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[T]here are issues in Final Fantasy Explorers, but the qualities that it does have that meant I couldn't put it down overrode all of those.
It makes a good transition from PC to console, but Rebel Galaxy was far too vapid and uninspired to be a really stand out game in the first place. While that means it's not terrible, it's also a complete waste of what the far reaches of outer space offers for creative narrative, and this is deeply disappointing.
Sometimes you can wonder to yourself, "How on earth did they come up with this stuff?" and to the modern developer the type of unrealistic setting this game has to offer might not be the way to go. We need to remember that games are games, they don't have to be realistic, and the pure escapism that Turok offered all those years ago is, you have to feel, something of a dying art. It's fast paced arcade shooter style is a ton of fun, and considering the types of leaps and bounds it brought to the FPS genre, it's no wonder that it managed to succeed all those years ago.
I never thought I'd like a puzzle game this much, and I can't believe a game that isn't a JRPG is a game of the year contender to me. Jon Blow and Thekla have really created something special here, and while it has been a very long wait (I hope that the next one doesn't take eight years to complete...), the long development time has been used to good effect. The Witness is so much more than puzzles in an open world. It is itself an enigma and puzzle, and something far greater than the sum of its individual parts.
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Supporting a good, albeit simple narrative between the four protagonists, Croixleur Sigma provides a solid, fast-paced, three dimensional roguelike brawler experience. It sits on the right side of challenging, has a vibrant art style, and has plenty of content, making it a superb title to keep sitting on the PlayStation 4 for quick bouts of action.
You know what you're getting from it, but by the end of it, if you play enough games in this genre, you will probably be itching to play something a little more creative.
Zombie Vikings is basic brawler, but it's a basic brawler done right, and is quite funny in the process. And, really, that's all most people are looking for from this genre. There are far better examples out there of it, but as a Sunday afternoon killer, this one is nonetheless almost as worthy as Thor himself.
Far bigger in scope than any of its predecessors, Megadimension Neptunia VII has nevertheless managed to retain its focus over what fans enjoy about the series most; its humour and its fan service. This game should be enough to get people who have waned on the series back into the fold, thanks to the additional characters, vastly improved graphics engine, and expanded plot and combat system. It won't be enough to get the series removed from Gametrailer's list of franchises that need to die, but to be honest I don't think Neptune gives a toss.
There is plenty of fun to be had here with friends, but just make sure your expectations are in line with what you will be getting here. It is fun for a while, and well made for what it is, but for a game that relies so intensely on the multiplayer action, it's just not quite up there with the best in the genre.
Baseball Riot is a perfectly competent game, but it suffers from a lack of originality. The visuals and ridiculous story have a certain charm to them, but at the same time, I never really came away feeling as though I had a lot of fun while playing.
And thank God (or perhaps that should be "thank Kat", without getting too spoilery) that despite being a bomb on the PlayStation Vita, Sony saw enough strength in the material to give it another go. People, please, buy it. We need more of this kind of game, but publishers like Sony need revenue from them to make that happen.
Dragon's Dogma Dark Arisen is just as solid of an entry from Capcom as it was back upon the PS3 and the Xbox 360. With lots of landscapes to explore, character classes to try out, and help to summon, there's no shortage of adventuring to be done, and once you're hooked on simply existing in the world, this is one that will last you for many dozens of hours.
For anyone that has been put off the modern direction this series has taken, Zero in HD on our new generation of consoles is the perfect remedy.
Jokes aside, Tharsis is an incredibly meaningful game that has picked a woefully inadequate format to express an innately intelligent idea. If this was a narrative game, in the vein of Telltale Games' work or Life is Strange, then we really would have had something special on our hands. As it is, we have a board game that goes out of its way to be unfair so it can make players make decisions that should have great emotional impact, but in practice become a quite pragmatic stepping stone towards victory.
Mario RPGs continue to defy my expectations of them. These characters and universe that you would never expect to work once you apply a proper narrative to them do far better than many titles that aren't inhibited by a heritage in platformers. Satirical and self-referential, backed with some boundlessly creative combat systems and the endlessly bright Mario aesthetic, Paper Jam might not be a huge step forward from its predecessor on the Nintendo 3DS, but it is every bit as much fun.
Unlike episodes one through three, four ends without a cliffhanger. There seems to be nothing Telltale can add on that will change this, so I honestly cannot even begin to predict what the fifth episode may bring. At one point I did choose to have Jesse lie, and I wonder if that will come back to bite me - but what about everyone who didn't choose that path?! Regardless, A Block and a Hard Place is my absolute favourite episode in the Minecraft Story Mode tale to date, and I certainly look forward to what surprises may be coming my way when the conclusion is released.
Despite the laundry list of things that are just not right about Corgi Warlock, it remains an enjoyable game. What's more, for a first attempt it's not that bad at all. The game has all the hallmarks of a fun indie effort: an insane cast of characters, good enough challenge, and a cartoony production. It's just in the execution and slightly confused gameplay is where it falters and unfortunately, casts a big shadow over what little positive points the game has to offer.
I really enjoyed Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China, but I think this one takes a giant leap forward. While the core mechanics remain functionally the same, that (even more) exotic setting and (lesser known) time period, brilliant environment design and brief, but effective, narrative all combine to make something that offers just that little bit more.