Reno Gazette-Journal
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Titanfall 2 returns with a more complete package this time around by supplementing its faster, more vertical gameplay with a much needed campaign mode. The new campaign is a huge improvement over the patchwork story from the first game and a wider selection of Titans makes multiplayer feel more diverse. Changes in Titan health mechanics, admittedly, might be a mixed bag for online players and the game’s multiplayer maps don’t fully take advantage of your pilot’s penchant for going vertical. Overall, however, Titanfall 2 is a fun romp for folks thirsty for a shooting experience that’s different from the norm.
Battlefield 1 manages to inject new life to the series thanks to great visuals and the best campaign in the franchise in some time while retaining most of the elements that it has traditionally done well such as massive multiplayer confrontations and vehicular combat.
Square Enix celebrates three decades of its marquee franchise with a nostalgia-filled love letter in “World of Final Fantasy.” Featuring wonderful visuals, classic turn-based fighting plus cameos of beloved characters from series lore, the game hits a lot of the right spots for Final Fantasy fans. Add a monster-capturing mechanic and you’ve got something that will interest fans both young and old. The kiddie presentation and focus on two young protagonists who act their age might turn off some gamers. Monster management on the field also can be a bit of pain. If you’re pining for old-school Final Fantasy with stellar production values and a big serving of Pokemon, however, this is one world you’ll definitely want to visit.
Dragon Quest Builders could have easily been a lazy Minecraft ripoff. Instead, Square Enix does a great job in adding compelling mechanics that make this a breath of fresh air for the genre that can stand on its own. The game’s greatest strength lies in its campaign, which makes it a bonafide action-adventure game with enjoyable combat and great boss fights while still incorporating the fun elements of building. The camera, admittedly, can be a pain at times and the lack of fleshed-out multiplayer and co-op is an unfortunate missed opportunity. If you’re looking for a solid crafting game and are intrigued by the addition of RPG and action elements, however, Dragon Quest Builders is a fabulous construct that fans both young and old will enjoy.
After its recent underwhelming expansion, Blizzard finally manages to get back on the right track with “World of Warcraft: Legion.” If you have never played WoW before or if you feel that you have been burned in the past, I suggest giving the game another shot as the game adds many new mechanics and features that make it feel fresh and compelling. Add a big content patch that’s incoming plus Blizzard being more in tune with what the game’s fan base wants and you have an expansion that’s as close to perfect as WoW has been in a long time.
FIFA 17 tries to answer the challenge of rival PES with significantly improved visuals and new gameplay mechanics that improve physicality and offensive options on the field. The game still feels more arcadey, which is good or bad depending on your preference, and the improved career mode is still missing some options sought by series fans. While PES might still hold the mechanical edge on the pitch, however, FIFA 17’s more polished production values combined with its continued edge in licenses means it will remain the football game of choice for many fans.
“Jotun: Valhalla Edition” is a solid action-adventure game made memorable by stunning, fluid visuals and towering boss fights that are gigantic in every sense of the word. Gameplay mechanics for your character can feel awkward and dead spots in area design dampen the experience somewhat. If you like a throwback game with solitary ambiance or loved the original Jotun and pine for an extra challenge with its bosses via the new Valhalla Mode, however, you will enjoy what this version has to offer.
“Pac-Man Championship Edition 2” is a fun remix of the classic Pac-Man gameplay, featuring zippy action and crazy maze mechanics. As a followup, it doesn’t quite have the same freshness of the original Championship Edition. The incredibly fast pace of the game also can be overwhelming for some and tiring for others after extended play. All that being said, it’s an enjoyable and entertaining re-imagining of Pac-Man that builds on the classic formula’s solid foundation instead of shoehorning the round mascot in the square peg of a different gaming genre.
Gears of War 4 marks a welcome return of the franchise for fans of the series. The shooting and cover mechanics feel familiar in a good way and the retention of splitscreen will get a hallelujah from fans. Storytelling isn’t quite as dialed down as the original trilogy and feels more like an appetizer, especially given the lack of a memorable big baddie. At a time when many games are dropping full-fledged campaigns, however, Gears of War 4 provides the best of both worlds for folks who like their robust online modes to come with a meaty story component with co-op to boot. It’s a much awaited return homemuch-awaited return home for series fans.
