Andrei Dumitrescu's Reviews
The company would do well to deliver both Pack 2 and Pack 3 of the Nova Covert Ops for Starcraft 2 at the same time, even if players have to wait a little longer for it, and to also find interesting ways to tweak the mechanics of the franchise to make the missions unique and solid enough to support a new major storyline.
This is a game centered around learning, and even if the teacher can sometimes be punishing in its approach, I like encountering the challenges that From Software has created and then working through them, even if it takes time, tears and frustration, because there's no better feeling than to see a boss falling, cheer and then prepare for the future knowing that the next one will be even harder to deal with.
Ska Studios clearly loves Dark Souls and Salt and Sanctuary is a very effective love letter that can appeal both to long-term fans of that series and to players who simply want to feel challenge in a world that's filled with mystery and clever opponents.
The new Hitman carefully mixes drama, comedy, action and a well-designed location to create a world that the player will enjoy discovering and a variety of systems that are great to interact with and even break, and we can only hope that the other coming missions deliver on the promise of this first episode.
The Division is an ambitious game when it comes to the world it creates and its mechanics, for both cooperative play and Player versus Player, are solid and engaging but much of its future will depend on how Ubisoft caters to the needs of the community and to the unique ways in which players come to enjoy this beautiful and derelict world of New York.
Wales Interactive clearly has great ideas, but Soul Axiom shows that the company needs to focus a little more on execution to make sure that they unlock their true potential for the public.
Playing SUPERHOT is fun even when I constantly fail because I know the game is now cheating in any way and that next time I have a chance to be more stylish, better prepared, smarter and faster to reach a new high score in Endless Mode or deal with another of the challenges.
The Flame in the Flood has a unique style, offers some great decisions and can keep a fan of the roguelike engaged for many hours, but it might need a little more refinement before it can also draw in other types of players, despite its hugely attractive art and music.
Far Cry Primal is a good video game that's part of an overexposed series, and it will disappoint all those who want to see something unique coming from Ubisoft, although it has plenty of great moments to offer.
Cities: Skylines - Snowfall is a good expansion for dedicated fans of the city builder genre who have seen everything that the core game and the After Dark expansion have to offer regarding gameplay.
Pillars of Eternity: The White March in its entirety represents a worthy expansion for the classic role-playing experience that Obsidian has created and shows how the studio can tackle other regions of Eora in the future.
Firewatch shows how a good combination of narrative, character interactions, exploration, and visuals can create a unique experience that keeps gamers engaged despite the limits of the actual gameplay.
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 could have tried to be a little more accessible for those who are not yet in love with the Naruto canon but even they will be impressed by the combat sequences and intrigued to find out more about the main cast of characters.
But The Political Machine 2016 can also serve as an entry-level video game for those who are interested in politics and its limits serve as a good way to push a player to find out more about the process and to cast his votes only after careful consideration.
Crusader Kings II: Conclave represents the best incarnation of the veteran grand strategy title from Paradox Development Studio, a great experience for any player who loves history and wants to explore the many what if situations of the past.
XCOM 2 is a great turn-based strategy experience that delivers plenty of tension, a wide range of ways for gamers to navigate missions and choices and enough procedurally generated maps to keep engagements interesting even after 50 hours or more of play.
Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders is a gentle game, constantly giving players information via observation, conversation or reasoning, without ever pressuring them to solve the puzzles and to move forward with the story.
Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends is a good brawler, but it's a shame that the development team at Vicious Cycle has only sought to draw inspiration from the leader in the genre and failed to introduce any truly innovative feature.
Sebastien Loeb Rally Evo is not a perfect game, and Milestone would do well to make the progression a little faster via coming updates, but the mechanics as they are now are well suited for those looking for a deep sim.
Steve Jackson's Sorcery! can seem like a small game, with a focused player able to get through the two included chapters of the quest for the Crown of Kings in a little more than three hours, but there's enough depth in the world to support two or three campaigns.