Sporting News
HomepageSporting News's Reviews
"Disc Jam" has the right formula to become the next big breakout indie game and possibly even succeed as an eSport. The matchmaking will need to improve and new content delivered regularly to prevent it from becoming just a passing fad, but with a high fun factor and strategic nature, despite simplicity and accessibility, "Disc Jam" delivers.
While "3on3 Freestyle" is lacking in many ways, it's still a unique entry on the market that is worth trying out. Given that the game is free, there's really no reason for anyone who may have interest not to do so. There is the potential that new modes, courts and characters through post-release support could make the game more appealing, but the core gameplay may not be good enough for those with current-day expectations of traditional sports games to give it much time to improve.
The Blizzard Mountain expansion is a no-brainer for those who are already deep into Forza Horizon 3. Developer Playground Games has delivered a challenging experience that both broadens and compliments the world of Forza. Given that Blizzard Mountain can't be accessed until having played many hours into the game, however, those who are just starting or haven't reached the point at which it would unlock should wait and see first whether they get there and are still engaged with the game before buying.
The pure-simulation route for non-traditional sports seems best suited for those meant to be more serene than extreme. There just isn't much fun to be had with "Infinite Air" because of a steep learning-curve that isn't overcome in a reasonable amount of time.
While the game offers online capability, all attempts to play have failed in the days since release. It's unclear whether online matchmaking is broken or whether there simply aren't others searching to play online. Either scenario essentially negates online as a feature, which is unfortunate because it would likely be chaotic fun and would extend the longevity of the title.
Gameplay in "FIFA" may not be quite as refined as that found in its competitor, but it's in a steady place and is generally fun to play.
Much like the Warriors, one year removed from the title and on the brink of a repeat NBA "2K17" has come up just short of pulling it off. To even have come that close to doing so should still be considered quite an achievement.
It's difficult to imagine how Forza Horizon 3 could have been any better.
If "PES 2017" can't overcome licensing shortcomings, then no sports video game can. It delivers a fantastic gameplay experience that is well-balanced and exceedingly rewarding.
"Madden NFL 17" mostly avoids gimmicks in favor of addressing long-running areas of deficiency in the series. The developers stuck with the progress they made in recent years — aspects hardcore football fans appreciate like penalties and accuracy mattering for quarterbacks — while adding an element of unpredictability that makes the game feel much more like the actual sport.
Three years into the reboot of the R.B.I. Baseball series and it's still a completely uninspired mobile-quality game being sold for four times as much on consoles. It's a shame that Xbox owners have now gone several years without a having a legitimate MLB game but it's been even longer since a quality one was released for a Microsoft system.
With gorgeous sound and visuals, immersive and expansive modes for single players, captivating multiplayer options, a rewarding economy, and a staggering amount of cars and tracks, Forza Motorsport 6 delivers a powerful racing experience. It single-handedly makes the Xbox One console appealing, and is a no-brainer “gotta have it” title for those that have Microsoft’s gaming machine in their homes.