“Paper Mario: Color Splash” is a stamped love letter to gamers who pine for some old-school action adventuring with a dash of classic RPG mechanics. The touchscreen controls for combat can be a tad cumbersome and aiming that hammer can make you go postal at times. A charming presentation, however, combined with delightful visuals, entertaining dialogue and tight combat make Color Splash an adorable adventure for folks both young and old.
Don’t think of Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse as just some throwaway cash-in title. This spin-off game builds on the solid foundation of its predecessor and even outshines it in some aspects. Admittedly, it reuses several assets from the previous game and mapping, while improved, could still be better. A likable cast of characters combined with an intriguing story and compelling combat, however, makes Apocalypse a worthy addition to anyone’s JRPG collection.
Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past joins the list of JRPG remasters done right on the 3DS. Instead of providing a simple upscale of the original and calling it a day, this remaster goes the extra mile by completely redoing the visuals and adding or updating gameplay elements that streamline the experience for veterans while making it more accessible to newcomers. Purists might decry some changes as dumbing down the game and nixing some of its trademark challenge. For the most part, though, this is an excellent example of how to remaster a classic.
Whimsical design and a plethora of creatures make Yo-Kai Watch 2 a gaming experience that kids will absolutely love while still providing enough meat for older gamers to enjoy. The inability to directly control some aspects of battling can be an issue, as well as its preponderance of fetch quests and grindy nature. Overall, however, Yo-Kai Watch 2’s excellent polish combined with its great attention to detail and plethora of stuff to do make it a great game for folks who enjoy the creature-collecting adventure genre. It's definitely the perfect game to tide your over before Pokemon Sun and Moon comes out.
I hope that we eventually get that from No Man’s Sky and I will come back and continue to try to find that experience. As it currently stands though this game stands out as being just completely average.
Like Icarus, No Man’s Sky is an ambitious game that aims high. The result is a game with beautiful visuals and a wide, expansive universe filled with a multitude of planets and interesting creatures. At the same time, the game’s base mechanics, while solid, could use more variety as they can get old after a while. Players who like a clearly defined goal and more diversity in gameplay, for example, will find the lack of action and a clear overarching narrative disappointing. If you like simple exploration and getting lost in the weeds, however, then No Man’s Sky’s slower pace will be for you.
NHL 17 builds on the solid mechanics of its predecessor while adding several new features such as World Cup of Hockey, a more beefed up GM mode, lots of customization options and the return of player classes to name a few. Some might feel the actual gameplay on the ice does not represent a huge improvement over NHL 16. If you missed out on last year’s game or are interested in a more polished version, however, then NHL 17 merits a trip down the virtual ice.
The Dead Rising Triple Pack is a faithful adaptation of three classic games in Capcom’s Zombie survival series. The upgrade to 1080p and 60 frames per second will be welcome to folks who want to play using more modern console standards. The lack of new upgrades to the gameplay as well as the Case Zero and Case West DLC, however, is a bummer that makes the collection feel less complete. Still, if you loved the originals or missed out on them entirely, then this is another chance to play the games or see what the initial series is all about.
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X is a meaty entry in the rhythm genre featuring bright visuals, catchy songs and plenty of stuff to collect for obsessive-compulsive gamers. The game is a bit grindy and can be intimidating to newcomers. Track selection also can feel limited when compared to certain Hatsune Miku titles. Still, it’s a cute, fun and mechanically solid idol-based rhythm game that you can enjoy without feeling like a creep, especially if you’re a dude who’s starting to get up there in age like I am.
Like a delicious cronut, Touhou Gensou Rondo: Bullet Ballet combines two fun genres while throwing in some beloved characters with a dedicated cult following. The shmup and bullet hell parts of the equation have their fun moments but the melee can be cumbersome and awkward. The game also has some nice bones but could admittedly use more meat as both the gameplay and story, while cute, can feel shallow after extended play. It's not a game that would float everyone's boat for sure, but fans of Japanese titles with both an otaku flair and indie feel might still want to check this one out. Now bring over the main Touhou games!
“Shiren the Wanderer: Tower of Fortune and Dice of Fate,” is a classic either-or proposition. You either get it or you don’t, with rarely any middle ground in between. Folks who don’t like retro roguelike gameplay will find the dungeon crawling tedious, outdated and unforgiving. Gamers who appreciate old-school roguelikes, however, will love its sprite art and the diverse challenge the game provides. If you have a soft spot for classic dungeon crawling, you’ll be quite pleased after rolling the dice on Shiren.