Reno Gazette-Journal
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Having women's soccer is a welcome addition to the FIFA 16 formula, which continues to have the advantage as far as its bells and whistles beyond the play on the pitch. Changes with defense and passing also improve the core gameplay though it still feels the same overall. One thing's for sure, the series will really need to step up its game next year if it wants to fend off its surging competitor.
Despite a few issues, "Transformers: Devastation" nails close combat with its Bayonetta-style mechanics as well as the best integration of robot and vehicle modes in a Transformers title's gameplay. Add a heavy dose of nostalgia with its G1 characters and you have a worthy addition to the Transformers gaming catalogue for fans both young, old and in midlife.
The addition of vehicular gameplay as well as the ability to play online with your friends makes Superchargers a solid addition to the franchise. The high cost required to fully enjoy the whole game as well as the inability to separately purchase the Nintendo toys, however, is a bummer. Overall, though, fans of previous games in the series will enjoy this one.
Despite some of its logical fallacies and niggles, The Phantom Pain remains a technical and highly polished effort with great production values, solid gameplay and oodles of content for players to sink their time into. If this is indeed Kojima's Metal Gear swan song, it's ending on a high note. It's easily one of the best games of the year or any year for that matter.
Overall, Persona 4: Dancing All Night offers a fresh take on the rhythm genre with a unique interface as well as a meaty story featuring the beloved cast. If you loved Persona 4 and want more stories about the gang and are a fan of rhythm games such as Hatsune Miku Project Mirai DX to boot, getting this is a no-brainer.
At the same time, NHL 16 represents a nice return to form for the virtual hockey franchise. From its various modes to the more responsive gameplay, NHL 16 addresses many of the issues that scuttled last year's game. If you weighed and measured NHL 15 and it left you wanting, NHL 16 could be the game to get you back on the virtual ice once again.
Ultimately, though, PES 2016 does its best where it counts, which is the action on the pitch. Players who prefer the style and familiarity of FIFA along with all its bells and whistles still may not prefer PES' different feel. For folks who crave more dialed down mechanics, more responsive controls and something that feels less arcadey, however, Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 takes the crown on consoles this year.
Ultimately, Happy Home Designer is an adorable and charming game that will delight fans interested in more lighthearted Animal Crossing fare. It might not have enough variety of content for the series' more hardcore fanbase, so if you're looking for another New Leaf this likely isn't the title for you. Folks who thoroughly enjoyed the design aspects of the last mainline game, however, should get more mileage out of Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer.
Overall, however, Forza 6 represents a return to form for Turn 10's racing series. The addition of a large number of tracks and cars, as well as night and wet racing greatly enhances the Forza experience. The absence of aggressive microtransactions also removes a distraction that poisoned some of the goodwill players had in the last game. If you're a fan of the Forza series or racing games in general, this is one ride you'll want to hop into.
Overall, Mad Max is a game that's solid but could've used just one more extra push to really reach its true potential. Folks who are burnt out from standard open world gameplay or don't like driving won't get as much bang for the buck from it. If you love great car combat and wandering around a large sandbox while checking off side missions, however, this is a game you'll get lots of extra mileage from.
Despite its issues, however, Super Mario Maker remains an enjoyable title that makes the Mario world your oyster, er, Koopa shell. Whether it be the game's ability to nurture your inner level creator or inspire future game designers, Super Mario Maker is a great example of the potential that lies in tapping the power of the crowd. Even if you're terribad at stage design, being able to enjoy the crazy creations of other folks makes it worth the prize of admission. Now how about a Super Mario RPG Maker, Nintendo?
Despite its issues, Disney Infinity 3.0 is a worthy entry in the series that really improves upon last year's effort. If you're a fan of the toy and video game franchise and are also intrigued by the addition of the Star Wars universe to the Infinity series, this is one game you'll want to stay on target with.
Ultimately, the Legacy Collection is a solid tribute that serves as a love letter to hardcore fans and a gateway to newcomers eager to experience the glory of classic 8-bit platforming. If you loved the classics or simply want to know what the fuss is all about, the Mega Man Legacy Collection is one you'll want to add to your gaming inventory.
Then again, I can see certain types of gamers enjoying this, too, especially with its lower price point. If you welcome the challenge of a technical 2.5D hack and slash and the quirks that comes with a roguelike, however, this game will be more up your alley.
There's certainly a lot to digest in this episode, which is good on one hand because it moves the plot along as we approach the finale but also bad in the sense that parts of it seemed a bit rushed and could've used a bit more fleshing out.
Overall, however, King's Quest is a solid reinterpretation of a genre once buried in the annals of gaming history. If you like classic adventure games and have an affinity for a whimsical art style and classic storytelling, this is one quest you'll want to sign up for. Who knows? It just might make you feel like a kid again.
All this, however, is mitigated by the game's solid dungeon crawling and core combat. Fights are especially rewarding every time you triumph, thanks to the game's penchant for encouraging players to think about attack diversity and synergy alongside status infliction and damage mitigation. It's like a chess game within a videogame where you have to think several moves ahead. It's certainly a lot more intellectually stimulating than shirtless beach volleyball in jeans with lowered nets.
Overall, though, Tales of the Borderlands remains a fun and an enjoyable romp. I also like how choices made in earlier games seem to have more consequence than the choices I made in Game of Thrones. If you're looking for a story-driven adventure that features a ton of laughs while still serving up some thoughtful moments, Episode 3 is one ride you'll want to catch.
[W]hile I quite enjoyed the change of pace from having to use my brain for some logic crunching, some folks may feel that the episode's puzzles bog down the flow of the game.
Still, the game is an enjoyable romp, especially due to its inclusion of the turncoat mechanic into the mix to freshen up its more standard JRPG elements. If you're looking for a solid Japanese RPG that's a tad different from the norm, Lost Dimension is worth taking a stab at.