Toronto Sun
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We need more game developers and publishers willing to gamble on made-from-scratch worlds and ideas, but The Order: 1886 feels like it might have fared better as a film, graphic novel or TV series. As a game, there's just not enough propping up this shining suit of armour.
It's tough to get excited by video game zombies these days, but by blending a detailed open world, cool parkour moves and a satisfyingly deep system for character and weapon customization, Dying Light has clawed out a novel space in this crowded genre. Long live the undead.
Like the stories from which the characters are borrowed, Code Name S.T.E.A.M. truly is the video game equivalent of a page-turner, and I dare anyone not to be sucked in by its charisma. It may start off slowly, but before you can bellow "STAR SPANGLED SLAMMER!" you'll be telling yourself "just one more level."
There are a few other niggling issues, like occasionally problematic camera controls, the baffling lack of an instant replay feature and some overall rough edges in the presentation. But for that narrow subset of players who like racing, puzzle and construction games – and who have a slightly sadistic streak, to boot – Screamride is not to be missed. It's almost enough to make you forget high school physics. Almost.
Just make sure your Wii Remotes have those rubber cushion thingies on them before you play. Less chance of someone getting "accidentally" injured.
The Resident Evil series clearly has experienced its fair share of peaks and valleys, and Revelations 2 hovers closer to the former. While I generally love me some co-op in video games, here's hoping that if Capcom adds it to future Resident Evil games, the AI characters are actually capable of outsmarting the zombies they're surrounded by.
Now that I've returned to the world of Castle Wolfenstein [by finishing Old Blood], I'll definitely pull my copy of Wolfenstein: The New Order off the shelf and give it a go. And I suspect – or at least hope – it will be a little more fulfilling.
Splatoon is a lively, vibrant, clever game that turns the shooter genre on its ear, and in the early going it's a blast to play. But unless Nintendo can quickly adapt to the fluid nature of these sorts of games and ensure it remains fun for all types of players, it might not find the long-term audience it deserves. Like a beautiful coat of paint on a wall that wasn't properly primed, the cracks are already beginning to show.
[U]nless you're a kid who thinks this sort of thing is edgy and cool – hey, we were all young and dumb once – your $22 is better spent elsewhere.
Still, Batman: Arkham Knight is a game that shows what can happen when an insanely talented development studio is completely invested in a fictional universe and has mastered the technology to bring it to life. We've become the Batman before, but never quite like this.
Massive Chalice's personality and ingenuity ultimately win out over its shortcomings, and it's certainly worth a try for strategy fans who don't want anything too ponderous or serious. But its cup does not, as they say, runneth over.
To put it more succinctly: after careful consideration, I've decided to endorse this game.
Still, Rocket League is one of those games that almost anyone can pick up and enjoy, yet still find themselves getting better at after dozens of hours of play. It's a throwback to the good old days of gaming, when fun mattered more than anything.
I've never played anything quite like Guild of Dungeoneering, and while its lo-fi look took some time to win me over, it's become my go-to game for quick, bite-sized gaming that still satisfies an overall sense of achievement. As the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog taught us, we shouldn't judge something on cuteness alone.
A new face and name certainly brings a sense of freshness to Rory McIlroy PGA Tour, but the novelty isn't enough to make up for the lack of content. While there's a decent game of golf here, it won't be occupying the top of the leaderboard any time soon.
It's like an adults-only Scooby-Doo mystery with blood, swearing and sphincter-clenching scares. Only the good kinds of fear.
Fury Road was a big, expensive, risky film that paid off because of the irrepressible will and talent of its director, George Miller. In video game form, Mad Max lacks that same kind of originality and danger. It's familiar and formulaic, competent but rarely exceptional. This Max could have used a little more madness.
Legend has it that Shigeru Miyamoto designed his original Super Mario Bros. levels on long rolls of graph paper. The tools have certainly changed over the decades, but the magic – in the right hands, at least – remains exactly the same.
True, I still don't know my Hunter's name. But suddenly I'm a lot more excited about spending another year with her.
After the disappointment of last season's effort, NHL 16 feels like a solid rebuilding year. It may not go all the way to the Stanley Cup, but it definitely won't miss the playoffs.