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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.
I really want to love Lords of the Fallen. Being a big fan of Darksiders II and appreciating the mystical, forbidding darkness of the Dark Souls games, it really appeals to me. But there are issues I just can't ignore and the more I play, the more I realize I can't, in good conscience, gloss over them.
The Evil Within is an example of a great idea that lacks execution. There are scares a-plenty and very often, the fear factor is sky-high. The pacing and variety we see in this adventure are worthy of praise as well, and I appreciate how the atmosphere continually drags you into the experience.
Alien: Isolation desperately tries to give us something fearsome and memorable. But the inconsistent approach leads to periods of tedium thankfully interrupted by flashes of unmitigated terror. If you can revel in the highs and forge through the lows, you should emerge satisfied.
Driveclub isn't exactly a triumph but it's a polished, very entertaining game that delivers an adrenaline-filled good time. The fun factor remains high throughout, the amazing detail - in both the background and the cars themselves - is a definite accomplishment of note, and the social features are extremely attractive. The solo content doesn't quite cut it, though, and the AI is occasionally too aggressive.
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.