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MachineGames hasn't taken a huge step forward with 'Wolfenstein: The Old Blood,' but nor have they taken any steps backwards. It is a solid expansion, adding more to the new 'Wolfenstein' formula without drastically changing it. Fans of last year's game will find a lot to like, as will FPS players who somehow missed it.
The 'Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron Pinball' table does its job as far as tying back to its source material, and its got just enough going on to be a passable, welcome addition to the collection, but one can't deny there's more that could've been done to make this one a hell of a lot more super. Still, the fact that every new commercial for the film the happens I end up wanting to play this means the game has done its job well
'Boston Lockdown' is an online Shadowrun game that manages to admirably translate the popular setting's quirky sci-fi/fantasy romance, but struggles with the online bit. The narrative is less of a strong glue holding everything together - it's more of a thin balm that can be more pervasive than entertaining. If you want to do some shadowrunning with some friends and don't mind the price point, it's not a bad entry in the franchise. If you're not into co-op, there are better options in the turn-based strategy genre.
Nostalgia is its own genre of film, TV, and music these days, which isn't necessarily a good or bad thing, with enough creativity employed. 'Shovel Knight', however, is a better kind of nostalgia, the kind that proves there's still plenty of life in a concept rather than trying to remind an audience the concept was good once. 'Shovel Knight' isn't an attempt to remind us of better games; it IS the better game.
'Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China' is a mixture of classic 'Assassin's Creed' gameplay, the stealthy 2D success of 'Mark of the Ninja', and sharp art design. It's rather short, but also rather cheap, and has more replayability than most games in this category. It's probably the most fun I've had playing an Assassin's Creed since 'Black Flag'.
'State of Decay: Year One Survival Edition' is an example of a good remastering. The core game definitely needed some work, as its technical shortcomings often threatened to ruin an otherwise awesome experience. This upgrade still has some issues, but these are not severe. As an incentive to upgrade, 360 'State of Decay' owners get a discount until the end of June (which brings the price down to a more palatable level), and Xbox One owners can port over all of their saves from the 360 version. There hasn't been a better time to play 'State of Decay'.
The latest 'Mortal Kombat' is a solid entry in the franchise and a great fighting game in its own right. It has much more content than I expected, and the huge roster and addition of stances for each character give it long legs. The microtransactions are real, but manage to keep to the shadows enough to not spoil the hard work that NetherRealms has been doing. Fighter fans will find a lot to like about 'Mortal Kombat X'.
If nothing else, 'Westerado: Double Barreled' is a blast to play. The gameplay is solid, and both the mechanics and setting are top notch. If you're looking for an Old Western to waste away your afternoon, don't look towards another John Wayne movie, grab this great indie title instead.
'War for the Overworld' is a game made by people who dearly love 'Dungeon Keeper', but love alone does not a good game make. The current form of the game is basically a beta, and has a lot of cleaning up to do. Despite its issues, which range from nagging to serious, I am having a blast playing it. Don't come here expecting a polished product, but don't let that stop you from enjoying it.
'Tower of Guns' is a decent game, but its price at launch is just a bit too ritzy for the amount of content it offers. There is fun to be had in its procedural levels, for those who enjoy the challenges of roguelikes and who like to be tested over and over.
Obsidian's 'Pillars of Eternity' is a worthy successor to its ancestors and, in some ways, manages to surpass them. In terms of story, this is a worthwhile experience. In terms of content, it is a bargain. It is a strategy RPG for the ages.
'Etrian Mystery Dungeon' really isn't a title that seemed as though it would work out: 'Etrian Odyssey' and 'Mystery Dungeon' are both very different types of games and blending them together just seemed off. However, the end result is a surprisingly great and addictive title for fans of both series alike. It's hard to tell if gamers outside the fandom will want to dive into this 3DS title, but the barrier of entry difficulty wise is low enough that most any RPG fan can jump in and have an enjoyable time, regardless of their knowledge of the series at hand.
'Atlas Mugged' is a strong episode for 'Tales from the Borderlands', if not a standout one quite yet. The series is still absolutely worth the cheap entry price.
'Out of Time' is a step back for the burgeoning 'Life Is Strange'. I can't see the forest through the trees, so to speak, and this episode had some difficulty in keeping me interested. The first hour or so especially almost lost me. There are enough plot threads to warrant a mild interest for the next episode, but I hope we haven't already seen the best of what Dontnod has to offer.
'Paperbound' feels like a game on the wrong platform. As a Vita game, or a mobile title, something to play on the go when you have a half hour to kill waiting for something bigger to download, 'Paperbound's simplicity would be a boon, a perfect slice of hectic mayhem to pull out of your pocket on a whim. As a PS4 game, though, it just feels thin, a delicious bite that makes one pine for the satisfying main course that doesn't come. Still, it's hard to be immune to its charms in the moment. There's nothing to dislike about 'Paperbound' aside from the fact that there's not more of it. That's the best kind of problem to have.
'Bloodborne' is neither perfect nor is it a slam dunk to suit all kinds of players. It's still an acquired taste, but for those that take the plunge and survive that first crest of difficulty, the ensuing experience is as satisfying as anything on the market today. Furthermore, fans of H.P. Lovecraft have something wonderfully nebulous to enjoy on the PS4. On the Night of the Hunt, one of this generation's great exclusives has arrived. I expect it to withstand the test of years while sustaining the hardcore and newcomers alike.
'Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious' may not be as robust and content-filled as the game it borrows from and expands upon, but it's one hell of a package at no cost whatsoever. Even when it hits $9.99, it'll still be well-worth picking up, because it's just that good of a game.
With 'A Sword in the Darkness,' 'Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series' is making great progress. Blasphemous though it may be, I'm beginning to like the series even more than their 'Walking Dead' project, and that is also an excellent franchise. Like any great episodic game, high quality episodes make me wait for the next one even more impatiently.
While not close to being a system-seller that so many expected from a high concept, expensive, first-party production, 'The Order: 1886' still managed to charm me with its atmospheric presentation and expert voice acting. It's a short, but pretty game whose engine I'd like to see in action again minus the swipe to fight werewolf boss moments. If you like your 'Uncharted' in a revisionist, steampunk setting, this game is worth a look.
The final nail in 'Slender: The Arrival's coffin is the simple fact that it's been uprezzed and cleaned up for the wrong gen, a generation where Hideo Kojima/Guillermo Del Toro's 'P.T.' has many of the same ideas, executed with maturity and expert dread, where progression isn't dependent on escaping the horror, but being forced to walk up and let it terrorize you face to face, and most importantly, it's an experience that's 100% free. 'Slender' offering something a similarly unique experience, but undoubtedly lesser, predicated on the success of successive, telegraphed jump scares and repetitive exploration can't hope to compete, and couldn't even if 'P.T.' wasn't in the picture. The result is a game that feels, pun unintended, thin on content.