GameCrate's Reviews
Easily one of the best games of the year, Shovel Knight does the unthinkable. It maintains the style we've come to expect from the NES era of old, and yet somehow provides enough contemporary design and gameplay to make it easily fit into this generation of gaming. You'll absolutely dig it.
Some lag here and there, but once you connect to a fight against another UFC addict, there's nothing like it.
Third time is the charm for Rebellion with Sniper Elite III. Unfortunately, the charm is too short-lived thanks to a short Campaign and limited multiplayer modes (DLC will hopefully correct that). Plus the glitches are hard to ignore.
GRiD Autosport continues the trend of the series as an experience that avid car fans will eat up, but with limited accessibility for newcomers.The game has a dated and flawed presentation, it feels like it's stalling more than speeding. Here's hoping the team finds its footing in the next generation, before the franchise becomes a lemon.
It's a shame that there isn't more variety in the actual gameplay to really push repeated playthroughs
The Elder Scrolls Online isn't a terrible game, but its shortcomings make it impossible to recommend, especially considering the diverse options gamers have in the MMO marketplace. It's possible that future updates will make the game worth revisiting, but quite a bit of the core gameplay would need to change for that to be the case.
Crimsonland delivers an adequate shoot-em-up performance for the PS4, with plenty of modes to choose from and a fun blastathon for you and your friends. However, it lacks in presentation and diversity, two areas that needed more depth in order for the game to stand out on the console. It's decent, but forgettable.
Easily one of the best releases last year, The Last of Us Remastered has a good chance of winning even more Game of the Year honors with this exceptional improvement. The visuals, sound, gameplay and extras all come together to make this a worthwhile package. Even if you've seen everything it has to offer, you should experience it again.
Had Hustle Kings not existed, Pure Pool could've been considered an essential pool product, as it feels great while in practice mode and looks like a winner. Unfortunately, it's a huge step back from VooFoo's previous effort, and the inability to skip your AI's inhuman actions, shift around the jukebox selection or even get an overhead view of what's happening may be too hard for some pool sharks to take. Try it out first, if you can, before you consider buying the table.
While Sacred 3 isn't likely to steal the crown from Diablo III, it's a great hack-and-slash alternative that's worth checking out. While the technical limitations of the game are too easy to spot, the multiplayer is still a blast, and the audio will crack a smile on your face as you finish off goblin goons. Fans of role-playing games that want to do without the usual bland spell-casting would be wise to pick this game up.
Road Not Taken has all the enjoyable staples of a Roguelike game and presents them well. The built-in replay value is high, and the variables of villagers, charms, banned obstacles, and the woods themselves ensure a different game every time you play. More than once I found myself stuck without the energy to go on, and even knowing that I could start again, I was annoyed to be losing my progress so often. A checkpoint system in the form of an altar helps this problem, for which I was very grateful.
Divinity: Original Sin is likely to be an extremely polarizing game. While many hardcore RPG fans will love its old-school style and fans of innovation in gaming can find a lot to love in its creative character interaction and environmental damage systems, it also presents gamers with a tough ride right out of the gate.
Overall, The Swapper is a fun, well-designed puzzler that I would recommend playing through at least once. If you can catch it for sale at the PlayStation Store, grab it quickly.
I usually stay away from fighting games because I lack the patience to master the complicated nature of a character's fighting style. I stay away from sequels if I haven't played earlier installments, because I don't want to be lost in a story that's already well established. I was very impressed when BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma handled both of these concerns.
Although Surgeon Simulator isn't a game for everyone, due to its occasionally frustrating controls and its buckets of spilled blood, it's still a fascinating effort for those looking to have a goofy time with a video game. Plus, it beats playing a game with rather good surgeon controls because, really, what's the fun in that? Bob should have known better than to visit a surgeon advertising via a Groupon, and now he's going to pay.
Like The Last of Us Remastered, Metro Redux argues the case for seeing games "redone" for a new generation of consoles. The visuals are unbeatable, the gameplay well balanced, the extra modes appreciatively accepted and the challenge second to none when it comes to playing in Survival and/or Ranger Modes. While some new content would've been appreciated here, what's included in the $50 package is more than enough value. It's time to head back to Russia…
The Golf Club would've been a great Tiger killer with some nuances added to the gameplay and some cleaning up in the visual department. As it stands, it's a decent golf sim, but one that's hard to swallow with its ridiculous price and problematic issues. Expert players, however, may find value in the course editor. Try it out first if you can.
Dance Central Spotlight may not break the mold when it comes to being the ultimate next-gen experience, but it does provide a comfortable groove that fans will no doubt want to slip back into – especially as far as the new price point is concerned. $10 is a good value, and being able to add songs and DLC at your own free will is a nice freedom to have. Although, seriously, "Turn Down For What." That's a party in itself.
Overall, the game is fun. It's Madden. You know what you're getting. They actually cleaned up the core gameplay rather than simply changing rosters and updating graphics, which is pretty cool. There's no in-depth MyPlayer component a la The Show, NBA2k or the EA's own NHL series. It's funny how the dream in NFL games is to be the owner or the coach, not the player.
While First Light comes up just a bit short compared to the full Second Son game, it's a fine continuation for the series, and a fresh take on what's happening within this universe. Now, if we could just get a co-op experience featuring "Fetch" and Delsin, we'd be all set.