Softpedia
HomepageSoftpedia's Reviews
Starpoint Gemini 2 is a very solid entry in the space simulation genre and a dedicated gamer can spend tens of hours exploring every area of the included Gemini sector, finding cool secrets and battling a range of enemies, some capable and some not.
Tales from the Borderlands Episode 1: Zer0 Sum sets the stage for another amazing adventure experience from Telltale Games. The title perfectly complements the shooters made by Gearbox while taking things further thanks to the special characters and the crazy adventures they go through. There are a lot of hilarious moments but also some really dramatic ones that are punctuated by the choices made by players.
Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham is a fun experience but it would've benefited more if it had embraced the whole Justice League theme. What's more, its puzzles need a bit of tuning, as some are really tricky to figure out, which can grow frustrating even for experienced Lego fans. Still, you'll find quite a lot of amusing moments and a pretty fun story, once you get past the opening stages.
Football Manager 2015 does not feel like a must-have update for the series and I suspect that many fans will play their copies of FM 2014 for a while longer and will wait to see how the title evolves before they get it.
Grand Theft Auto 5 on the new platforms is a great comeback for the already impressive game. The first-person view mode, the enhanced visuals, and the many different smaller alterations transform the game into an even better experience. However, lingering problems with the gameplay and a few visual issues keep it from achieving perfection.
This War of Mine is challenging from both a gameplay point of view and a philosophical one because it asks gamers to survive and then confronts them with the compromises and outright betrayals of their principles required to reach that goal.
Far Cry 4 is a stunning iteration in the series that manages to bring forth great gameplay, superb visuals, and a pretty good story with a fabulous villain. While the competitive multiplayer may not feel all that great and there are some lackluster story missions, overall you'll have a great time with the first-person shooter.
Valkyria Chronicles is an interesting title that certainly takes some of the core ideas of the Japanese role-playing game genre and twists them in innovative ways, but the whole package has not managed to fully capture my attention.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 is the best football simulation experience that Konami has delivered in years, and next year the series might actually be a challenge that EA Sports needs to take into account as it develops its own FIFA series.
I liked Dungeon of the Endless a lot, mainly due to the fact that it does pretty much everything right. It has the right balance to allow for longer play sessions once you start getting the hang of it, but it also pays respect to the roguelike elements at its core.
Dragon Age: Inquisition is a great game, with a mostly engaging story and some impressive battle moments, and the development team at BioWare has managed to outdo itself when it comes to character evolution, graphics quality and world building.
Assassin's Creed Unity is a good step in the series, managing to successfully overhaul most of the core mechanics. However, a lot of polishing is needed in terms of freerunning or stealth to make it all work as intended. The co-op is pretty fun, but be careful of the pretty common frame drops, errors, and annoying missions, as they can really pull you out of the experience.
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers 20th Anniversary is a worthwhile remake of the classic Sierra point-and-click adventure game. However, big-time fans of the original will most likely dislike some aspects of the newer incarnation.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare offers a much more innovative take on the first-person shooter series than previous installments, but it's still shackled to the core recipe of forcing players to follow allies through set piece moments in the story campaign. The multiplayer offers a higher degree of innovation and it should certainly entertain quite a lot of fans who are open to trying the new mechanics.
Sunset Overdrive is a great open world action adventure game that manages to impress through its rich environments, vibrant colors, and tongue-in-cheek attitude. While the missions are somewhat generic and the enemies are a bit cheap in their attacks, it's still an awesome investment for any Xbox One owner.
Minutes is an innovative experience that manages to capture your heart through the clever premise. However, it's way too challenging for its own good and becomes downright punishing as you progress through the levels. Still, if you're interested in something refreshing and aren't afraid of constantly retrying levels, you'll have a great time with this title on the PS4 or on the PS Vita, as it's cross-buy enabled.
Lords of the Fallen is a decent role-playing experience with some innovative features but it's weighed down by the balancing problems and the technical issues. After a few updates, it might become a good and challenging RPG, but for now, it falls short.
Costume Quest 2 is a decent sequel in terms of story but lacks the necessary gameplay innovations. Environments are varied but a bit confusing and some of the new costumes are relatively fun, while others recycle abilities seen in the first two experiences. As such, while fans will certainly enjoy the "more of the same" nature of the new title, those looking for more new things might have to go elsewhere.
Beyond Earth is just as innovative when it comes to the mechanics of the turn-based strategy series as Civilization V was before it and gamers will need a bit of time to become accustomed to the increased customization, the tech web and the powerful challenge posed by the alien life.
South Park Pinball is a very good addition to the collection of any fan of the virtual version of the past time, and all fans of the animated television series will be pleased with the way the look and the core relationships are replicated.