Dave Payerle
Fans of Kevin Smith's work will be just as disappointed as adventure game fans, and players in general will do well to avoid this one.
If you purchased the developer's 2014 game Basement Crawl you can download Brawl for free, but other than that it should be avoided.
On a purely functional level Sparkle 2 is fine, but it lacks features that are not only standard for its genre, but that provide the biggest reasons to play.
I want to recommend it, but the technical issues not only hampered my enjoyment of the game, at a certain point they completely prevented me from playing it. The core game is fun, but I would recommend sticking with one platform throughout and rotating save slots.
Hidden Agenda is a hard recommendation, because the game feels like a natural fit to share with non-gamers, but we had one playthrough that ended so abruptly and unsatisfyingly I thought we had somehow skipped a section, and had I brought this game out at a party I would have felt like we totally wasted two hours.
Rise of Iron has its moments.
For those who have already played [Crimes and Punishments], Devil's Daughter will provide the same fix in the same way that a low fat version of your favorite food does, in that it's not as satisfying as you would like it to be. It doesn't help any that Devil's Daughter also offers less game for more money. It's a shame, because the story here is enjoyable and the ending has some legitimately tense moments, but almost everything about it feels like it could have, and should have, been better.
As a piece of RPG history, it holds up reasonably well, and gives players another opportunity to enjoy this deep game. However, those experiencing it for the first time will be well served to do some research before diving in.
The Last Tinker is not a bad game, just one that fails to live up to its promise.
Even with the issues, if I kept the difficulty reasonable, ignored the batting reticle, learned to work with the pitching target and never tried to steal, I had a good time with the game.
The Forsaken expansion is tough to score, because even after 20+ hours I'm not sure how I feel about it. Certainly I feel like Destiny 2 is better than when I stopped playing all those months ago, but the reality is that most of the things I am excited about is Bungie reverting changes that were bad ideas from the beginning. It's hard to give a lot of credit for fixing something to the person who broke it originally. Still, it's a fantastic shooter experience, and I found myself doing things that weren't really going to advance me just because I was having enough fun that I didn't care.
As someone without an existing tie to the series it was a good time, although there are certainly some rough spots in the game play. For Tex Murphy veterans it's like finding an old photo album full of happy memories, and for outsiders it's a solid, if occasionally frustrating, adventure game.
The main game is still undeniably fun, and anyone who enjoyed the first (or likes a good challenge) should check it out. Just be warned, it's an occasionally bumpy ride.
Triple Deluxe is great 2D platformer, with some really nice design. I needed just under 7 hours to finish the campaign, and going back to collect all of the Sun Stones and unlock bonus levels will add a few hours to that. There's also a multiplayer battle arena and platforming/rhythm hybrid game, though neither held much lasting appeal for me. For fans of 2D platformers it's a good choice, and definitely worth checking out.
While I don't know why anyone would want to play without the puzzles, even those who do will find themselves seeking them out for the extra information they provide. Ether One is a sharp, unique game that deals with a tragic subject in an empathetic way, and it's definitely worth checking out.
Including the Mercenaries mode and previous bonus content featuring Ada Wong, it's well worth the price for anyone who hasn't experienced the game yet, or enjoyed the original release. For those who played the 360 or PS3 HD releases though, the visual differences here are negligible, and don't warrant another purchase.
As a "game" Jazzpunk could be completed in less than an hour, but running through to complete the story would be missing most of what makes it so enjoyable. The game (and its achievements) are structured in a way that encourage players to wander around and see everything there is. Even having completed the game I'll be going back through it again, just to catch some of the things I missed.
For players who enjoyed The Talos Principle, Road to Gehenna is exactly what it should be – more, harder puzzles and another opportunity to dig into a deep and interesting narrative.
Watch_Dogs borrows game play elements from GTA, inFamous and Assassin's Creed (among others), adds a hacking dynamic and pulls it all together into a great game. Despite some standout visuals though there's nothing here that feels like a leap forward in gaming, and I can't imagine the core game feeling much different had I played a last-gen version. It doesn't tarnish the experience, but players looking for a reason to need a new console still don't have one.
Players who missed this on the PS3 will find a lot to like here, but for those who have already completed it I doubt the graphical upgrade is worth another play through.