Digital Chumps
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Dead Rising 3's inability to operate without consistently crashing wasn't a simple technical shortcoming, but rather a comprehensive failure that came to damage and define every aspect of its experience. Looking back on my time with Dead Rising 3, I'm not thinking of open-world mayhem under the stress of a cataclysmic time crunch, but rather the ugly and sudden halt of everything I found enjoyable in the intended game.
Professor Layton vs Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is a combination of two wholly unique franchises which takes place fairly smoothly primarily thanks to the already-fantastical nature of the story. Of course it’s ridiculous, but the story is actually quite fun, and it’s compelling and unpredictable enough to captivate those with a bit of patience and willingness to accept it for what it is. Best of all, the gameplay from both series is represented well, set against the backdrop of a truly great presentation. Whether you choose to label it a cash-in or a shameless celebration, it’s collaborative love from Level-5 and Capcom that you probably won’t want to miss.
Crown of the Old Iron King is a showcase of Dark Souls II's aggressive enemy encounter design. It folds a few other cards in favor of its ace, but such is the endearing nature and defining risk of inspired post-game content. Applied to Dark Souls II, Iron King stands as a thoughtful one-off that fits neatly alongside Sunken King.
One of the best gaming purchases you will make all year.
EA Tiburon did a fantastic job with making the right adjustments for this year's Madden title. Improved defense and a more balanced offense makes for a fun football experience. Connected Franchise, Skills Trainer and Ultimate Team are just icing on a nearly perfect cake. The Gauntlet is the ice cream with the cake – take it or leave it.
CounterSpy revels in the consistency of its chaos. When its directed assemblage of menacing systems are behaving with candid sincerity, CounterSpy is an exciting model of action and reaction. When its pieces collude together in a remorseless coincidence, CounterSpy feels like it's coming apart at the seams. Drawing inspiration from a satirical appreciation of the Cold War, it's fair for CounterSpy to teeter on the edge of principled oblivion. Finding value in its eccentricity, however, controls whether you can hang on or fall off.
The Last Tinker's worldly charm belongs with the colorful and carefree platformers it longs to emulate. Most everything else, on the other hand, feels less poised to be a big time contender and more like a flyweight absently swinging at everything in the way. A heart of gold surrounded by endless color makes it all easier to swallow, but you're left wondering what could have been had The Last Tinker's gameplay come on as strong as its presentation.
Firefall has potential, but it's not quite there just yet. A little bit more restructuring and beefing up in some areas will help Firefall evolve, if Red 5 Studios can give more time and money to the project. Hopefully it keeps developing the title, as it does have potential.
The most complete and best version of a great game, the Ultimate Evil Edition is an excellent addition to any growing PS4 collection, especially if you enjoy dungeon crawling with friends.
Surgeon Simulator Anniversary Edition is still giant dripping bucket of stupid fun - and most of the new content is great - but absent is the howling laughter and pure novelty from its debut. Playing it all again, it's more of a tedious game and less of a pristine collection of interactive nonsense. If it's your first time, however, managing Surgeon Simulator's commitment to inane detail alongside its savage construction is a great ride.
Genuine art is meant to evoke a response from its audience, and Hohokum's diverse assortment of imaginative endeavors makes it easy to get lost inside its world. It's effective union of art, activity and music, managing a progression of open personal responses without the weight of a direct narrative or dissonant mechanics. If you're out there looking for the holy grail of emotive game design, Hohokum's declarative statement to the power of amusement is worthy of consideration.
The Last of Us finds a very appropriate home on the PS4.
Perhaps "Ninja Gaiden" is too easy a comparison to make because it, like "Wooden Sen'Sey", stars a ninja character. Goro's got spunk, though, which translates through his comedic willingness to press onward despite repeated slaughterings by my under-practiced hands. Like the famous NES title, "Wooden Sen'Sey" packs a punch in the difficulty department (though nowhere near as distressing) that might unsettle some players. And, at times, there's a sense that the developers are trying to toy with the player rather than reward them for skill mastery. Still, "Wooden Sen'Sey" is cheap, good-spirited and chuckle-inducing. It's a charming addition to the Wii U eShop that lays the groundwork for an even more ground-breaking sequel (please?)
In an era when re-releases are defined exclusively through a hurried assemblage of post-release content, it's nice to see a developer make a genuine effort to improve the whole game and not simply bolt parts on and call it a day. Guacamelee was already a great game, and while not all of the extras for Super Turbo Championship Edition are beneficial, it's tough to say the grand experience isn't better for their inclusion.
The versatility of Dark Souls' appeal is directly related to the adaptability of a strong willed player. The Crown of the Sunken King, Dark Souls II's first issue of downloadable content, engenders and engages this philosophy as well as any challenge in the proper game. In a certain light The Crown of the Sunken King actually does it better, employing different constraints and driving new ways to explore and appreciate Dark Souls II's finer details.
One Piece Unlimited World Red is a decent action-RPG. It has a solid fighting system intact that leads the way, though it does need some work, and a building/gathering element to it that will add some longevity to the overall gameplay. One Piece fans will appreciate it, but newbies might want to give it a rent before jumping at it.
Infinity Runner boasts an attractive premise - a werewolf must escape a space station - but its thinly sliced narrative doesn't contain any satisfactory hooks and its moments of player agency rarely reach any sort of plateau. Infinity Runner's beautiful premise isn't an invitation to something greater; it's an excuse for an otherwise incidental experience.
Once again, Sniper Elite proves to be a really fun and engaging game, despite its numerous bugs at launch. If you can stomach the issues, there's a lot of enjoyment to be had, but Rebellion really needs to tighten up their QA problems, and maybe then they can focus on an all around more robust entry next time.
What Killzone Shadow Fall Intercept lacks in maps and level design, it makes up with strong, team oriented gameplay and a deep points/reward system that keeps you going. Intercept certainly renews the excitement of owning Killzone Shadow Fall.
WildStar is a remarkably funny and action packed MMO that oozes with personality. Though many features aren't exactly groundbreaking, WildStar manages to build on many tried and true MMO elements. A wealth of features tailored to both casual and hardcore players ensure an enjoyable experience for all.