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As a crossover between two of the more beloved alternative Mario adventures coming together as one, it truly feels like the paper mâché of the spin-off Mario RPG titles. Not all of its elements stick together entirely or fit nicely, but Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam still gets by with a lot of heart and humor to boot.
The fourth episode leaves players with the satisfaction of one part of the adventure over (for now), though the the fifth chapter we'll have to see what's left in the blueprints for the series to be building towards.
Fans of previous titles will find a lot to love here, with the replayability factor high in recruiting a killer squad of creatures. Having only one version available helps the game too, as there is no confusion to be had in what you're getting. From the moment you pick up the personality test to beating the final boss, Super Mystery Dungeon is a treat for fans of the series.
Still, Yo-Kai Watch makes for a good time on the 3DS. It might scratch the itch of a long-time Pokemon fan, and will surely delight younger players. This game doesn't rewrite the formula and will likely not go down in history as an all-time great, but it's a fun, worthwhile experience.
If you're not among that number and you crave a bit more flash and innovation in your JRPG, then you might understandably skip this, even if it means missing out on an intriguing tale.
Just Cause 3 is fun game to take photos, stream or make videos of you doing something amazing since its "no-rules approach" to combat can create some uniquely stellar action scenes.
Even if we don't know quite where all the pieces will be falling in to place for Jesse, Petra, and the other crew members we have been following as they assemble the Order of the Stone. The blueprint for their journey is at least becoming a little clearer, and seeing how everything comes together may just be the most exciting part of the puzzle.
Tri-Force Heroes shares a similar visual style to the 3DS' excellent A Link Between Worlds but the comparisons end there. For a handheld Zelda, this latest installment is serviceable and shallow in light of what the series has provided before.
Ultimately, Call of Duty: Black Ops III hits a lot of targets, but misses some, at times in ways that I struggle to understand. That said, it's fun, fast and it comes nicely wrapped with a ton of content and longevity. If you love first person shooters, you'll most probably sink a lot of hours into this game. It's not a revolution, but I can definitely define Treyarch's labor of love as a positive evolution.
Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival is a fun and entertaining party game featuring cute little animal people (or people-people) you can play with your family. And it doesn't hurt that the title itself is free to download, although you need at least one amiibo to play the game. If you have needs that lie outside of those above listed properties you may be better off searching for another title altogether.
As a massively popular franchise that has already dominated the imaginations of fans that have devoured the five novels and those that have survived five seasons of its brutal television adaptation, Telltale Games' Game of Thrones certainly walked a difficult path in playing the (figurative) "game of thrones." While it sometimes felt a bit overburdened by trying to recreate scenarios and situations from its source material, Telltale proved itself more than capable of providing a supplementary experience to the television series/novels that Game of Thrones fans can certainly enjoy in its own right, and in particular will certainly find rewards in replaying events differently for wildly-different outcomes. The world that Game of Thrones evokes is one of bloodshed and many hardships, and whether you win or die by the end of Telltale's version of the series, Game of Thrones is still an enjoyable experience, all the way to its bloody end.
Likewise, the season-long trial for Gared Tuttle to discover the fabled "North Grove" detailed by his family also comes to its conclusion, with its end in particular providing plenty of promise and airs of spectacle. While Gared's storyline was never in particular one of my favorites in the series – given its heavy resemblance to that of Jon Snow's in the television series – the finale provides some great closure in Gared's story, despite his action having been so secluded from the rest of the Forrester clan in comparison. Despite some of the more uneven aspects of the series as a whole – its mixed visual style and its sometimes over reliance on recreating events similar to the original television series – "The Ice Dragon" proves to be a finale as satisfying as much as it is incredibly bloody and heartbreaking in many ways. Though Game of Thrones' experience wasn't always at the level of some of Telltale's previous efforts like The Walking Dead or this year's Tales from the Borderlands, Episode 6 brings the Forrester's tale to a close, but leaves more than a few loose ends to clearly suggest that their tale may be able to continue for additional seasons. Even though winter is coming, it's clear that the Forrester's tale of vengeance and redemption is just beginning.
Though the later episodes of Life is Strange lacked some of the strength and poignancy of its earlier chapters, its set-up and world grabbed me immediately, which Dontnod deserves immense credit for creating an experience out of elements that, taken on their own terms, seemed like they never would have worked. You can boil down Life is Strange to a time-traveling decision-making teen girl simulator at its basic level, but it also happens to be one of the most compelling stories of the year with great characters and style, even if its story comes at odds sometimes with its gameplay and core ideas. Even though at this point now I know how Maxine and Chloe's story ends with the conclusion of Life is Strange, I'll happily rewind back to the beginning for another chance at seeing their story again for the first time.
From the very start, I was expecting a fun, light-hearted take on a series that already doesn't quite take itself too seriously; by the end, I didn't know what to expect from a series that kept me guessing at every possible turn, and more importantly provided one of the funniest and most enjoyable game experiences of the year. Even in theater and film, it's often said that comedy is a heck of a lot harder to pull off than drama, yet Telltale Games' Tales from the Borderlands pulls off laughs, shocks, and cheers nearly effortlessly.
Overall, for those looking for their Strategy RPG fix, especially on the PS4, should definitely pick up Disgaea 5. The new features make the gameplay experience even better. Of course, the over the top humorous setting of the game, including the story and the characters never ceases to entertain.
The varied and meaningful skill tree system is the best part of Wasteland 2, as it pushes you to create a very defined set of characters. Assigning skill points is consequential, and while that level of permanence is not felt in the narratives decision making, the combat and unique factions you come across will be enough to push you forward. Wasteland 2 is a great CRPG ported to consoles, and while you may find some technical hiccups, the overall experience is well worth it.
"Polarized" will most likely be the most…well, polarizing episode of Life is Strange, and though the episode falters a bit compared to the times it succeeds, it still concludes the tale of Max, Chloe, and the numerous citizens of Arcadia Bay with style, emotion, and nearly every loose thread wrapped up neatly. While "Polarized" maybe suffers the most from some of the more "gamey" elements of Life is Strange, it still brings with it so many of the qualities that made Life is Strange a unique, if not quite perfect episodic experience. From a dreamlike sequence ripped straight out of Twin Peaks, to a gripping murder mystery, to a touching story of friendship and support, Life is Strange has been daring and unafraid to try something different, and "Polarized" caps off the season with a poignant and touching picture to remember the series by, even if the end result is a little overexposed.
Even with some of the strongest elements from Minecraft: Story Mode's debut missing, "Assembly Required" is a decent follow-up to the series premiere, though it mostly serves to keep the story chugging along at a leisurely pace, rather than going full-speed ahead.
It's been over seven years since I first fell in love with the series with Fallout 3, and obviously with 4 on the horizon, there's no way of knowing when (or long) it will be until we can jump back into the wasteland once again. However, all I can think of in my time with Fallout 4 is how great it is to be back home again: I don't mind staying for a while.
Ultimately, Rise of the Tomb Raider is definitely one of the best games released in 2015. It improves on its predecessor massively, and on basically every aspect of the game. It looks better, it plays better, it comes with more and better puzzles, a better story and a better Lara Croft to boot. While the Tomb Raider we got in 2013 wasn't by any means a bad game, I have no hesitation in saying that this is the game that finally does Lara Croft's glorious franchise justice.