Reno Gazette-Journal
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Although it maintains the tension that classic Resident Evil is known for, the game is unapologetically tied to the original to a fault so newcomers might be turned off by the older camera and controls mechanics. If you're a fan of classic Resident Evil, however, you'll get more mileage from this remaster for new consoles.
The lack of any significant additions to this year may not be enough to sway owners of last year's game to take the plunge. If you don't own the previous game, however, and want to get in some Formula One racing action, F1 2014 just might be worth getting into.
Overall, WWE 2K15 shows promise for the series moving forward with its great presentation and solid game engine. At the same time, the omission of certain content as well as aggressive DLC implementation also means the game hasn't quite hit its stride just yet.
Overall, Citizens of Earth is a game that has solid underpinnings, though it could also use some extra polish. Folks who prefer more modern titles with all the 3D fixin's will likely pass on this. If you like games that don't take themselves too seriously and also have an old-school flair, however, this'll be worth checking out, especially given it's affordable price.
While the story is still solid overall, Episode 2 feels a bit less exciting than its predecessor.
RIDE does a good job with providing a solid racing effort for motorcycles and filling an underserved niche but it admittedly lacks the extra oomph and polish seen in triple-A car racers. Fans of the genre will love the myriad options for bikes and customization. Load times, dated graphics and some bugs, however, knock down the experience a peg or two. It won't be for everyone but folks looking for a solid bike racing experience on the track and the street might want to give this game a proverbial ride.
Idea Factory and Compile Heart serve up another dose of Nep-Nep in Neptunia: Sisters VS Sisters, complete with the kooky and offbeat storytelling that Neptunia fans know and love. The use of a new action-based combat system can be potentially polarizing, especially since it feels uneven and could use more polish. If you love the narrative of Neptunia games and its characters, however, the story alone makes this worth playing.
Touken Ranbu Warriors mixes the classic one vs. 1,000 hack-and-slash Warriors gameplay with the beautiful boys of the Touken Ranbu franchise. The use of investigations helps break the monotony of the Warriors-style gameplay a bit and the time-traveling element adds a twist to the history-based narrative often used in games set in Japan’s warring states period. Although it doesn’t exactly introduce groundbreaking changes to the formula, it’s a solid take on Warriors gameplay for fans of the classic hack-and-slash games and the Touken Ranbu franchise.
Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris boasts one of the most fun combat systems I’ve seen in a SAO game to date, replete with a nice selection of weapon types and playstyles to boot. It’s just unfortunate how that fun combat is gated behind an unevenly paced narrative that tends to overstay its welcome at times — and I’m a proponent for more storytelling in games. The game won’t be for everyone. Folks who are willing to break through its wall of text, however, will find some great action hidden behind all that exposition.
Like reincarnated divinity, SolSeraph tries to rekindle the flames of cult classic ActRaiser by merging side-scrolling action with town building. The result is an homage that recaptures some of the old magic, even if it doesn’t quite reach the lofty heights of its original predecessor. Some spots are admittedly rough and could use extra depth or polish. SolSeraph’s high points, however, remind you why the first game was so beloved among its fans and the Yuzo Koshiro soundtrack sounds heavenly. As such, I’d love to see Ace Team take another stab at the formula now that they’ve got this under their belt.
Super Neptunia RPG features great music, wonderful visuals and that kooky Neptunia storytelling and dialogue that fans of the series know and love. Unfortunately, the overall experience is taken down several notches by the gameplay, which features pretty basic platforming, a multitude of fetch quests and combat that could be more fleshed out. Newcomers will probably not want to nep to this particular beat but hardcore fans will still enjoy its very Neptunia-ish writing and dialogue
With more than 1,000 cards to unlock, a campaign mode and online battling, Super Dragon Ball Heroes World Mission can be a hoot for fans itching to play a Dragon Ball-themed card game. At the same time, its more streamlined battle system combined with its use of arcade mechanics in a card game also makes its fun levels drop to less than 9,000 for folks looking for a more traditional TCG experience a laYu-Gi-Oh or Magic the Gathering.
Compared to the great fighting games we've seen as of late, Dissidia NT feels a bit slow and slightly dated. It's still a solid fighter and lovers of Final Fantasy games over the years will appreciate its dream roster and beautiful character designs. That being said, its brand of technical combat won't be for everybody and its luster is also outshone by several excellent rivals in the suddenly competitive fighting game space.
Star Wars Battlefront was akin to Jar Jar Binks, a game with its share of fans and haters that turned out to be flawed but was an annoyance at most. Battlefront 2, on the other hand, is like Anakin Skywalker, a game with so much potential that it fails to realize thanks to what many see as a sinister turn. It’s a shame as the game actually does several things quite well and can be a blast to play. While it deserves credit for rectifying some of those issues prior to launch, however, the aftertaste of its questionable decisions continue to be a lingering issue in what otherwise could have been a stellar game.
The good news is that Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 is a faithful rendition of the classic Lego game formula. The bad news is that Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 is a faithful rendition of the classic Lego game formula. Personally, I'm feeling a bit tapped out after playing more than a decade's worth of Lego games without much change to the base formula. If you love Lego games or want to try them out for the first time, however, then Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 is one block party you might want to get into.
Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization feels like a game that’s on the cusp of something great but is held back by a few hiccups. The story is interesting and quite fleshed out, and the base combat has potential. The inconsistent pacing, sketchy AI and grindy nature of the game, however, make it feel like a slog after a while. If you’re a fan of SAO, though, this is worth checking out just to re-experience Aincrad’s rebirth once again.
[I]f you like old-school action and see yourself not minding the spin wheel mechanic for accessing stages, then Chibi Robo! Ziplash might just be a game you'll want to plug into.
Mario, Sonic and friends return with more Olympic action, including a campaign that features character leveling and collecting various gear for boosting stats. The events are a mixed bag, however, and could use more depth overall. Players who don't like mini games will want to look elsewhere but the ability to play local multiplayer with one cartridge makes this an option for folks interested in some family-friendly fun. [OpenCritic note: Jason separately reviewed the 3DS (6) and Wii-U (7) versions. Their scores have been averaged.]
Oceanhorn is an excellent mobile game that loses some of its magic in the transition to consoles. The inspiration from the Zelda series is welcome for fans of the franchise but also exposes some of its shortcomings when compared to the beloved title. If you're pining for a Zelda-style adventure on PS4 or Xbox One with an affordable price, however, this homage to old-school action adventuring is still worth hopping onto.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a solid remake of the original Gameboy Advance game that successfully modernizes it for today’s audience. The overall puzzle experience is interesting and the addition of new features plus its co-op mode helps round out the gameplay more. The platforming can feel wonky at times and you can go through the game rather quickly. If you enjoyed the original or are looking for a fun puzzle game, however, this is a Mario and Donkey Kong rematch that might be worth buying into.