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This game was reviewed via a digital code provided by the publisher.
In order to keep this already long-winded review from balooning further, I'll simply sum it up at this: while Amplitude doesn't do much in the way of innovation, it does offer the strongest gameplay in the franchise thus far in terms of challenge. However, the weak track selection, questionable visual design choices and semi-botched implementation of the franchise's best gameplay methods add up to a very lackluster experience. I would be upset if I backed this on Kickstarter, not because I didn't get a good game out of the deal — which Amplitude certainly is, for sure — but rather, that the game doesn't seem as inspired as the labors of love that preceded it, which causes this particular pony to look like it's not even capable of doing its one trick nearly as well as it used to.
Typoman dishes up pleasure as well as pain, which probably isn't surprising, given its scenario. It's a flawed game, but an interesting one nonetheless. If you get a kick out of word games and/or puzzle games, it's worth a look. Just steel yourself for frustration when it comes time to run.
Ultimately, even with the bugs and other issues, it was refreshing to get a chance to play a survival title that was more about the struggle against the elements instead of other players.
"Some Assembly Required" retains the silly humor of the first episode and adds some new takes on the Telltale storytelling method, but being able to finish in less than an hour hurts the overall experience.
I like it, but I don't love it. I think its best is yet to come, but I know that its best is likely to come with an additional price tag attached to it, at least in some fashion. I think Street Fighter V has the potential to be the best Street Fighter ever. I just don't think it is right now, and I feel that this has a lot to do with the people behind SFV wanting it to be the headline event at EVO 2016 instead of EVO 2017. Nothing more.
Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 3 is a solid game, and people who have been keeping up with the Re;Birth retellings of the series will want to see this installment. But, if someone has already played Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory, he or she could take a pass this time. There are new story and gameplay elements, sure, but not enough this time around to really set this entry apart.
It really is a shame because with a slightly more captivating story and deeper customization both in terms of characters and combat, this could have been the game that welcomed a new breed of SAO fans and gave renewed life to the series on the whole. What we are left with instead is a typical lite action-RPG set within the world of ALfheim and geared exclusively at people like me who can't wait to take another bite out of anything remotely Sword Art Online.
The story for the first episode of Minecraft: Story Mode is a little familiar, but it's solid and full of fun references to Minecraft lore. The puzzles are lacking, however.
While I think LEGO Dimensions is a good game, it's certainly not a must-play. The crossover potential feels extremely weak when it comes to beloved franchises, and not having any more than three characters to play as -- unless I'm seriously missing something that doesn't cost more money -- makes the title feel pretty darn lacking. That being said, if you're willing to eat the cost, you won't find yourself having too bad a time. I know I didn't.
Rainbow Six Siege is tactical fun, but the lack of substance hurts the overall experience. It won't take you long to play everything Rainbow Six Siege offers, but what it does it executes very well. You may get bored sooner than you'd like, but you'll have plenty of fun before that happens.
Online aside, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is exactly what Gears fans could ever want from a remake of the original game: enhanced controls, powerful new visuals and a complete transferring of the full Gears of War experience — PC exclusive missions included — from the previous console generation to the current one.
All in all, I think that Chroma Squad is a lot — and I mean a LOT — of fun when it works right. And to its credit, it works right almost all of the time. I never ran into a game-breaking bug, for starters. That’s high praise considering that this is an indie production made with tender loving care and Kickstarter money. There’s multiple endings and story branches, and I’m most definitely going to give it another spin in the future to see how much juice I can get from this thing. But the only thing holding me back from diving right back in is the thing I should have had the most fun with. I’m hoping that can get fixed, possibly even expanded on. As it stands, I can’t recommend Chroma Squad to anyone but the most devoted of Sentai fans and those who already like Strategy RPGs. Even for as fun as the main bulk of the game is, the insular nature of the jokes / story and the sheer mind-numbing-ness of the mecha pieces keep me from telling everyone to buy it without reservation.
Shantae: Risky's Revenge - Director's Cut is a good action game, but it looks and feels a bit primitive next to Shantae and the Pirate's Curse. It's still worth playing if you're a fan of action titles, and that especially applies if you're a fan of Shantae who missed out on the first release of Pirate's Curse.
Year Walk is a strange game, a brief sojourn into a downright chilling tale surrounding a small Swedish village and the potential horrors abound. There's a lot to like here, especially in the narrative side of things, but the game is too short and some puzzles are more interesting than others. It's worth a try, if for no other reason than to play an indie game and there's nothing else interesting at the time, but don't expect it to last very long. This Year Walk feels like it's only around the block.
Understandably, the short playtime and lack of replay value will turn off many gamers from wanting to delve into the title, but it's definitely something to try if you have the opportunity.
There's a lot of content with dozens of fighters, and plenty of costumes to unlock, making it the definitive version to pick up.
It may not be your cup of tea, but it still manages to be greater than the sum of its parts. Sometimes.
Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash is a nice break from the series' usual 3D platforming formula and offers some solid gameplay, even if it stumbles a bit along the way.
There's a lot of promise here, but Pokken Tournament can't decide what kind of fighting game it wants to be and that hurts the overall experience.