Michael Huber
If you love puzzles and own a Vita, Escape Plan should be an easy purchase, but on PS4 the awkward controls and lack of a touch screen make this version feel watered down. Play it on the Vita instead.
Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls is a solid expansion building upon a patch that was brought about from player input. Blizzard listened to complaints, and moved to rectify issues, not just remove them, while mixing in an impressive amount of new material. It's more than enough to entice veteran players to return, and if you have never played Diablo 3, there has never been a better time to start.
Bound by Flame is far from perfect, but underneath a few rough edges, a memorable journey awaits, defined by an unpredictable storyline, and decisions that have a meaningful impact on the story. Not having to just be pure good or pure evil is interesting, the demon is always there even if you want to do the right thing and be a good guy. Hopefully this is just the first step into the icy world of Vertiel.
Sniper Elite 3 definitely improves the rare but rewarding genre of open-world sniping. Being thoughtful about each shot instills a sense of companionship with your rifle, and we definitely felt an unexpected bond with our terrifying tool of death. Everything involving firing that rifle is fun, it's just too bad the other elements in the game aren't as impactful.
While Sacred 3 isn't a broken mess, there are few redeeming qualities to be found. Linear levels, repetitive enemies, meaningless progression, and insulting voice acting add up to a dreary mechanical exercise. There are far better options for action RPGs than Sacred 3.
Despite a distinct look and feel, Hohokum doesn't live up to its more ethereal aspirations. Although its flowing movements and refreshing themes try to evoke a sense of meditative exploration, it's hard to shake the compulsion to solve each puzzle and move on. At its core, Hohokum doesn't quite make you forget that it's still a game.
Madden 15's new additions to defense and attention to detail make it a must have for existing fans, and a great entry point for newcomers. If you have never touched a football game before, it's a fitting time to begin, with this fresh start from an old franchise.
While there are certainly some things to like about The Sims 4 such as building a custom mansion, or being visited by the Grim Reaper, the entire experience feels like a starter kit for bigger things in the future. If you had The Sims 3 and its multiple expansions, The Sims 4 will feel stripped down. If you have never played a Sims game, it might be a better option to hold off until The Sims 4 flourishes into a more complete package.
Gauntlet is an accessible co-op dungeon crawler that's at its best with a group of friends. It may be on the shorter side, but while it lasts it's an unpredictable and memorable experience. Hopefully this is only the first of many steps into the perilous Gauntlet.
While T-Bone doesn't do too much to differentiate himself from Aiden Pearce, Bad Blood provides a few interesting twists to the core gameplay and some memorable moments along the way. With a great new set of story missions lasting several hours long, and the addition of co-op play, it's worth picking up despite some repetitive side content.