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.
Monster Hunter World is a fascinating and beautiful game. MMO fans, action fans, RPG fans, and open world fans will all find something to love. This is a game that invites players in and gradually reveals its glorious depths. The unconventional multiplayer aspect might take some time to get used to, but the core loop of hunting monsters and crafting gear is so strong that even the most skeptical players will be snared by Monster Hunter's hooks if they give it half a chance.
Steep: Road to the Olympics adds a ton of new content that will surely please fans of the base game. However, for those who weren't able to get on board with the game's free roaming aesthetic, there is little new that will change their minds. While the new Olympic story campaign offers some much-appreciated structure, it is over quickly, and players are left with an avalanche of content and no map directing them where to go next.
Shooty Fruity's silly name belies the truth behind the title. nDreams has provided an experience that should be in the top tier of VR games. An excellent arcade shooter with a wide variety of missions and unlocks, Shooty Fruity elevates a simple concept with quality gunplay, a fun environment, and coat after coat of polish. As many shooters as there are in the VR space, very few are as flat out frantic and entertaining as this.
For a game about the simple act of killing zombies, Dead Rising 4: Frank's Big Package supplies players with an unbelievable variety of ways to get the job done. Some of the modes that might have felt slight as individual DLC purchases just become icing on the delicious cake of destruction that is Frank's Big Package. Weirdness and chaos can take you pretty far when the core game play is as solid as it is here. There is a ton of fun content here that makes Frank's Big Package well worth the purchase.
While Alley Adventure is not a game changer, it continues the base game's strategy of throwing everything at the wall, and hoping that each player finds something that sticks. There are a few extraordinary experiences included, and even the "filler" minigames can be rewarding if players take the time to properly engage with them.
Doom VFR is a remarkable experience in almost every way. There are intense battles, terrifying enemies, and amazing settings to explore, all tied together with a combination of creepiness and wit. All of this is almost upended by one of the worst control schemes ever implemented on the (admittedly difficult) PlayStation Move controllers. Doom VFR is still well worth playing (in fact, it's a blast), just go into the experience with the understanding that no matter which controller you decide to use, you won't be 100% satisfied.
Abstraction Games' 8-Bit Adventure Anthology: Volume I is a collection of three Mac and NES point-and-click adventure titles developed in the mid-80s by ICOM Simulations. The collection delivers a window back to the time when games refused to explain themselves. These games don't care if you like them, don't respect your feelings, and cannot be bothered with your tears of frustration. Only the toughest of the tough need apply.