There's no denying that MLB The Show 17 is one of the most comprehensive and realistic baseball simulators that has ever been made. No matter what sort of baseball experience you're looking for, I can pretty much guarantee you'll find it in the latest from San Diego Studios.
I understand that, as a CCG fan who prefers PvE play, I am in the minority, but The Elder Scrolls: Legends has honestly been the first digital CCG that felt like it was welcoming me in with open arms instead of forcing me to either play PvP or make do with subpar alternatives. Bethesda certainly has some stiff competition going up against games like Hearthstone and CD Projekt Red's upcoming standalone Gwent game, but as far as first impressions go, I have never been more pleasantly surprised by a CCG than I was by The Elder Scrolls: Legends.
It's actually a little hard to believe that Ubisoft plans to expand Ghost Recon Wildlands further via post-launch content updates which will add in things like new story content and even a PvP mode since the base game is already quite massive. Shooter fans who want a game they can sink many hours into while honing their tactical shooting skills (either alone or with some friends) should be immensely satisfied with the experience Ghost Recon Wildlands provides them.
Much like From Software’s Souls games and Team Ninja’s previous Ninja Gaiden efforts, Nioh was clearly designed with a very specific sort of gamer in mind, namely a very patient one who doesn’t mind having to constantly learn from their mistakes. If you find enjoyment in the punishing difficulty of such games and you want to delve into a title which could easily suck up hours upon hours of your gaming time, Nioh will certainly not disappoint.
The good news about Siegecraft Commander’s current state is that it has plenty of room (and clear directions) in which to grow, but unless there’s a pretty substantial day-one patch I’m not aware of, you should steer clear until Blowfish corrects the game’s many issues.
It’s always good to end on a high note, and that’s exactly what Just Dance 2017 will be doing if it ends up being the final physical entry for the franchise.
2K Games has once again managed to top itself by creating an incredibly in-depth wresting experience. WWE 2K17 may not be as accessible as I would have liked, but if you’ve stuck with the series this long, there are plenty of reasons why you should continue to do so.
If you can play it with an open mind and forgive the lack of multiplayer, Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 is a game which could easily suck up hours of your time as it continues to challenge you in new and exciting ways.
If you’re on the hunt for a new competitive game to play with friends, Inversus is a solid choice given its price and its unique concept. However, unless you’re confident you’ll be able to recruit some friends to play with, you might want to look elsewhere for your next indie fix.
Ghostbusters is the product of a greedy publisher and a lazy developer trying to cash in on the hype of both a recent film and an established franchise. If you care at all about maintaining the integrity of the Ghostbusters IP, stay well clear of this game at all costs.
If you still enjoy TT Games' Lego series, or if you want to bring a younger gamer into the fold, Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a solid entry which helps to bring some lightheartedness (and new story content) to the film off which it is based.
It may not be the most engrossing single-player experience, but if you enjoy local co-op multiplayer, you could do a lot worse than Pac-Man 256.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan is, at the very least, a serviceable co-op brawler infused with plenty of fun nods for longtime TMNT fans. However, its high price-point, lack of couch co-op, and repetitive gameplay are hard to ignore, making it a game which is best bought at a drastically reduced price.
The lack of passion Dambuster Studios clearly felt when developing Homefront: The Revolution shines through in the game's lackluster story, bland gameplay, and misused setting. Even if you enjoyed the original Homefront, you're better off sitting this revolution out.
Doom is a near-perfect return to form
While Battleborn didn't gel as well with my gaming sensibilities as much as I'd hoped it would, even I can't deny that the game has a lot to offer to the right sort of gamer. If you're itching for a new Borderlands-esque experience which is all but guaranteed to keep you occupied over the long term, Battleborn will certainly scratch that itch. If, however, you never cared for the Borderlands style of humor, and you're more of a solo-minded gamer, you might want to look elsewhere for your next shooter fix.
Dark Souls 3 doesn't take many risks, but when you have fans that played Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Dark Souls 2 and Bloodborne, you need something to keep the series fresh and new. Dark Souls 3 doesn't offer anything like that, which means you should already know if you'd enjoy the new game. It's more of the same, with slight adjustments to differentiate it from the other games in the series.
I wouldn't go so far as to say The Division is the online shooter experience that will usher the genre into a new golden age, but it is a worthy alternative for those who are looking for a more methodical and immersive experience than what games like Destiny can offer. There are still no guarantees about The Division's long-term sustainability, but the strong out-of-the-gate showing it has already made is certainly a good start.
While it isn't perfect, The Following openly embraces everything that made Dying Light a standout hit of 2015 and also injects enough fresh content to warrant a return visit from even the most hardcore of Harran's explorers.
With a few tweaks and maybe a more casual-friendly difficulty level, Tharsis could be a fun strategy alternative for those who don't enjoy building large kingdoms or waging wars that take hours to complete. In its current state however, Tharsis is little more than a sadistically cruel game of digital roulette.