PSX Extreme
HomepagePSX Extreme's Reviews
Bastion is a joy. It's a game that has all the pieces in place. The key to the game's immense entertainment value is how unbelievably well each piece marries to the next; the result is a smorgasbord of color and action, and one you will undoubtedly appreciate.
The Ratchet and Clank remake hearkens back to a very different time. It wasn't even that long ago and yet, it was indeed very different. But I'm not going to focus on past vs.
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.
Assassin's Creed Syndicate is a fantastic game. Let me repeat that: It's a fantastic game.
Axiom Verge is a glorious throwback to the 2D days, but it doesn't forget that we're playing in a very different age of interactive entertainment. Those subtle refinements and features that enhance the playability are greatly appreciated. Unlocking a weapon or ability that compels you to return to earlier explored areas to find previously inaccessible power-ups is just plain addictive, and the overall balance and diversity is top-notch.
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.
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.
Terraria is a micromanager's dream come true. It's the perfect representation of addictive, in-depth gaming with a simplified visage. There's a boatload of content and from the first moment you stumble upon a glorious treasure trove, you're determined to do it all.
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.
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.
Child of Light shines in a sea of dark, gritty, often ugly imagery. That shine isn't especially bright or piercing; in fact, it's softer, muted. It lures us with its softhearted coo, rather than blasting our senses with extraordinary strength and brilliance.
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is indeed "definitive." It's a definite step up and that's undeniable. We can argue all day long about whether or not it's "worth it.
FIFA 14 is a rip-roaring success on the PlayStation 4. The older version is great, too; it's just an understated greatness when compared to the upgraded version. For the record, I'd probably give the PS3 iteration an 8.
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.
Rocket League is an extremely well designed and presented game, a veritable feast for the senses at times, and an undeniably addictive experience. It blends sports and styles but it also solidifies this bizarre hybrid into a streamlined, hugely appealing presentation. The AI falls a little shy and the single-player fun can't hold a candle to the multiplayer entertainment but besides that, it's hard to find fault.
Batman: Arkham Knight is arguably the best game of the year so far. The technical aspects are not only eye-popping but they're also quite stable. The graphics are slick, the sound is stellar, the control is rock solid, and the gameplay variety is downright tremendous.
All in all, though, Fallout 4 is a masterful production that features a wildly ambitious and nigh-on unparalleled scope. There's just so much to do that it often feels overwhelming, but this isn't going to stop the franchise faithful. In fact, I'm sure they'll welcome the deluge of options, content, and endless exploration.
FIFA 16 added what it needed to add and refined what it needed to refine. It pinpointed the problems bogging down last year's entry and fixed them. Perhaps one could argue they went too far in the other direction, thereby changing the pace of the gameplay for the worse, but I don't agree.
Everybody's Gone to the Rapture is an interactive work of art. Those of us who can be demanding when it comes to the realm of virtual storytelling might spot some minor flaws. Aside from those flaws, and beyond those who complain about the speed and lack of input commands, the game stands tall in its efforts to reach a new level of interactive storytelling.
MLB 16: The Show is one of the best sports games you'll ever play. I haven't seen fit to hand out a 9+ score for one of these titles since 2011, and I really thought last year's entry wasn't anything special. They're all great games, don't get me wrong, but this is the first installment of The Show that absolutely feels like a full, complete, and rewarding package that hits just about every sweet spot.