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1290 games reviewed
74.4 average score
80 median score
56.9% of games recommended

Shacknews's Reviews

Azran Legacy comes full circle, with this trilogy leading neatly into the other. It feels like this is meant to be a stopping point for the series, at least in this exact format. The series of short stories served as a reminder of my affection for these characters, and the puzzles ran the gamut from tried-and-true to truly clever. This is a fine send-off, and if that's what Level-5 intends, it will be a perfectly timed one. As Layton would inform Luke, a proper gentleman knows not to overstay his welcome.

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Remarkably, PopCap has managed to create an experience that delivers all the strategic twitch combat of a shooter, presented with PvZ's unique charm.

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Mar 4, 2014

South Park: The Stick of Truth suffers from overly simplistic RPG mechanics, some iffy design choices, and some major bugs. In spite of all of that, the story nails everything that make Trey Parker and Matt Stone's television series such a joy, making this an ideal choice for South Park fans... and likely South Park fans only.

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9 / 10 - Titanfall
Mar 11, 2014

From finishing off a rival Titan by ripping out its pilot, to detonating a Titan to destroy a squad of enemy soldiers, Titanfall is filled with numerous moments of sheer fun.

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Mar 13, 2014

The Yoshi's Island series is one of my favorite gaming series ever, which is why it's so painful to see Yoshi's New Island fall short in so many ways. It's not a bad game and certainly a serviceable one for younger audiences and new players. Unfortunately, for those that have followed Yoshi since his first starring role nearly 20 years ago, this game is a tremendous disappointment.

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Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes shows a lot of promise for MGS stepping into the open-world arena, but has so little content that it may not satisfy.

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Mar 20, 2014

Infamous: Second Son takes the series to the new console generation, but the ambitious power-stealing concept hews too close to previous games.

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Apr 9, 2014

The latest release in the Kinect Sports series hits several snags.

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7 / 10 - Trials Fusion
Apr 18, 2014

If you managed to endure Trials HD and Trials Evolution and want more where that came from, Trials Fusion will certainly sate your appetite for a next-gen entry. Although the XP system isn't what it could've been, and the new tricks take some getting used to, the community features promise to keep gamers entertained for a long time.

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7 / 10 - NES Remix 2
Apr 21, 2014

NES Remix 2 has a better selection of games than the first Remix, but it still feels like half of a larger whole.

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Apr 23, 2014

Despite its sudden conclusion and its familiar gameplay, LEGO The Hobbit is a fitting adventure, adapting the films for younger and older players alike.

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Apr 29, 2014

Between the varied courses that are available, the multiplayer options and the excellent gameplay dynamic, Mario Golf: World Tour offers a little something to everyone, both pro and casual players alike. What it lacks in innovation (and in some cases, quality audio- your Mii sounds too much like a doofus), it more than makes up for with a swinging good time.

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Apr 29, 2014

Despite the main story mode being a bit too easy for its own good, Kirby: Triple Deluxe is still one of the best entries in the series. The combination of old and new abilities will entertain fans young and old, and the two extra mini-games are worth returning to, an ideal cure to the forthcoming summertime blues.

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May 6, 2014

Child of Light is a must-play for casual and hardcore fans of RPGs alike.

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8 / 10 - Mario Kart 8
May 15, 2014

Mario Kart 8 shows a playful spirit, refinement, and attention to detail that has been missing in the last few entries.

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May 15, 2014

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 continues to swing with energy, but you can see some of the strain peeking out of his suit. Between the glitches from rushed development and some unnecessary gameplay segments (go…away…Peter!), it's not nearly as good as Beenox's other efforts. Here's to hoping that for the next game, Activision lets this team run wild on something inventive and new. Certainly couldn't hurt this web-slinger's chances.

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May 19, 2014

Despite the lack of multiplayer and fetch-quests that interrupt the blood-spilling action, Wolfenstein: The New Order is a welcome return to form for the series. Its gameplay is good fun, whether you prefer blasting enemies to bits or being sneaky-like. The beautiful presentation makes the most out of the new hardware, and it squeezes some impressive life out of older systems.

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8 / 10 - Transistor
May 20, 2014

Bastion certainly wasn't a fluke. Transistor cements Supergiant Games as one of the sharpest, most stylish, and unique small developers. Though some of its flourishes aren't quite as fresh the second time around, Transistor speaks with a unique creative identity, mostly successfully refreshes solid RPG mechanics, and tells a poignant story worth experiencing.

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May 22, 2014

Super T.I.M.E. Force's writing can be obnoxious, but the strength of the gameplay conceit carries it through. Making death less punitive puts a unique spin on a staid genre. Using these tools to solve the combat scenarios is a blast, and worth suffering through some of the silliness and frustration.

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7 / 10 - Tropico 5
May 22, 2014

While there might be a few snags, the start of El Presidente's fifth term is looking to be a worthwhile one.

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