While it is amazing that all of this content has been squeezed down to a portable version on the Vita, it has lost a lot of its luster in the transition. There is still a ton of fun to be had here, but this is far from what has come to be expected from a Borderlands experience and nothing near the quality on either the consoles or the PC.
Too simple for it’s own good, A.W. Phoenix Festa is a game that never truly commits to itself. That’s sort of ironic since dating and relationships are such an important part of the experience.
Street Fighter V has all of the makings of a fantastic fighting game. Unfortunately, that is all it has: makings. There are some performance issues to go along with a serious lack of content that is meant to constitute a full game experience, which is criminal, to say the least.
Battlefront can be a lot of fun within a few specific modes. Unfortunately, those moments are only a small portion of the overall experience. While I have no doubt that the game will improve with updates and DLC, what is here in the base game leaves a lot to be desired.
The name of the game pretty much spells out exactly what you can expect: LEGO Jurassic World. It is the traditional, Travelers' Tale LEGO experience that is becoming all too familiar, set in a Jurassic Park setting. Nothing more. Nothing less.
While I'm not sure that I would call Ultimate Tetris the ultimate version of Tetris, it certainly is an adequate version of the classic. They nail the basic concept of the classic game but fail to really take it anywhere new. Plus, the online issues are just plain horrendous.
Infinity Runner does provide a few moments of intense fun. Unfortunately, those moments are broken up too often with gameplay choices that really bring the game (and the fun) to a screeching halt.
Overall, Tembo feels like a badass-tribute to Sonic the Hedgehog. It should have taken a few more pages out of the Blue Blur's playbook though in order to create a more complete experience that honored Sonic's legacy with consistent gameplay that focused on its strengths rather than constantly shining a spotlight on its weaknesses.
If it weren't for the multiplayer options, The Master Chief Collection would have garnered a much lower score. The multiplayer suite is truly the saving grace of this package and worth the price of admission alone.
As a dedicated Destiny player, I have been happy with the new content included in The Dark Below, but find myself hoping for a bit more variation in future content. I can't imagine that anyone other than the hardcore fanbase will find value in this expansion.
This is a Battlefield experience through and through. However, I find myself staring more at the gaps in the menus than the accessible parts that are there. The promise of future content is a great thing, but not when you are constantly reminded of the voids it will fill. Fans will love this entry, and rightfully so, but in its current form Battlefield V won't be recruiting any new soldiers to this battle.
Once again, Zen nails the Star Wars look and feel with another set of tables. There are issues to be taken up with both, but overall they prove to be a lot of fun and great additions to the Star Wars Pinball line.
A beautiful retro game with a great concept. However, there are a variety of hurdles along the way that keep it from being as good as it should have been.
Star Fox Zero offers a blend of a familiar story with fresh gameplay experiences and mission variety. The controls are the biggest hurdle for this game and will likely deter a lot of players. Those who stick with it and eventually get the hang of things will be thankful that they did in the end.
When the pedal is to the floor, its a great experience. However as soon as you let up and are left to explore the other aspects of the game, things start leaving a lot to be desired. The new direction of the franchise shows promise, but there is still a ton of room to grow.
While not the best "game" there is, this is one of the best displays of the latest Kinect technology. The move to digital is a great choice, as is giving you the ability to compile the soundtrack of your liking in the long run. There just needed to be a lot more meat on the bones of this meal, as well as the ability to get to the main course a bit quicker.
Magic 2015 is like taking 2 steps forward and one step back. While true deck building has finally been added, the loss of other modes that have become staples of the series diminishes its overall impact. This is still a solid offering for fans of the classic trading card game. This is about as close to Magic as you can get without actually dealing out the cards.
Kinect Sports Rivals is a great leap forward for the series but it still shows the shortcomings of the Kinect technology. While a majority of the sports work great, such as bowling and rock climbing, others (tennis in particular) really leave a lot to be desired. I love the shift in focus to offer a more well-rounded and robust gaming experience rather than being simply a polished tech-demo. Kinect Sports is one of the most played games on my 360 and this will likely hold a similar position on the Xbox One in my household.
Jumpjet Rex is a great game but it can often as frustrating as it is fun. As long as you pace yourself, especially when things start getting difficult and your progression slows, you will find it to be an extremely enjoyable trip down memory lane and a great reminder of how challenging 2D platformers can be.
Evolve offers an excellent mix of competitive and cooperative gameplay but it is buried behind a muddled progression system and lengthy matchmaking / loading times.