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

Shacknews's Reviews

8 / 10 - Sportsfriends
May 26, 2014

If you're one of those people who lives to party (and honestly, who doesn't?!), Sportsfriends deserves an immediate addition to your game library.

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9 / 10 - Watch Dogs
May 27, 2014

Watch Dogs could've easily been Grand Theft Auto with tech equipment. But Ubisoft Montreal has managed to flesh out this experience as something more, making fantastic use of the technology and applying it just right to deliver a remarkably deep experience. Furthermore, the presentation is quite good on newer game machines, and all the aspects click--albeit with somewhat inconsistent driving controls and AI. This game may have been a long time coming, but it's been worth the wait.

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Jun 2, 2014

It's a distinctly average experience, but it has enough going for it that I'm glad I was able to conquer the bugs and see it through.

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8 / 10 - 1001 Spikes
Jun 8, 2014

The impatient will probably give up just a few levels in, but the devoted will find a lot to enjoy with 1001 Spikes. It's a fitting tribute to the games of old, while embracing a challenge level that today's dedicated gamers will truly appreciate. If they don't break their controller first, that is.

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7 / 10 - EA Sports UFC
Jun 20, 2014

EA Sports UFC hits pretty hard for the debut of a new franchise.

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8 / 10 - Shovel Knight
Jun 26, 2014

Shovel Knight is everything good about a bygone era, acting as a reminder of why classic platformers were so loved... and hated.

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6 / 10 - Blue Estate
Jun 30, 2014

Blue Estate shows that an on-rails shooter can work efficiently on PlayStation 4. The comical violence and responsive gameplay are more than enough to give this a look, though it's probably a good idea to download the demo first and see just how much of its raunchy content you can take.

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Jun 30, 2014

Valiant Hearts may get repetitive at times, and struggles to find its tone, but I'd be hard-pressed to name a game that better explores the complexities of war. In the end, we're reminded that lives are valuable regardless of their banner. It's rare to see a video game explore conflict with such nuance, and this one deserves commendation for that.

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Jul 3, 2014

The third Sniper Elite definitely hits the mark, even if it's a bit shaky.

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Jul 24, 2014

Gods Will Be Watching is a sci-fi thriller that's all about making the right decisions. The thing is, there are no right decisions... and that's the good news.

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6 / 10 - Wayward Manor
Aug 13, 2014

Wayward Manor is a puzzle game created in collaboration between The Odd Gentleman and Neil Gaiman. That alone is enough to catch some interest, but whatever charm the game has quickly wears thin. 

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8 / 10 - Madden NFL 15
Aug 22, 2014

EA Tiburon could be onto something, and if it continues to listen to fan feedback, we could be in for some glorious days of video game football yet. For now, this is definitely worth checking out, as it's far from the same old thing.

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Aug 26, 2014

Infamous: First Light is at its best when it's iterating on and riffing on Second Son. In many ways, the abbreviated length of First Light makes it a better bite-sized package. It's more linear and less surprising than fans might expect from the series, but exploring this world as Fetch is just as fun as it ever was.

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Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney comes out with a game that in many ways improves upon both formulas. It may be too bogged down in its own story and look slightly dated, but the pure puzzle mechanics still work both in and out of the courtroom, and are bolstered by the crossing of ideas. It's more than the sum of its parts, and as a result is a nice treat.

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8 / 10 - Lethal League
Sep 3, 2014

For its simple premise, its fun characters, and an experience that can be fully enjoyed both online and off, Lethal League has proven to be a delight.

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Sep 4, 2014

There's no other way to say it. Hatoful Boyfriend is weird! With that said, its novelty proves to be both a major boost and its greatest flaw.

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Dead Rising 3 is a technologically sophisticated game with a very straightforward concept. Here are a bunch of toys for you to use to lay waste to the zombie horde. Go out, explore, and have at it. Although it often feels like the time limit (present in all Dead Rising games) conflicts with the idea of running around a big open world, it doesn't take away from the satisfaction of zombie bashing.

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6 / 10 - NHL 15
Sep 9, 2014

If you're expecting a completely stacked, feature-laden game as you've gotten in the past, you're bound to be disappointed and on the phone with EA's customer service department, wondering where the majority of your game content has gone. However, if you're an avid hockey fan, you probably won't mind hitting the ice and taking part in a well-rounded contest of hockey, and seeing what the new visuals and audio have to deliver.

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7 / 10 - The Sims 4
Sep 10, 2014

The smarter sims, sleek customization system, and emotions truly brings The Sims 4 to life. However, even with those impressive features, the game ultimately feels like a incremental step up from The Sims 3.

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Still, my plucky band of characters, some favorites and some third-rate, had dungeons to conquer through the power of music. Square Enix pushed this concept much further in Curtain Call, which makes this the ideal proof-of-concept for its odd rhythm-RPG marriage. It's too bad that now that the company has shown how well it can work, it's taking a bow.

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