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Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is a strong ending to the series. It deviates slightly from the franchise's established themes and ideas in favor of something more down to Earth, but it works. Players will experience the same action, the same characters, and the same amazing set pieces. The gameplay is getting a little long in the tooth but manages to hold on for this final outing for Nathan Drake and his friends. It's not the strongest in the series — a title that still belongs to the excellent Uncharted 2 — but it's a strong runner-up. Fans of the franchise should enjoy this seemingly last romp, but newcomers may first want to play The Uncharted Collection for the full story.
Valkyria Chronicles Remastered is about as straight of a port as you can get, but that isn't a bad thing. Valkyria Chronicles looked great to begin with, and the visual improvements only help. It's a little disappointing that the mechanics, story and gameplay haven't seen any noteworthy updates, but it's a great port. Fans of the game should be happy to have one of the smoothest-running versions available, and newcomers will find it the best way to experience the cult classic. Throw in the addition of Trophies, and it's a nice package, but it's strictly average as far as HD remasters go.
It may not be the second coming of the isometric racer, but BlazeRush is fun nonetheless. The core combat and racing systems are pretty easy to pick up and master, and the physics system is a nice addition. The weapons and power-ups are quite good, and the length of the campaign means that the game has a good bit of life to it, which is essential since the online multiplayer is dead. If you don't mind going solo or have a bunch of friends who want to play locally and don't mind the quirky camera, then this is worth a shot.
The aloof nature of Beyond Dimensions may make it intriguing at first, but it doesn't hold together in the end. The adherence to many roguelike conventions is good, and the choice of a randomized spell system keeps things fresh until you unlock the spells you want for the big run. The variations in theme are also good, but the static order in which those themes appear can be disappointing when randomization governs every other aspect of the game. Though combat can be good due to the possible spell variations, the simple enemy AI can bring that down while the presentation feels too simple when scrutinized. In the end, Beyond Dimensions isn't a bad roguelike twin-stick shooter, but it could definitely stand to be better.
For those who love the obstacle style of racing and platforming, Action Henk is a treat. The level designs are great, and the simple controls and mechanics make it easy for anyone to pick up. The presence of ghosts and leaderboards gives it a little bit extra to make the whole thing addictive – enough that you may concentrate on getting the best time for one track despite others being available. While it would've been nice to have some of the PC features here, there's still enough gameplay to keep one occupied. Action Henk is a very good title that should be in your platforming library.
In the end, Acorn Assault: Rodent Revolution isn't anything truly special. The basic mechanics don't tax the player as far as strategy goes, and while the match-three mechanic is a nice touch, the inability to correct your infantry and item placement as well as the randomized draw of what you have at your disposal can be an annoyance. Still, the simple mechanics are easy to understand and pretty solid if you can deal with the inherent limitation. For those looking for the simplest possible strategy game that's also easy to understand, give this one a shot. Veterans might want to take a peek, but don't expect to stay with it for very long.
Severed is a great experience that comes perilously close to overstaying its welcome. The combat is fast and intense, the dungeon exploration is enjoyable, and the visuals are enticing. The combat can become repetitive and is completely dependent on your touch-screen, but by and large, it's a fun and well-made game. As you slash your way through the bizarre monstrosities that populate the land, Severed manages to be engaging without feeling like a roadblock. It won't change the mind of anyone who hates touch-screen gaming, but it's a great example of how it can work, and it's one of the best indie games on the Vita.
Since it's lacking options that PC players have come to expect, Nordenfelt is a hard sell for fans unless they see it at a tremendous discount or grab it as part of a bundle.
Dark Souls III leaves the PC space the same way the original came in. The gameplay remains challenging but much more refined, with a faster combat system and a bevy of options. It comes in with a very beautiful presentation on both visual and aural fronts, besting the consoles in frame rate and other effects due to the platform's scalability options. However, the various crashes can be bothersome, and the temporary fixes rob the game of either player choice or graphical fidelity - depending on which fix is chosen - something that is made more annoying due to the lack of forthcoming patch news. Still, the game remains a great example of how to accomplish a finale, and once the issues are ironed out, Dark Souls III is another near-masterpiece in the genre.
Koi is a beautiful but shallow pool. The first impression is strong but as you go on into the game it quickly becomes clear there just isn't much below the surface. The puzzles, story and gameplay are "barely there" enough to work, but without much that develops from the basics. As an experience, it's enjoyable enough, if over a bit too quickly, but as a game, it's pretty lackluster and tough to justify the price tag. It's a shame since there's a lot of potential here, but Koi doesn't manage to realize it.
Though it is by no means the definitive version of the title, Skullgirls: 2nd Encore is a great fighting game for the Vita. The fighting and presentation are excellent, and there are plenty of modes to sink your teeth into if you're tired of getting pummeled by the online community. Though it has some excellent teaching tools for those who want to understand the nuances of the system and characters, the blurred text makes that a more daunting task when compared to the home consoles and PC. Sitting at the upper echelon of fighting games on the portable, this title belongs on your Vita's memory card.
In the end, Dungelot: Shattered Lands is a surprise. It seems simple on the surface, but the numerous game mechanics make for quite a deep game. The difficulty level means you'll spend a good deal of time grinding to get stronger, but conquering the dungeons is satisfying since you'll open up a few other scenarios prior to making another dungeon run. Those looking for a casual but challenging roguelike should try out Dungelot.
The Witch and the Hundred Knight: Revival Edition is a difficult game to like. It has a battle system that is challenging but boring to use since it fails to take advantage of the gameplay mechanics. It has a decent story that is bogged down by uninteresting and unlikeable characters. It also doesn't have much for older players who want to find an excuse to return to the game. If you don't mind the quirks and rough attempts at humor, then you may enjoy The Witch and the Hundred Knight.
All in all, Ratchet and Clank is a reboot done right. It captures the same feel of the original game but is bigger, more polished and offers more content.
In the end, Slain! is very much a game that employs style over substance. It gets the look down, and the music fits in nicely. While the platforming is passable, the combat feels half-baked. Combine that with a myriad of bugs both big and small, and the game disappoints all around. While the hope is that the developers get some patches in soon to improve things, it's very difficult to recommend Slain! in its current state to anyone when there are plenty of better alternatives.
Though there are a good number of shooters on the PC, you should definitely pick up Stardust Galaxy Warriors if you're a genre fan.
Shadow Complex Remastered remains a fun title. The gameplay remains faithful to the Metroidvania formula, warts and all, while the addition of partial 3-D fighting makes it feel fresh compared to its contemporaries. It comes in at a good length and has some nice time trial challenges to give it more legs once the various campaign endings have been exhausted. It could've used some more improvements in the presentation section, but genre fans will enjoy this title while holding out hope that someday, Chair will finally develop a sequel.
From the bosses to the traps, Dark Souls III is arguably the best Souls game to date. If Dark Souls III is really the last in the series, it's a worthy send-off for an excellent series.
Android Assault Cactus is a brilliant addition to the PS4 library. Whether you're playing solo or with friends, the action is solid, and the different variations to the androids make experimentation fun. There are a good number of modes, and the various options can give the game some legs. The presentation of the visuals and audio is top-notch, and that's made more impressive since this title was developed by three people. Android Assault Cactus is something that should be experienced by anyone who loves action in an almost pure form.
Nights of the Azure is an acceptable but unexceptional action game. It doesn't do much wrong, but it doesn't do much right, either. The mechanics are just interesting enough to keep your attention, the graphics just appealing enough to make you overlook their flaws, and the story hits its beats with enough regularity to not lose you. Yet the entire experience feels hollow. It's a decent first effort, but you'd be better served by renting or buying the title at a discount.