GameCrate's Reviews
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is a solid addition to the Borderlands franchise that brings refreshing gameplay and new characters to the table. While not reinventing the wheel, it still manages to keep you entertained for hours on end—an experience that is all the more enjoyable when played in co-op mode.
Easily one of the best racing experiences in this generation of games to date, Forza Horizon 2 improves upon the greatness of the original, while opening up a plethora of fun through Xbox Live as well. You won't be sorry hitting the road with this one.
Styx: Master of Shadows has a promising set-up that, at times, feels like a much-needed boost to the stealth genre, and that's something fans can appreciate after being let down by Thief. However, broken combat mechanics, combined with audio and level design issues, leave this game feeling somewhat incomplete. Stealth fans may be tempted to give it a try, but not everyone needs to pick up Styx.
DriveClub has enough good driving components to be worth a spin, but it doesn't come close to living up to the experience Sony promised with its year long delay. The frustrating AI issues, poor penalty system and unrealized social experience puts it second place behind Microsoft's far better Forza. Perhaps next year we'll see a closer battle between the two. Or, hey, how about a next-gen MotorStorm? That would've hit the spot.
Chariot isn't just a reminder of the classic co-op gaming experiences. It presents a fun, interesting wrinkle on platforming games as we know it, while pertaining a certain sense of charm in its presentation. Frima Games has made a truly satisfying game that should please all sorts of players – even with that nagging king complaining nearly every step of the way. Rest in peace already!
While Castlestorm: Definitive Edition can't quite dominate the market as other next-gen remakes have, it's still got plenty to offer for fans of action and strategy games. Besides, you haven't lived until you've seen a ballista impale a pair of giants.
Shadow of Mordor is an automatic recommendation for anyone who enjoys 3rd-person melee combat action games. Whether you're a Tolkien fan or not, you'll find a lot to love in the game's satisfying combat and innovative mechanics.
Standing apart from duller entries in the tower defense genre, Defense Grid 2 validates the genre with exciting gameplay and a sharp presentation that avoids the usual pratfalls of said genre. Add in surprisingly good multiplayer and you have a game that definitely lives up to its KickStarter promises.
This is clearly a game made by Holmes fans, for Holmes fans (although you don't have to have read the stories to enjoy it). Hopefully the game doesn't get lose in the holiday game release madness, because it would be great to see follow-up titles building upon all that this game does right.
Sim 4 has all the appetizers, but no main course. It may work for some, but it's just not for me.
I'm happy I spent the past few days playing through Vanishing and I'd recommend it to patient gamers who are fans of mysterious experiences, non-linear storytelling, and games that are heavy on atmosphere.
Gauntlet looks and sounds great in most parts. The character models move smoothly and the Gauntlet textures are all detailed nicely. The various lines the characters spout at or about each other are cute and make the game feel more alive and dynamic. In other areas, the game feels rushed, like with the overuse of the "Death Runs" and simple artwork stills to convey story elements. It's these blemishes that make Gauntlet feel like a cheap downloadable console network game.
The latest entry to the Zelda franchise, Hyrule Warriors is a game that lives up to the hype. The combination of innovative gameplay and immersive graphics makes this title a must-have for pretty much anyone who owns a Wii U.
The game is packed with so much content that it'll keep you busy for hours on end. And it's even more engrossing when you're playing with friends.
Since EA has no competition as far as NHL games go, if you want a next-gen hockey title and you don't want to wait for next year, then you're going to end up buying this one. It's not a bad game as it is, and the promised additional features will be nice. There's plenty of replay value and deep modes to explore, if you're so inclined. The basic difficulty is challenging enough to keep you challenged for a long time, and the harder setting can be positively brutal.
Some players will appreciate the fact that this game is remorseless a lot of the time. Meanwhile others — even fans of this sort of punishing experience — may feel that the game is a bit too daunting at times.
I appreciated both the familiar elements of Runers and the new ideas that were tried. The options for customizing your character were also a great addition, and the variety of enemy types, character classes, and spells was a great asset to the game. The learning curve may inevitably drive some people off, but with a little experience the game becomes quite fun.
While First Light comes up just a bit short compared to the full Second Son game, it's a fine continuation for the series, and a fresh take on what's happening within this universe. Now, if we could just get a co-op experience featuring "Fetch" and Delsin, we'd be all set.
Overall, the game is fun. It's Madden. You know what you're getting. They actually cleaned up the core gameplay rather than simply changing rosters and updating graphics, which is pretty cool. There's no in-depth MyPlayer component a la The Show, NBA2k or the EA's own NHL series. It's funny how the dream in NFL games is to be the owner or the coach, not the player.
Dance Central Spotlight may not break the mold when it comes to being the ultimate next-gen experience, but it does provide a comfortable groove that fans will no doubt want to slip back into – especially as far as the new price point is concerned. $10 is a good value, and being able to add songs and DLC at your own free will is a nice freedom to have. Although, seriously, "Turn Down For What." That's a party in itself.