GameCrate's Reviews
Pro Evolution Soccer 18 is another viable competitor to EA's FIFA dominance, though the same familiar shortcomings continue to plague the franchise.
As a Danganronpa fan, I liked Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, but I hesitate to call it a must-play. It's a great puzzle game to keep you busy while you wait for the next Phoenix Wright or Professor Layton, but you won't walk away from this one happy. What did you expect from a series obsessed with despair?
Destiny 2 is an overall improvement over the original with changes that make the game more rewarding, valuable of your time, and gameplay that anyone could get into.
Metroid: Samus Returns is a must-purchase for any long-time Metroid fan and a perfect example of the genre. It bodes well for Metroid's future and makes me excited for Samus's next big adventure.
It still remains to be seen how much long-term potential Absolver has, but I'm confident that Sloclap will slowly build the game up into a unique hybrid of a story-driven martial arts adventure and a sustainable (not to mention unique) online fighting game. Again, I don't want to get too ahead of myself, but I could see Absolver becoming one of the big standout hits of 2017 and beyond, and I hope Sloclap sees that as well.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm's first episode is heavy on atmosphere and emotion, but light on narrative or gameplay. It will appeal to those who loved the heart-wrenching drama of the first game, but could have a hard time attracting any new fans.
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is an unexpected delight. Fans of tactical strategy games should absolutely pick this one up as soon as possible and enjoy dozens of hours of intense battles and detailed progression.
Agents of Mayhem has enough gameplay diversity and fun characters to keep you occupied for a few hours, but it won't take long for the repetitive missions, horrendously heavy-handed comedic overtones, and tired gameplay loop to wear on your patience.
Aeon is a VR shooter that will appeal to gamers who enjoy a serious challenge. It's much less casual-friendly than similar VR titles and will cause frustration for some, but for the right kind of player they'll find hours of enjoyement to be had.
If this is the last Uncharted game for Naughty Dog, it's a great epilogue to Uncharted 4 and a solid guide on how the game should move forward in case Sony wants to bring on another developer keep the franchise going.
Aztez may not be for everyone, but if you’re looking for a game that brings two distinct genres together in a very compelling and unique manner, it’s definitely worth checking out.
I hope this series persists as long as Telltale's Walking Dead series has. I'd love to see how their interpretation changes and grows as they have more time to work with the characters.
LawBreakers offers innovative gameplay and an in-your-face attitude, and the gameplay part, at least, succeeds more than it fails. The game will have to fight to survive, but there's fun to be had and incredible skins to unlock by playing right now.
Mental illness is a seldom discussed and often misunderstood topic. While Hellblade is far from a direct and immediate exploration of psychosis and how it affects people, it uses a powerful narrative mixed with symbolic gameplay elements to weave a tale of horrific trauma and unsettling experiences. Hellblade is easily one of 2017's very best games, and the best game I've played all year that isn't Zelda.
Sonic Mania is a wonderful blend of classic Sonic and new ideas, and should serve as an example of the great things that can happen when game companies embrace fan creators. There's no reason Sonic Mania shouldn't be followed by multiple sequels that continue its remixing magic.
It's hard to deny that Nidhogg 2 is more casually oriented than Nidhogg 1 was, and that's going to turn a lot of Nidhogg 1's hardcore fanbase off. But if you can get beyond the random gameplay and the weird character design, there is a lot of fun to be had here, especially for its low price tag.
Rez is an on-rails shooter that shines due to its unique auditory and visual design. Rez has aged well, and the added immersion of VR makes a great game even better.
Tacoma tells a compelling story with a disappointing conclusion.
Archangel is an on-rails shooter with a promising concept, but is disappointingly average in almost every way.
Sundered's immense sense of style carries it over any bumps in the road, and the result is one of the best Metroidvania games released in years.