Magicka 2 is a stellar adventure as long as you have friends along for the ride. The mechanics of the spellcasting system and the gameplay in general are tuned perfectly for multiple wizards, however flying solo will only bring you frustration and fits of rage.
A game that certainly isn't shy about what it is, Berserk Boy is a love letter to the Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man franchises. While there are arguably some slight concerns along the way on the design front, those shortcomings are overshadowed by fun and addicting gameplay. The game manages to pay great respect to the games that influenced it and still stand on its own at the end. Fans of both classic franchises will certainly enjoy going Berserk!
CastleStorm VR is the same awesome experience from a new visual perspective. The core game remains as fun and polished as ever, but the perspective offered with the GearVR adds a fresh take on the battlefield. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the perspectives used between battles.
Despite there being no real improvements or enhancements to any of these games, it is hard to deny the quality of these three games. The BioShock franchise consists of three of the best games we have seen in the past decade and these are the best versions you can get of them. There isn't much in new content but the base content of this collection alone is an incredible value.
Imaginators is yet another solid Skylanders offering that your kids will love. The action is extremely varied, providing a good mix of action, platforming, and other various offshoots like racing, which keeps things fresh and fun. While I enjoy creating my own characters, the requirement to purchase special crystals to do so feels like I am just being forced to buy save slots.
Star Fox Guard is really a pleasant surprise. It’s a simple concept that is well executed and makes perfect use of the Wii U’s unique control options. Hundreds of levels and the ability to create and share your own give this one some serious legs.
Tearaway is an excellent 3D platformer that takes full advantage of everything that Sony’s Vita has to offer. It is amazing what results when a developer, such as Media Molecule, truly “gets” the system that they are working with. This is easily going to be one of the marquee titles for the Vita this holiday season and possibly for the system’s entire lifespan.
Nintendo once again proves that they know the platforming genre better than almost anyone. While polished in its design, I can’t help but wish it was a little more challenging. You can fly through the levels rather quickly without breaking much of a sweat; extra challenges add some life for more advanced players but young ones are likely to get more out of the game.
Strip out all of the blood and gore from the Hitman franchise and what is left is truly a thinking man's game. The developers certainly understand what the true charm of the series is and it is highlighted in this puzzle-take on the franchise.
The Old Hunter's is a great expansion for die hard fans of Bloodborne. It brings a good amount of fresh content to the game without doing anything to alter the formula. It's more of the same, which is a good thing. Just be prepared for the difficulty as it is as unrelenting as ever.
While the total package has been scaled back, Rock Band 4 still has what it takes to be the complete life of the party. There is simply no better game to be played with your friends.
Despite being a little over the top at times, violence-wise, Mother Russia Bleeds is a fantastic brawler at it's core. Addicting gameplay with a classic look, this one should keep you and your friends entertained time and time again, just like the classic beat'em ups of the past.
Transformers Devastation is the definition of a fan-service game. An excellent combat system layered over sights and sounds that take children of the '80s back to their youth creates a memorable experience for Transformers fans. The only sad thing is that it never really goes deeper than that.
A simple concept that is very well executed, Hue is a nice change of pace from the usual game releases. The narrative is the provoking in the game play what surely stretch your mental muscles.
More software than game, Art Academy: Home Studio is an enjoyable experience with infinite replayability. Regardless of your artistic skill, it will teach you a thing or two and give you a nice creative outlet to express yourself with its expansive toolset.
A solid title, not because of improvements made during the remastering process, but rather the strength of the original creation. Sure, it looks a little bit nicer, and the photo mode is a nice addition, but this is primarily the same game that it was five years ago.
In the end, Arkham Knight proves to be an excellent new chapter in the Arkham franchise. The story is absolutely fantastic, as is most of the gameplay, just prepare to be inundated with constant tank battles.
Fast and frantic, Not a Hero provides some serious satisfaction when things are running on all cylinders. There's nothing lack diving through windows and taking out bad guys, even if it is classic 8-bit sprites. The humor feels a bit forced at times, but the action wins out in providing a ton of fun.
Despite hitting a few speed bumps along the way, Sunset Overdrive's excellent and addictive gameplay are what stands out from the experience. It make take this gs a little while to get rolling but once the game hits its stride,you're in for one hell of a ride.
Project Spark won't have you churning out incredible games like a development powerhouse. It will, however, provide you an accessible set of tools and assets to begin the process of bringing your dream games to life. This won't happen overnight, so plan on spending a lot of time here if you are ever going to make something memorable.