Eric Hauter


339 games reviewed
78.4 average score
80 median score
60.5% of games recommended
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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.

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7 / 10.0 - Doom VFR
Dec 4, 2017

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.

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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.

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Dec 12, 2017

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.

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9 / 10.0 - Shooty Fruity
Dec 19, 2017

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.

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Jan 2, 2018

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.

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Jan 25, 2018

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.

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6.5 / 10.0 - Out of Ammo
Jan 29, 2018

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.

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8 / 10.0 - Cold Iron
Jan 30, 2018

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.

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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.

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6.5 / 10.0 - Pop-up Pilgrims
Mar 7, 2018

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.

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Mar 15, 2018

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.

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9.5 / 10.0 - Moss
Mar 16, 2018

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.

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Mar 20, 2018

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.

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Mar 23, 2018

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.

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6.5 / 10.0 - Surviving Mars
Apr 10, 2018

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!

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6.5 / 10.0 - Island Time VR
Apr 20, 2018

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.

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Apr 24, 2018

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.

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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.

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Apr 27, 2018

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.

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