Forbes's Reviews
As with any of these toy-video-game cross over products Lego Dimensions is not cheap. However, it's come in with super high production values, loads of content and tens of hours of game-play. In an already crowded it stands out from the crowd by taking the toys-to-life genre another step in the right direction.
Overall, Skylanders Superchargers is a very impressive package. Totting up how much extra content you get makes it very good value. Add to that the full backward compatibility support for all the previous figures, new online and racing modes and high end production value and it's a very tempting package. Superchargers is the moment we really see Skylanders deliver on its potential. It's not the cheapest game to play with your family but it delivers a huge amount of value.
Alongside substantial improvement to the game there has been considerable effort to improve the value here with the lower price starter pack. Disney Infinity 3.0 will be hard to resist for fans of the film and families looking for this year's toy-to-life video-game investment.
I'm sure it won't be for everyone, but if you enjoy horror movies like Scream and want to experience the genre with some agency in the story's outcome, Until Dawn is a great choice. I give the game a resounding Buy on my Buy/Hold/Sell scale. It's like no other game out there.
From exploration to puzzle-solving to the charming story and lovely graphics, King's Quest: A Knight To Remember is a delightful game. It takes some of the Telltale formula, then adds in a lot more action and problem-solving and combines that with a story that isn't grim or terrible, but instead remains fun, funny and engaging. Old fans and new will find something to enjoy here, in a genre that's all but disappeared from gaming. As the saying goes, "The really don't make games like this anymore." But they should. I can't wait for Episode 2.
Firing up Journey on PS4 is a delight. It's so gorgeous and fluid in 1080p and 60 frames-per-second. Even though that's really the only thing different about it, it's a wonderful experience.
I give it a Buy on my Buy/Sell/Hold rating scale, but only because it's pretty cheap already. You certainly won't miss out too much if you wait for a Steam sale or Humble Bundle or some such and save a few dollars.
For my part, I'm glad to have played it and had quite a fun time doing so, though I think I would be happier if I'd purchased at a discounted rate. I give the game a Hold on my Buy/Sell/Hold rating scale. Even though I do believe the strong story and slick graphics make up for many of the game's problems, the disappointing Batmobile is very nearly a deal-breaker. Certainly it means I will likely not be playing the game a second time.
All told, I give the game a Buy in my Buy/Hold/Sell ranking. For all its flaws—and I realize that I've listed many—it is one of the most sprawling, magnificent solo RPGs ever made. It does too little to fix its mechanical problems, and focuses too much on creating an open world, but the quality of its quest design, world-building, and wonderful (if too large) cast of characters makes it a game that no RPG fan should miss. It may be a flawed masterpiece, but it's a masterpiece nonetheless.
It is also an interesting melding of the episodic adventure popularized by Telltale, the Doublefine puzzle game and the emergent genre of Cascadian environmental and self-exploration of which Gone Home is the definitive example. Fans of these forms are likely to find much to enjoy. Gentle, unhurried and with an ambient layer of puzzle-solving, this is a so far very successful melding of genres.
In Sum: If you liked The New Order, you'll like The Old Blood. If you haven't played either, both are more than worth your time and money. I give the game a BUY on my Buy/Hold/Sell rating scale.
It may not do anything spectacularly well, or bring anything too new or innovative to the genre, but what it does it does well, bringing gamers a solid fighting experience that can appeal to relative newbs like me as well as more stalwart fans.
I give Bloodborne a resounding Buy in my Buy/Hold/Sell rating scale. This is the first true system-seller for the PS4, the first game that convinces me that the PS4 is a system worth purchasing. It isn't for everyone, of course. If you don't like hard games you probably won't like this one. But even gamers who didn't like the Souls games have been pleased with Bloodborne, like our own Paul Tassi. So who knows?
Overall, this is a worthy remaster and a nice addition to the slim-pickings on new-gen hardware. If you already own the game on PC I see no reason to get it on console, but if you played it and enjoyed it on last-gen and are looking for a reason to dust off the PS4 or Xbox One, I think it's worth your time. If you missed the game entirely, go pick it up. It's absolutely worth playing for anyone fond of action games.
The game looks great, of course, with an aesthetic right in line with Super Mario World 3D. And everything is polished enough, functional. It just isn't quite enough game to justify the sticker-price, and certainly isn't for anyone hoping to play solo. I don't say this as someone who yearns longingly for the days of Mario Party yore, but rather as someon who comes to the series pretty fresh, and is still left wanting more.
All told, an excellent follow-up to Hotline Miami. Level design isn't as tight as the first game, and certainly some of the novelty has worn off. But nevertheless, it's a thought-provoking, challenging, and well-crafted experience that any fan of the first game should check out.
There are criticisms to be made: whether or not a player will enjoy Gravity Ghost depends to a significant extent on how much they enjoy the core loop – which in this case often means actual loops. It can be finished in a single sitting – the game's 90-odd levels can be completed in three hours at a canter, or four with a more leisurely pace. And $15 for such a short game may be a sticking point for some, although I felt it passed the popcorn test – whether it provided as much value as a movie ticket and popcorn – handily.
All told, There Came An Echo is a journey worth taking. The story takes some unexpected — if sometimes uneven — turns, the voice acting is on point, and the advanced speech recognition Iridium Studios has developed is beyond promising. I fully expect them to have a secondary revenue stream licensing out this technology. Go buy it, go play it, go support indie developers who take risks in the name of unique gaming experiences.
I give this game a Hold. It's not a bad game, but the inexplicable game design decisions that bog it down, and the relatively short amount of time you actually spend playing, make it a tough sell at $60. It's one of those games I find myself liking, but even more so wishing were something more—more the game it could have been, and less the game it is.
If you're a fan of the series, I'd say this is worth picking up. If you're new to the series, this is a good place to start. On the other hand, if you're not into the competitive multiplayer and are coming for the single-player campaign, I'd say wait for a price-drop. If you prefer open-world shooters rather than action-movie, linear campaigns I'd say hold off entirely. Call of Duty is not for you.