GamesBeat's Reviews
Make no mistake: Etrian Mystery Dungeon is hardcore game. With every floor the difficulty and pressure increases, leading to a point to where only those with nerves of steel and the patience of a saint will do well. But as the difficulty scales, so does the enjoyment. Successfully crawling out of a dungeon is supremely rewarding.
It's weird when you feel so unenthusiastic about a game that you know is "good." This used to be a series that I would never miss. These days, I'd probably take a long break from The Show if I could.
Axiom Verge uses Metroid's building blocks to create a fantastic adventure that can stretch for hours if you want it to … though maybe not always in a good way. I'm not a big fan of the genre, but even I started getting obsessive over my map and item completion rates. I'll just leave it to the rest of the community to fill in the blanks.
One of the best Japanese role-playing games of the last five years still reigns, and now that's on a portable, it's much more accessible. If you're open to exploration, it probably has 80 hours of gameplay. For a game that long, being able to play anywhere and at any time is nice. For a game this great, it's a privilege.
This is probably the weakest episode yet, but only because of those very minor problems in the first section of the game. Don't take that as some kind of damning criticism because this is still a very good experience.
Bloodborne is the system seller for all dedicated gamers that don't already own a PS4.
What a good game. It's really good. It's just so easy to pick up and get lost in for a few hours at a time. You can credit Techland for that success because it picked a few ideas and really got them right. The zombie-infested world is pretty and dangerous, and your character is fun to control. On top of that, the mechanics and the systems keep the core from getting boring.
Even as a series fan, I feel OK in saying that Final Fantasy definitely needed a shot in the arm. And it got one — a big, dark, serious one. It's a bit strange to see this shot coming from something that started out as a mobile title.
This is the 10th Battlefield game, and at this stage in the franchise's history, it isn't easy to come up with fresh takes. Visceral Games has done that.
Tales from the Borderlands Episode 2: Atlas Mugged is a rare misstep from two talented, experienced developers in Telltale Games and Gearbox Software.
Mario Party 10 is fun with friends. Running around a field with water balloons is also fun with friends. Watching two squirrels run up a tree is also fun with friends. Out of those three, I wouldn't take Mario Party 10 first.
I loved every second of Ori and the Blind Forest. It's as fun as it is pretty, which is an incredible achievement when its one of the most gorgeous games I've ever seen. If you've ever enjoyed a 2D sidescroller, you'll definitely appreciate what developer Moon Studios has done here.
Helldivers is a fun romp through a tedious space system.
I'm blown away by how well thought out the base design in Dead or Alive 5: Last Round is. The designers stuck with a traditional, no-thrills, rock/paper/scissor foundation that provides for depth and complexity to evolve on the player's part.
Rainbow Curse is another successful Kirby oddity. While it lost some of Canvas Curse's features, it makes up for it with a fanciful, clay-based art style. The multiplayer is also a nice touch. It's also nice to see a Wii U game that actually uses the GamePad's features, something that's becoming a rarity.
The Order is thrilling and frustrating.
As with Rome II, the positives outweigh the annoyances. Creative Assembly has been very ambitious with Total War: Attila, and the game is a lot more compelling than its predecessor. It feels more balanced. The A.I. is smarter, but a human general can still beat it. But the unrelenting weight of a collapsing empire pushes a human ruler to the limit. If you simply survive for a while, you'll feel like you've won the game.
Evolve broke my heart.
Monster Hunter 4 has a great game full of options, activities, and a vast world to explore and immerse yourself in living somewhere deep inside of it. And it will even show you these things. But its questionable design and control decisions suck all the fun out of it and make you feel every second of your time in the untamed wild.
The Escapists presents a dynamic, fun, and challenging experience in a unique setting. The simple presentation belies the complexity and variety of gameplay. Gamers looking for a cerebral puzzler with a high replay value would be well-advised to check it out. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more enjoyable prison experience.