Star Fox Zero offers a blend of a familiar story with fresh gameplay experiences and mission variety. The controls are the biggest hurdle for this game and will likely deter a lot of players. Those who stick with it and eventually get the hang of things will be thankful that they did in the end.
Star Fox Guard is really a pleasant surprise. It’s a simple concept that is well executed and makes perfect use of the Wii U’s unique control options. Hundreds of levels and the ability to create and share your own give this one some serious legs.
Strip out all of the blood and gore from the Hitman franchise and what is left is truly a thinking man's game. The developers certainly understand what the true charm of the series is and it is highlighted in this puzzle-take on the franchise.
Transformers Devastation is the definition of a fan-service game. An excellent combat system layered over sights and sounds that take children of the '80s back to their youth creates a memorable experience for Transformers fans. The only sad thing is that it never really goes deeper than that.
Street Fighter V has all of the makings of a fantastic fighting game. Unfortunately, that is all it has: makings. There are some performance issues to go along with a serious lack of content that is meant to constitute a full game experience, which is criminal, to say the least.
Far Cry Primal is truly a breath of fresh air for the FPS genre. The setting is original and the gameplay elements that go along with it work perfectly. The world of Oros is truly a thing of beauty and it is so easy to get lost just living within its confines. From hunting, to exploring, to actually pursuing mission objectives, there is so much to do that it almost feels like you're living a second life. If you're looking for the shooter that does more than just shooting, Far Cry continues to be one of your best options.
Once again, Zen nails the Star Wars look and feel with another set of tables. There are issues to be taken up with both, but overall they prove to be a lot of fun and great additions to the Star Wars Pinball line.
Fast and frantic, Not a Hero provides some serious satisfaction when things are running on all cylinders. There's nothing lack diving through windows and taking out bad guys, even if it is classic 8-bit sprites. The humor feels a bit forced at times, but the action wins out in providing a ton of fun.
While the visual style of the cell-shaded tables took a little getting used to, the overall pinball experience proved to be fantastic. Fans of these shows will definitely enjoy seeing how Zen has adapted them to the pinball world, especially those who love Family Guy and Bob's Burgers.
The Old Hunter's is a great expansion for die hard fans of Bloodborne. It brings a good amount of fresh content to the game without doing anything to alter the formula. It's more of the same, which is a good thing. Just be prepared for the difficulty as it is as unrelenting as ever.
Battlefront can be a lot of fun within a few specific modes. Unfortunately, those moments are only a small portion of the overall experience. While I have no doubt that the game will improve with updates and DLC, what is here in the base game leaves a lot to be desired.
When the pedal is to the floor, its a great experience. However as soon as you let up and are left to explore the other aspects of the game, things start leaving a lot to be desired. The new direction of the franchise shows promise, but there is still a ton of room to grow.
Yes, things feel a bit different this time around but do yourself a favor and give it a chance. Once you find the groove in Guitar Hero Live, which is the new GHTV mode, you won't look back or think about the way things used to be again. This is the future of guitar-themed video games.
While the total package has been scaled back, Rock Band 4 still has what it takes to be the complete life of the party. There is simply no better game to be played with your friends.
A beautiful retro game with a great concept. However, there are a variety of hurdles along the way that keep it from being as good as it should have been.
Despite having a bit of a learning curve, Ant-Man has quickly become one of my favorite tables that Zen has produced. It really ties in well with the Ant-Man character and world without having to retell the events of the film.
Disney Infinity 3.0 is an absolute blast for the entire family. The development teams have done a great job at rounding out the experience to make it both more accessible and more enjoyable for all ages.
More software than game, Art Academy: Home Studio is an enjoyable experience with infinite replayability. Regardless of your artistic skill, it will teach you a thing or two and give you a nice creative outlet to express yourself with its expansive toolset.
Overall, Tembo feels like a badass-tribute to Sonic the Hedgehog. It should have taken a few more pages out of the Blue Blur's playbook though in order to create a more complete experience that honored Sonic's legacy with consistent gameplay that focused on its strengths rather than constantly shining a spotlight on its weaknesses.
In the end, Arkham Knight proves to be an excellent new chapter in the Arkham franchise. The story is absolutely fantastic, as is most of the gameplay, just prepare to be inundated with constant tank battles.