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Bayonetta 2 is a smashing success, and proves that the WiiU can be the home of some great core titles. Now if only the wait for those titles could be cut a little shorter. Savor this one though, because titles of this level of quality seem to be few and far in between right now.
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition not only includes an updated version of the 2012 crime thriller, but also packs in all the downloadable content. While a solid collection, this port is marred by inconsistent frame rate, technical problems and a high price tag. We can argue about whether or not this is enough to warrant the $60 asking price, but there's no debate over the quality of Sleeping Dogs as an open-world action experience.
Defense Grid 2 is a very solid tower defense game. While there are only twenty one missions, there are multiple ways to play each one as well as multiple difficulties to keep things fresh. If you're into the genre, this one is worth picking up. Even if you've never played a tower defense game before or are looking to get into the genre, this is a good one to start out on.
In a game that brings a little of the very best of retro point and click gaming nostalgia and also some of it's worst, only a decent narrative and a big plot twist can save Richard and Alice from a far worse fate than living in an ice world.
Toys for Bob shows that they make better Skylander games than anyone. It's simple, fun, and there is an absolute crap-ton of things to do. Once again, I find myself completely engulfed in the Skylanders world and endlessly exploring these worlds with my daughter.
Smartly written dialogue, strong voice acting, and terrific graphics help make up for some technical flaws as well as a couple cases of that would offer little challenge to Sherlock Holmes. A must play for Holmes buffs, but it's somewhat slow of pace so action seekers would be wise to look elsewhere.
Smash Bros for 3DS is a solid polish of everything that made Brawl great, but faster, tighter and with even more content. The new fighters and levels are excellent, the online play is smoother and more stable, and best of all, you can take the experience anywhere. Get ready to start the addiction all over again, because now you can carry it around in your pocket.
Forza Horizon 2 is just about everything you would expect from an already superb game upgraded and moved to a stronger platform. While it's disappointing that higher end driving rigs still can't be used, the quality of the game and the Xbox One's controller ease the pain just a bit. This one is well worth the 100+ hours it will take to work your way through.
Disney Infinity 2.0 has made some big strides from the original release. There is a ton to do, especially when you dig into the toy box, which should keep fans occupied for a long, long time. Things are just a little complicated for the younger gamers to do all on their own.
FIFA 15 received upgrades in all the right places: Presentation and gameplay. EA Sports outdid themselves and have shown that the beautiful game is just that on the next-gen: Beautiful.
Train Fever is a highly ambitious transportation management game that unfortunately suffers from gameplay issues ranging from slow progression to a lack of objectives. Train Fever is only recommended to those who are strong fans of the genre, while other players are better off with more welcoming and polished games.
Does a good job walking the thin line between economy-sim and RTS. Gives a good "build it and then knock it down" feeling with varied and colorful units.
All in all, Concursion is a fairly solid game, but there are some issues here and there. The graphics and animation are so-so, the difficulty curve can be steep and times, and the bosses can be pretty tedious. Overall though, if you're into classic gaming genres I'd at least give the demo a shot before picking up the full game.
Nether has a lot of potential to be a great game, but unfortunately it suffers from odd design choices that make the gameplay experience an exercise in repeat frustration. The addition of microtransactions and premium currency was an unfortunate decision to include in a game focused around the survival gameplay genere. Nether is difficult to recommend as a purchase as similar and better games are available to players.
Destiny is an engaging and immersive experience, albeit one that requires some serious legwork on the players half to get the most out of it. While I love it personally, I can't ignore the lack of direction given to players which robs them of all the game has to offer. At the same time, I fully recognize that this is something that is going to grow and evolve exponentially over its lifetime.
Hyrule Warriors is a different kind of Zelda game. That doesn't mean it's any less fun. Amazing production values, addictive gameplay, a rich story and an overall sense of extreme quality, polish and confidence make Hyrule Warriors much more than a mere spinoff.
Hatoful Boyfriend is not the pigeon-dating sim you're looking for: It's more than that. Curb your enthusiasm for branching storylines after playing through the early romance portion of the story. After you cross the point of no return, the game is out of your hands, and you're left with an on-rails storyline progression. Regardless, it will subvert each and every one of your preconceived notions of what Hatoful Boyfriend could even remotely be about.
The gameplay and presentation of NHL 15 are arguably the best we've seen in the franchise. The new commentary team of Emrick, Olczyk, and Ferraro really add to the in-game experience. Some AI bugs do exist and may frustrate players, but the true problem with this game is the lack of modes to justify the $60 price tag. It's unfair to call this game a beta, but with so many modes missing, even though some will be patched in, it doesn't feel like a completed product. The hardcore NHL fans will pick this up, but casual players may want to wait it out and see if EA can patch in some of the features that this game desperately needs.
The Sims 4 is undoubtedly a major step forward for the series that improves on many aspects that plagued past titles. However, with the improvements also comes an unusual disappearance of features from past games which result in less control and customization. Even with the missing content, The Sims 4 delivers a gameplay experience that is highly-entertaining and addictive for both series veterans and newcomers.
This is a game that's three inches deep, but nine miles wide- and I mean that as a compliment. The gameplay and spellcrafting mechanics are easy to understand, and between of the sheer number of spells, races, and classes you can combine, you aren't going to run out of stuff to discover any time soon. And the good news is that there's a ton of enemies that will require you to find and master these spells as quickly as possible. If you're a completionist, Runers is a dream come true.