Short but oh so sweet, Shelter 2 is an experience that is meant to be felt more than it is an endurance test. It has some technical kinks and could be a bit deeper, but the tradeoff in emotional value is more than satisfactory; it’s downright beautiful and not just visually.
Regardless of foibles, there is a ton of entertainment value to be found in the wacky shooter that is Screencheat. Looking at an opponent’s screen and trying to collect that kill with a weird weapon, while another player might be doing the same, is exhilarating.
The tile mazes, the bomb constructions, power-ups and hectic arcade gameplay; it works as it always has. It’s not an extravagant mastery of the genre, but it isn’t a horrible cloning effort and if it is, at least it’s a diverting one.
Some technical kinks aside, Lords of the Fallen is a tough RPG with quite the bite. It has limited visual potential, but it masks it well and in return, it provides a varied open world full of fiends, each requiring their own approach.
Reflex gameplay, risk and reward moments, strategic choices, loot options; it may not look like the five or six colors of its universe have a lot to offer, but Heavy Bullets actually has it all.
There are some troubles in Deadcore. They aren’t many and there are tons of breathtaking parts in this captivating puzzle platform game, but they do prevent it from reaching the heights it would otherwise so deserve.
It’s sad to say, but the story of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is dismissible, luckily in favor of the facilitating gameplay that does manage to captivate for hours on end, with less need for drab exposition to boot.
For all the hard work it puts in, Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments deserves an audience, a big one, worthy of its time. Not only is its production a true spectacle, towering over many others, but its sophisticated gameplay elements are many, varied and rewarding to boot.
Unique empire choices, deep and intuitive management, tactical and effortless combat, diversifying RPG content; there is enough here to last ages and it all runs wonderfully.
Metro Redux is the same old horrifying shooter classic, some technical flaws strangely included, but now shinier, more welcoming and with a lot more to go on than before.
GoD Factory: Wingmen is an absolute pleasure of a space shooter, in the shell of an arena game. Its easy to master controls and understandable customization designs are as complex as they are simple, all at once.
Always Sometimes Monsters is as real as it gets, which is impressive for a traditional pixel RPG presentation. Many situational scenes can both be larger than life and still reflect it perfectly, all in an overall goal that can be befuddled by personal interests or sudden needs.
There is something as too much of a good thing and Sacred 3 beats that notion to death. Priorities are all over the place; it just doesn’t know what to do with itself.
Gorgeous in presentation, precise in technical design and packed with a diverse selection in cars and tracks; Grid Autosport has it all. Its realism racing with just enough flavor in unique disciplines to let both fans and onlookers salivate.
As a story adventure, Murdered: Soul Suspect delivers the most through acting and visual context, rather than a series of clever mechanism tidbits. It does, however, seems like the game ran out of production time and missed some iterations to bulk up on content.
Platform adventure The Last Tinker: City of Colors has a story interesting to know and even more stimulating to witness. With a rich world so crisp in detail and with charming tunes, it’s an inviting universe that has variable gameplay elements to renew this sense of wonder at every turn.
When everything comes together, Luftrausers is a blast of skillful maneuvering; using the wobbly controls exactly to the point of swerving through bullets and taking down baddies in retaliation.
Betrayer knows exactly what it’s doing. Adventurers are weak amidst a cast of angered ghosts and mysterious events. Penetrating sounds keep tensions high. Isolation is strengthened by frustrating, esoteric design.
With its foul intentions clear, Dark Souls 2 is a behemoth either way. It’s the best worst game ever created. Designed to be flawed, unforgivable beyond redemption and yet it’s robust enough to withstand any criticism.
It may have all the right tools and the gorgeous scenery to go with it, but Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 is like a beautiful person with a horrible attitude.