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Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a game that delivers the fantasy goods in spades. The ultra-anal Tolkien lovers might take issue with Talion and how the game is presented, and the AI and frame-rate issues are clear. That being said, this remains a wildly immersive, engaging adventure with an excellent combination of action and platforming elements.
Natural Doctrine fails in its ambitious attempt to deliver a wonderfully unique, deep, and rewarding turn-based strategy adventure. The foundation is solid but what's built atop that foundation is a crazy assortment of great individual pieces, but none of them really fit together. Satisfaction isn't out of the realm of possibility, but when seasoned veterans have to spend many hours dissecting the ins and outs of a gameplay mechanic, only to find their efforts thwarted by an unfair and unforgiving structure, well… Controllers may shatter and nobody would blame you.
In closing, there's a lot to like, and a lot to wonder about. The question is whether or not you choose to embrace the obvious manifest intent of such a game: If you just accept that it was always going to be about multiplayer shooting, and the rest might be underdeveloped gravy; you'll probably have tons of fun. And if you look to the future and see what Bungie has created – a very solid foundation – you should be excited by what the team will deliver in the coming months and years.
Velocity 2X is the perfect example of simplicity with kick. The beautiful visuals and silky smooth animations never skip a beat, the music and overall artistry gives the game a singular appeal, the wonderful flow keeps us completely engaged, and for the most part, the game never skips a beat. You can't really avoid at least some semblance of repetition, and there isn't a gigantic difference between each gameplay segment, but that's okay.
Madden NFL 25 is better than last year's production; it features better cosmetic and aesthetic features, it often feels more streamlined and accessible, and the upgrades on the defensive side of the ball are huge. It's finally fun to play on defense! Sadly, the game still gets bogged down by a balancing issue, as the defense is simply overpowered.
CounterSpy is a nicely designed and presented game with a lot of appeal. You'll have a lot of fun sneaking through these challenging military installations, and you'll appreciate the character customization and relative depth. It's clear the designers spent a great deal of time crafting a cohesive, highly enjoyable stealth/action game, and for the most part, they succeeded.
Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition is aptly named. It has just about everything you could want, from an excellent presentation and supremely solid technical presentation to hours upon hours of blissful looting. The rewards are frequent and much appreciated, the pacing is outstanding, and there's a surprising amount of variety.
Now if you'll excuse me I should try to find out where I left this anime so I can watch it.
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare is a very solid shooter with a lot of variety and charm. It offers players of all ages a dynamic, entertaining experience that encourages practice and experimentation.
The Last Tinker: City of Colors is like the nicest kid in school. He's not the best athlete or student; he's just nice and because of that, you want to like him. To some extent, you do.
Hohokum can feel like a chore at times but for the most part, this is an original, inspired piece of interactive art. Perhaps that's the best way to describe it. No world has a clear focus, which can be a drag, but you're always drawn in by the unparalleled visual presentation that has a bizarre caressing quality.
Metrico isn't a bad game. On the one hand, you're immediately captivated by the unique gameplay. On the other, the interface keeps hindering your progression and immersion.
Road Not Taken is an interesting little game. It's tough and sometimes even unforgiving, and I should add that it's not entirely stable. I came across several bugs in the game and it crashed on me twice, so that should be mentioned.
Saying The Last Of Us: Remastered is an absolute triumph seems redundant. I said it when the original released last year, after all. And yeah, it's basically the same game with a glossier coating and a few additions.
Sniper Elite III is a step in the right direction. We've still got a ways to go but the improvements here are obvious and appreciated, and greatly enhances the fun factor and general quality. It's on next-gen consoles and although it doesn't feel "next-gen," there's no doubt that Rebellion took advantage of the extra power.
Even so, if you're a big fan, I can see you grabbing the Super Turbo Championship Edition. The bottom line is that Guacamelee! is one of the most entertaining, engaging, and even innovative titles we've seen in the past year, and all avid gamers owe it to themselves to give it a try. The "Metroidvania" structure somehow blends beautifully with the gaudiness of the Mexican Luchadore theme, and you just never want to stop playing.
Above all else, the expansion highlights the game's inherent strengths. The AI isn't bad at all, and the various enemy types will continue to utilize different tactics. Remember, your opponents have their own goals; they're not just running around trying to kill you.
UFC isn't as polished as it needed to be, but I suppose it'll give avid fans a thrill. There's plenty of content and if you've got the requisite diligence and patience, your training can really pay off. The designers do a good job recreating the tension and invigoration one feels when squaring off against an equally powerful opponent, and the freedom to create and build any fighter you wish is intoxicating.
Entwined isn't the beautiful masterpiece Sony wanted it to be, just because it doesn't travel far enough down that meandering road. There are plenty of visible flaws; the control isn't perfect, guiding two creatures at the same time may never click, and more could've been done with the concept. Of that, I'm certain.
Murdered: Soul Suspect is a valiant effort and that's always worth acknowledging. In spite of all the flaws, I do continue to go back for more, and I'm frequently driven by a desire to learn more about that ghostly world. This experience has nothing to do with making a character more powerful, or taking down a host of rampaging enemies (via weapons or guns).