Bayonetta 2 doesn't look like a PS4 game, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anything else wrong with it. Sublime combat meets high-adrenaline action in perfect harmony, resulting in a game that elevates its genre to new heights. The only remaining question is how Platinum can possibly top this with a third game in the series.
Uchikoshi has insinuated, speaking like a lawyer, that the Telltale-style of the third Zero Escape game may not be his preferred method compared to the visual novels on display with The Nonary Games. It's not clear whether the door has truly closed on Zero Escape in the long run, but in the short term I implore you, if you value plot, character, and sound in videogames at all, to invest in The Nonary Games as soon as possible. It's a choice you won't regret, and were we in a death game ourselves, I'd bet my life on it.
My one wish to Nintendo is that they either keep the Echoes sub-series going or consider applying some of these changes to new Fire Emblem games; they're really that good, and what's been concocted here truly deserves to be more than a series one-off. The charming, reliquian nature of the nature of the game may not appeal to everyone, but if you like Fire Emblem, strategy, and can appreciate gaming history, then there's absolutely zero reason not to pick this up.
Yoshi's New Island is more than a love letter to the original game -- it's a worthy successor. There's really no reason to pass on playing it, and if you enjoy the original or feel frustrated by the current side-scroller landscape, then you absolutely can't go wrong by giving this a try.
Pokémon X and Y isn't quite an impassioned love letter to the series, but it's damn close. Players can finally experience this world in full polygonal 3D, and despite its remaining grid-based roots, the sense of freedom and openness is tangible and real.
Perhaps it's best to think of it this way: If the occasional AI glitch or incoming onslaught of paid DLC gives you unbearable or unwanted flashbacks to Rome II, then you may want to avoid Attila altogether. But for everyone else, you'd be remiss to deprive yourself of a rich, captivating experience that, though not quite perfect now, will likely achieve true greatness via updates well before its successor arrives.
GNOG is thus an imaginative, worthwhile creation, unlikely to win over non-puzzle fans but certain to at the very least charm most everyone else. If you do own PlayStation VR, my gut tells me you'll want to experience GNOG regardless. If not, its mere $15 asking price is, in my view, still plenty justified.
At the end of the day, Final Fantasy IX is still a terrific game, and unlike many from its era, its core gameplay and plot have aged admirably. Its identity as a pure, classic Final Fantasy isn’t as shiny as maybe it ought to be thanks to indie development and Bravely Default, but it’s an experience worth having nonetheless. I can very confidently say that it’s the definitive version of the game (not that the mobile port is hard to beat), and with asking price, replayability, and nostalgia all considered, Square Enix’s latest classic remodeling is exceedingly difficult not to recommend.
For my tastes, Specter himself features the least compelling of the three games’ platforming styles, but it’s not due to a mechanical or half-baked implementation: I just love the original Shovel Knight. As a timed Switch exclusive on a console with what is currently a modest number of games, there’s little reason not to play Specter of Torment unless you’re revisiting Shovel Knight proper via Treasure Trove first (which includes them all). My recommendation? Go for that. These games are worth it.
If you do opt for Full Clip Edition you'll surely have a blast with its wacky Skillshots and outrageous, funny, and somehow oddly affecting story just like before. There's an argument to be made that the likes of DOOM and Quake Champions owe Bulletstorm for warming up the public to the unabashedly macho, gore-heavy shooter style that is clearly seeing a resurgence right now. Keep your expectations in check regarding Duke Nukem, and you should enjoy the experience just fine.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the definitive edition of a franchise-defining kart racer, no longer constrained by Wii U's teensy install base and poised to dish out hours of enjoyment from its new hybrid home. Not everyone will be tempted, but if you missed the original Mario Kart 8, it's an absolute must-buy.
Still, cost and value are always considerations, and as we saw with Super Bomberman R, the retail variant of the Switch edition is rather overpriced at $39.99. Asking price drops to $29.99 on the eShop and with both versions on PS4, so if you don't care about jewel cases or own both systems, then it's clear what to do. That said, after testing the Switch version I do recommend handheld mode wholeheartedly, as I've only ever enjoyed puzzling on the go and it bolsters pickup-and-play exactly as needed. Regardless, this is a game that delivers exactly what's described on the tin, and if you enjoy those things, you'll surely enjoy Puyo Puyo Tetris.
With that established, there's little doubt Complete is the definitive version of the game, with all of its DLC scenarios on Switch included and worth exploring. Handheld mode is what really seals the deal, in effect “improving” the game's visual presentation and exposing Disgaea 5, of all things, as far more pickup-and-play-friendly than anybody probably ever expected.
Smash Bros. on 3DS isn't perfect, but it's about as close a match to console-quality Smash as anybody could reasonably expect on the go. The addition of a C-stick via the New 3DS next year will make a huge difference, but in the meantime, this is still a worthy means of passing the time until the Wii U version releases.
Tales of Hearts R isn't the pinnacle of Tales games, but it is a lovely re-imagining of a classic entry. The iffy 3D combat may be a put-off for some, but the new anime sequences, improved graphics, and extra content all work together to make up for it.
The $50 asking price of Super Bomberman R is hardly worth it to play by your lonesome, but as a go-to for when Zelda exhaustion kicks in or siblings get sick of hogged Joy-Cons, there's little reason not to award a sturdy recommend. It provides serious multiplayer mileage, and acts as a return-to-function for the Bomberman franchise, hopefully assisting a more dramatic former-glory restoration sometime in the future.
Drawn to Death is what is, nothing more and nothing less, and those who can bear it are in for something crass, vulgar, and utterly enjoyable.
As a spooky, logical evolution of the Gone Homes and Firewatches of the world, with an impressive short-story style to boot, What Remains of Edith Finch is ultimately worth your time if its premise grabs you.
Despite commendable frills, the point of this collection is games, and the truth is that these games are just old. Some are fun, others are less-so, but ultimately what you're getting is average to good platforming across the entire package with a heady shot of nostalgia, if that applies to your age bracket. DuckTales will be the highlight for some, and given that DuckTales Remastered exists you'll also want to ask yourself if you might prefer that instead. That said, at $20 it's tough to go wrong with The Disney Afternoon, and like most things Disney, you're pretty much guaranteed to have fun. That's more than many games can say, regardless of which decade they hail from.
In the end, Lords of the Fallen does manage to land in the "respectful homage" category, but only by a hair. I had fun, which is what counts, but unlike with Dark Souls, I'd be hard pressed to play a sequel that basically amounts to an evolution of the same formula. If Namco Bandai is serious about Lords of the Fallen as a franchise, its going to need to devote some serious polish and brainstorming toward a sequel. In the meantime, though, this first game is undeniably worth experiencing for its graphics and handful of unique strengths alone — just don't expect it to transport you to another world.