The Outerhaven Productions
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Thankfully all my fears were disproved with the release of Gears of War 4. And even though the game still plays things close to the hip, instead of going balls deep into a new territory, make no mistake that this is a Gears of War title that does exactly what it was meant to do - Get you excited and have you smiling from ear to ear.
Overall, FIFA 17 takes enough steps forward to warrant its place in your gaming library this year. Occasionally EA can deliver a lackluster experience and take its position as the ringleader of football sims for granted – but with the addition of The Journey and a more refined gameplay style, FIFA 17 will satiate any footie fantasies you have for the next 12 months. Don’t be put off by FIFA’s overtly British aesthetic (Alex Hunter’s tale takes place strictly in England – and the Premier League will default itself to most of your settings), it’s a game that can be enjoyed by everyone. Just don’t be like me and take it far too seriously, otherwise you’re due to shell out some money for controllers broken out of rage…
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice shines as few games do. It has beautiful stories, amazing characters, and twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you're a fan of Ace Attorney, this is a game you must play.
First off, this game is insanely overpriced for what it is. If it was a little cheaper, I'd say you could enjoy it the way you would enjoy a bad horror movie. It does have a spooky atmosphere due to the isolation aspect, but it's not enough. I think the developers need to learn to take inspiration from other sources but still using their own ideas.
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X seems to miss the mark in too many ways, in my opinion, for new players to even get into the series. Long-standing fans will love this game, most assuredly, but that's not saying much towards the negative takeaways from this game for new people.
In my honest opinion, I would say you could pass on Slain: Back from Hell—it simply isn’t a must-play. If you happen to have the extra cash, and are looking for something mildly enjoyable, then you could definitely do far worse—there are moments of pure, sidescrolling fun in this game and the art and style add to the appeal—but I wouldn’t go out of my way here. The best thing that can come from throwing some cash at this game is that the developers might be encouraged to make another game, and next time, make one with a little more depth and reward. Assuming you’re like me, with limited financial resources, and you’ve got your eye on another game, then, by all means, get that other game.
Utilizing the Wii U gamepad's touchscreen controls, Severed serves up a fantastic adventure with plenty of engaging swordplay and a healthy dose of monstrous bodily dismemberment. The beautiful art style and a subtly-told melancholy story keeps players absorbed in the bizarre world in between bloody battles and the clever, Zelda-style dungeon puzzles.
Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force is in kind of a weird spot. The characters and gameplay are fun but at times they can be hard to invest in due to the over-scoped plot. Normally I would say go for it and just don't get too invested; but this is a JRPG we're talking about here, not some beat 'em up or other quickly-concluded escapade. However, the ideas present in the world are unique and there's a guy with a Canadian accent, which is rare enough to cherish whenever it pops up. If you're looking for something fresh to scratch that RPG itch of yours, Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force is a worthy offering.
Steins;Gate is one of those stories that comes around once in a blue moon. Its amazing hook factor coupled with its well fleshed out and engaging characters makes this one of the best science fiction stories of the modern era.
I have to hand it to Playground Games. They took everything that made Forza Horizon 2 great and refined it. There's basically nothing in Forza Horizon 3 that doesn't say perfection. From the moment you press start, the game throws everything it has at you, from flawless execution on or off the track, its presentation, and fun online session / matchmaking. This is, at least for the time being, the pinnacle of racing games for the Xbox One. Forza Horizon 3 has my vote as Game of the Year and if not that, easily the best title on the Xbox One by far.
If Two Tribes' plan was to go out with a loud and glorious bang, they have succeeded in doing just that.
This game simply should have stayed on PC. With its confusing control scheme and burdensome cursor navigation, it was never destined for consoles. I imagine that the game's success on PC made it a pretty safe bet to make some money on consoles (and I'm sure that with the initial $40 price it did just that), but it simply doesn't port well.
A near perfect port of a great game series that is worth playing, and paying for, all over again. Bioshock: The Collection is one of those things that should always have a place on a gamer's shelf.
Madden NFL 17 is the perfect blend of technical yet accessible game play that a game like this needs. It's technical enough to keep the die hard players satisfied, yet keeps those same mechanics simple for newer or not so advanced players coming back for more. While I'd still keep away from the random online match ups in things like Madden Ultimate Teams due to that being fore the more hardcore crowd, I'd happily give playing the Franchise mode a go with my friends once again.
Though a serviceable enough intergalactic trip for anyone looking to play a multiplayer shooter on their 3DS, there's absolutely nothing memorable about this by-the-numbers entry into a hallowed franchise. The bite-sized missions lack balance, easily overcome with a quartet, frustratingly difficult done solo. The familiar action and time-worn objectives are quite playable, but the mediocre gameplay inspires little reason to return to the planet surface.
If you liked Wipeout or F-Zero, you're going to be right at home with Redout. Fast, sleek, pretty and has just about the right amount of challenge. If you can overlook the rubber banding issue and desktop resolution configuration, Redout, is your best bet if you're the market for racing title that you can pass the time with.
To my surprise, Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom turned out to be perhaps the best anime adaption to ever make its way over to a video game. There's always a concern when a game is created around an existing license. Especially since those few games of recent that featured either an anime or cartoon didn't fare too well. Thankfully, this isn't the case with Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom. It may be a bit too restrictive as it doesn't really stray from the anime or manga. In its defense, it really didn't need to as the world that was created is full of over the top action and a really odd-ball story, both of which are just fine for a video game.
I really wanted to love this game, I really did. They have some really great concepts with fun gameplay, but it's obvious this game just isn't quite complete. I really wish the developers had spent a little more time with Rising Islands. This game could have really become something great, and that's the biggest disappointment of all.
Though shallow in its execution, the plane-switching mechanics of Poncho contain enough cleverness to prove intriguing. With a pleasingly melancholy atmosphere and beautiful pixellated visuals, the titular robot seems destined for a truly memorable side-scrolling puzzle platformer. Unfortunately, this is not it.
The King of Fighters XIV does everything right, in a time where just so much is going wrong with Fighting Games. Where e-Sports are at an unparalleled popularity level and the most popular game caved into the e-Sports distribution model, it’s pretty amazing to see a fighting game that is complete on day one.