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Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus follows up on its predecessor with a bang. With a dynamic protagonist and amazing characters, this is an entry in the foundation of what modern shooters, if not narrative games in general, can be. The mechanics are as stellar as the guns are loud, and it'll leave the player itching for more even when it's over.
The Evil Within 2 get so much right that it's predecessor got wrong, and it's actually a great game on top of that. The initial chapters of the game start off slow, but then once things get rolling, this game is really hard to put down.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is great for veterans and tough for newcomers, but a joy to play for either party once you get a hang of the mechanics. It gets tedious at times, and there are missed opportunities here and there, but the Nemesis System that was a beacon of success in the first game has come back bigger and better than ever. It's definitely a return to Middle-earth that is worth the play, and an homage to Tolkien's works that everyone can appreciate.
Origins was worth taking the year off. Egypt will be hard to top as a location. The series' dry, ironic, corporate sense of humor is still dull. But nobody can beat Assassin's Creed's architectural history lessons, even if you're still just stabbing folks and jumping out the window while you're sightseeing the entire timeline.
Pinball FX3 is a game that makes no excuses for being a tried-and-true game with the standard jackpot fix that arcade junkies need. The "free-ness" wears off quickly and there will be trepidation for spending "X" amounts of money on multiple boards, but the challenges and rivalries will earn a bunch of those coins back. My take on Pinball FX3 is to wait for the prices to plummet on the extra boards. That infusion of 30 boards or more will make the game shine… like the quarters you once put into the machines.
The LEGO Ninjago Movie Game doesn't try to be anything but fun. There will always be another LEGO game coming out very few months. But this one is pretty good.
With its excellent focus on online multiplayer supported with some innovative fair-play features and related social features, Gran Turismo Sport is a great choice for drivers focused on those aspects. For offline players and those that don't want to grind to gain access to an extensive collection of cars and tracks, though, there are better alternatives.
Minecraft New 3DS Edition isn't a bad game at all—at its core it's still the same brilliantly addictive creativity sandbox. That said, its complete lack of multiplayer and the availability of the vastly superior Nintendo Switch version for the same price unfortunately makes Minecraft on 3DS functionally obsolete.
It's pure fan service, and the story is absolute nonsense, but it's the most fun I have had playing an Omega Force Musou game in a long time. Fans of this long-running series of games will love this, but it won't do much to make anyone looking in give the series a chance.
While not a huge fan of Dragon Ball in general, I can say that I'm a fan of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 on the Switch. It does have its flaws. Namely with the camera and some of the training. Plus the combat can get repetitive as you mash out the same combos, at least in the early going. But I can definitely say that I found a Dragon Ball game that I can enjoy coming back to from time to time.
Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions is still a fantastic RPG fourteen years later. The Bowser's Minions side story is an enjoyable, if occasionally tedious, diversion. But the main quest is better than ever with the same addictive combat, laugh-out-loud story, and a few modern polishes to the gameplay.
Dishonored: Death of The Outsider is a great follow up to Dishonored 2. It offers a really rich experience with a fair amount of replay value—which is really rare in add-on content these days.
Empyre: LordS of the Sea Gates offers an innovative style of gameplay to liven up the RPG nature of the game. The writing is well above average and does a great job of setting the appropriate tone and, at times, is quite witty. Combat is approachable in the early stages, but becomes increasingly difficult as the game progresses.
The Journey Down's story is captivating, confounding, and lovable all at once, with its roots in real-life culture making it all the more unique. Chapter 3 especially feels engaging and exciting, though the tone of the game never strays from its intention. There are plot details that could do with some patching up, but ultimately it was a pleasure to play, and I would definitely recommend it for somebody looking for a point-and-click puzzle game that carries with it a breath of fresh air.
A good entry in the series for those who skipped a year. Virtual currency is pushed everywhere. The Neighborhood is OK. Basketball action is fun and exciting.
With a particle-heavy 8-bit paintbrush, Songbringer is a glam metal Zelda. Songbringer doesn't try to finish what Hyper Light Drifter started; Songbringer has heart of its own. It's easy to like but hard to love.
I think for most of the hardcore Destiny 1 players, this is simply not the game we were expecting. This one is built for the casuals. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I played more D1 over the past two years than probably all other games combined, but Destiny 2 is just going to be another game in my library. It won't consume me, but I will enjoy it every time I load it up.
After 25+ hours of gameplay, I can honestly say Forza 7 is outstanding.
Dusk has the backwoods setting of Blood and Redneck Rampage, the forbidding atmosphere and murky palette of Quake, the tight, sharp action of Doom, and the subtle sense of place and interactivity of Duke Nukem 3D. Essentially, Dusk is a retro shooter fan's dream come true.
Knack 2 is a bloated experience that no one asked for. Sony Computer Entertainment Japan can be credited with improving over the first game, but that's not saying much.