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A slick sniping title in name, but one that also encourages creativity, delivers action, and demands adaptation, Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3 is one hell of a ride. Although it has a lackluster story and a handful of minor issues, it's still an immensely enjoyable separatist kill fest set in the gorgeous open-world landscapes of former Soviet Georgia.
Syberia was a series built around amazing puzzles and unique storytelling. Syberia 3 was an opportunity to bring all of that to a new generation. Unfortunately, it has remained mired in the pixel-hunting past, riddled with bugs, obtuse controls, and an uninspired storyline coupled with head-scratching voice work. I wanted to enjoy Syberia 3, but too many issues may leave this series stuck in the frozen snow.
Many of the season's problems remain in episode four – Thicker Than Water, but this installment does improve on many of its storytelling segments. There are still problems regarding relationships that you might not want, but the choices that you do get to make feel more important than they have in a while. While devoid of puzzles, the incredible ending has me eagerly waiting for the final episode.
Scanner Sombre is a quick, beautiful and melancholic distraction with an interesting twist, but its main puzzle is navigating the caves, which can become confusing and frustrating due to everything being made of the same beams of light.
Don't question it — just buy it. Buy it right now. It isn't a shooter, and there are no puzzles and some will question if this even qualifies as a “game,” but What Remains of Edith Finch is an exemplar in video game narrative design. No other game I've ever played has provoked the same meditation on death, and ultimately life and the beauty of it all.
The Caligula Effect offers a fascinating story inside of a huge virtual world. Filled with heavy concepts, writer Tadashi Satomi weaves a complex story about human suffering, artificial happiness, and the lengths people will go to find inner peace. While not nearly as developed or immersive as Persona 5, the game's flashy graphics, star-studded soundtrack and solid story help to make up for what the game lacks in a depressingly shallow and unfulfilling social system, unclear objectives within dungeons and a rather tedious battle system.
The Nintendo Switch is steadily increasing its plethora of party games, and The Jackbox Party Pack 3 is a perfect addition to zany multiplayer experiences. With five unique titles from which to choose, its charming presentation and hilarious challenges more than make up for its sometimes uneven mechanics. You'll be screaming all night… in laughter, of course.
While Little Nightmares might not scare your pants off, it will definitely get your heart racing. The game's mix of incredible art design and enjoyable gameplay create a memorable game that gets better with each level. While Little Nightmares' long load times will hopefully get patched out currently, they make exploring a lot less desirable. Puzzles in the game could be better, but its main gameplay elements come off very thrilling and fun.
Drawn to Death is a bloody, messy, childish romp through adolescent notebook art, putting you into the art itself in a series of deathmatches. The art style is endearing and interesting, but it leads to some confusion in the gameplay itself. Fast-paced, unique, and creative, Drawn to Death provides a gnarly experience unlike any other, but suffers from a bit of monotony all too quickly, mimicking high school quite well.
The Disney Afternoon Collection combines several of the great NES games into a single collection, featuring Duck Tales, Chip & Dale, Darkwing Duck, and Tail Spin. All of these games have their own nostalgic charm, and are presented in this collection with style, a hugely functional and awesome rewind button, and enough good extras to make any Disney TV fan go wild.
Dawn of War III is the best looking RTS out there. It boasts graphics, art, and animations that are unparalleled within the genre. Its battles are beautifully crafted, wildly entertaining, smooth, and polished. However, the single-player experience suffers from predictable flatness and a drawn out tutorial phase, while multiplayer content is in need of additional content.
Free-to-play games often carry the stigma of being “pay-to-win” — a design philosophy that says if you want to win, buy in. Orcs Must Die! Unchained isn't that. It's a hoopla of co-op action that works whether or not you want to drop some dough. While the new Sabotage mode is a welcome, albeit lesser refined addition to the series, it's in Battlegrounds that Robot Entertainment flexes its action gameplay muscles and it's the game type that will keep me coming back for dozens more hours — or at the very least, to nab those daily login bonuses.
Symphony of the Machine is the epitome of what a virtual reality experience should be. It nails everything from visuals to sound, from challenges to object interaction, all without a hint of motion sickness. This peaceful puzzler will calm your mind, challenge your brain, nurture your green thumb and leave you wanting much, much more. It's rather light on content, offering one to two hours of gameplay, but scores perfect marks in literally every other regard. While the short gameplay may be disappointing for those looking to squeeze every minute of entertainment out of their dollar, Symphony of the Machine is a must have for those dedicated apostles who seek to spread the gospel of VR.
Shiness: The Lightning Kingdom is the product of a small team trying to do too much and, ultimately, falling flat. It pains me to say it, because I saw the potential in Shiness way back when it was a fledgling Kickstarter upstart, but this is one of the worst gaming experiences I've had in a long time and I cannot recommend it to anyone that likes fun.
Dragon Quest Heroes 2 is a fast-paced, ridiculously fun hack-and-slash RPG. Even if you're tired of the Dynasty Warriors style of hack and slash gameplay, the open world and massive amount of depth should be enough to keep you interested for the duration of the game.
1-2 Switch defied my expectations, providing an entertainment experience above and beyond that of what I thought was its closest counterpart, Wii Sports. It has a huge variety of games, some better than others, which appeal to both gamers and non-gamers alike. Although artificial restrictions placed on some games and game modes keep it from being as much fun as it could be, this is an excellent party game, and it's just as much fun to watch as it is to play.
While Vroom in the Night Sky isn't a spectacular game, there's no denying that I had some fun with it for the short-lived time I spent with the title. I just wish it could be more over-the-top with its presentation rather than dull and unoriginal for most of the ride.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy feels like a mixed bag. While there's the promise of a fun adventure in the Marvel universe with a likable group of characters, it's hampered by the same problems of nearly every Telltale game in the last few years, plus a few new ones. It's not terrible, but I'd wait to see what the other episodes look like before picking it up.
Puyo Puyo Tetris is a perfect blend of both Puyo Puyo and Tetris and gives us our first Puyo Puyo game in over ten years and while some of its modes aren't as thrilling, the new modes offer an exciting new take on the competitive puzzle genre.
Majotori has some very good ideas with how to handle a unique trivia game, but unfortunately botches them in execution. While it's good for a playthrough or two, in the end you'll feel a bit disappointed at the whole affair.