Digital Chumps
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Creating a candid simulation of a correctional facility is Prison Architect's purpose. Its power is allowing the player to decide if moral indifference—their own or Prison Architect's—is either a strength or weakness. Prison Architect's trip to the PlayStation 4 undermines its capability with an unnecessary layer of obstruction, but the interference it creates isn't impossible to overcome.
Trials of the Blood Dragon is the equivalent of slathering a bicycle and an action figure in neon paint and then violently bashing them together until they resemble a singular, weaponized creature. Like a bike without brakes or a toy with too many moving parts, Trials of the Blood Dragon is prone to self-destruction, but its cocksure embrace of 80's action cinema and good-enough mechanics don't quite violate its contract.
One Piece: Burning Blood does a good job of incorporating some strong story pieces from the Paramount War into what should be considered a fighting game and nothing more. The story does help alleviate the sense that fighting is as far as the gameplay takes you. Ultimately what you get with One Piece: Burning Blood is just a variety of different ways to fight against other characters in different fighting modes — nothing more, nothing less.
Overall, I think the intensity and value added in terms of power-ups, how the design of the game works (moving Pac-Man quickly, while making tough strategic decisions on the fly) makes Pac-Man 256 a fantastic experience, as well as a replayable one. Drop the dough on this one, folks. It’s worth the price of admission and then some.
Edge of Nowhere is one of the more robust and better built-for-VR experiences available today. It has a few shortcomings, but the sum of these is still not enough to keep me from recommending this to anyone with an Oculus Rift that is looking for a comfortable yet still compelling game.
It's a blast.
An excellent fighting game no matter how you slice it complete with superbly detailed yet very accessible and inviting training modes that can take you from total newcomer to master if you put the time into it. Fighting fans can't miss this one.
Atelier Sophie offers a fresh start for the franchise on the PS4 and for a new trilogy. Some design changes from previous entries made this one more enjoyable for me, so if you were on the fence before, give this entry a closer look.
In VR, ADR1FT is a compelling and amazing experience that I'm happy to recommend.
If you enjoy puzzle games, especially ones with a nice story and multiple endings, Rooms is an obvious choice for Rift owners. It offers a lot of value for the price and it's comfortable enough to play for hours.
Overall though, AirMech Command is an impressive Oculus Rift title. It's got an impressive amount of quality content, online multiplayer, and it's a treat to play because it runs great, looks really good, and is super comfortable. If you have any interest in a RTS or MOBA on your shiny new OR, AirMech Command deserves your attention.
On the whole, Hard Reset Redux is a competent and enjoyable old school shooter on a new school engine. The changes in Redux are significant between the previously released original and Extended Edition, and giving current-gen console players a go at it is a welcomed move. If you played Hard Reset before, there may not be quite enough here to make a return, but if you're otherwise down for a good FPS experience, this is a pretty solid choice.
The Climb is a cool and fun VR experience that takes an obvious VR concept and runs with it. The result is more positive than not and worth checking out if you have an interest in rock climbing.
When allowed composure, Mirror's Edge Catalyst becomes the colossal free running daydream that never seemed tenable. When pushed into conflict, either with its own systems or the demand of "content" in 2016, Mirror's Edge feels anxious and frenzied. Separating wondrous substance from obliged distractions isn't a distinction the game is capable of making, leaving gratification to the will of the player.
Total War: Warhammer is not only a great Total War game, but one of the greatest strategy games of all time.
OXENFREE is an amazing story that doesn't ask a lot of extra attention from its players other than listening and occasionally playing out some puzzles/problems/actions onscreen. It's one of the better stories that I've played in 2016 and I hope that Night School Studio does a follow-up to it sometime soon.
Darknet is one of the early VR games that should be on anyone's short-list of great titles.
Hitman GO is a great game that is a perfectly comfortable and enjoyable VR experience. At $10, it's an excellent value, especially if you haven't played the game before.
Dead Island Definitive Collection is a case of projection clashing against reality, almost a meta-level statement on Dead Island's inability to step up and perform on key. Unfortunately the only rendition that sticks is one of deteriorating enthusiasm. 2011 was charitable to Dead Island. 2016 almost holds it in contempt.
Dreadhalls is worth checking out. It's a quick and clear example of how VR can take what would be a pretty uninteresting concept and make it much more immersive and effective.