Aaru's Awakening is a phenomenal piece of art, and a solidly built game to boot. With numerous levels across the domains of each entity, and fierce challenges standing between players and the goal.
I'd easily recommend the title to anyone who enjoys classic platforming/action games from days gone by – the positive message and pure fun of it only add on to the value.
Between the far-reaching scale, the slick and intuitive combat, and the fun of raising heroes through the years, MASSIVE CHALICE brings a whole lot to the table. While each piece may not be strong enough to stand in its genre alone, the combination and way that each plays into the other creates a phenomenally fun experience.
With a healthy mix of challenging battles, easy-to-learn gameplay, and in-depth customization, Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky is one worth looking into, and one I'll certainly keep coming back for more from.
In summary, Her Story is likely worth playing if only because it is so profoundly different. When you throw in solid writing, passable acting, and the need for players to reach their own conclusions about what happened, it comes together exceptionally well.
Exploring themes of horror, personal relationships, and personal agency, The Charnel House Trilogy weaves a fantastic tale that is well-written, and relatively well-acted. As more and more of the truth started to become clear nearing the game's conclusion, I found myself completely drawn in.
The Talos Princple succeeds in many ways, with smooth controls, a gorgeous environment, and an engaging backdrop of thought-provoking story and theme. The puzzles begin simply, and slowly evolve with new elements to test your mettle; since you can tackle any open area in any order, there's a certain freedom that goes well with the thematic overtones.
I thoroughly enjoyed playing solo as well as with my wife and son, and I'd say this is a must-get game if you've got a Wii U — and, quite possibly, a reason to think about getting one if you don't, even amid the frenzy of other next-gen consoles breaking into the market.
Oblitus puts a whole lot of content into a small, tightly-made package. The overall aesthetic and backing music are great, and the constant threat of death taking all of your accomplishments away drives play very well.
If I'm being entirely honest, This War of Mine is one of the best all-around games I've played all year. A crisp, consistent atmosphere, intuitive gameplay, and surprising depth create a fantastic experience.
While I admit I had many reservations about Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, I'm very, very pleased with the end result. While there are still some glitches — we had a boss get stuck in the open, unmoving and invulnerable to attack, and some odd interactions with plot NPCs holding quest items out into walls and Fast Travel stations, for instance — it's well-polished, and the errors don't crop up enough to really be a bother.
All in all, Mario Kart 8 gives seasoned players the game that they deserved when its Wii sibling hit the shelves, but also doesn't rely so heavily on past experience, keeping it open for new players. The 50cc class is a nice spot for beginners, and can be used to unlock any of the game's eight Grand Prix Cups for play in the tougher 100 or 150cc classes.
For a mere $9.99 on Steam, there's little reason (other than holding out for a nigh-inevitable sale price in the future) that I wouldn't recommend it to anyone — and I don't hesitate at all to say this is probably a must-play for those who, like me, love the genre and wish it had more high-quality titles to offset the flood of terrible browser-based entries.
With a fully-fledged single player / co-op "story" mode, online play, deathmatch, level editor, and more, there's a ton of content for the cost, and it's all a ton of fun to boot.
Extreme Exorcism winds up taking a very simple idea, splashing it with variety, and turning it into something that's not just well done, but tons of fun. With solid mechanics, visuals, and audio to back up the intense, engaging gameplay, it creates a fantastic experience whether you're playing alone or are in a multiplayer game.
[L]et me say it as plainly as possible: Armello is perhaps the most detailed and well-designed entry in [digital board games] that I've ever played, and you should probably stop reading and buy it right now.
All in all, SOMA is a fantastic game. From the detailed world in which it takes place, the engaging plot, and the perfect amount of creeping terror and suspense, there's a lot to love if you're into horror.
All things being equal, I’m hard-pressed to think of a game that more exceeded my expectations than This is the Police. A fully-formed, engaging story that’s tied together underneath a solid and demanding simulator game is certainly something I’ve never seen before, and it’s all handled excellently.
As a whole, The Deadly Tower of Monsters does a phenomenal job of creating exactly the experience that was advertised. Crammed to the gills with campy humor and a series B-movie look and feel, this is nearly a must-play for anyone who's a fan of the old, cheesy films of the past or who enjoys listening to C-list directors ramble near-incoherently about their creations.
All told, Full Mojo Rampage offers a lighthearted yet challenging experience. The rich environments, fantastic customization options, and decision-focused strategic approach make it a great game to pop into for a bit by yourself or to enjoy with friends, be it on the couch or over the internet.