GameCrate's Reviews
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Assassin's Creed: Unity suffers from a stale plot, occasionally intolerable gameplay mechanics, and the lack of novelty when compared to other titles in the Assassin's Creed franchise. Nevertheless, its superior graphics, wonderful sense of atmosphere, and replay value prevent it from being a flop.
The goal of This War of Mine was to showcase what life is actually like for the people left behind while the battle rages on, and it provides a marvelous representation of that. The choices are difficult, it's not easy to help everyone, and sometimes you have to do awful things just to stay alive. The power of video games continues to amaze, and This War of Mine is a shining example of the endless learning possibilities games have in store.
Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U lives up to its promise by delivering stellar gameplay, superb production value, and endless multiplayer opportunities. It is a must-have for those who own a Wii U, and a great incentive for those who don't yet have one to do so.
In the end, despite its lacking content and some questionable character designs (is Triple H from 2002 some form of Frankenstein?), WWE 2K15 definitely feels like a worthy grappler to fans of the "sport." The gameplay is a good time, especially with friends in tow, and the presentation has really stepped up for a new generation. Plus, they brought along CM Punk, so obviously the game isn't a total loss. But here's hoping next year brings a more complete package – this is one brand deserving of that.
Lords of the Fallen offers an easier experience and a few fun twists to the Dark Souls formula, but in the end there just isn't enough at which the game excels to make it a real challenger to the dominance of that series.
While Peggle 2 is hardly as innovative a sequel as we've come to expect from PopCap, it continues the status quo of challenging with puzzles and delightful characters, and for some, that will certainly be enough. The inclusion of additional challenges and multiplayer helps as well, even though we'd prefer something co-op related down the line. Oh, well, you'll still have a ball here. In fact, several.
After beating Escape Dead Island, I'm still not sure what the game was trying to do. It stripped out the parts of the Dead Island franchise that were fun and didn't present anything good to replace them. The combat was frustrating, and only made me wish the stealth actually worked. Cliff's hallucinations were the only interesting thing about him or the story, and that doesn't say much.
The first episode of Tales from the Borderlands is a lukewarm start to the new Telltale franchise, but that's par for the course in an episodic installment. Telltale hasn't disappointed yet, which is why I'm excited for what awaits us deep in the trenches of Pandora. If anything we'll get to see bandits performing insane acts of stupidity; that's always fun.
Is Far Cry 4 the best game in the series? Tough to say, but it's definitely a step forward in terms of story, gameplay, and art. You'll be spending a lot of time Kyrat this holiday season.
In six months, it's likely we'll be seeing some fantastic user-created content for Little Big Planet 3, and I can't wait to see what the community produces. As the game stands now, it offers a fun but shallow Adventure Mode, bottomless charm, and all the tools you need to make your own fantastic platformer experience -- provided you have the creativity and patience the franchise has always required.
While this version of Tetris doesn't go leaps and bounds over the others, it's quite enjoyable, especially if you've got other Tetrimino-maniacs to compete against. The gameplay clicks, the presentation is about where we expected it to be, and the additional modes will truly test your line-dropping skills.
A worthy add-on to a franchise that we'd never thought would return, Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions is a twin-stick shooter that's well worth the recommendation. The online multiplayer may not feel like much, but single player and co-op have a lot to offer, and the gameplay and presentation gel nearly perfectly together. It's good to have a little Geometry back in our lives.
Game of Thrones Episode One: Iron and Ice isn't an easy game to play, mainly due to the nature of the theme at hand and the fact that no matter what you do, someone close to you is still going to get it. But that's just how Game of Thrones works, and the more of a fan of the show you are, the more captivated you'll feel playing the game. And if you're not a fan, it just might make you one. That Red Wedding, though…
It seems like Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham played it safe, keeping in most of the familiar and liked aspects of the game, without venturing into anything too different. Being able to change Suits at will, and the space vehicles missions are good new steps, and hopefully will help fans forgive the lack of real free roam.
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris may be a late arrival in the holiday release game, but it's a not-miss title for fans of Tomb Raider and adventure games in general. It looks and sounds terrific, and has plenty of replay value to offer. The fact you can enjoy it on your own or with friends is a startling surprise, especially considering how bumpy Tomb Raider multiplayer has been in the past. Fluff up your couch and prepare for action.
Ivory Tower did have some great ideas in putting together The Crew, but they don't all pan out the way they should. Getting new cars can take forever, and some of the missions are a tremendous pain on your own. However, if you've got a few racing buddies that don't mind cruising with you, you'll find the game's true potential – and even have some fun while you're speeding along. So grab some friends if you can. Otherwise, if it's a single player endeavor you're after, you might consider Forza Horizon 2.
Easily one of the best fighting games of the year, Guilty Gear Xrd SIGN shows that you can stick with basic fighting concepts while trying something new at the same time. As a result, the PlayStation 4 has yet another benefit to its library – and it's just going to get bigger and better as 2015 rolls around.
After enough time with the game, it became clear that Project Spark is not so much a game as it is a game design/content-creation tool for Microsoft's Xbox One community, one for those patient enough to reap the rewards of approval and praise from the community. As such, it is definitely an acquired taste, but those who enjoy it will find a truly rewarding experience.
One popular view holds that EA's FIFA is for football fans while Konami's PES is for gamers. That still holds true with Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 but that's not necessarily an insult. PES is fun, challenging, and rewarding, which is what every sports game should strive to be.