The Saints go straight to hell, both literally and metaphorically, in Saints Row IV standalone expansion, Gat Out of Hell.
Saints Row IV is a farce about gangs running government and alien invasions, but its also a smart, ridiculously fun statement on one game developer's journey.
Resident Evil HD not only preserves Shinji Mikami's classic, but introduces a new control scheme that perfectly balances its delicious challenge.
The Talos Principle is what it is, though, and inflexible puzzles don't dim the inquisitive light shining inside this game. Croteam has made something rewarding and ultimately knowable but also something that inspires reflection on what isn't.
Persona Q is rich with characters and tactical pursuits, familiar but slightly tweaked to make for something new.
Maybe a better name would be Sonic The Spine Mammal.
After 30 years, Toad has a game that reflects him perfectly: just the right season and proudly of a different time.
The action's the same as Smash 3DS, but the Smash Wii U package itself is unexpectedly different in ways both big and small.
LittleBigPlanet 3 is a well-intentioned pastiche of different activities that is simultaneously too restrictive and too open-ended to achieve greatness.
Assassin's Creed Unity is a gaudy monument to game design by focus-testing rather than creative vision.
Bayonetta 2 is a game whose gargantuan barrage of sex, violence, and surrealism sets the mind on fire in the best possible way.
The Evil Within is almost pitiable in its need to recapture the fresh tension and anxiety of Mikami's best work.
[Alien Isolation] is a remarkable work fueled by fearful tension and exhausting stress.
Curtain Call is a rhythm game filled with artful nostalgia, but elements like the Quests elevate it beyond enjoyable pandering.
Not much new for veterans, but FIFA 15 remains a deep well of quality that continues to improve accessibility to its sweet sport.
Super Smash Bros. for 3DS isn't perfect, but it comes very close.
Hyrule Warriors is a well-made, sometimes simultaneously dumb and brilliant good time.
Metro Redux is the physical realization of 4A Games' impressive, admirable ambition.
Had it gone with a more crafted experience, zeroing in on a consistent tone and a series of clearly defined challenges, CounterSpy could have been more Three Days Of The Condor rather than This Means War. All it needed to do was remember the 7 Ps, one of the British military's enduring adages: Proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance.
Ultimate Evil Edition is an admirably cultivated realization of Diablo III's hidden ecosystem of rules, action, and randomly generated loots.