Really, no matter how you look at it, Sonic Mania is a huge success and Sonic Mania Plus is a celebration of that success thanks to smart physical edition design and items and valuable new in-game content.
I have been, and continue to enjoy S:A enough that it's hard to find much fault with it. That said, for some genre veterans looking for a stout challenge, the default difficult setting is likely much too easy. Additionally, some quest and puzzle design could be considered a bit repetetive, but for me, these concerns were greatly overshadowed by the positives of the experience.
Few games can have such a simple premise and gameplay design, yet are flat out good enough, timeless enough, to be remastered — twice. So, whether you have played SOTC before or not, you can rest assured it's an all-time classic, and that for the PS4, Bluepoint has done a fantastic job with this remaster.
SFVCE is by no means an entirely new game, it’s just a culmination of where SFV has come so far. In the last four years, the game certainly has come a long way. If you’ve waited until now to jump in, this is obviously the best version to get.
In sum, Street Fighter V Arcade Edition is precisely what many gamers wanted two years ago. The roster, balance, modes, and amount of content are now fleshed out and in a convenient complete package. For anyone that has been waiting for this release, you're not likely to be disappointed.
Generally speaking, Zero Time Dilemma is a great game and a must-play for those that escaped 999 and VLR. Like many third acts in trilogies across all kinds of media, it's not as strong as the first or second act, but it's still solid and I recommend it.
While MSH2 does not innovate, it does, other than some glitching and sketchy design decisions, provide another fun LEGO romp that's best enjoyed in local co-op.
Blood is (perhaps obviously) high on my all-time list. It was such a pleasant surprise when I heard that Nightdive was working on a re-release, and I’m glad they have.
Whether you’re a newcomer to the franchise or just nostalgic for last-gen’s Ateliers, this deluxe trilogy set is an easy recommendation to consider adding to your digital library.
Candleman: The Complete Journey is a very nicely developed 3D platformer that has a great hook or "gimmick" that it introduces immediately and utilizes throughout.
Simply put, Metroid: Samus Returns is an excellent game. It honors the past and adds a lot of great new gameplay elements. The Metroid series strives in 2D, and Samus Returns is another clear demonstration of exactly that.
As my first Pikmin experience, I really enjoyed Hey! Pikmin for a variety of reasons and found little wrong with it. Whether you have played a Pikmin game before or not, or are just looking for a fun game that's not too easy and certainly not too hard, give this one a go.
Recalling fun times playng The Typing of the Dead on Dreamcast many years ago, I decided to give Type Knight a run. I’m pleased to say it’s been enjoyable.
Built-in achievements, small storage size (around 5GB), and super fast load times make this much more than just a port — it’s an impressive “ultimate” edition, if you will. Bravo, Capcom.
For die-hard Wasteland 3 fans, this expansion offers a compelling reason to return, but at a price that’s a little bit proud. For more casual players, or those who have yet to dive into Colorado, you may be well advised to wait for the inevitable complete edition that will probably release next year.
Played on the Vita or the PS4, Damascus Gear offers simple, enjoyable mech combat with a good story and lots of customization at a great price.
In conclusion, Strange Brigade gets much more right than it does wrong, and it proves the power of co-op yet again. Played alone, this game isn't worth the time or effort due to the tedium. However, add in a friend or three, or at least some decent randos, and suddenly the game takes on a whole new feel and it instantly becomes a treat. It's certainly not the first game to prove this phenomenon, but nevertheless, if you have some buddies to play with, keep Strange Brigade on your radar.
I can’t say G-LOC Air Battle is a game I will play very often at all, but I am really glad that it got the M2 treatment and finally has arrived in a home release, decades after its original arcade debut.
Ragnarok is a beast of an expansion pack, and it gets more right than wrong. It's not quite as polished or as impressive as the original and its expansion from so many years ago, but it's still a valiant effort and a solid expansion to a great game.
If you’re a fan of the genre, appreciate fine artwork and want to experience a fairly interesting story, Trüberbrook is worth a look, just go in with expectations in check.