Mario Golf: World Tour isn't quite a hole in one, it's just a few inches short of the hole. A quality title none the less, it's got plenty of content for casual fans of golf and Nintendo fans alike.
Etrian Mystery Dungeon continues the streak of great Etrian titles. The shake-up in gameplay doesn't rattle the game too much for die-hard fans and will give them exactly what they want, while giving people unfamiliar with the franchise, a good entry level introduction.
Etrian Odyssey games can be a bit daunting just because of how many are out there these days. Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight serves as a good place to start with its accessibility and less steep learning curve. It's a great game for JRPG fans, and is a welcome addition to the franchise, even if it is getting a little crowded now.
This update to a DS classic doesn't give you much in terms of hardware upgrades, but the additional campaign and gameplay changes make Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 Record Breaker worth playing for a second time, or a first time if you skipped the first release.
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth is enjoyable both on the go or on your console, either way you're going to be transported back to a time where you had shouting matches over which Digimon could beat which Pokemon. The story and gameplay are a bit same-y to other properties out there, but its easy to look past considering how much fun it is.
Estival Versus continues to build on a formula that's working for the franchise, but is starting to wear thin on its fanservice schtick. The gameplay is really hitting its stride now and has quite a bit of good additions this time around, with plenty of characters and variety. The excellent localization also helps strike a good balance between the comedy and touching story bits. Anyone who's interest in Senran Kagura game though, should opt for the portable version, because there's almost no way you can explain owning this on PS4.
Minor bugs start to stack up in Arslan: The Warriors of Legend, and they wind up sucking some of the air out of a fun Warriors game. Omega Force definitely has the formula for fun down pat, and they captured the essence of the series, so check it out if you're a fan of the source material.
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is going to be a tough sell for those who aren't familiar with the franchise. It's got a lot of questionable design decisions and feels like a more bare bones experience than past games of the series. But it's Fatal Frame, these games only come along in a blue moon these days, so savor them while they still exist.
I've gotten some sense of closure after the credits rolled in Kingdom Hearts 3 and it wasn't quite what I wanted, but that doesn't make it unworthy of being experienced. It's hard to say this game was worth the long wait, as the story is still a mess, but Square-Enix showed some real love in crafting this experience. There's definitely some highs, and quite a few lows, but seeing this journey through is ultimately satisfying. And if you've been in it for the long haul, then you'll probably come away pleased.
Playing Valiant Hearts now feels like a crime, but being on the Switch is a boon for this wartime marvel.
The first episode of Revelations 2 starts off a little slow, thankfully Raid Mode keeps things interesting and alone justifies the price of admission. Hopefully the story picks up in the future chapters.
If you've reached this point in the game, you're pretty much invested at this point, and there's no good reason not to see this through to the end. The story and puzzle elements of Judgment make for a good setup for the climax to Resident Evil: Revelations 2.
Toukiden: Kiwami adds on to an already good game with more content, more gameplay variety, and some proper multiplayer that really rounds out this package.
It felt shorter than the past episodes, but also satisfying to see this story arc come to an end. The surprise cameo was much appreciated, but I think we all knew that character wasn't really dead.
The Heist is a good bite-sized morsel of content that kept my attention throughout, and I'm excited to see where the rest of these chapters go. I just hope the Insomniac team can keep things interesting throughout.
The Evil Within 2 get so much right that it's predecessor got wrong, and it's actually a great game on top of that. The initial chapters of the game start off slow, but then once things get rolling, this game is really hard to put down.
Corpse Party is finally available for Nintendo fans, and it's not the most optimal experience, but the game is still horrifying nearly five years later.
Visual inconsistency aside, the newest entry in the King of Fighters proves to be one of its best. The gameplay and mechanics are as solid as ever and there's plenty for newcomers and old guard alike to enjoy.
Dishonored 2 was a pain in the ass to get running initially, but once I did, I was able to settle in for a really fun and rewarding adventure. It's a fantastic sequel that does a great job of building on the strengths of the first game and providing a few new wrinkles that make the game feel as fresh as the first one did a few years ago.
Anyone who's a fan of Layton will find another great adventure. If you haven't had a chance to travel with the great Professor, this can be a great jumping off point to really get a good idea of what this series is all about.