The Vertical Slice
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For the price, unless you have some sort of crazy bias against casual games, there's no reason to let this one stay out of your library. You'll be glad you have it. King Oddball is a blast and you should be playing it right now.
Quantum Break is a game I have been waiting on for a very long time. 3 years, almost. Since the Xbox One reveal in May of 2013, that was the one game I wanted to buy right that second. The game that would make me go all-in on the Xbox One, $500 price point, DRM, Kinect inclusion and all. I mean, these were the same people who created my favorite video game of all time, Alan Wake. This had to be good, right? At the time, and even to this day, Quantum Break is way ahead of its time.
All this and what I'm saying is if you don't have this game already installed on your PC or Xbox One, you should, especially if you're an Xbox Live Gold subscriber. After the final cutscene faded to black and I saw the game logo, I couldn't help but jump for absolute joy, as The Banner Saga 2 has achieved what many games have tried and failed time and time again to do: Provide true player choice, make them matter, and make you care about every single person in your caravan. I felt like I truly accomplished something great in a video game, a feat, almost, which is a feeling I haven't felt for years.
For every high concept, there's this underlying truth that grounds That Dragon, Cancer: the battle the Greens are facing is not the mere act of mourning, but how to mourn. Amy turns to God, while Ryan struggles with God. They get in fights, then reunite, then fight again. At the same time, you're coming in and out of the picture as the curious and helpless observer as they plead to God, each other, and Joel. When it came time for the credits to roll, I couldn't help but appreciate the game and the story the Greens want to tell the world.
Firewatch was #6 on my Top Ten Most Wanted Games of 2016, so I don't think it will come as much of a surprise when I say that Firewatch was a game I truly couldn't wait for, and that's also why I am very pleased to tell you that the game is an utter delight.
The simplicity mixed with the interesting setting and graphics have concocted a wonderful combination that I don't think many people other than the devs or Kickstarter backers even thought possible, and for that we need to commend them. Innovative is one word you could use, but I think it may be too understated. Once you get into SUPERHOT you may not want to put it down, and honestly, I think that's something the creators were striving for.
I love this game. It feels great to play, it’s super fun, and I didn’t want to put it down. Some of the Achievements look to be really challenging, so if you’re an Achievement hunter, keep that in mind. A fun challenge, but a challenge all the same. If you’re a fan of old-school gaming (right down to the final level that may have you questioning your sanity after failing so often), this has that with a new-school coat of paint.
Throughout Grimm’s journey to enjoy pizza, I had a bast playing. I spent many hours jamming out to the music and spelling out “dirty” words while trying to obtain every star I could. When I failed, I didn’t feel the kind of defeat where I wanted to stop. No, this was the kind where I NEEDED to try again. The mark of a great puzzle game in my eyes. I had many moments where I told myself it would be the last round only to keep going and find ways rearrange my day just to fit more time in.
If you even slightly like puzzle games, you can’t pass this up. The price alone should be an incentive.
The story showcased here with In Between is a heartbreaking one, especially if you have something to draw on in your life that can put you in the protagonist’s shoes, even just a little bit. The way it all comes together, the levels, the emotion, the ending, they all help tell a compelling narrative and gives the game an engaging experience that I think anyone who enjoys puzzle games should check out. I don’t know where this idea came from, but it’s one that is remarkably well done, and I’m so glad it was made.
If you own an Xbox One, this is definitely a game you need to play within its life cycle. There are no questions about that, and don’t argue. Preferably sooner rather than later, unless you don’t care if you have it spoiled (don’t let it be spoiled, trust me). Whatever your tastes in games are, this should be on your list of games you need to beat before you die.
If you can play with the right kind of people, ones who will try to have a good time and not suck the energy from the experience, I find it hard to believe you will not have a great time with Drawful 2 (or any other Jackbox Games offerings).
Almost everything on display in Bear With Me is a wonderful undertaking of the genre, and one I hope gets followed up with a second episode at the very least on par with what the first gave us. Should that happen, I can’t imagine players won’t be happy.
I absolutely adore this game. It plays great, it’s really fun and funny, and doesn’t outlast it’s welcome. What it does, it does very well and kept me engaged the entire time. If you’re looking for a smaller adventure in the vain of classics like pre-Ocarina of Time Zelda and The Secret of Mana, you will find what you’re looking for here. Don’t pass this one up.
If you want to see a great example of a new twist on a classic genre, 99Vidas won’t disappoint.
I had a blast playing, both single player and multiplayer. If you're looking for an unconventional racer/combat game, you could do way worse than this, especially for the price it goes for.
I can't recommend this game (and the original REmake HD) more for fans of Resident Evil. If you've grown up with them like I have, it's a no-brainer. If you're a bit younger or haven't really played any RE games other than the recent ones (or even worse, none at all), I do believe this is worth a look.
Hue is a very enjoyable puzzle game to spend your time with. It's not overly long in the tooth and you shouldn't have too much trouble finishing it up. The story was a highlight to see through and while I wish there were more of it, I can't fault it too much, because it still hits the right notes. If you're looking for a unique puzzle game to round out your Summer, don't let this one pass you by. It's well worth your time.
Full Mojo Rampage was a bit of a shock to me. I was not expecting to enjoy this game as much as I did. It scratched – and still is – an itch I didn't really know I had. I can't explain what that itch is, but I can say that I'm not upset it's still doing it. Over the Top Games really hit a home run. This game is just plain fun and with the sprinkles of humor here and there it shows a silly side that is appreciated in these kinds of experiences. Fans of these genres will have no problem finding a good time, I have no doubt.
Fragments of Him is definitely an emotional ride. The “interactive movie” nature of it all helps the story along nicely, while helping to get you more invested than if you were just sitting back watching the whole time.