GameRant's Reviews
After a less than impressive beta, 'World of Warcraft' wins us over with Warlords of Draenor's' engrossing orc-centric story.
The definitive installment of the fan-favorite fighting franchise has established itself on the Nintendo's latest home console in the form of the appropriately titled 'Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'.
After nearly a dozen releases, the LEGO franchise has found a concept and a set-up that work well, even if it doesn't stretch the limits of gameplay ingenuity. It is for that reason that LEGO Batman 3 serves as a solid entry in the library, but not an exceptional one.
'Pokemon Omega Ruby' and 'Alpha Sapphire' make for a nostalgic trip down memory lane, while still keeping the games current with a number of new additions.
Brighter than Unity's ambitions, perhaps, since the sacrifices made on the story front are clear. But it's still an impressive sandbox, and does its setting justice. Rough edges or no, Assassin's Creed Unity is a technical step forward, and likely a title every fan who's made the leap to next-gen will want to see for themselves.
In the end, The Master Chief Collection brings a better version of the first Anniversary, a similar treatment for Halo 2 producing even more impressive results, and tweaked versions of Halo 3 and 4 for good measure. That's a no-brainer for both singleplayer and cooperative fans, but the weight of the multiplayer – re-capturing the gameplay and maps of Halo 2 to the finest detail – can't be underestimated.
'Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare' doesn't change the franchise's identity, but its near future setting and tech help make the component parts exciting again.
'Lords of the Fallen' attempts to put a fresh spin on the 'Dark Souls' system by turning down the difficulty and turning up the cutting-edge graphics.
In many ways, 'Bayonetta 2' comes close to being a masterclass in hack and slash style, but is invariably held back by some of the genre's usual flaws.
Every facet of 'Sunset Overdrive' is bursting with personality, and despite some faults it's still a must-play on Xbox One.
'Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel' offers more story for hardcore fans but plays like a dated clone of the older games, trading polish for gimmicks.
While 'Civilization: Beyond Earth' retains the familiar formula of its predecessor, Firaxis makes enough changes to keep it fresh.
'NBA 2K15' takes center court to deliver much of what fans love about the series but is held down by a lack of polish and continuous server issues.
'The Evil Within' has some rich and interesting imagery, but its story and gameplay are disappointingly derivative.
If the idea of Project Spark interests you, it's absolutely worth checking out.
'Alien: Isolation' evokes the atmosphere and tension of the movies, but inconsistent xenomorph AI and antiquated design turn fear into frustration.
DriveClub is easily accessibly and highly recommendable, even for no other reason than the simple fact that it's the only new racer available on PS4 this year. It's slickly designed and just plain fun to play. There's room for improvement on the car selection, progression and customization, but what's there is a fun racer with some interesting social options that dedicated racers can take advantage of.
'Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor' combines familiar combat tricks and trademark Tolkien scenery with a unique Nemesis system to deliver one of the best new-gen experiences of the year.
'FIFA 15' represents a significant leap forward for the series and offers one of the the best soccer experiences from EA Sports.
'Forza Horizon 2' has delivered an over the top, open world hit for the Xbox One.