Worth Playing
HomepageWorth Playing's Reviews
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.
EA Sports UFC 2 is a perfect example of how to capitalize on a mostly solid start. Even though it could still use additional improvements, the fighting system remains solid, and the tweaks make it more accessible to those who aren't well versed in fighting games. The presentation has been improved to make it even more impressive on all fronts, but the amount of modes give the game some longevity beyond online play. It isn't perfect, but it certainly is one of the better representations of an MMA game, so fighting fans of all types should check it out.
As a game, Quantum Break is solid. There's a good balance between the shooting and exploration sections, and while some people may dislike the simplicity of the core shooting, the time-related powers augment it enough to make it fun. As a TV show, it does a good job of staying interesting without wearing out its welcome. As a whole, the story nicely melds together both pieces, and the different avenues the tale takes gives you a reason to replay it. Quantum Break is another excellent game from Remedy, and it belongs on the shelves of all adventure game fans.
Zamarian gets some kudos for trying to use the tube format since it's still a rarity in the genre. Other than that, it doesn't do anything all that well. The controls are too squirrely to make you feel like you have any mastery over them, and the game doesn't break away from its mobile roots to embrace the advantages of the more versatile platform. The shooting feels uninspired until you reach the boss fights, which can be more of a confusing mess than something enjoyable. With an all-around mediocre presentation, Zamarian's only real saving grace is the $4.99 price tag. Even then, it's difficult to recommend this title unless you're desperate for a slightly different kind of shooter.
Samurai Warriors 4: Empires is an interesting addition to the original games. It doesn't necessarily improve upon or replace them but offers a similar-but-different experience. Anyone who's long since burned out on Samurai Warriors 4 probably won't find Empires to be different enough to renew their interest, but newcomers to the genre or those who passed on Samurai Warriors II will find enough to like here. It lacks some of the addictive style of the classic Warriors games but makes up for it with increased tactical depth. It all comes down to defeating thousands of enemies by using absurd magical powers and even more absurd weapons, and that is where Warriors excels.
I'm also probably going to head back into Tom Clancy's The Division in the weeks or months to come as more content emerges and bugs get fixed. Ubisoft has something with serious potential, and it'll be intriguing to see what shape this world takes. I also want to see what stuff awaits in unexplored corners of the Dark Zone. That's really it.
Trillion: God of Destruction has a boatloads of flaws but still manages to be fun. When you get to the core of the game, the battles against Trillion, it's a lot of fun. It's just that you have to do a lot of busywork to get there, and the battles are about the only engaging part of the gameplay. Otherwise, you're mostly there for the Disgaea-style humor and characters. The game does what it sets out to do, and while it's tough to say it's worth the full $40, the game is about a single really fun boss battle, and it does exactly that — nothing more, nothing less.
In the end, E.T. Armies is nothing really special. The gunplay is fine so long as you're content with using a limited amount of weaponry against some brainless AI. The story is passable if you're OK with a presentation that's not exactly up to snuff. Without a real multiplayer community to extend the life of the game, E.T. Armies is overly dependent on the campaign maintaining players' interest in the title. It's a good effort from the studio, but it's not the best choice if you're jonesing for some FPS fun.
In the end, Fortified is a decent tower defense game. The classes add some variety, and the shooting is fine, but the tower defense portion could use more work. It plays well with others, but there isn't much balance available for the solo player, especially since XP progression can become a grind. Coupled with an average presentation, it's decent fun with buddies but not something worth pursuing if you're looking to play solo.
In the end, Dance Magic lacks the sort of magic that makes rhythm games so mesmerizing. The mechanics for the battle system are fine on paper but boring in execution, as the free nature of attack execution means little variation in how battles play out. The additional Freestyle section is fine if you can get over the counterintuitive changes, and the meager song selection isn't helped by an economic model that encourages too much grinding for little payoff. Considering the lack of rhythm games on the PC, Dance Magic might seem like an appealing purchase, but that's only the case if you're currently ignoring games on other platforms.
Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright is a fantastic addition to the series and easily one of the best Fire Emblem games. The new mechanics and combat changes are almost all for the better, and they go hand in hand with the awesome level design and engaging gameplay. The only real flaws are some lackluster story beats and a rather half-baked system for bringing back child characters, neither of which comes remotely close to souring the game. Fans of the franchise will find a lot to love here, and newcomers should find Birthright to be an excellent place to be introduced to the franchise's strong points.
Day of the Tentacle Remastered is a solid port of an excellent cult classic. The new features are largely for the best, although some annoying bugs drag down the experience. The game has aged relatively well, but the humor is fixed at a specific point in the early '90s. The puzzles are creative and clever, if sometimes obtuse. It's easy to see why Day of the Tentacle is considered one of the SCUMM engine's finest. It's not a game for everyone, but fans of old-school adventure games or Loony Toons-style humor will find a lot to like here. Gamers both young and old should get some laughs out of this quirky classic.
Arslan: The Warriors of Legend is a crowd-pleaser of a game. Although it has a more open-ended conclusion since it follows the series so closely, the more cohesive story and seamless transition between gameplay and cut scenes make the title feel more substantial. The new mechanics make this a deeper game when compared to its forebearers, and while some legacy issues still exist, they aren't enough to drain the fun from the game. This is a game worth checking out for lapsed and current Musou fans as well as those who want to see what happens when you add a good story to hack-and-slash game mechanics.
As it stands now, Tom Clancy's The Division lives up to the hype it's generated over the years. For a game of this nature, it's too early to say whether it is definitively good or bad, but for now, it's off to a very good start.
Though it can feel very familiar at first, Sparkle 2 is different enough to be fun. The power-ups are different from what similar games have offered, but the launcher's upgrade system provides some depth. There are plenty of modes included, and each one is lengthy enough to keep players engaged for quite some time. Even if you already have the Zuma games, Sparkle 2 is worth getting for match-three puzzle game fans.
Return to PopoloCrois: A Story of Seasons Fairytale is exactly what it tries to be: an old-school charming JRPG with some farming. It's not particularly ambitious, but it hits a lot of marks and is genuinely enjoyable. The old-school elements may turn off gamers looking for something more modern, but if you give it a shot, the nostalgic delight of the game shines through. Some annoying elements drag down the game, and it's more PopoloCrois than Story of Seasons, but there's nothing that really sours the game as a whole. Old-school RPG fans or those looking for a good game for all ages will find a lot to enjoy, and even the most hard-hearted players may crack a smile at Pietro's adventures.
The Flame in the Flood delivers a brilliant twist on the survival genre. The inability to linger in one place makes the game feel like a proper adventure with some additional survival trappings. The randomization gives it a roguelike feel, and the streamlining of elements makes it feel fair even when almost everything is working against you. Coupled with a beautiful presentation throughout, it's both a high-water mark in the genre and a title that's worth trying out. Unless you absolutely hate the survival game genre, be sure to check out The Flame in the Flood.