GamesBeat's Reviews
When I'm playing Smash Bros. with my friends, nothing can be better. We scream, we argue, we laugh, and we never want to stop. The Wii U version is a fantastic addition to the series. The new modes are great, but the excellent mechanics and huge, varied roster make it potentially the best entry in the franchise yet.
WWE 2K15's greatest addition is the MyCareer mode. It finally gives us a way to play out our WWE fantasies with our self-made superstars. The new character models are also a nice touch, but they're offset by the loss of customization options.
Far Cry 4 is the latest illustration that the best open worlds are those designed to function as playgrounds — where goals can be pursued even when impulsiveness thrives. While it received a good deal of help from a rock-solid foundation that is Far Cry 3, this sequel introduces more than enough new features that both games should be regarded as companion pieces to each other.
This War of Mine makes the most of its clean, attractive graphics, its moody ambient soundtrack, and the intense, emotional nature of its gameplay. You'll care about your refugees, and you'll want to work hard to keep them healthy, fed, alive, and well. Unfortunately, This War of Mine doesn't make it easy on you. Even when you keep your people alive, you're left with the feeling that you've only marginally improved their existence. If the typical war-based video game is the big blockbuster movie, with tons of special effects and rockets flying overhead as brave well-muscled soldiers stand and give speeches, this game is the indie drama about the consequences of war. It's gripping, a beautiful depiction of an ugly time, and, fittingly, depressing as hell.
Dragon Age: Inquisition is a Schrodinger's Goldilocks kind of a game: too big and just right at the same time.
I was not expecting to love Unity, but I do. Ubisoft nailed the big assassination missions and everything in between. I lost several days to this game, and I'm looking forward to losing a few more. I want to see if I can find all the highest-rated equipment. I want to do some more multiplayer missions. I want to solve the rest of those brilliant murder cases. I want more Unity.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is worth your time. It delivers with its story, great acting, dialogue, the realistic facial animations, cool weapons of the future, and the welcome change in pacing from combat missions to stealth missions. I welcome the idea of using great actors like Spacey in a big-budget game, and I look forward to future versions of the game that marry Hollywood blockbuster actors with the blockbuster-style game play.
Sunset Overdrive is a really good time. If you also regularly run with an online crew that enjoys a good "us versus waves of baddies" modes, you will likely get even more mileage out of it.
Sid Meier should be proud to have his name on Civilization: Beyond Earth. It's got its problems. But it's a game that will have you staying up late at night, itching to complete just one more turn.
Rock Band and Guitar Hero are about playing music. Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved is about playing with music. While it won't have the party appeal that comes with instruments, it's a more intuitive, beautiful, and creative experience. Disney loyalists hoping for fan service in the same style of Kingdom Hearts of Disney Infinity might be a little disappointed, but this is one of the most interesting music games to come out in some time.
Bayonetta 2 is surprising. Some of that is because it is an M-rated Wii U exclusive. It's also because it is a good game in a genre that doesn't seem long for this world. With everything moving open-world and online, Platinum is still sticking to it's area of expertise. And it's working.
The PlayStation platform has always hosted tremendous driving games, and Driveclub tries hard to live up to that legacy. The parts that are exceedingly well-polished (gorgeous cars, skill-based driving) make those that trip up (ugly A.I.) all the more disappointing. It sets a high bar for the inevitable competitors to follow, but like an inexperienced driver on a hot lap in a solo challenge, it's sloppy in the turns.
Alien: Isolation is still well rounded and comprehensive in its reverential use of the original 1979 film, even with its shortcomings. I cannot imagine any future Alien game attempting a similar feat with the same level of success. While the interlude made me question whether you can have too much fan service, I respect this kitchen-sink approach from The Creative Assembly. This sense of completeness is all the more affirmed by the DLC featuring the movie's original cast (which I have yet to evaluate). Alien: Isolation's ideal for those with the patience to deal with unpredictable behavior of the alien and who accept the inevitability that you will die once in a while through no fault of your own.
You can never tell how great a fighting game will really be until the public has time to master it, but Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS has everything it needs to finally get the competitive community to move on from Melee. The new characters are excellent, and the gameplay is smooth, fast, and exciting.
At its core, Shadow of Mordor is a fresh, exciting game. I love what it does to make every enemy feel special. Open-world games like Assassin's Creed and Grand Theft Auto haven't really done much to expand on the possibility for emergence in the genre. They look like a pair of Casio digital wristwatches compared to the complex moving parts of Shadow of Mordor's intricate cuckoo clock.
I'm not a huge car guy, but Forza Horizon 2 makes me realize that I am someone who loves driving. It combines all the best elements of car culture and empowers players to take and leave the things they enjoy. For example, it has deep tuning options for you mechanics. You can adjust the level of air in your tires if you want. And if you don't, then don't even think about it.
I absolutely loved Wasteland 2. It succeeds on a variety of levels and manages to overcome its shortcomings by the sheer force of its overwhelming strengths.
Fenix Rage is hand crafted out of a gaming-phobe's worst nightmare. With a facade that looks cute and accessible, it will come off as a calculative abusive experience for anyone with shaky play skills.
Hyrule Warriors has little in common with a traditional Zelda game. You don't solve any puzzles, you don't explore any dungeons, and you certainly don't break into anyone's house and destroy all of their pottery. Still, it definitely works as a spin-off that focuses almost entirely on action. It's fun to see Link and friends battle with the kind of glitz and glamour you'd expect from an episode of Sailor Moon or Dragon Ball Z. I'm not saying I'd want that in a real Zelda installment, but it works in this surprisingly engaging off-shoot.
Activision and Bungie want Destiny to be the next mega-franchise in gaming. But a great universe needs interesting characters and compelling narratives. More important, the heroes need a true calling. I didn't find one while playing this game.