Keri Honea
- Mass Effect
- Gears of War
- Dragon Age
Keri Honea's Reviews
I had my doubts about this game, as I already mentioned. I never once thought there was a way Square Enix could live up to the hype the company has built up for this game. But bravo, it has done it and then some. The developer has refined and perfected the combat. It kept its silliness in tact. It kept in the darker themes and deep moments of self-reflection that we all need every once in awhile. It's, quite frankly, the best Kingdom Hearts game Square Enix has ever created.
What's the most amazing to me, aside from forcing myself to think of any flaws and not finding any other than server issues, is how I rarely play a game more than once, yet there's something about Diablo III that just beckons to the very core of my soul. My stack of shame is enormous and continually growing, and yet, I somehow always find a reason to replay Diablo III, whether it's to play with friends, to level my character, or to try out a new class. Diablo III is a nice reminder that sometimes it's nice to simply stay awhile, loot things, and then murder all the things that move.
When Square Enix announced World of Final Fantasy at E3 2015, many of us in the audience and watching at home thought this game would be a complete joke. This would be yet another wasted effort when they should have focused on other more anticipated titles. The dialogue may be funny, but the game is far from being a joke. It’s in the running for RPG of the year, if not game of the year and is, by far, the best Final Fantasy title the company has put out in several years.
Ubisoft set out to create an Assassin's Creed game worthy of Odysseus' name, and bravo, they have done it. It's certainly as long as one of Homer's poems, but every minute of it is entertaining, and, well, fun. It never gets old Sparta kicking an enemy off a cliff. Clearing out Locations is always satisfying, especially when they require setting things on fire. Talking to Sokrates will make you question everything about your life and the game itself. Some of the choices you make will have a similar effect. You can't come away from Odyssey without feeling like you were actively part of that great journey, from the highs to the lows and all of the incredible twists and turns in between. This is a voyage you don't want to miss.
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a splendid narrative experience that is not to be missed. If this one is sitting in your Steam library, your wishlist, or your mental wishlist, just pull the trigger and find out what happened to Ethan Carter. It's a story unlike any other.
The nit-picking aside, Rise of the Tomb Raider is a front runner for action game of the year, if not Game of the Year for 2015. The traversing in a platform adventure is the most fluid and seamless I've ever experienced, and the story gave me chills the more I unraveled, especially with the collectibles I found. It's a downright shame that Rise of the Tomb Raider releases the same day as Fallout 4, as this gem will unfortunately get mostly lost in the shuffle.
Valiant Hearts: The Great War is short, but anything longer would most definitely be padding. The entire package fits well together, and it goes down in my book as one of the best and most complete puzzle games since Portal 2. Before you dip into the doldrums of summer, I can't recommend enough picking up this game first. All I need now is for the soundtrack to be officially released, and my life will be perfect.
Pillars of Eternity is a welcome return to the CRPGs of old, and it's a definite must-play for any CRPG fan or RPG fan, period. It has so many moving parts that work so incredibly well together with an unbelievably rich history and mythology. Pillars of Eternity will gladly eat up several hours of your time, and you will gladly give them.
Child of Light isn't perfect, but it's a gorgeously fun RPG nonetheless. I never once found myself bored running and flying around Lumeria, and yes, it helped that I never stopped being amazed at the jaw-dropping art at every turn. However, with the wide variety of partymember skills, the combat that never let me slack, and the ability to wander whenever I choose, I couldn't have been bored even if the art was lackluster. For $15, I cannot recommend Child of Light to RPG fans enough.
With all of the content packed in at launch, the solid gameplay mechanics, tactical co-op experience, and gorgeous open world, it was more than a great idea for Ubisoft to delay Tom Clancy's Division as long as they did. Everything about this game was far more than I could have expected, and it's definitely worth the wait. And this is only the beginning, as we still have a year of post-launch content, both free and paid, to keep players diving back in for that looter-shooter glory.
I greatly enjoyed my time in the Valley, and I can’t wait to dive back in to find all the hidden areas I missed. I’m certain most people, if not all, will enjoy their time in the Valley, too.
By the way, thanks, devs, for bringing to life my greatest fear as a child—the possibility of getting eaten by piranhas. I'm not going to be able to go swimming for a long time.
DONTNOD has not announced when the fourth episode, Dark Room, will release, but I cannot wait to see what happens next with Max, her powers, Blackwell Academy, Chloe, and the mystery of Rachel Amber. This is one of the most fascinating mysteries I have experienced in years. It may have been a little slow with episode 2, but it's picked up full steam now and there is nowhere for it to go but barreling ahead. Those who like mysteries and point-and-click adventures do not want to miss what Life is Strange has to offer.
Simply put, this first Chronicle alone is must-buy for any fan of the Assassin's Creed series.
The LEGO Movie Videogame was one of the few LEGO games that instantly made me want to play more upon finishing the story mode. I probably spent just as many hours in the hub world trying to unlock red bricks by solving puzzles and completing side quests as I did in the story mode alone. Everything is indeed awesome in this LEGO game.
At least what they did copy, they did very well, and it wasn't so overpowering it marred any experience I had. The game never stopped surprising me with its parody and humor, and its insane combat never stopped being fun. Annoyances aside, this is the game for anyone itching for something that not only refuses to be taken seriously, it embraces its ridiculosity with open arms.
Cities: Skylines definitely scratches that city-building itch that has been left in a void for too long. If you decide that being a mayor of a city is the path for you, be prepared to have the hours zing by as you delve into a deep experience that will reward you for your efforts. If SimCity 2013 disappointed you, look into Cities: Skylines for that band-aid.
Bayonetta 2 is one of the best action games of this generation, and close to one of the best overall. It's a downright shame that not many will play this game due to the small install base of the Wii U, but here's hoping that Bayonetta 2 will be a system seller to get the appreciation it definitely deserves.
The Ultimate Edition, even with its facelift, is pretty much more of the same, and will only appeal to series fans and possibly rein in newcomers just in time for a Gears of War 4 release. For a Gears of War fan, however, this remastered edition is a must-own for your library. Marcus has never looked more intense, the Kryll have never looked more terrifying, and the Locust have never looked more disgusting. The Ultimate Edition truly is the ultimate Gears of War experience.
As terrible as I am at Total War: Warhammer, I couldn't ask for a deeper, more robust Warhammer title. Prepare for some frustrations with such a complex campaign, but also prepare to lose hours of your life as you wonder, "But what if I handled that like this…" as you reload your last save for the umpteenth time.