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'The Flame in the Flood' hits the nail on the head with its crafty survival gameplay and inspired visual and audio design. At times, especially early on, nothing seems more dangerous than the river, but overall this might be game to get players into the roguelike genre. The technical side lags a bit behind the creative side, but not enough to capsize it.
'In Too Deep' is an auspicious opener for Telltale's new series. It has flaws, and the release schedule is probably too tight for the studio to take any player feedback into account, but I have a feeling it is going to give insight into the intricate personality of its lead and deepen her fandom even further.
'Far Cry: Primal' doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it does have addictive caveman gameplay and a fascinating sandbox to play around in. It does feel like a 'Far Cry', but the setting makes it something new and special. Just like 'Blood Dragon', I find these off-year or "side" releases in the series to be the most fun, although the series' core formula is still captivating.
With 'Dungelot: Shattered Lands,' Red Winter has managed to successfully marry strategic elements with a very simple framework, perfect for gaming in small pieces or long benders. They captured the magic from their first 'Dungelot' while avoiding the freemium pitfalls of the second, and 'Shattered Lands' comes out all the better for it. Some modest polishing issues fail to spoil its charm.
'Mitsurugi Kamui Hikae' lives and dies by its combat. There's nothing else here, and I don't say that to be snarky. There's a story that barely exists (maybe two minutes of total cutscene time), but outside of that, it's all action. Thankfully, 'Mitsurugi' overcomes the low budget to deliver excellent mechanics that are capable of standing entirely on their own. I wish there was a little more to it all, but this serves as a nice action game that should easily satisfy genre diehards.
'Layers of Fear' is an imaginative and exquisite horror gem, wrapped up in Victorian madness and medieval art. Traits that might normally be denounced in other games, like the length and low interactivity, only serve to accentuate its dread. Bloober has crafted a delightful nightmare.
'The Following' is the kind of expansion that by today's publishing standards could have easily been labeled as a sequel and given a higher price tag. It doesn't get everything right, but still has a lot to offer.
The 'Lego' games have always been a known quantity, but perhaps familiarity is beginning to breed contempt. 'Lego Marvel's Avengers' wasn't able to hold my attention as well as its forebears, even though it's not a markedly different experience. Perhaps it's time for the series to get a shot in the arm.
Firaxis has outdone themselves with 'XCOM 2'. It is a tactical experience without peer, better even than its predecessors. It is draining and agonizing, but in a good way. The high difficulty may turn off some gamers, but it's worth every second.
11 bit has made an even more compelling war drama with 'This War of Mine: The Little Ones'. The controller is a bit rusty, but don't let that stop you from experiencing one of the most compelling stories in this generation. Coming to the Xbox One 'This War of Mine' is more accessible than ever, and the addition of kids makes it even more bittersweet.
'Baba Yaga' is a capable, if small, piece of aftermarket content for the already excellent 'Rise of the Tomb Raider'. It was thoughtfully constructed even if it comes up a bit short in some places (and another bonus tomb would not have been remiss), but should not be missed by those who enjoyed the base game.
'Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel' likely won't capture a major audience within the fighting game community, though for what it tries to do, it's a fun game. Those who are just looking for something light and frothy will have a good time, but if you're looking for much complexity, this likely won't hold interest for terribly long. The stalwart online helps the game a great deal, but lack of moveset variety in the roster isn't particularly exciting. For sure, there's fun to be had with 'Nitroplus', it just requires that you play with other people, as the single player is far too limited for its own good.
It stumbles in a fair few places, and it likely won't sway those who aren't fond of the basic idea of the franchise. Overall, however, 'Neptunia VII' represents a strong step forward in a franchise that seemed all too content to stand in place. While I wish it went further with its parody than it ever really does, a sequel that doubles down on the good ideas introduced here could potentially lead to something great.
Video games are unequivocally a form of art. But like all art, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. With 'The Witness' I feel like I'm in an art gallery watching a gaggle of admirers who are looking at a piece together, commenting on its style and how it makes them feel. I'm the guy standing off to the side, not with them but looking at the same painting. I can admit that it's pretty, but it doesn't really evoke a significant response, and so I shrug and move on to the next.
An extremely strong start to a promising series, here's hoping we see Square Enix give this formula another shot soon.
'Darkest Dungeon' is the rare game that gets my heart pumping while playing, not because it's scary (even though it is a little scary), but because the stakes are so high. One battle can make the difference between waltzing out flush with loot, and returning home defeated, with the party dead or completely insane. It will punish your mistakes and it will even punish your good fortune, on the rare occasion it happens. Despite all of this, or perhaps because of it, I cannot seem to stop playing 'Darkest Dungeon'.
'Crashlands' has heart and soul in spades. It is capricious, engrossing, and highly addictive. It has such a pleasant mix of genres that it can be appealing to a wide variety of gamers, not just the ones who enjoy a good craft. Its flaws, like the slow start and smudgy menus, are small and easily overlooked.
It has been a few years in the making, but the Xbox version of 'The Banner Saga' is a wonderful experience. I sincerely hope that Stoic releases the sequel on this platform as well, because they have a good thing going here and the more people who experience it, the better.
'Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India' takes a step back from the modest success of 'China'. The narrative adds little to the overall 'Assassin's Creed' storyline, most of the characters are thin, and the gameplay is inexplicably disheartening. Perhaps Ubisoft can eke out a victory with the Russian installment next month, but this entry isn't worth the price of admission.
'The Deadly Tower of Monsters' is initially extremely charming and unique, but it runs out of steam way too fast to carry it through its already short campaign. While the aesthetic is terrific, the gameplay and humor don't work well enough to make the game terribly memorable. It's not a particularly bad game, but at best, it's a dull, mediocre footnote for a studio that's done far better work than this.