That is the quintessential fun of Hyper Jam and it allowed me to look past a few of its annoyances. Slowly ticking toward the end of the game as the 1,500 point marker draws closer and tactically choosing which power-ups and battle strategies would yield greater chances at victory became an addicting affair. The joy of winning a closely contested match by knocking an opponent out of the arena or timing a perfect block that would send their own projectile back at them is the reason that competitive games were created.
(I cannot confirm the existence of a Top Gun Easter egg or character appearance in the game because I did not watch the movie, but I can say that, on behalf of PixelTrip Studios, Tom Cruise's likeness was nowhere to be found in case any lawyers are reading this.)
Arca’s Path is at once a flowery, majestic adventure that immerses you in the magic of its world and in the madness of its moments, while also presenting another side that consists of a mundane, empty trek through a dead world.
Tetris Effect, similar to Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismo Sport, is designed with the improvement of the player’s skill at its heart.
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Time will tell if FIFA 19's new gameplay additions serve to lift the franchise above the arcade-sim hybrid that it's turned into in recent years, but its stunning lack of game mode changes is disappointing.
Between a few novel minigames in Neighborhood and some simple esports integration, 2K19 sometimes feels like a title update as opposed to a full-blown sequel. But what really matters, the basketball, is better than it's ever been. While I may have gripes with the design of the game outside of the court, NBA 2K19‘s mechanics are almost perfect in every imaginable way, and that is no small feat! Having played all manner of sports games this generation, it seems as though different developers are interpreting what it means to release a yearly title in different ways. While I understand the core 2K audience enjoying what they're given, there has to be a sense of quality control before the series turns into a games-as-a-service nightmare instead of a proper, AAA release with all the bells and whistles that fans expect ready at release and polished to a T.
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If you're curious to see how the tower-defense genre converts over to a virtual reality setting, Animal Force is worth the purchase.
One Piece: Grand Cruise is diabolically short, bereft of almost any interaction from the player's side, painfully repetitive, and a wholly uninspired effort that seems more interested in luring in its most ardent fans rather than making a competent game.
There's a lot of fun to be had on the first playthrough, but the game simply doesn't offer enough content or complexity to keep my attention. It's classic art-style and gameplay are a tribute to a bygone era, but there is no excuse for the lack of content present in a title being ported to current gen consoles in 2018.
Once you get used to the gameplay loop after the first few missions, different types of Jackals and Titans that sport progressively tougher armor begin to be introduced, but it turns into a bit of a chore after a while. Extinction is just too simple of a game to justify its price tag and didn't hold my interest for the entirety of the campaign or its side activities—which include time trials, your everyday horde mode, and basic multiplayer functionality. It just seems like a project that is too big, yet too small, for the developers at Iron Galaxy, and the times when it does all click together are few and far in between.
The best similitude I can make regarding the remastered version of Titan Quest is that of a game that attempts to sneak into an era that has long passed it by. While a minimal amount of enjoyment can be had listening to the wayfarers and tradesmen across the many worlds that the hero visits, there are too many problems that stem from the game's now ancient design. While titles like Shadow of the Colossus can confidently hold their own in a decade that they were not intended for, it may be a bittersweet sign of the swift progression in the industry that most titles are just not good enough anymore.
But even after all my criticisms with the game, the ending was both surprising and fitting. I won't spoil it, but what I will say is that it reminded me of why I love this franchise so dearly and I would be lying if I said that I didn't get a little emotional. It doesn't stop there though, as Assassin's Creed Rogue is full of small surprises for long-time fans that are better left explored. If anything can be taken from the release of Assassin's Creed Rogue Remastered, it is that the series has come a long way in a short period of time. Unfortunately, Assassin's Creed Rogue is on the wrong side of that timeline.
For those who find enjoyment in the intricacies of puzzle-solving adventure games, The Fall Part 2: Unbound isn't any different to what you would expect. For those wanting a heightened action romp, you should probably stay away. But if you're looking to experience one of the smartest, wittiest, and thought-provoking stories of the generation, then do yourself the favor and play through both the first game and Part 2: Unbound.
_________________________ “UFC 3 is an EA Sports title that is made to attract more than just a niche, hardcore fan base of MMA enthusiasts and it's all the better for it.
If you're looking for a fighter, there is simply nothing better on the market than Dragon Ball FighterZ in terms of what it offers as a 2D, high action brawler.
12 Is Better Than 6's The Apostles campaign is a ton of fun for those who want to jump back in or even for fans of games like Hotline Miami who are looking for a different kind of top-down shooter that has some whacky characters.
Far too many times, the game moved the plot forward through a story beat that I specifically chose not to explore, instead opting for the other side of the tale.
That is simply the best way to describe the game—it just doesn't work. Besides a clever story that reveals itself every so often and an eerie atmosphere that is perfect for this type of game, Black Mirror is a missed opportunity to truly modernize the 2003 original. I feel like the game hasn't learned anything from the likes of Tales From The Borderlands or Life Is Strange in the same way that Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier has. It feels like a game that is purposefully ignoring its competition in an era where Andy Serkis and other filmmakers have made it a point to get into the story-focused, adventure game genre. Black Mirror, unlike the Netflix show with the same name, refuses to trek into the future, instead resulting in a game that feels stuck in the past.