Examiner's Reviews
Overall, NHL 16 is a remarkably improved experience compared to last year's. With more depth and features, addictive Be A Pro and Be A GM modes, stunning visuals and an exquisite gameplay experience, NHL 16 is exactly what people hoped NHL 15 would be: a great game.
Impactful decisions, great creative and stylish choices, and some truly memorable moments make this episode one to check out, and a bargain at that.
When it comes down to it, Forza Motorsport 6 offers more than any other version in the past. The game is extremely fun, and feels like the way to go if people wanted to start getting serious about simulators. The game certainly has simulation aspects, but falls behind when comparing to Project Cars or Gran Turismo. Forza 6 is certainly a visual accomplishment on the Xbox One, but the consistency with the sense of speed sets it a tad back. The game offers a lot of different and productive things to do and it rewards you with perks to keep you coming back for more.
If there weren't balances to these rather significant downers, the game would suffer greatly, but with the story picking up near the end, the driving being fun and the drive to customize both Max and the Magnum Opus being truly motivating, the game ends up being a fun, but not great experience.
Super Mario Maker makes level creation incredibly easy and accessible for gamers of all ages. The Wii U GamePad is the perfect tool for level creation thanks to the touchscreen. Whether you are an adult or child, Mario Maker is a stress-free experience to make levels and see your vision become reality. Super Mario Maker is a brilliant Mario game, and a game that Mario fans and those aspiring to be game creators must-play.
Dishonored: Definitive Edition delivers just that, the definitive experience, as long as you've got a PlayStation 4, or Xbox One, and have not played the game previously with the available DLC. If you're looking for something to get through those doldrums of draught that inevitably follow certain seasons, this is a game that deserves time from both old and new players looking to get into the world of Dunwall again. As remasters and remakes go, it doesn't truly blow the doors off anything graphically, nor does it add a ton in the way of game changing play or experiences.
Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls suffers in that it doesn’t know what it wants to be. The plot and design rivals that of the previous two entries, but the action is clunky and virtually kept in the dark for about half the game. Even with all these complaints, it’s hard not to recommend for the story alone. It’s flawed, but damn is this world addictive. Next Danganronpa please!
Mega Man Legacy Collection offers a lot of quality content for its price of admission. With six Mega Man games, a museum honoring each game with character art and music, and a new Challenge Mode featured, this is a fine collection to please the Mega Man fan in your life.
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is truly the ultimate edition of Gears of War. It may suffer from some sporadic performance issues and the occasional loading glitch, but the campaign is entertaining, the Brumak chapters are intense, and the game is great to play in co-op with a friend. Its multiplayer remains addicting and fans of the original Gears will find haven in the game's numerous modes for months to come. Any fan of Gears of War owes it to themselves to buy and play this amazing game.
Madden NFL 16 is the best iteration in the franchise this generation, presenting gamers with the most in-depth Connected Franchise yet and an interesting Draft Champions mode that has great potential to grow. Madden NFL 16 is a fantastic step forward for the series and is one players will thoroughly enjoy.
It's difficult to effectively describe everything this game has to offer. It's difficult to think about the next time we see a new Metal Gear Solid and when that will be. It is, however, not difficult to say that Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the best game of the year so far.
Crashes and glitching aside, the game gives a few scares, that feeling that you'll never truly be ok, and really delivers what can be boiled down to a solid zombie experience.
Forcing the gamer to go through a bevy of emotions, "Escape Plan Bravo" more than makes up for its short length and mediocre finish by providing several cool moments that'll keep you invested throughout.
Submerged left me thinking, wondering, curious. That's what sticks with me, I want to go back at my own leisure and explore the world, find those secrets, and complete that world's story.
Rare Replay offers tons of content and software for its asking price. Getting the chance to replay classics from the NES, SNES, and N64 era is a treat for longtime fans. This collection shows that Rare made some of the best games the industry will ever see, and gives hope that they one day return to their former glory.
Life is Strange Episode 4 Dark Room is terrific, once again delivering a magnificent blend of reality, authenticity, danger and twists. The uncalled for cork board investigation scene is not enough to derail Dark Room entirely, and the ending more than makes up for it. Life is Strange continues to be one of my favorite games of the entire year and I hope DONTNOD can finish off the story with the same impact in episode five, as they have delivered in the first four episodes.
Even if you’re not a fan of Atlus’ usual Japanese RPG fare, “Lost Dimension,” thanks to a manga-esque storyline and a fun tactical battle system, can eat up hours of time on your dormant PlayStation Vita.
Rory McIlroy PGA Tour is a great game and I do not see myself getting away from it anytime soon.
Rocksteady has created the quintessential Batman game with Arkham Knight. Where could they possibly go from here in the future? That is something to worry about way down the road as everyone that is a Batman fan, whether if they play video games or not, should experience Arkham Knight. Rocksteady does such a great job with these games in blending a movie and comic book experience.
With a slew of new characters, laughs and emotional moments, "Tales from The Borderlands: Episode 3: Catch a Ride" continues to prove that Telltale just has a gift for making us care even more about some of our favorite game franchises.