'Thumper's unique brand of "rhythm violence" should be experienced by every fan of rhythm games. It's an audiovisual delight that has been paired with challenging gameplay, and it creates such a captivating experience. While I definitely think it's a better game when played on PlayStation VR, regular PS4 owners will still find a stellar game here. Just one that is slightly more difficult and not quite as engrossing.
Headmaster brilliantly manages to make a compelling game out of the simple action of simply moving your head around. While its high difficulty and progression system make certain aspects feel like a headache, the rest is pure fun. A surprising story also gets a starring role, and this is one of the best surprises to come out of PlayStation VR’s launch line-up.
EVE: Valkyrie triumphantly shows the promise of virtual reality. The addition of head tracking turns a pretty basic space combat game into a captivating experience, even if it might not have long legs. It’s one of the best showcases for what PlayStation VR is capable of, but also a clear reminder that the best is yet to come. It’s certainly an exciting time for gaming.
Job Simulator manages to make the most inane tasks fun with satisfying gameplay and witty dialogue. It's easily one of the highlights of PlayStation VR's launch and should be played by every owner who has the space to do so.
Driveclub VR isn’t pretty, but it’s still some of the best racing found on PlayStation 4. I’ve never found drifting around corners to be this satisfying, and having to actually look at my mirrors helped fool me into thinking I was actually behind the wheel. If this is the end for Driveclub, it at least gets to leave on a high note.
Atari Flashback Classics Volume 2 features a lot of old games that are terrible by today's standards, and a few that are still surprisingly fun. That isn't really the point, though, as it's more about getting to celebrate gaming's past.
'Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary Edition World Tour' is the best way to play the iconic first-person shooter. The new levels are some of the best in the entire game, and show that Nerve Software understands what makes 'Duke Nukem' great. While I was initially disappointed that several 'Duke Nukem 3D' expansions weren't included (such as 'Life's a Beach') it might just be for the best, as it makes for a much more focused experience that serves to celebrate the 1996 title. Hopefully this will lead to Nerve Software getting a chance to make a follow-up to 'Duke Nukem 3D,' but until then this package is a good reminder as to why the game was special in the first place.
While I found myself a tad bit underwhelmed when playing through 'Rise of the Tomb Raider' last year, I'm thoroughly impressed with how much has been added to the game since then. Each piece of DLC has added something unique to the package, be it online co-op or an excuse to battle hordes of zombies. Some of it definitely meshes with the 'Tomb Raider' formula better than others, but the amount of variety is appreciated. There has never been a better time to experience Lara Croft's latest adventure, and the great writing found in 'Blood Ties' makes me excited for the next entry in the series.
Atari Flashback Classics Volume 1 features a lot of old games that are terrible by today's standards, and a few that are still surprisingly fun. That isn't really the point, though, as it's more about getting to celebrate gaming's past.
100ft Robot Golf is an ambitious title that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s far better due to this, and while it’s not the most polished golf you can play on PS4, it’s certainly the most fun. I do have questions about the game’s longevity (as there are only 36 holes), but the unique gameplay is the draw right now. Hopefully more courses will be released as DLC, but until then I’ll be causing destruction while I golf in an underwater city and on the moon.
'Necropolis' feels like an amalgamation of 'Dark Souls,' dungeon crawlers, and roguelikes. Sadly, it also seems to miss the mark on what is enjoyable about those games. The combat lacks variety, the randomized dungeon wasn't fun to explore, and technical issues keep it from ever feeling fair. If anything, it suffers from trying to do too much. When combined with the shocking exclusion of online matchmaking for cooperative play, I simply can't recommend it.
While it’s nice to know that players can extend their time in Shu, it’s not needed for me to give it a recommendation. As even if you only play through Shu once, it’s absolutely worth doing so. It’s a love letter to a fantastic genre, and is such a pleasant way to spend an evening. It may not be a grand adventure like Super Mario World, but I enjoyed every single second of it, and that can’t be said about most games.
'Aragami' is an ambitious stealth game that occasionally brushes shoulders with greatness. A poor frame rate and sub-par enemy AI really hampers the experience, but stalking from the shadows remains fun throughout. Hopefully some patches will make this fulfill more of its potential, but until then players will have to settle for a heavily flawed, yet entertaining experience.
XCOM 2 has received a solid port here, albeit one with some bugs. Those who can't play on PC will still have a good time, but there's really no reason to pick it up if you already have a solid gaming rig.
'Azure Striker Gunvolt' and 'Azure Striker Gunvolt 2' feel like the next evolution of the 'Mega Man' series. While it definitely has room to grow, the 'Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack' contains two games that aren't afraid to take chances. It's a refreshing take on a structure that was showing its age in 1993. If you're looking to get the taste of 'Mighty No. 9' out of your mouth, be sure to pick this up.
While The Bunker is a rather straightforward adventure game, its FMV trappings are enough for it to stick out from the crowd. It’s proof that full-motion video doesn’t have to be campy in order to succeed, and can be just as viable as any other form of animation for the right type of game. Check it out if you’re looking to experience a solid story, and play something a bit different.
Rise of Iron is a rather pedestrian expansion to what has become a pretty great first-person shooter. If you're looking for more Destiny, then you can't go wrong by picking it up, but nothing here will convince lapsed players to come back. It's simply more of the same, but that's fine.
Despite its very rough edges, I ended up having a lot of fun with 'God Eater 2: Rage Burst.' Sure, I was constantly fighting both the controls and the camera while also battling Aragami, but it wasn't enough to ruin the experience. 'God Eater' is begging for an iteration developed for consoles from the ground-up, so hopefully that will happen soon. Until then, fans will have to settle for a serviceable port that sadly isn't optimized for the PlayStation 4.
'Marvel's Women of Power' is yet another solid add-on for 'Zen Pinball 2.' Clearly Zen Studios knows how to produce great pinball tables, and it's a pleasant surprise to see lesser characters from the Marvel universe receive the spotlight. It's not the best DLC, as 'Aliens Pinball' and other tables have topped it by being more inventive, but it's still worth picking up if you're a comic book fan or are just looking for some new high scores to beat.
It's all one long microtransaction process of repeating the same steps that goes with the theme, but eerily so.