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Battlefield: Hardline tries very hard to be something fresh in a world of familiarity. It just doesn't quite have the chops to pull it off, at least from a campaign perspective. It's cool to have enemies with cones of vision, the option to arrest without killing everyone in sight, and to encourage a more methodical, tactful approach.
DmC: Devil May Cry Definitive Edition is a worthy re-release. Not only is there a bunch of challenging new content, but we also get appreciated gameplay refinements and upgrades, most prominent of which is that fantastic 1080p/60fps presentation. The story doesn't deliver as it should, the difficulty can be forbidding, and I'm not the biggest fan of certain bosses. Aside from that, this is a bombastic, massively stylized, wonderfully flowing action game that hits all the high points.
Helldivers holds huge entertainment value for certain players. The game has its share of minor issues, such as visibility (with so many enemies on screen at once, things can get nuts), the story is amusing and even comical but I wonder if it was even necessary, and the game can become irritating if your co-op experiences are found lacking. Despite all that, if everything clicks, you're in for one hell of a ride.
OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliworld is a righteous sequel. It's just so sweet. There are gameplay and visual improvements, and they're significant enough to make the game feel like a totally fresh experience when compared to the original title.
The Order: 1886 is an example of dying linearity. The worst part is that this style of gaming is dying, not because it's inferior, but because there are those who want us to believe it's inferior. It's just different.
Unmechanical: Extended Edition is a mostly rewarding and wonderfully atmospheric puzzler with only a few significant flaws. A few of the puzzles just seem poorly designed, which clash with the great puzzles that thankfully populate most of the game. The complete lack of a narrative is only a little disconcerting; even though I'd want to learn a bit more about the world and my odd character, I'm usually too busy thinking.
In the end, Evolve is a wonderful concept that boasts a surprising, appreciated amount of variety and strategy. Many may not anticipate the level of depth and practice required to really be proficient, which is why some shooter fans might feel a tad misled. Then again, I hesitate to even call this game a "FPS" because it's just so much more, and it's different when playing as the Monster.
Dying Light has its moments. It has a great concept and that concept is executed relatively well, with a few minor drawbacks. I still say the villain seems awfully familiar and the story is just way too predictable, and some of the main missions feature design choices that are definite head-scratchers.
Grim Fandango Remastered is a masterful puzzle/adventure that will go down in history as one of the most unique and atmospheric video games. The graphics aren't really spruced up all that much (they didn't do anything to the cut-scenes, as far as I can tell), and there are a few old-fashioned control quirks and design flaws, but these are minor shortcomings. It's extremely tough to find such games these days, so if you've never had the pleasure, here's your chance to play something completely unlike the other games in your current till.
Super Mega Baseball is one of the most enjoyable, satisfying games I've played in a long time. Sometimes, we get so caught up with the necessity for realism and authenticity, so as to show off the power of our fancy new hardware, that we forget a video game truism: A game doesn't have to be realistic to be fun.
Loadout isn't a bad game; there just isn't much to it. If you're worried about how a PC game translates to the PS4 controller, you'll be happy to hear there are minimal issues. The control isn't perfect, though, and despite the better part distribution system, there isn't much to talk about aside from weapon crafting.
The game will only last you four hours and the puzzles aren't overly difficult, but it's still fun. With a wide variety of weapons, equipment and tools, and a well-paced adventure that delivers some quality dungeon-crawling entertainment, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is probably worth playing. There are a few glitches and hang-ups, the story isn't what it could've been, the control isn't perfect, and sometimes, four players can bog things down.
Game of Thrones: Episode One – Iron From Ice is another great narrative effort by a rising development team. It's full of drama and well-choreographed action scenes, each of which push the plot forward at a brisk pace. Some of the sequences drag on a bit too long and some of the combat doesn't feel as gripping as in Tales from the Borderlands, but these aren't serious issues.
Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed is a strange game that might satisfy the anime faithful. The technical elements are mediocre at best (even worse when compared with the best the PlayStation 4 has to offer), the story is absurd, and the gameplay mechanic is original yet flawed. I'd say the game was only about a 5 on PS3 or Vita and the better frame rate and new features in the PS4 version are worth another point.
Tales From the Borderlands: Episode One – Zer0 Sum is one heckuva debut. Somehow, the developers allow the action and story to leap off the screen, and they give a sufficient amount of time to each. The visuals are superb, the soundtrack is excellent, the cast is worth knowing, and the overall atmosphere and style is vintage Borderlands with Telltale's obvious influence and flair.
And yet, despite all the flaws, Far Cry 4 pounds out an open-world FPS maelstrom of ridiculousness. It's always in your face and it's never afraid to throw numerous and diverse dangers in your path, just to see if you can adapt and survive. There's a distinct sense of power when you make your assault on the criminals of Kyrat and that's something I can get behind.
Grand Theft Auto V is a tremendous achievement and that achievement is all the more pronounced on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The inherent cinematic nature of the storyline keeps you riveted and when you're not following the plot, you're doing as you damn well please. You're enjoying all that Los Santos has to offer, from its sun-drenched beaches filled with people to the bright lights of the downtown area.
Dragon Age: Inquisition is the role-playing game you've wanted for years. You glimpsed the future and now, with a few minor exceptions, that vision has been fully realized. The odd part about this is that it's not a staggering work of genius; it's not a game that will resound in the annals of time forever and ever.
I realize this seems a bit harsh and others aren't saying the same kinds of things, but they are strolling through poppy fields. In this shortage of JRPGs we are letting anything go, and this game needs serious help rather than free passes. Give it a go only if you really need your Tales on the go.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is a glorious return to form. Now, that "form" still requires a bit of tweaking and honing but for the most part, this is a positive reemergence of a video game superpower. The production values are sky-high, the multiplayer will keep you coming back again and again, and above all else, this is Call of Duty with a twist.