Wes Fenlon
A clever time loop setup devolves into frustrating repetition.
Guardians of the Galaxy's story may eventually get someplace interesting, but it's a poor fit for Telltale's simple quick time events and stiff dialogue sequences.
Sublime combat can only do so much to carry a flawed building system, too few monsters and terrible performance.
Pyre's campaign is repetitive and its combat never quite clicks, but a touching and thoughtful story makes it worth sticking through to the end.
A by-the-numbers campaign feels stuck in 2006, but multiplayer builds on classic Gears with a great variety of new modes.
Streets of Rage doesn't do much to innovate, but it's a beautiful brawler with just enough depth to stay engaging through multiple runs.
"All That Remains" sets the stage for some great character development for Clementine, but there's not much payoff in this 90 minute episode.
Telltale's character drama is as strong as ever, but Clementine's boldest dialogue options end up making her more capable than the adults around her.
A brilliant and rewarding combat system propels a story that never becomes as interesting as it seemingly should.
Star Wars: Squadrons delivers on great dogfighting, even when its campaign doesn't live up to its full potential.
Clever combat abilities and brutal executions translate Gears of War into a deep, fast-paced strategy game.
The quest for outrageous items makes Risk of Rain 2 a strong action roguelike, but its unlockable secrets give it that little something extra.
Resident Evil 4 is still a masterful shooter nine years later. Occasional slowdown caused by the locked 60 fps framerate hampers an otherwise great port.
Smite makes the MOBA more approachable with smart tweaks to the formula and action RPG-inspired combat.
The coolest mechs in gaming history form the core ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡° ) of an intense, focused action game.
The Walking Dead's signature moral dilemmas are more nuanced than ever in a plot-heavy second episode.
Near-perfect at everything it does, but wisely limits its remit. A great conversion.