Allisa James's Reviews
Call of Duty: Ghosts isn't a terrible game. It just happens to be a small, yearly released cog in a franchise that continues to resist innovation at every turn. Coming back to this title after playing Modern Warfare 2 in 2009, I should have been overwhelmed by a multitude of exciting new changes. Instead I was hit with the realization that I hadn't missed a thing.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is a well-made platformer that adds more than enough level variety, graphical upgrades, new characters and new mechanics to keep the long-used formula from getting stale. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, it certainly molds and polishes that wheel to near perfection.
Mario Golf: World Tour is an excellent golfing title that combines the strategy and depth of golf with the personality and fun of the Super Mario series. Whether you're a beginner or advanced player, child or adult, there's something for everyone here.
Child of Light portrays this through polish, style and grace And for its troubles, a perfect score
While I do wish certain mechanics such as two-racer teams and character exclusive specials would have made the list, and many gamers might be disappointed with the partial voice chat, 8 is still an excellent entry that should not be missed.
Pushmo World is an excellent mini-title for your Wii U library and is well suited for nearly any age group. The puzzles can get very challenging later on but that Eureka moment when you finally created a solution from nothing is incomparable. And for just $10, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by missing out.
Divinity: Original Sin is a western RPG that dives head first into the nostalgia pool; while it doesn't exactly reinvent the contents, it manages to make its own ripples.
Despite a few hiccups here and there, Deconstructeam has weaved together a solid title that will resonate with players long after the experience is over. As long as you're willing to put in the substantial effort, of course.
Two worlds collide in Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and they collide quite well. Great pains have been taken to ensure that the combination works as a cohesive unit, and for the most part it succeeds (with some minor hiccups along the way). There’s more than enough content for old fans of either franchise and new players will find this game as a more than welcoming entry point to both games. Those that enter the world of Labrynthia will thoroughly enjoy their foray — just mind the witch trials.
Natural Doctrine is not meant for the faint of heart. You must be prepared for unyielding and at times near hellish combat that only rewards careful planning and the use of intelligent strategy over brute strength. For those who enjoy these elements in their strategy RPG, however, this title will not disappoint.
This is one of the rare games that balances appeal to both genre newcomers and hardcore action game heads, without sacrificing anything for it. Bayonetta 2 proves to be one of the — if not the — greatest action games and should not be missed under any circumstances, despite any reservations on the titular character's design choice.
Tales of Hearts R doesn’t have the most original story and the characters are mostly well-meaning but occasionally stereotypical. The game’s localization feels a bit lacking without an English dub as well, considering the amount of work that was clearly poured into the translation. However, the beautifully remade visuals, stellar combat and development system and on-point voice acting more than compensate for the admittedly superficial shortcomings. If you own a PS Vita and are on the lookout for a great new game to add to your library, Bandai Namco has a lovely polished gem for you to purchase.
Despite the short list of shortcomings, however, Majora's Mask 3D remains an excellent title with great controls, a unique and involving plot, interesting characters, and a masterfully woven atmosphere. For new and old fans alike, this is a great addition for your library.
And even though its gameplay is still a bit dense and sometimes overwhelming for first-timers, the new mechanics and improvements make Ultimate the ultimate way to enter the franchise to date. Players new and old, dive into the hunt without hesitation.
While some gamers might be put off by the relatively low amount of content and all-around simplicity, for its price, including the aforementioned cross-buy, the title is worth its value in stars.
In the end, if you have siblings or friends who you could play against, Mario Party 10 can end up being a roaring good time for a while. By yourself, however, I would recommend either skipping it altogether or at least know you are dipping into a more minimal title.
However, the only way to truly experience this breathtaking title is to experience it for yourself. And now with this New 3DS version, said experience has gotten a whole lot easier.
If you haven't played a dungeon-crawler title yet, start with this one. It never abates on the difficulty but simultaneously introduces mechanics and items that still make the title — and genre — accessible to first-time players. Plenty of love and care between the two development teams has been put into this title and, despite the smaller setbacks, it truly shines in the end product.
Despite the aesthetic and DLC complaints, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker is an all-around solid JRPG, with great gameplay and an equally great story. Not to mention that the oodles of extra content and updates to this version would be worth a second buy for fans who purchased the original, let alone any newcomers to the series.
Other than those minor issues, Super Mario Maker remains an excellent value for gamers: a deep and satisfying creation mode for level building wrapped in a relaxing and non-stressful package that those of any age could enjoy — maybe even multiple generations together.