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For all the warranted concern of AAA developers veering too far from gameplay into pure cinematic awe, there's no denying Ninja Theory's narrative depiction of mental health is an infectious one — the type of narrative that has been long overdue in this industry.
While the slow movement speed drags things out, Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth is a must-play for anyone wanting a game to tell a narrative that doesn't talk down to the player.
More Than a Feeling takes two steps forward and one step back, as the team at Telltale finally demonstrate their sense of direction for the season ahead in the most humorous and intriguing episode this far. The lack of diverse environments makes the gameplay seem less subtly formulaic than other Telltale titles, but the significant plot improvements bodes well for the remainder of the season.
White Day: A Labyrinth Named School is in many ways akin to the horror games that flourished in the PS2 era.
F1 2017 is the best representation of a complicated sport that Codemasters has offered. Offering its deepest and most authentic career mode, it draws players into the sport like no other F1 game ever has. You will learn the in-and-outs of the sport and feel like an engineer yourself. F1 2017 successfully hits 60 FPS at 4K resolution with a sacrifice in graphical detail. The racing is true-to-life on the track, but the A.I. is severely lacking. Fans of the franchise will really enjoy 2017.
Yakuza Kiwami remakes the original game in a near-perfect way.
Cities: Skylines – PlayStation 4 Edition brings an excellent city-simulator to consoles offering an amazing interface and excellent visuals. Everything is straightforward in terms of gameplay and the game feels like a modern take on the older and excellent versions of Sim City. While the console version may lack some of the content the PC version does, there is more than enough here to keep anyone busy.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy embraces what the series has become so renowned for: placing real, relatable people in impossible situations that force them to come out better and stronger on the other side or not come out at all.
Over Fence has an average game on their hands with Flip Wars. There is so much potential here for bigger and better things, but for the time being, it's fun and worthy of parties.
It's a truism that writing up reviews on mediocre games is the most difficult aspect of games coverage.
This is possibly the biggest update that a Madden game has ever seen.
We're living in a post-Saints Row world where Volition wants to bring players something new, but familiar to the table, and for the most part, Agents of Mayhem fills that void. It retains Saints Row's sense of humor and mayhem all while adding in team-oriented gameplay. It's the agents and their individual stories that steal the show thanks to snappy writing, bizarre scenarios, and perfect comedic timing. The story itself is a highlight thanks to the insane villains, although it takes a few chapters before things pick up. It's disappointing that the remaining activities are so repetitive and lack the imagination of what Volition is known for, and with a myriad of technical issues, it feels like Agents of Mayhem was shoved out the door earlier than it should have. Still, despite a few hiccups, there are still hours of fun to be had with Agents of Mayhem. It may not be the best open-world game out there, but like its predecessors, it stands out in a sea of AAA titles that take themselves far too seriously.
Sonic Mania is one of those games that your childhood has always dreamed of.
Outrageous artwork aside, Nidhogg 2 is cut from the same cloth as Nidhogg. It attempts to enhance gameplay by offering more weapons and this was a successful move.
Crashday: Redline Edition is an excellent pickup for anyone who loves intense racing action.
With eight different classes that feel completely unique from each other, and the zero gravity mechanics that can yield firefights the likes of which have not truly been seen before, LawBreakers makes a mark of its own in an increasingly crowded genre.
For the pure cool factor of having the last four numbered games from the original Mega Man's career in one set on a current machine, Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 is absolutely a must buy.
The Enigma offers plenty of teases for the season ahead while also improving upon the combat and presentation for Telltale's take on the powerless superhero.
Tacoma doesn't match the excellence of Gone Home in the story department, but nonetheless manages to provide a quick yet engaging adventure.
The Shrouded Isle is a perfect game if looking for something quick and easy to play.