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Marvel's Spider-Man doesn't innovate on the open-world genre, but Insomniac doubled down on creating a spectacular Spider-Man fantasy. It simply feels good to travel through Peter Parker's New York as the webslinger, even if whatever Spidey-suit you choose is covering a competent and entirely expected open-world formula. Filled with more emotion, heart, and humanity than we've seen in superhero adventures before, Insomniac doesn't need to reinvent the open-world wheel. Marvel's Spider-Man embraces the man behind the mask and gives us the best interactive Spider-Man experience to date.
If you take a step back and look at the big picture, it's hard to shake the feeling that Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 may actually be taking a step backwards this season. However, upon closer examination, a vast majority of the criticism consists of minor problems in an otherwise stellar football simulation. Unless the loss of Champions League is a deal breaker, at least on the pitch, this remains the premier choice for the discerning hooligan.
Firewall Zero Hour shows the potential for the world of VR games. It makes a solid case for the Aim Controller, which will hopefully see continued support from not only Sony, but other publishers as well. While there is a steep grind to unlock all of the tactically useful items, those who manage to tough it out will be rewarded with a more satisfying experience. Firewall Zero Hour is an intense, immersive experience which will put the Aim Controller through its paces, and may be the best VR shooter released thus far.
As I mentioned above, I've not been this impressed with a game within these genres since The Witness, and prior to that, I think of Blow's other game, Braid. For me, those two games are the pinnacle of puzzle games, but Planet Alpha announces what it wants to do, and does it, so it's difficult for me to fault it. Slip away into the world of Planet Alpha for a while, filled with puzzles and color. It's a real charmer.
If you want a game, there are better music puzzlers out there with heaps more content, and if you're looking for someplace to fire up your musical chops, there are actual music production tools that will serve you in better ways than Track Lab's isolated creation mode. At the end of a long hard day, Track Lab isn't the game that's going to get you to pull out your VR headset for even a brief gameplay session. If you desperately want to use a PS4 controller to produce music, wait for Dreams, which will have a far superior audio production toolset and the ability to take your music outside of "the lab." While a neat concept, Track Lab never polishes any of its strengths enough to shine.
I have never played a game quite like 428: Shibuya Scramble. It's hands-down the best visual novel I've ever experienced. Anything you could want in a VN it offers. Deep character development, a rich, meaningful story, humor, action, romance, you name it! Hell, it even teaches you things! Did you know that in Japanese law a kidnapping is different than an abduction? The more you know, am I right? I can see why it's one of only 25 games to have ever earned a perfect 40/40 from Famitsu Weekly, Japan's largest circulating video game magazine. The bottom line is, that as far as visual novels go, 428: Shibuya Scramble is one of the best. Download the demo on the PlayStation Store today and try it out for yourself.
If you're looking for something that will challenge you and twist your brain into knots, this game isn't it. There's no real skill curve, and most of the puzzles are simple enough that you can more or less accidentally stumble on the solutions, with a few rare exceptions. But I assure you that from the first moment you tip something into that hole and see it grow, you'll be hooked. You'll want to consume everything, making the void of consumption grow ever larger. No, I'm not talking about getting addicted to Twitter or Reddit. I'm talking about Donut County. It's brilliant, it's charming, and it's simple, but I would never call this hole shallow. It holds a depth in its tranquil destruction, a surprisingly refreshing and unique experience, on the (w)hole.
I have my issues with Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age. It's a bit clunky when it tries to pretend it's cool like other video games. I wish I had vocations instead of skill points to play with, and it would be nice if I could get from point A to B a bit faster, or have more to do along the way. But at the same time, I found myself engrossed in the usual grind I've come to love over the years, the silly and fantastical creatures from my favorite artist, and the storytelling that met and even rattled my expectations. There's even a neat little crafting system I didn't have room to mention, secrets to find, and of course hours and hours of post-game content. If you want to go on an adventure, and I mean a real adventure that tugs on your heartstrings, makes you smile, and yells puns at you constantly, do not sleep on Dragon Quest XI.
