The Outerhaven Productions
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All in all, it was still a great game from beginning to end with a nifty little twist once you "beat" the game. It's addicting and really fun to play and it makes me wish for more turn-based RPGs. Even if Square decides to re-use everything again, I really wouldn't mind seeing a Bravely Third. If you're a fan of classic RPGs, then I believe that this is a must-have title. Despite its flaws, it's still a charming game that gives you a great dose of nostalgia while providing you with hours upon hours of entertainment you find yourself coming back to after you put the game down thinking you've had enough!
Overwatch is the spiritual successor to TF2 in many ways, and if you haven't heard it said before, it's worth a look if you come from there. Even for total newcomers, though; the world, the characters, and the sheer chaos of skills, ultimates, and counter picks makes this game not worth missing.
To be perfectly honest, it feels good to get reacquainted with an old friend. The original Odin Sphere was one of my favorite RPGs on the PlayStation 2 and I'm happy to see that not only did the game survive the test of time but still offers just enough challenge and fun for even the most jaded gamer. On a presentation level, the game does so many things right; I wasn't really able to find any major flaw and my entire game-play session was a blur as I forgot what time it was after I started playing.
Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus is somewhat hard to judge. Though the interactions with the original 10 characters are strong, the introductions of the 10 newcomers are fairly weak. With that said, once introductions are over, interaction becomes strong again. Not as strong as the later titles, but that stands to reason as series improve over time. If you're a fan of other titles and simply did not own a vita, this game is worth picking up. If you're new to the series and are willing to stomach the slower and less varied story offered here to better enjoy the later games, it's worth picking up then as well.
It's been said: if you love Warhammer, you'll love this game. The attention to lore and detail is simply too fantastic to not admire. If you have any attachment to either franchise or even the RTS genre in general, this is definitely worth the buy.
I can only recommend this for only the hardcore of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans. For everyone else, you may want to think about putting down $40 dollars (PC) or $50 for consoles and instead try to rent or wait until the price drops. Sadly it seems that Platinum Games either doesn't excel when it comes to licensed games and should focus more on their own IPs, or at the very least take a pass when it comes to doing video game adaptions of tv shows.
I don't really play sandbox games, as I get bored easily by arbitrary goals that usually mean nothing to the game, but something about Windward raises my sails (pun completely intended.)
If you liked Fallout 4, you owe it to yourself to pick up Far Harbor because you will probably like it more. If you didn't love the direction the series has been taking, perhaps Far Harbor will right some of those wrongs. Overall, this expansion does what a good expansion should do: provide more of what made the original good and continue or expand the story in a satisfying way. Far Harbor exceeds that by giving us a lot of content and providing a world and story that is more interesting than what came before it, as well as bringing back series' staples that some felt were missing from the original.
What can really be said? DOOM is a beautiful return to form by Id and a magnificent show of tradition whilst accepting modern sensibilities. Sure, the two non-campaign modes are lacking, but this is DOOM. To give much weight to either snapmap or multiplayer would be like criticizing a steakhouse with subpar salad and dinner rolls despite the sheer quality of their world-famous Filet Mignon.
As someone who absolutely loves games in all their forms, it's hard to be so harsh on Koihime Enbu. It offers up a combination of buxom young women and ancient Chinese literature that I'm certain would have never been made in the west. However, content is light and as such, the characters don't shine as much as they prior knowledge of their personality and mannerisms. Koihime Enbu is a fun purchase if you're a big time fighting game fanatic, but it's hard to recommend it to the average consumer.
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth adds more replayability to an already endlessly replayable game. The wealth of new content will keep new and seasoned players alike coming back for more. While the fresh challenges are fun and Greed Mode adds a new spin, more new ways to play with the Isaac franchise would make the Afterbirth expansion top-notch.
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is the most interesting, grounded, and emotional tale within the entire series. It is the most visually stunning game Naughty Dog has developed and has perfected and refreshed much of what the series is so well known for. If you own a PlayStation 4 and are looking for an adventure, this is an absolute must-buy.
Overall I think Hitman: Episode 2 continues to fuel the nostalgia trip of Blood Money with its wonderful variety of locations. Episode 2 pushes IO Interactive's creative boundaries a bit further and spaces out all of the games' action (the complete opposite to the Parisian prelude which hit our screens back in March). Sadly the narrative is non-existent and the animations are still shoddy when compared to other A-grade titles - however, those aren't huge criticisms for a game of this nature. I think Hitman is best enjoyed in one full go later on in the year when the retail version is released. It's proving to be a fun, yet brief adventure. I look forward to seeing what direction the series is taken in for episode 3.
MegaTagmension: Blanc + Neptune vs. Zombies is one of those games where you definitely have to be either a fan of the genre or a fan of the series to enjoy, and even then you're not necessarily going to enjoy it past the initial playthrough unless you're a diehard fan of these games. The story is bland, the characters have a lot of personality that doesn't always get to shine, and the gameplay is repetitive, even according to musou standards. However, the moments where everything seems to click, it serves this game extremely well.
What Hyperdevotion Noire lacks in inherent innovation, it makes up for in character (and tsundere).
Ratchet and Clank does exactly what is was meant to: retcon the series to include all of the expanded lore and present a good jumping on point for recent and new fans in preparation for the upcoming big screen debut. That's not meant to sound diminutive, either. It's a great game, and, in a generation lacking in good 3D platformers, comes as a godsend. Clearly, Insomniac put a lot of work into making the definitive origin story for the duo. That being said, it still feels like a missed opportunity to add something that fans haven't already seen.
When people mention shmups on the PC, they don't mention Stardust Galaxy Warriors and after playing this gem I feel that is a crime. Tight controls, catchy music, every game is handled different thanks to the customization and 4 play co-op make this game stand out in a big way. In fact, the only thing that hurts this title is that it's an offline affair only. That said, for $10 you'll have a blast, literally. And if you have 3 people to play with then you're in for one hell of a time. Hopefully, we'll also see some much-needed DLC as the game as it stands if pretty short, that is unless you keep coming back to the gauntlet and challenge modes.
All in all, if Dark Souls III is indeed the final chapter in the Dark Soul series then at the very least the game will go out with a supernova sized bang. Multiple endings, hidden paths for the adventurous, optional bosses and levels, tons of items to find and despite the forward linear progression this is perhaps the game in the Dark Souls series. While this review does cover the Xbox One version, nothing else will be any different on either the PlayStation 4 or PC versions as well. That said you can't do wrong regardless of which system to you decide to play Dark Souls III on, just make sure that you do play it.
Let's just say that you'll be putting in a ridiculous amount of time into Forced Showdown.
If you liked Fallout 4, this is the perfect excuse to dive back in. Just don't expect a fully fleshed out story to guide you through the new content.