GameCrate's Reviews
A difficult game that is best played in short, frustrating, happy bursts.
Rocket League fared as one of last year's biggest surprises, a game that grew from the somewhat undiscovered Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle Cars into an eSports phenomenon. It continues the status quo with its Xbox One build, with a polished presentation that doesn't let up, smooth gameplay, and a ton of options for both online and offline play. If you haven't discovered this gem yet, you won't find a better time.
World's Dawn doesn't reinvent the wheel for farming simulators, but it really doesn't have to. It's a fun, relaxing game for people seeking exactly that.
Solid gameplay and core but light on content. It will be exciting to see what's coming in the future, but I can't help but be somewhat disappointed with the initial set of modes.
Like so many other titles created using RPG Maker, Apocalypse Hotel is held down by the tools used to develop it. It's kind of fun, but only in short sessions.
While Assassin's Creed Chronicles Russia isn't quite up there with the best adventures in the series, it's still the best release in the trilogy, thanks to its moody settings, its acceptable range of gameplay and its fun storytelling. You'll definitely have more fun with this one than you would the previous two games. Might as well finish up in style, right?
While it isn't perfect, The Following openly embraces everything that made Dying Light a standout hit of 2015 and also injects enough fresh content to warrant a return visit from even the most hardcore of Harran's explorers.
Firewatch certainly isn't a game for everyone, with its non-violent tone, its heavy emotional toll and its somewhat choppy visuals from time to time. That said, it presents a fresh breath of content to the genre that some players won't want to miss, especially when it comes to its characterization and exciting scenarios. This is one game that definitely delivers the slow burn – in a good way.
Unravel succeeds by coupling together a thoughtful, moving story with challenging platforming scenarios and a gorgeous presentation that brings out the best from EA's "indie" side. It may leave you stuck in a few places, but this is one of those games that certainly won't, ahem, string you along.
The Greens tell a brave story with That Dragon, Cancer. Joel Green's life may have been short, but it was an important, beautiful life that's now being shared with the world.
When it comes to my Dynasty Warriors style kicks, I still prefer the much more stylish Dragon Quest Heroes and Hyrule Warriors. However, Arslan is a decent choice in its own right, despite its technical flaws and slightly repetitive gameplay. Some of the tactics introduced here are dazzling, and the story goes much further than your usual Warriors fare. On top of that, it's a good time with a friend who's savvy when it comes to killing enemies by the dozens. Add some extra points to the score if you're a fan of Arslan, because this game specifically goes the extra mile for you.
Had the team at GameCoder shied away from formula and tried to do something more unique with Attractio, I think we could've ended up with a far better game. As it stands, it feels too "me too"-ish, without any sort of validated story or voice acting, and that makes the $20 purchase one that isn't so, erm, attractive.
Perhaps if Whiskey Jack Games can add more quests and clean up the performance issues, Crudelis might be a solid title. As it stands right after launch, however, it's hard to recommend.
Some people complain that the last thing we need these days are HD ports of "games gone by," as it were. However, Gravity Rush Remastered provides a hell of an argument that they're still worthwhile, especially if they're done the right way. This is an ideal way to become introduced in the series, and it'll get you excited for the sequel to come. No need to, ahem, flip out.
The Witness is one of the most elegant puzzlers around. It'll make you think, it'll make you laugh, and it'll make you yell. Above all else, though, it'll take you on one memorable journey that will stay with you for a long time.
Night School Studio has delivered a shining example of narrative excellence with Oxenfree. The story, the characters, the look, and the sound all come together to create an unforgettable series of wonderful moments.
Leave it to TT Games to save the day once more with the Marvel license. Lego Marvel's Avengers lives up to the same level of appeal as Super Heroes did years ago, but expands upon it with some fundamental new combat ideas and an overload of content to unlock. Sure, the voice acting may not always fit, and there may be a few visual hiccups here and there, but this crew still saves the day in the end – and that's what counts.
XCOM 2 is a big success that delivers in just about every way you could ask for. Fans of the franchise or the strategy genre in general will love it.
Due to the fact that Pony Island only asks a minor investment in terms of both time and price point ($5), but even more so because it's just so much fun, it falls under "must-play" territory and provides a vastly different experience from other modern-day indies.
With a few tweaks and maybe a more casual-friendly difficulty level, Tharsis could be a fun strategy alternative for those who don't enjoy building large kingdoms or waging wars that take hours to complete. In its current state however, Tharsis is little more than a sadistically cruel game of digital roulette.