If on pitch action is what you value over everything else, then you can’t go wrong with PES 2017
A brilliant online experience that is tense and strategic, but one that really needs to be played with friends to get the full experience.
An incredibly fun and action-packed experience, perfect for local co-op.
A phenomenal multiplayer along with a larger, improved zombies mode mean that, although the solo campaign is a slight misstep, Black Ops is the best call of Duty on the current gen consoles.
Lots of small improvements both on and off the pitch make this the best FIFA in years.
The on-pitch action and the game modes on offer present what is easily the best Madden package of this generation so far.
This isn't just the best Metal Gear game, nor is it just the best stealth game, it is one of the best games ever made.
Improves on what made episode one so great, while adding a bigger, more impacting story.
Hand of Fate is unique, offering an addictive and incredibly entertaining experience that anyone can enjoy.
Life is Strange presents an intriguing story but one that is yet to find its feet
A simple yet incredibly enjoyable Baseball game that doesn't take itself too seriously.
A solid entry in the Assassins franchise that does a lot well but still has areas to improve.
A marked improvement over NBA Live 14, but still far from perfect.
A game with average combat and a poor story, only true fans of the series will find any sort of enjoyment.
The best Basketball sim to date, despite a lack of significant changes.
Overall, Stronghold: Crusader 2 does a lot of things well. Managing the economy is important, but it doesn't need to be constantly managed (although you do need to take the right resource path in order to succeed). Combat is the traditional RTS "smash into each other experience" but it works well (despite the questionable unit AI), and building your castle is incredibly pleasing despite the dodgy interaction with terrain. Irritating moments such as the enemy Lord fights and generally high difficulty detract significantly from the game, but it's still an enjoyable romp for any RTS fan.
Each of the cases offers a unique and interesting story, and discovering what happened at each location is fascinating. While constantly pressing X to examine what seems like every object in a room becomes tedious it is easily offset by eureka moments that pop up every so often. The environments you explore are great but are unfortunately not helped by ropey visuals and a slew of technical issues. Perhaps Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments' greatest achievement is how guilty you feel when you punish an innocent person – even just being able to get it wrong is a superb idea.
On the ice, NHL 15 is great. Gameplay is smooth and fun to play, and the plethora of customization options means everyone should be able to find an enjoyable setting. The visuals and commentary round out the package that is only let down by the occasionally questionable AI. Where NHL 15 falls down is with its replayability and game modes. Not only are fan favorite modes missing, but the ones we do get are not feature complete. If you can deal with only having a few modes, then NHL 15 is well worth buying, but the lack of variation is sure to become an issue over time.
The defensive improvements make playing defense fun for the first time in quite a while. The improved tackling offers more challenge and choice while the guessing of the snap gives you something to work at when pass rushing. No longer does it feel like you are waiting for an offensive mistake, it actually feels like you can make an impact defensively. The tightening up of other systems on the pitch make Madden 15 perhaps the most simulation like entry in the series, it's still not perfect but it's very close. Overall, Madden NFL 15 is a great game. There are a few niggling issues (such as the still slightly dodgy physics), but the impact they have on the game is tiny.
If the physics engine is feeling kind then Super Toy Cars can be a lot of fun, especially in the evade races. However, most of the time you will find yourself being unfairly treated due to bad hit detection and general glitches. The career mode doesn't offer much in the way of playtime so chances are if you are going to play for more than a few hours it will be in split-screen with others. Online multiplayer would have made Super Toy Cars a lot more attractive but at least the track editor is solid, if a little confusing.