This is a powerful experience that we expect will be remembered for a long time to come, and it's, without question, one of the best games available for the Xbox One. That's a big statement, we know, but Ori's got more than enough spirit to back it up.
DmC: Devil May Cry is one of the best hack-and-slash games out there, and now it's even better thanks to a higher frame-rate, fresh difficulty settings, and a slight speed boost. If you didn't get around to slaying demons with Dante back in 2013, now's your chance to do so.
For the past week we've been delving through the dungeon on a nightly basis, and we anticipate our interest in monster slaying won't cease upon completion of this review. That may be a bigger compliment than you realize.
While we weren't particularly impressed with Battlefield Hardline's multiplayer offering, we did like the intense ride that the campaign took us on. The story might be fairly throwaway, but the environments, set pieces, and the gameplay scenarios you'll often find yourself in are memorable and make up for the clichés and nonsensical plot details.
We're still recommending The Handsome Collection because, despite its blemishes and the general shortcomings of the Borderlands formula, it's often an absolute riot of a time – playing with friends, whether local or online, is the way to go.
Even though Mortal Kombat X has a few surface wounds that could use patching up, it's a superb fighting game that lives up to its hype and meets the lofty expectations set by its predecessor. This is the swiftest and most aggressive Mortal Kombat yet, and it's rounded out with fresh modes, gruesome finishers, and enough ingenuity to keep the series moving forward. If you're even a little interested in fighting games, this is one tournament worth signing up for.
Shovel Knight is magnificent, and even though it's technically less than a year old, it already feels like a classic.
Age of Ultron is safer and more predictable than Pinball FX2's best tables, and therefore it doesn't sell itself as being essential. There's still a solid game of pinball here for the diehards that simply want something new, but casual players should instead look to more memorable options, like the accessible Guardians of the Galaxy or the dynamic The Walking Dead. Then again, if you have kids that haven't been introduced to pinball yet, this might be one to consider. Just know that it can be a bit too aggressive for its own good.
Rogue Legacy does procedural generation right, offering countless hours of action, platforming, and exploration to anyone that's attracted to it. The amount of grinding that's present throughout the adventure does occasionally lead to stretches of monotony, but when every other facet of the game shines the way it does, it's not enough to massively damage its reputation.
What it comes down to is that, even though it's a redesigned version of its mobile counterpart, BADLAND: Game of the Year Edition is experimental and rich enough to justify its existence on a home console.
If you've ever wanted to truly feel like the Batman, this is likely the closest you'll get. Enable your detective vision and seek out a copy of Arkham Knight right away.
LEGO Jurassic World has been birthed from the same DNA that the LEGO series has been reliant on for quite some time, and it's doubtful that anyone will be truly awestruck by its attractions. But that doesn't necessarily mean the adventure's not worth embarking upon. Reliving the Jurassic Park films in such a playful manner helps to offset the gameplay and technical disappointments, and the trip down memory lane will likely be enough to keep the biggest dinosaur fans entertained from start to finish. The park can be amusing, but it lacks its usual bite.
If you're interested in enlisting with a pachyderm that throws himself around like an acrobatic anvil, arm your trunk and charge full speed ahead – Tembo the Badass Elephant has brought the ruckus to Xbox One.
There are certain control and formatting options that we would've liked to see included, but there's so much engrossing entertainment here that it feels wrong to whine about what are, in most cases, negligible details. Even though it costs actual money, Rare Replay feels like a heartfelt gift from Rare to its fans, and it deserves your time, money, and appreciation.
Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings is a fitting way to round out the baseball season and a great excuse to invite friends over for some local multiplayer action. While another mode and online functionality would've made this package an absolute grand slam, the core gameplay is so addictive and well-executed that it's hard to think of it as anything less than a home run.
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is anything but a lazy remaster. With a bunch of new content, a massive visual overhaul, mechanical improvements, and other subtle modernizations, Ultimate Edition has earned the right to be referred to as the definitive version of Gears of War.
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is one of the most addictive roguelikes we've ever played. It's the kind of game that might appear a bit rudimentary at first, but it becomes more and more compelling with each subsequent session. With unlockable characters and challenges, an insane number of weapons and abilities, and many other discoveries to be made, there are a multitude of reasons to keep coming back for another game. A few quibbles do keep Rebirth from even greater heights, but it's nothing that should deter anyone drawn to this type of twisted dungeon crawling, which works so well as a portable experience. Go ahead and bind Isaac to your New 3DS, just don't blame us should you disappear into the depths of his basement, never to return.
Mad Max's frame may be built from familiar parts, but that doesn't mean there aren't enough surprises under the hood to make for a furiously enjoyable ride.
Penarium is one of the best arcade-style games we've played this console generation. The campaign doesn't last all that long, and more multiplayer options would've been appreciated, but all in all, there's a healthy amount of content for the price. If fast-paced gameplay and high-score chasing are your thing, we suggest planning a trip to this sadistic carnival. Just don't be surprised if you end up imprisoned, losing hours upon hours of your life to the addictive chaos.
Ultimately, we feel the short length of the campaign and a few mechanical grievances are what keep it from higher praise. It's not a bad game whatsoever, but it's far from being remarkable.