The Frostbite engine has allowed FIFA to take the next step in gameplay, with better mechanics and smarter AI to create a bigger challenge. The Journey mode will suck in those wanting a new single player experience while Ultimate Team and Pro Clubs will give all the online players the fix they want. This is a must have for fans of the beautiful game.
Forza Horizon 3 brings an incredible diverse open world in the Australian Outback that begs to be discovered. With a great soundtrack, a plethora of vehicles to unlock, and plenty of challenges varying in difficulty, Horizon 3 proves to be a must buy for racing fans.
Eyes of Heaven offers a wacky story with plenty of varying dialogue that will bring in even the most casual Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, but the gameplay is average at best that doesn't offer much substance other than making sure the button mashes connect before the opponent's does. Fans of the anime will appreciate this game, but the casual gamer will not get much out of this title.
Good gameplay improvements and a much needed change in commentary have made the in-game experience feel fresh, but the offline game modes have largely been ignored with the same boring options except for the minor inclusion of game planning that is generally determined by the CPU anyways. Madden is fun, but running game improvements aren't enough to suggest that this is worthy of another $60 purchase.
Slightly Mad Studios gave Project CARS the face lift it needed with over 500 improvements and bug fixes, a new fleet of vehicles and new locations to choose from. The learning curve is still quite steep and not all of the problems are ironed out, but this is a much better title and will provide both beginners and veterans with a new challenge and level of enjoyment that should last for many hours on end.
Ori's second appearance is just as memorable as the first. The world is just as gorgeous as before and with two new zones to discover and explore, there is more to unlock for players both old and new. The difficulty has been ramped up for those wanting a better challenge, and only the best of the best will survive One Life mode.
Forgettable characters with a lackluster storyline do not help a puzzle game that can be, at times, enjoyable and, at worst, downright infuriating.
Garden Warfare 2 will be fun for those who enjoy the tower defense genre. Anyone else will want to stay away from this game that suffers from lackluster controls in third person shooting and a missed opportunity to create a much larger world to explore.
With an enthralling mystery to solve while trying to survive a supernatural event, Oxenfree challenges you to solve a mystery, care about the characters, and make you want to play through the story again and again.
The campaign could have been so much better, but while throwaway characters and lackluster scenes hurt the single-player product, there is no denying that Treyarch did a solid job with the multiplayer options. Killing zombies will become your favorite pastime and a great change up from all those online deathmatches you'll have against players around the world. It isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it's still a good time.
With beautiful surroundings, a renewed focus on stealth and use of surroundings, and a fantastic story that will grip you, Lara Croft's latest chapter in the reboot will keep you entertained for hours upon hours and only make you want to keep trying to unlock every last secret.
With 21 authentic tracks to choose from and over 450 cars to unlock, Forza 6 has knocked it out of the park to provide gamers with an amazing experience from start to finish. Whether with the xbox controller or a steering wheel, there's so much to enjoy that you'll forget just how much time you put in.
All those stripped out game modes are back and they're just as fun as they should be. Gameplay is better than its ever been for both veterans and rookies while the presentation is spot-on and a pleasure to take in. There's no denying that the NHL franchise is back to where it should be.
With a refined gameplay that requires a more tactical approach to achieve success, fine tuning of numerous details, and deeper options for both online and offline play, FIFA 16 has proven yet again to be the quintessential title for fans of the beautiful game.
A revamped gameplay system allows players to take more control than ever, making Madden 16 feel like a polished product. Career mode still has some holes in it simply because of stale options, but the game truly shines online. Overall, a great experience and one to build off of for the future.
The original six Mega Man games have never looked better, and while the Xbox One controller provides some annoyance with button layout, there is plenty to tackle in this collection of glorious 8-bit gaming.
The in-game experience is excellent, with beautiful scenery, accurate courses, and the true feel of a broadcast. The overall product is hurt, however, by a lack of courses, big name golfers, and stripped down modes. Gamers expect to be wowed after two years of development, not left with an empty feeling.
Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited has addressed many of the issues that plagued the first title. There are still some issues with clipping, connections, and voice chat, but the game is still quite enjoyable with plenty of quests to complete and areas to explore. It isn't the perfect MMO by far, but at least it's one that won't cost you $15 a month and you can come back to it whenever you feel like exploring Tamriel.
With a gorgeous world, beautiful music in the background, and a surprisingly difficult challenge, Ori and the Blind Forest will take gamers on a journey that will test their reactions and wits, yet make them appreciate just what a beautiful game has been created for them.
FIFA 15 received upgrades in all the right places: Presentation and gameplay. EA Sports outdid themselves and have shown that the beautiful game is just that on the next-gen: Beautiful.