, Level Up Labs has created a Reese's Cup-level classic. Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten DX' gameplay is rock solid, reflecting the six years of refinements that the small development team has made to the core title. If you have any interest at all in the tower defense genre, you owe it to yourself to check this one out.
The new Star Trek: The Next Generation DLC for Star Trek: Bridge Crew offers even more of what made the base game fun: fantasy fulfilment and the chance to tool around the universe with some buddies on a Starfleet vessel. While there isn't a ton that makes Bridge Crew feel different, it is fantastic to have some new enemies to fight, and fun to figure out how to navigate some new wrinkles in the bridge positions. After all is said and done, this DLC gives me more of what I love, and kudos to Red Storm for taking on that challenge when I thought they had abandoned the game and moved on. Now, can I get some Cardassians?
Killing Floor Incursion reminded me of the old Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyworld, in the way that it careened wildly from place to place, oscillating between thick tension and psychotic action, keeping me totally amused and off balance. From some of the best (and well-earned) jump scares I've experienced in a game, to one of the greatest boss fights in recent memory, Killing Floor kept me gasping and laughing for its entire duration. The tension ratchets unbelievably high, and the simple act of peeking around a corner can lead to coronary trauma when you realize that something is standing right behind you. Like any good rollercoaster ride, Killing Floor Incursion delivers the chills and the fun in equal measure, and is well worth the price of admission.
City of Brass is the sort of game that certain gamers will treasure. It is a beautiful, well-polished first-person rogue-lite that will not hesitate to regularly reward diligent players with a quick and horrible death. City of Brass is not for the faint of heart, but for those that put in the time to hone their skills, the rewards of City of Brass are great (and I'm not talking about the in-game treasure). A visual treat, City of Brass never feels unfair, and learning to overcome its many challenges can be vastly satisfying.
Tera is a six-year-old MMORPG that is showing its age, but not in the way you might think. While the combat and dungeons are fast and fun and have been translated to console successfully, the over-world has been sliced and diced in a manner that removes most reasons to visit it. If you have a group of friends and you want to run through the game, quickly leveling up and taking down giant monsters, Tera will be a blast. But if you actually enjoy the journey to the endgame, good luck. Tera has lost its patience for players like you.
Brakes are for Losers is a fun throwback to the racing games of yore. Fans of RC Pro Am or Super Sprint ought to feel right at home once they stop freaking out about having a basic racing control pulled out from under them. Single player has a number of good modes for practicing, but the game really comes to life in multiplayer. If you are like me and are constantly on the lookout for local multiplayer titles, this is an inexpensive way to add a fun title to your library.
It would be easy to dismiss Layers of Fear as a funhouse, but the reality is that this game goes far deeper than a ride through a spooky house. As an examination of family, artistic obsession, alcoholism and regret, Layers of Fear hits on a deeper level while still delivering quality scares.
Crisis on the Planet of the Apes is fast and fun, delivering a brief jaunt into the oppressive world of the beloved sci-fi universe. While the experience is light in the narrative department, the gameplay innovation and high production values more than make up for story's shortcomings. With the release of this game, FoxNext VR Studios have broken free of the movie-tie-in stereotype, and have established themselves as a VR developer to watch.
Preta: Vendetta Rising feels like what it is; an indie game that set extremely high goals for itself and achieved most of them. While the developer states that they will be refining and adding to the experience, Preta already feels like a full-featured game.
Island Time VR is an enjoyable and inoffensive little diversion that I spent a few fun hours with. That said, I have a hard time recommending Island Time to anyone that isn't spending an afternoon giggling with buddies. This is the sort of game that is fun to demo VR on a rainy day, providing entertainment while watching someone flail around. But unfortunately, there just isn't enough gameplay present on this tiny island to engage an experienced VR player for more than a couple of short sessions.
Playing Surviving Mars is like watching someone put a kitten in a plastic bubble. It's cute for a while, wobbling around in its new environment. But then you realize that the kitten is going to suffocate, and you are going to spend hours watching it slowly run out of air and die. Trying to get the kitten out of the bubble is hopeless. You don't know anything about bubbles, and the kitten isn't telling you. Have fun, kids!
Ni No Kuni II is a machine that runs on beauty, fun and delight. With simple storylines and engaging characters, it weaves a narrative that captures the optimistic nature of childhood, without forgetting to deliver deep RPG mechanics. Utterly abandoning many of the confounding elements of the original title, Ni No Kuni II marches to its own quirky beat. This is a game that will be remembered as a classic.
With its fun visuals, finely tuned difficulty, and inherent physicality, Blasters of the Universe stands out in the crowd of VR wave shooters. While a late-game bug was disappointing, I still had a great time and plan on returning to it. Bugs can be patched, and game design this strong doesn't come knocking every day.
Moss is a gorgeous game, with Disney-level animation (on Disney's best day), spectacular world building, and intriguing puzzles. Quill the mouse is a living creation, delicate but with real weight and personality. Like the way the best 3-D worlds incorporate 3-D organically, Moss avoids VR gimmicks and relies on wonder and story to produce the first essential title on PS VR.
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life wraps up the story of Kazuma Kiryu with the same sense of style and attention to quality the series has always maintained. By alternating erratically between deadly serious crime stories, and wildly goofball side activities, Yakuza strikes an entertaining sweet spot that few other series manage. Players should set aside a lot of time before engaging with Yakuza, because like the mob, this is a game that will keep pulling you back in.
Pop-up Pilgrims is a beautiful and charming game that is pleasant for a time, until players discover that it carries some backdoor punishments for not getting perfect scores on every level. Compounding the issue, the game never explains this unfortunate mechanic, instead allowing the player to discover how things work when they are already in the midst of their punitive levels. There is no question that the game is well made, and fans of Lemmings-style games will probably find something to love here, Pop-up Pilgrims left me more frustrated than entertained.
Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Hacker's Memory is a surprisingly deep and complicated game. Coming to the title as a franchise newcomer, I did have some problems assimilating into such an established universe. But underneath all of the anime trappings, I found a solid and enjoyable (if somewhat standard) RPG. I would recommend this game to Digimon fans, and to RPG fans looking for something a little weird.
Cold Iron is a game that requires players to think and act fast. While it is brief, and some might consider it too difficult, the game never feels unfair. The solutions to its unique puzzles are right in front of you, and your own wits and skill are the only things that stands between you and sweet, sweet victory. If you have had a hankering for a new gaming experience and don't mind getting your hide tanned a little bit, Cold Iron may just be your huckleberry.
Out of Ammo stands out as an example of a VR port gone wrong. While the core gameplay is fun, the room-sized parameters of a HTC Vive game simply do not work well on a PS VR. Playing this game feels like standing in the parking lot of an amusement park with no ticket. You can see the fun just inside, but you can't quite reach it.