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The Masterplan presents a very unique and welcoming vibe for all who have dreamed of robbing a building establishment. It has some solid visuals that help build a strategy as you navigate through door after door. Unfortunately, that strategy can quickly combust if the mouse-focused controls slip up on you and you find yourself frantically clicking on everything within sight. While a majority of The Masterplan is well done, the bad controls and UI dampen what could have been a true steal in the year of 2015.
Heroes of the Storm is a more user-friendly approach to the genre, but lacks the depth and complexity of other offerings. A great game to pick up for a quick couple matches, filled with Blizzard star power and fun matches that last just long enough, but no real meta-gaming or theory yet.
The Escapists is an entertaining open-ended puzzler that delivers plenty of challenge for those possessing the patience to overcome it.
I heartily recommend Badland to fans of side-scrolling platformers or anyone looking for a game that's easy to pick up and play. There's a fairly large collection of levels that will take a handful of hours to complete, and the multiplayer mode is fantastic if you have someone to play with locally. Everything that was great about the mobile version of Badland translates exquisitely to the PC.
It's not quite a triumph, but Zen Pinball 2's Portal table is a stand out in the series' expansive table list. While there may not be enough meat here to thrill Portal fans with a passing fancy for virtual pinball, it's definitely a solid choice for anyone who has enjoyed Zen Pinball 2's other games.
The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III is a fun ARPG with plenty of nifty distractions. Nothing more, nothing less.
The House of Wolves is easily the best of the two expansions currently available, only predicated by the fact you'll need friends to play it with to explore the full birth of its features. The free update content makes the base game much more approachable to new players or for old ones to build secondary characters, all while smoothing out a great many of the original's limitations. The narrative is lackluster at best and haphazard at worst, but if you're still playing Destiny at this point that's probably something you've grown to tolerate. All and all this a great expansion to purchase if you haven't already, and one to be proud of if you already did.
Ultra Street Fighter IV for the PS4 is the comprehensive, definitive edition of one of the best fighting games around. While you might want to be the competitive type if you plan to play, there's something here for the warrior in everyone. Just be wary of early launch bugs.
Chroma Squad isn't particularly deep or epic, but makes up for it in heart and charm, nailing the Saturday morning antics of its inspiration and creating a cheery game that anyone can enjoy.
Schrödinger's Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark makes you feel young again, with a rather loyal modernization of the classic platforming game. While the game can drag after long periods of play, the overall fun and innovation of the game makes the effort a success.
There are a few drawbacks and limitations, but Splatoon's frantic and addicting gameplay is a blast. This is Nintendo's best new IP in years.
I was a fan of the first Swords & Soldiers' fiery and rambunctious Viking hordes and their quest for grandeur and grilled meats, and I had high hopes for the sequel, but Swords & Soldier II wound up just being a dusty old lamp with no magic to speak of.
Project CARS is a meticulously-crafted love letter to automobiles. Developer Slightly Mad Studios has put driving cars front and center, and created a simulator that is one of the most realistic than any game to-date. Project CARS certainly isn't for everyone, but it cuts out a lot of fat that is prominent in driving simulators and gives players pure, unhindered cars.
Westerado: Double Barreled has its issues, but it provides a grand adventure on a small scale and lets you find something new each time you play.
Toren has great style and a compelling story to tell. Though it's dragged down by its gameplay, it's still far more than worth the asking price for the experience it offers.
Lost Orbit is fast-paced, adrenaline-filled fun with a story that, while entertaining, feels like an odd pairing to its gameplay.
Wolfenstein: The New Order established a new life into the Wolfenstein series. While that life has not been squashed with The Old Blood's release, it has taken a slight hit. Many of the key aspects that made The New Order so enjoyable have not been carried over into The Old Blood. Of course, the enjoyable combat is still available to all, and is still a blast to partake in with the new weapons being absolutely brilliant additions. But, in the end, you cannot help but think, "this could and should have been so much more."
Zen Pinball 2's Age of Ultron table doesn't offer enough fan service to appease any level of Avengers fan, and there aren't enough interesting mechanics to excite a virtual pinball fan. The satisfaction of knocking a ball around is present, but you can find that along with a better table elsewhere in Zen Pinball 2's library.
Fresh and engaging, The Weaponographist is a succinct package of roguelike goodness. If you need a quick fix of something new for a weekend, this weapon-breaking dungeon-delver will suit that need perfectly.
Cities: Skylines isn't without its flaws, but even the things wrong with it add to its charm. It might not be that much of a challenge, but it delivers on the glee of expansion.