David Sanchez
Kirby platformers haven't evolved much over the years, but that's never kept these games from being a heck of a good time. Triple Deluxe delivers everything that's made the series so good, but it adds some nuances such as stereoscopic 3D environments, new abilities, and more content than ever. The game is deliciously colorful and blissfully loud — it's the sort of thing that's so crazy and exaggerated that it'll send you into total sensory overload. More than anything, though, Triple Deluxe is just an immensely satisfying game that's a ton of fun to play from start to finish.
Ultimately, strategy and RPG aficionados may find Squids Odyssey a bit too simple, but if you go into it with the mindset that this is just a fun, jolly little game, you're bound to have a genuinely good time with it.
Some players will appreciate the fact that this game is remorseless a lot of the time. Meanwhile others — even fans of this sort of punishing experience — may feel that the game is a bit too daunting at times.
I don't think the novelty of figure-based play and creation has worn thin. Truth be told, Disney Infinity 2.0 just isn't as enthralling as the first game. It's also not as good when you look at the bigger picture. The creation modes are solid, and the Play Sets are fun, but everything feels stripped down from last time.
There are a lot of 2D platformers out there, but Fenix Rage still has a lot to offer fans of the genre new and old. Green Lava Studios professed its love for the old school with this one, giving us a game that's so damn tough that it's a sheer delight to play. If you're tenacious and can handle a dose of in-your-face NES (or Genesis) challenge, you should make it a point to play Fenix Rage immediately.
I wouldn't recommend Elegy to anyone but folks who actually want to take the time to write. Though some creative types will question the need for writing prompts, the fact remains that sometimes all you need is a good starting point.
The important thing to take away is that OlliOlli is finally on Nintendo platforms, and it plays, looks, and sounds just as impressive as it does on other systems. It's easy to get into, but mastering it and doing everything the game has to offer is a long journey — one that may frustrate at times, but one that will reward you immensely. There really is nothing like nailing a 360 impossible into a perfectly executed crooked grind.
I played a lot of Animal Crossing last year, in the process rekindling my love for life sims. Playing Story of Seasons was a much different experience because it's more fast-paced and goal-oriented. It's not too unlike past Harvest Moon games, but it's a worthwhile entry nonetheless. There's a lovely little game to uncover here, though it'll likely take you a couple dozen hours to really get things going. That said, the time investment is certainly worth it, because at the end of the day, you're left with a fine farming sim that's totally rewarding.
There's a lot of fun to be had with JumpJet Rex, though the game sometimes goes out of its way to frustrate you.
Roll7 has proven that it's not a one-trick pony with the release of Not a Hero. The team is clearly dedicated to crafting games that are fun and inviting yet require some patience to master. In a medium dominated by shooters of the first-person and third-person variety, it's refreshing to get a 2D take on the cover-based format. The difficulty can be a bit much at times, but when all is said and done, there's no getting around the fact that the BunnyLord's team is one you want to be on.
Whether you loved the original Flash version of Westerado or have yet to play it, this enhanced remake is worth downloading. It's a fine choice for fans of adventure games and Wild West lore alike. The game is always giving you something fun to do, and its open-ended nature warrants multiple playthroughs. After spending four hours walking a fine line between hero and outlaw, I'm just about ready to give this impressive game another go...and this time I'll be using a more trigger happy approach. Time to avenge my family. Again.
Super Chibi Knight is a fun, bite-sized adventure that has a little bit of challenge but always remains welcoming enough that anyone can enjoy it. The Zelda II inspiration makes for a game that's mechanically sound and enjoyable to play, but it's the creative art style that'll win you over initially. It's short and can take as little as four hours to get through, but in those four hours you'll be treated to an entertaining adventure across fantasy lands that only an eight-year-old mind could've thought up.
Guild of Dungeoneering can get frustrating due to all of the randomness, but even then there's just no getting around the fact that it is a wonderful game. And if it ever does come to handhelds, I'll be eager to give it another go.
This isn't the kind of game you revisit multiple times, but rather the kind of game you tell your friends about with the utmost enthusiasm on account of just how silly and pleasant the whole thing is.
In the four hours it took me to get through Gryphon Knight Epic, all I could think about was how I wanted it to end so I could move on and play something better.
For better and for worse, Party Hard is one of the most faithful tributes to the slasher genre. It overstays its welcome, but it's still a bloody fun time for the most part.
Back to Bed on the PlayStation Network is a competent albeit unremarkable puzzler that's over before it can get satisfying. Great art and a decent bonus mode at least help to make the experience somewhat enjoyable, though the hefty $20 price is hardly worth paying when you can get it for much less elsewhere.
The rapid, mini-game-like design of Shutshimi makes it ideal for quick bursts of play. Even then, the game is so captivating that it's hard to put down even after you've spent an hour or two playing.
Super Time Force Ultra mixes shmup action and rewind mechanics to create a bold, action-packed experience that's also heavy on fun, referential, and witty writing.
Corpse of Discovery could've been a worthwhile narrative experience had it not been ruined by its massive performance issues and obnoxious platforming gameplay.