I've seen low-effort cash-grabs by people with no imagination, and Strange Brigade isn't that. The folks at Rebellion had a unique vision for Strange Brigade that wasn't content to merely tap into the typical 80s nostalgia or other hot cultural icons of the backward-looking 2018 pop culture. So there, I guess I found something nice to say.
Ultimately, Fire Pro Wrestling World is just the best wrestling game I've played in years. It's also a perfect fit for the PS4, with its arcade-style input commands right at home on the DualShock 4. If you want to play a wrestling game on the PS4, there's only one option, and Fire Pro Wrestling World might be set to have art imitate life and experience the same kind of global renaissance that NJPW is experiencing.
While Fall of Light: Darkest Edition does have an interesting tale to tell, it's wrapped up in so many layers of mediocrity that it's unlikely you'll get far enough to care. Poor combat, annoying death mechanics, and an irritating inventory system make the game tedious to play through.
As hilarious as Pizza Titan Ultra can be, it is a one-note experience. For those looking for a numb-minded button masher, there's plenty of meat on this bone. If you can turn off your brain before firing up the game, you'll enjoy yourself. Just know that the longer you stare at the screen, the more that the seams begin to show. Goofy shenanigans aside, your mileage may vary.
At the end of it all, Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition is still the RPG dream it has been since its release.
Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr isn't perfect, but it's the first enjoyable WH40K action title to grace the consoles since Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine. While many may write it off as a Diablo III copycat, I believe it's one of its best features, and it has plenty of other elements to set it apart from Diablo. The fact that I felt as thought I was playing out a possible mystery case from the files of Gregor Eisenhorn only added on the glee. It is, without a doubt, the best WH40K game on the PlayStation 4. It's a shame that the unreliable, yet required online connection prevents the praise to reaching beyond that niche audience.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a faithful return to a PS2 classic. Whether it's taking in the town, interacting with the people, or running into random restaurants, there's always plenty of things to stay busy doing when not playing the main campaign. Combat still feels a bit stiff, but this should be manageable and overcome with ample inventory room for health items at any rate. Yakuza Kiwami 2 is an easy purchase for anyone who has even a passing interest in the Yakuza series.
Little Dragon's Café is a unique and utterly delightful adventure. There is no better way to unwind then adventuring with a dragon, while helping people solve their life problems, and indulging in a little bit of cooking.
These are not remakes of the original Shenmue games. We accept these ports as they are, flaws and all, because they have a wonderful and engaging story that has kept fans wanting more for 18 years.
Brawlout rocks up to consoles looking like it's gone a couple of rounds with Floyd Mayweather. Whereas the characters, gameplay, and stages pack a fair punch, overall it suffers due to dire loading times and a stale state of a single-player experience. Even with the framework for one of the best fighting games in our time, the adaption has not been successful, and therefore Brawlout arrives with enough bugs to keep Paco well fed for days. Couch Play delivers rousing competition and progression incentives are a nice touch, yet with the issues present, there's little keeping players tempted for that “one more game.”
Death's Gambit had such promise. At its core, it is the blueprint to properly take risks and make attempts to improve a game design that we all take for granted. But it's just surrounded with poor quality of life choices, while missing some things it should have absolutely nailed. Weird animations, strange pacing, counter-intuitive combat, and way too many bugs holds this game back from being something truly great.
Guacamelee! 2 is the sequel the original deserves. Fast, fun, funny, challenging, and chicken-filled, Juan Aguacate shows us he's still got a few tricks up his mangas (sleeves), especially when he takes on his chicken form. Buying Guacamelee! 2 for $19.99 at launch is a no-brainer for fans of the original, as well as fans of platformers, beat-em-ups, co-op games, and anyone who wants to let their inner Luchador soar.