High-Def Digest
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This is a reboot done right. Recognizable, yet innovative. Well done, Insomniac!
'Once Upon a Climb' didn’t quite tickle my fancy as much as 'A Knight to Remember', but it’s pretty close. The storytelling gets better with age, even if the puzzles don’t keep up as well. Still, this is an adventure game with a story to tell, and the gameplay is always going to be on the back burner. As usual, 'King’s Quest' is a good time, with jokes appropriate for almost all audiences.
Even better than the terrific first episode, the Sapienza mission might be a series high point. While there are still some technical issues, and the lengthy load times hamper things in a game where reloading to give things another shot is such a big part of it, the overall experience has been incredible so far. I can't wait to see what comes next.
'Don't Starve Together' is hands-down the best way to play 'Don’t Starve'. There’s nothing quite like taking down a deerclops with your bros and basking in the warm glow of victory before being interrupted by a vicious werepig attack or a bout of troublesome frog rain. It’s still hard as hell in its default mode, but Klei has handed over the keys to get under the hood and fine-tune their survival experience like never before. If your gaming circle is looking for something new, why don’t you try a bit of starvation?
To be fair, it’s tough making a convincing argument for the hidden object genre as anything more than a workplace timekiller when other browser game sites have been firewalled. Artifex Mundi has some decent puzzle work in their portfolio, but 'Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek' was more of a chore than an engaging adventure experience.
Michonne did a great job of holding my attention, and I will be sad to see her go. This has been a worthwhile deviation while we wait for season three of the main series.
'Ori and the Blind Forest' is the kind of game that didn't cry out for a remaster so soon (or at all), not because it was flawed but because it was so amazing. At only $5 for previous 'Ori' owners, it is difficult not to recommend to any Xbox One owner, especially because the new difficulty levels make its strenuous challenges more attainable. It still remains a specific kind of platformer and therefore something somewhat niche, but I am not ashamed to say that it is my favorite Xbox exclusive of this generation to date.
'Shantae and the Pirate's Curse' is a highly enjoyable platformer that doesn't take any risks. It's almost like comfort food in a way. You know what to expect, and it scratches that particular itch, but it's ultimately empty calories. Hopefully WayForward Technologies will take more chances and innovate with the next entry in the series, 'Shantae: Half-Genie Hero.'
Fans of 'Aliens,' myself included, should be pleased when they see Ripley and co in action in a pinball setting. It certainly makes me think of the heyday of licensed pinball tables. And that's just the beginning as the two other tables in the 'Aliens vs. Pinball' pack make for a great set with a nice degree of design and presentation variety.
The two year plus wait for 'The Banner Saga 2' was well worth it. Stoic has managed to improve on its formula, adding new wrinkles to the admittedly limited gameplay and telling an even more absorbing story in the process. The saga is better than ever and I'm very excited for the next installment.
'The Collider 2' just doesn't have enough substance to make it an enjoyable experience. In fact, it even seems like in several ways to be a step back from its predecessor. There's a solid base, though, and with a few tweaks to the progression system it could be a much more enjoyable title.
'Dark Souls III' delivers. It scratches a special itch that only its developer has managed find. So while the bounty of 'Souls' games in recent years has spoiled this reviewer, it's impossible not to enjoy, and recommend the game to both new and returning players. In fact, only 'Bloodborne' players seeking that game's particular speed and setting may be an exception.
I am pleasantly surprised that 'Letter Quest: Grimm’s Journey' has been (rather quietly) brought over to the Xbox in a remastered form. Yes, it is available on many other systems, including some that are easier to carry in my pocket, but it’s the kind of thing that can still be popular with family and friends despite being solely single-player. This is a tough and rewarding puzzle game, and its word/RPG combo is probably one of a kind.
'Wasteland Workshop' seems more like free update material, or additions that would have come naturally if mod support was a thing. As it stands, it’s a mix of unwieldy creature traps, mildly novel base building objects, and a few handy doodads. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for next month’s 'Far Harbor'.
'Skullgirls' has been the subject of some great content additions, and is still an enjoyable brawler. Its odd yet enchanting art design and overall presentation make it stand out, not to mention the awesome training. Unfortunately, this port to the Vita has some control and visual issues, and '2nd Encore' is probably best played on the PS4.
I enjoyed carving out a hero's path during my time with 'Stories: The Path of Destinies,' and I even entertained a non-gamer with the melodrama inherent to game's branching story. Action game fans will wish for a greater challenge, and everything that the game does well will make players wish that there was more of it.
It's unwelcoming and occasionally too difficult for its own good, but overall, 'Stranger of Sword City' is an accomplished dungeon crawler made by a team who clearly understands what makes the genre special. It's both a terrific JRPG and an excellent showcase in building a genuinely scary atmosphere with limited resources. While their earlier effort 'Demon Gaze' is definitely an easier game to recommend, there's plenty here that makes this special, and I can't wait to see what comes next from this developer.
Armature Studio is really coming into its own as a developer and 'Dead Star' is proof of that. It's one of the most accessible MOBAs to date, and doesn't feature the high barrier of entry that plagues so many of its contemporaries. This is largely circumvented thanks to a wonderfully done tutorial. There's not another game quite like it on the market, which ensures that I'll continue to go back to it frequently.
'Organic Panic' is a pastiche of several games and genre staples that have come before it. It is good fun for its nostalgia value for those players who have enjoyed its influences in years past and appreciate its time-tested mechanics, but it struggles to find its place amongst the many good platformers available.
It'll undoubtedly be a divisive game, one I'm certain many will hate due to how punishing and unfriendly it can be, particularly in the game's awful prologue, but once I got into the swing of things, I found an amazingly rewarding game that I grew to love. While it can sometimes be alienating in how out there many of its ideas seem (considering the game is technically one big bossfight, it'd have to be), 'Trillion: God of Destruction' is an outstandingly original game that I can't wait to check out again.