Galak-Z is a brutal, demanding, and ultimately rewarding 2D shooter.
Volume's tight mechanics, smart visual vocabulary, and level-editing tools combine to create something that is as much a puzzle game as it is a stealth title.
The Coalition has crafted a faithful homage to a great nine-year-old game, but hasn't completely erased the blemishes of the past.
Bungie's newest expansion not only offers a compelling experience in itself, but transforms Destiny altogether.
With Uncharted 2 and 3, though, Naughty Dog transcended Drake's own small beginnings. The Nathan Drake Collection is a firsthand account of Naughty Dog's growth as a storyteller, and this collection is the best way to relive that history, and witness its transformation up close.
CD Projekt Red's first paid expansion is well worth the return to the Northern Kingdoms.
Rising Tide brings other content to Beyond Earth as well, from new factions to new planet types. But these additions pale in comparison to the systemic changes Firaxis has made. There are bothersome issues with the new diplomacy approach, and some of these mechanics are too obfuscated to call excellent. But Rising Tide encourages new ways of thinking, and lends character to a very impersonal subject. That old Civilization mantra still echoes, just like it used to: One more turn.
The newest installment in the storied franchise tries a lot of new things, but accomplishes only a few.
Like Spartan Locke and his team, 343 is chasing after something bigger than itself, and with Halo 5: Guardians, it comes close. Now if only it could reach out its arm and take hold.
Black Ops III presents fine-tuned multiplayer, engaging fights against the undead, and a boring campaign.
Rise of the Tomb Raider's first shot pans over the vast, foreboding landscape we'll soon come to know. In many ways, it functions as a promise on the part of Crystal Dynamics: there are big things ahead of us. And at the end of Lara's journey, after we've seen her through this adventure, and experienced everything the world has to offer, it's clear that promise was kept.
Star Wars Battlefront shooter brings grand spectacle to the iconic sci-fi universe, but the overall experience wears thin with time.
Just Cause 3 is a stunning display of cause and effect, despite weak story missions and occasional technical problems.
In both structure and detail, The Witness is an original, difficult, and ultimately rewarding puzzle game.
Firaxis turn-based strategy sequel brings major improvements to the multilayered XCOM formula.
Far Cry's new world and renewed focus on survival create a tense experience true to its setting.
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition still plays well from a design perspective, but numerous technical issues hold the PC version back.
Devil Daggers takes the foundation of the shooter genre and builds it into a fine-tuned, challenging, exhilarating romp through hell.
In trying to capture the essence of a precise sport, Casey Powell Lacrosse instead results in a tedious grind against poor AI and frustrating controls.
Adr1ft is a gorgeous game with a moving personal story, but its systems clash against one another, creating tedium and boredom throughout.