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Regardless of the innovation that is or isn't present in "LittleBigPlanet 3," the series' PS4 debut will undoubtedly make longtime fans happy. The numerous new features will pave the way for some of the deepest user-created levels the series has ever seen. I can't wait to see where users take this experience.
The "Halo" series has had a pristine record when it came to online stability at launch, but now that record is tarnished. This review will be updated again once these multiplayer issues are rectified, but right now this is a major disappointment. This is a series that was built on multiplayer action, and the online features are a mess.
When you actually think about it, was "Resident Evil" really ever about the story? Was Wesker a well developed villain? That series has always been gameplay over narrative. "The Evil Within" continues that trend. "Resident Evil" has been on the decline for the last decade, but "The Evil Within" can be its honorary resurgence.
Eventually, the game's catalog will grow to contain dozens of fan-favorite tunes from different corners of popular music. When you feel the beat of your favorite song and then wave your hands to alter that song with various layers and tones from the remixes, "Fantasia: Music Evolved" feels more like magic than a video game. Walt Disney was driven by the need to create new avenues for artistic expression. He would be proud of "Fantasia: Music Evolved." It's worthy of his name.
Talion's story captures the essence of a Tolkien story. It's all about the journey. Friends are made, strangers are met and the true evil of Middle-earth is ever-present, but each story revolves around a true hero. Now Talion can stand next to the legends of Gimli, Frodo, Legolas and Aragorn.
Overall "Disney Infinity 2.0" improves on many aspects of the first game. The experience clicks perfectly when playing one of the better Play Sets, and seeing novel creations in the Toy Box often amazes. If you're willing to throw down the money to collect many of the better characters, the experience a memorable one. If you're just planning on checking out The Avengers starter pack, there's more to "Disney Infinity 2.0" than this subpar representation.
"Counterspy" begins as a novel approach to 2D stealth when the levels begin with a simple layout. The gameplay declines in the later levels when it becomes a shoddy shoot 'em up. The action in small doses is tolerable, but the final level tries its hardest to ruin the entire experience.
If "Diablo 3" is any indication, there's a reason that this is an influential series in the annals of video games. This has the makings of being a serious timesink for me, but I'm looking forward to wreaking further havoc in the underworld.
"Hohokum" is an example of how abstract a video game can be when it strips away the conventions like a plot, tutorial or anything that is a virtual representation of something found on the Planet Earth. Its vagueness is both its strength and its weakness. Players will either love it for being different or hate it for the same reason. I'm stuck somewhere in between. I don't see myself revisiting "Hohokum," but it will certainly stick out in my mind for the foreseeable future.
This is a special game. It also puts me in a bit of a quandary. The original game came out last year, but should this version receive game-of-the-year consideration? I have five months to figure that out, because it's the best game I've played in 2014.
"Sniper Elite 3" isn't trying to be a groundbreaking display of social commentary. It's not begging to be analyzed. It's shooting Nazis in the most violent way possible. That's what it set out to do, and that's what it accomplished. It's not the most polished experience, but it should be a bullseye for fans of the stealth and sniping genre.
"Valiant Hearts" is able to convey this very real story of war through its cartoon-designed characters. It's gut-wrenching as realistic stories of wartime loss often are. That story occasionally gets lost while shuffling between the four main characters, but the message remains. The perils of war are far more real than the glory of the battlefield that is often depicted in today's games.
"Always Sometimes Monsters" is as much of a mirror of the player as it is a looking glass to view the world through the eyes of the creators. It elicits thought about life philosophies. Any game that explores the existential crisis is a welcomed break from the tightly compartmentalized genres of contemporary gaming. Assigning a static review score to a game such as this seems silly. Play it and see where it takes you.
Aside from the poor sound editing and occasional lull in the action, this game is a surprising success. When a game is strictly single-player, the story needs to deliver. This story does, plus brings polished gameplay as an FPS. "Wolfenstein: The New Order" is a sleeper hit of 2014.
Therein lies "Mario Kart 8's" dilemma. The Wii U has the tools to make this a standout game in the series, but instead it's just a pretty look at more of the same. It's still all about racing friends in a chaotic battle for first place. That old form of fun is present, but this latest edition fails to drive the series forward with meaningful change.
If you waited to buy a next-gen version of "The Show," you're in luck. The PS4 version isn't worse than the PS3/Vita version, but it isn't any better either. All of its visual sheen brings new problems, but it's still a big league sports sim.
"TowerFall" ascension is a must-buy for PS4 owners, but there's a caveat. You have to have local friends who are ready and willing to play it, not to mention four $60 controllers. If you have all of that, prepare to have some of the most multiplayer fun available on a gaming console. But in today's online-heavy gaming landscape, that's not the easiest thing to find.
"Second Son" has all the appearances of a next-gen game, but its gameplay and stunted karma system appear dated. Delsin is a more sympathetic character than Cole, but the simple choices he's faced with fail to further develop his character. This game has a gorgeous exterior, but that shimmer fades when digging deeper.
Demos are free to try. Even if you consider this a short prequel, DLC is usually between $10 and $15. I'm against the business practice that "Ground Zeroes" has introduced. Therefore, I can't recommend this game, demo, prequel, or whatever you want to call it. Wait for it drop significantly in price, or to become free on PlayStation +. I'm sure that will happen as we get closer to the real game, "The Phantom Pain." "Ground Zeroes" has the stench of a cash-grab, which is an unfortunate thing to happen to a series that is as artistic as "Metal Gear Solid."
Genuine comedy in video games is a rare find in today's gaming landscape of hyper-realistic shooters and pretentious fantasy realms. It's refreshing to have a game that is consistently hilarious, but also has gameplay chops. I hope that Matt Stone and Trey Parker continue with the path of video game writing. They could offer a lot to this industry. But I can't blame them for going out at the top of their game.