GameCrate's Reviews
If you loved Resident Evil 4 and you're looking for more of that style of game, The Evil Within will probably push the right buttons for you. The game is a clear success in a throwback sense to that earlier title, though its lack of innovation, strategic depth, or an engaging story are all marks against it.
If anyone needs me, I'll be playing Beyond Earth for a very, very long time.
Fluster Cluck is an overall disappointment, a game that tries to recapture the magic of local N64 multiplayer sessions, only to lay a giant, stinky egg. Between the broken gameplay, lackluster AI and poor presentation, this turkey falls flat on its beak.
NBA 2K15 continues the franchise's run as the best sports game on the market, and there's a lot to love in its MyCareer mode even for people who aren't basketball fans.
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.
The Legend of Korra is a disappointment, an unbalanced action game that will likely frustrate its young fans alike – as well as die-hards who live for Platinum Games' over-the-top action roster. Its presentation hits the mark, and Pro-Bending can be fun, but, as such, it's not worth bending over backwards for.
Sunset Overdrive hit all of my sweet spots, delivering a hilarious campaign filled with a crazy arsenal of weapons, intense action, interesting enemies, beautiful graphics, and a fun multiplayer component. If you loved Insomniac Game's Ratchet & Clank series and are looking for a game infused with the same degree of personality, creativity and style, then Sunset Overdrive will surely fit the bill.
Alien: Isolation is an experience that takes you back to the vibe of the first film, where humans are powerless against the alien and must find a different way to win against it. For the die-hard Alien and survival horror fan, you won't disappointed. But if you're looking for the action of a first-person shooter, or even a stealth action game, you might be disappointed with the game's slow pacing.
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a fine conclusion to the current running trilogy for WayForward's heroine, and a nice approach for an all-new adventure coming to the Wii U next year. It may not follow the tradition of previous games, but it's fun in its own right, with unique gameplay and strong design that will certainly please fans of the series. She can whip her hair around us any day.
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.
There are some old bugs in the game that have yet to be fixed (you can still force a fullback into a corner too easily, the game freezes sometimes in the Career Mode pause menu) and there are a few things that keep the game from being perfect (no Brazilian league this year, lack of CONCACAF/CONMEBOL love), but, overall, this game is too great to pass up if you're a FIFA fan.
While Shadow Warrior is a no-frills kind of first-person shooter, it's one that will certainly stick with you, mainly due to the joy that hacking and slashing enemies brings. The upgrade system is superb, and the presentation is pretty sharp for a year-old port. It won't change the world like 2014's other brilliant shooters, but it's a good junk food snack while you're waiting for the next big thing. Now go get you some Wang!
After figuring out the defense part of this dungeon defense game, I had a great time. Once I understood how the game mechanics worked, I really enjoyed planning my exploration and building cool modules to help me fight off monsters. My issues with character control were answered with a multiplayer experience that let me enjoy the game even more.
While it isn't necessary for you to have played the classic titles that set the stage for Legend of Grimrock, you should be aware of what you're getting into. LoG 2 is a challenging, occasionally frustrating title with a grid-based real-time combat system that isn't for everyone and a rich collection of secrets that will necessitate back-tracking and pixel-hunting. It's also a game that makes you feel smart for doing well, which is an experience that's all too rare in modern gaming.
While Costume Quest 2 does take some getting used to as far as its simple presentation and tricky battle system go, it's still an enjoyable sequel that fans will want to indulge in. Just be careful with the tricks that come along with these treats.
Skylanders: Trap Team is a cute game for kids with a fun story, interesting characters, and plenty of heroes and now traps, to keep parents running back and forth from the toy store.
Sledgehammer's first full-time foray into a Call of Duty game is a success. Advanced Warfare has great ideas that were executed well that will leave the players pumping with adrenaline throughout the game.
After the misstep that was Dragon Age II, Inquisition is a triumphant return to what made Dragon Age so popular in the first place boosted by a huge injection of Skyrim-flavored additional gameplay. If you enjoy what Bioware has done in the past or if you're a fan of RPGs with exciting combat and rich stories and characters, here's the game you'll be playing over and over again until a sequel is released.
Bayonetta 2 does a great job of capturing the essence of what made the Devil May Cry series great and delivers some of the best action and production value you'll find in any given Wii U game. While the game does suffer from its short length and lack of replay options, it will delight you with its engaging combat and unique setting.
Based on my experiences with the four Halo campaigns, it's clear that Microsoft and 343 Industries have set the new bar for remake collections. They could have easily just packaged Halo 2: Anniversary as a stand-alone title, exactly like they did with Halo: CE Anniversary on Xbox 360, and it would have been justifiable to recommend. Add in three more full Halo games, all with graphical and framerate enhancements, and The Master Chief Collection is very easy to recommend.