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Those who have played the series from the beginning most likely saw that there was only one evitable ending to the whole thing, but it doesn't make the big reveal any less heartbreaking. DONTNOD may be a newcomer to the choice-based adventure genre, but they have made their presence known and they can give any other adventure game a run for its money. Polarized has solidified Life is Strange's spot as a frontrunner for best adventure game of the year.
Dirt Rally can rightfully claim the throne of rally racers in 2016, assuming something doesn't beat the game to it. At this point, we can freely claim that Codemasters have outdone themselves and have finally come back to splendid form, giving us a racer worthy of both Dirt and the legendary CMR series.
The only fly in the ointment here are some technical issues to prevent you from fully enjoying the masochism: issues with the game failing to start for some users, quirks with aiming, soldiers warping to different locations when reloading and even some crashes to desktop are the stumbling blocks that have a number of gamers asking when can we expect a patch. In the meantime, I will live with these issues so I can continue having my head kicked in.
While there have certainly been quite a number of point-and-click adventures proliferating the Steam Store, Heaven's Hope is one that should remain on the radar for all adventure fans. The humor, charming visuals, brain teasing puzzles, and deep spin on religion and zealots are simply fantastic and not to be missed. As you can tell, I personally cannot recommend it enough.
Solo developer Thomas Happ definitely achieved what he set out to do, create a retro, Metroid-inspired game that would emphasize exploration above most else. I can't say that his Axiom Verge game has made me rethink my stance on retro/retro-inspired games or platformers, but I had more fun than I thought was possible with this type of game. I can only imagine the enthusiasm a platforming fan (or really, anyone with slightly warmer feelings than I toward the genre) would have running through Sudra.
Well-polished shooter/MMO hybrid with addictive loot hunt properties, great visuals on next gen consoles, fun multiplayer experience with co-op and PvP options; Some dialog cheese, party search and creation could be improved, episodic missions can endlessly be replayed but with long term effect on the world.
The game's slick design and the simplicity of the envornments makes it unique, beautiful and alluringly mysterious. Your character overcomes problems by using intelligence not fists (oh wait, sorry, you do use fists, though not for punching, just for manipulating objects). Q.U.B.E.: Director's Cut is a great experience, and it's a shame we don't have more games like this out there.
Now we wait for several more weeks before learning all of the truth behind the horrific things happening at Blackwell and Arcadia Bay, and hopefully how and why Max was given this power. Even though DONTNOD made something a bit predictable, they have left plenty of roads open to continue their usual unpredictability. I can honestly say at this point, I have no idea what will happen next. So many unanswered questions, and I have my expectations high that all will be revealed without any disappointment.
We often encourage developers to push the boundaries when it comes to gameplay. It's different with Uncharted. This is still good stuff. And sometimes we don't have to seek revolution or innovation.
Enter the Gungeon is one of the most entertaining pixelated rogue-like shooters I played in recent times. It can lure even those who are not particularly keen on the genre. Great work, guys.
Professional gaming aside, StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void offers a pretty solid amount. While I'm still not entirely behind the idea of splitting Terran, Zerg and Protoss campaigns into three separate releases, I must admit that Legacy of the Void won me over. It has everything I expected it to have: addictive gameplay, solid plot, great characters, Blizzard's trademark kick-ass cinematics, exciting campaign missions and a rich multiplayer package.
It is nice to see that the team over at Sony San Diego has been given enough rope to try new things. The resulting product has once again shown why the MLB The Show series is still one of the best sport simulations in the industry.
When it comes to franchises that are worth revisiting in a new console generation, Valkyria Chronicles Remastered stands as a sterling example of how to do things right. Despite a few nagging mechanics that ultimately still feel a bit unfair on the battlefield itself, this is still an evergreen experience that stands the test of time. This should be required playing for all of the former Xbots that are newly joining the PlayStation fold.
I loved what I saw of Kathy Rain at PAX East, and the finished product was more amazing than I thought possible. This is one of the best point-and-click adventures of the year, and Raw Fury should be immensely proud of their ability to bottle that retro lightning twice.
The single-player campaign in Call of Duty Advanced Warfare is more engaging but it still makes some mistakes in the end with characters making decision and choices I felt were rushed or simply did not make sense. Technically speaking the game is the best Call of Duty to date and even the story issues can't detract from that. Coupled with the new multiplayer modes, both co-op and PvP, Call of Duty Advanced Warfare delivers on its purchase price.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor definitely isn't for everyone, but I can almost guarantee that everyone who gives it a shot will find something enjoyable about it, regardless of whether you are a Tolkien fan or not. It perfects the gameplay it emulates, and it opens up an incredible world of forced strategy with the action-adventure genre. I'm sure I don't need to point out how infrequently this happens.
It's simply amazing that Double Fine was able to turn something so inherently ridiculous into something incredibly serious with just a click of the mouse. It's just as amazing that Double Fine was able to transport me back to the late 80s and early 90s, reminding me just how much I loved these type of games in the late 80s and early 90s. I cannot wait for the [free!] update that will bring on Act 2. I also cannot wait to see if Broken Age ushers in a new era of the point-and-click genre.
Real-life problems and real-life challenges. Nobody's gonna hold your hand. You have to fight for yourself and to protect the ones you care about. This War of Mine is a brave endeavor. We see wonders done with this game in a potential sequel; one that will hopefully get a bigger budget, so we can see the genre evolve even more.
Playing the iterations consecutively feels good and you can actually witness how Naughty Dog progressed as a story-teller. Every title absolutely holds up and can take its rightful place among current-gen releases.
Mortal Kombat X does a lot brilliantly, and the game has brought back in more non-fighting fans to the fold and forsaken MK fans than really any other MK game or fighting game before it. It's really too bad that a few poorly-put together ideas keep it from being a flawless victory.