Attack of the Fanboy

• PS4
• États-Unis

While not returning the original game designer for Pac-Man that retired after finishing the first game, Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 uses what makes the Pac-Man formula so fun and takes it to another level. While the new Adventure Mode isn’t a huge standout due to the disappointing boss battles, new mechanical changes, like the ability to bump ghosts, really add a lot of excitement to an already fast paced game that makes Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 a very worthy follow-up on its predecessor.

• XONE
• États-Unis

ReCore had a ton of potential and sadly squandered a good portion of it. The game still has moments of glory, and pulls inspiration from a lot of great games of the past. It even has a very old school feel to it, with 3D platforming and combat that feels very classic, if unfortunately not delivering top of the line quality. Still, the first few hours are worth trying out, and perhaps the flaws won’t be as glaring for all players. The game has a good foundation, and maybe some patches will get it close, but it’d take a complete rework to truly live up to the expectations that were set long ago.

• PS4
• États-Unis

While last year’s game was coming off its very disappointingly bare bones predecessor, NHL 17 already had a very solid foundation to build upon at the start. The addition of Draft Champions and the World Cup of Hockey modes provide players with new varying content, along with existing modes that are refined enough to keep players interested. Those that typically buy an NHL game only every couple years may not find enough different from last year, but NHL 17 is still one that will be enjoyed by most any fan of the sport.

• VITA
• États-Unis

Following up directly on its predecessor, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II continues the excellent story that was begun in the first Trails of Cold Steel by raising the stakes exponentially. The combat system is not all that different this time around, but it feels as refined and polished as well, which is what any good sequel should be focused on doing. While not coming to PS4 may scare some gamers away, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold II is most certainly one game worth pulling out the PS3 or PS Vita again to play through.

• PC
• États-Unis

God Eater 2: Rage Burst is worth checking out for fans of the first game, as it essentially offers more of that game with just enough to shake things up a little. Every pro and con found in the first game can more or less be applied to this one, meaning that there’s nothing here to convert newcomers. Still, the game provides a good time for those looking for epic battles and not too much more.

• XONE
• États-Unis

The complex and engrossing world of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is one that sinks its teeth into you right from the beginning, and as you journey through it you never want it to let go. This is a game that has something to offer for every style of play, and the stunning attention to detail within the game’s world makes it feel like an actual place, however twisted it may be. We had to wait awhile for it to finally arrive, but our patience was rewarded with a definite game of the year contender.

• 3DS
• États-Unis

• XONE
• États-Unis

Madden NFL 17 certainly isn’t a release for the series that introduces sweeping changes for the annual franchise. Smart tweaks to familiar modes, a slew of accesibility features, and a presentation that continues to impress, it’s hard to knock this year’s package for what it contains. NFL 17 builds off of the base that we’ve seen established over the last couple of years, for better or worse.

• IOS
• États-Unis

Double Fine was able to take a classic gaming genre and imbue new life into it with their trademark humor, and the resulting experience is solid. Just floating through the demented world that they’ve created is enjoyable thanks to the wonky characters you’ll come into contact with, and the mechanics are unique despite existing within a pretty standard genre framework. It could use some tweaks here and there, but fans of metroidvanias are sure to have a great time floating through the ridiculous world of Headlander.

• XONE
• États-Unis

10 Second Ninja was already a very fun and enjoyable game in its initial release on PC, but now coming out as the more content heavy 10 Second Ninja X, console owners get to join in on the action. Though the variety in the level design as you advance in the game leaves a little to be desired, the rapid pace of the levels are very well suited for a quickplay experience that can serve as a very enjoyable palette cleanser between other games.

• XONE
• États-Unis

Kerbal Space Program impressed PC gamers upon its final release last year and now console owners have gotten the opportunity to feel like they work for NASA. The extremely high level of difficulty at the start can be daunting for newcomers, but the level of detail and realism mixed into the building and flying segments make it well worth the time spent learning in Kerbal Space Program.

• PS4
• États-Unis

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven builds on the foundation laid by its predecessor with a completely original story by the series’ author that showcases just why fans love this series. The gameplay is pretty basic and the camera can be an issue, but the ability to play with an AI partner is rather unique for this genre, which is made even better with the team-up ultimate moves. Utilizing an out of order time travel story may scare off newcomers, but a fairly simple story and an in-game glossary to get players up to speed make JoJo’s Bizarre: Adventure: Eyes of Heaven one game you might want to at least give a try.

• PS4
• États-Unis

Pac-Man is one of the mainstays in gaming that continues to stay relevant and Pac-Man 256 proves that the classic formula works even today. The game still has its base mechanics in tact, but the addition of power-ups, specialized ghosts, and the looming glitched out bottom of the maze will provide players with a fun, albeit limited, experience in Pac-Man 256.

• PS4
• États-Unis

While some of the big criticisms that people had with the original version of the game still stand, Deadlight: Director’s Cut still feels like a fresh take on the zombie genre 4 years later. The narrative is brief and there are the occasional control issues that still pop up, but those things don’t take away much from the intensity that it is able to hold steady throughout its handful of hours of gameplay. It probably isn’t worth a return trip if you’ve already played the original game, but if this is your first time checking out the Deadlight world then this version is definitely the one to get.

• PS4
• États-Unis

While some of the big criticisms that people had with the original version of the game still stand, Deadlight: Director’s Cut still feels like a fresh take on the zombie genre 4 years later. The narrative is brief and there are the occasional control issues that still pop up, but those things don’t take away much from the intensity that it is able to hold steady throughout its handful of hours of gameplay. It probably isn’t worth a return trip if you’ve already played the original game, but if this is your first time checking out the Deadlight world then this version is definitely the one to get.

• XONE
• États-Unis

While DICE has certainly made a bigger Mirror’s Edge here with Catalyst, I don’t think they’ve improved it any ways that were really necessary. A checklist of familiar open world game features strip away most of the charm of the original. The beautiful art design of the game is suffocated by technical issues that were wide ranging and oft-occuring. Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst rarely, if ever, makes as memorable an impression as its predecessor did. While it tries incredibly hard to do so, and succeeds in terms of world building and story development, it’s all at the sake of nearly every other facet that players of the original may have held near and dear.

• PS4
• États-Unis

Shadow of the Beast is a competent action platformer, though its multiple parts don’t come together to form a very cohesive whole. Many of those parts are frustrating or overall unenjoyable. The combat is appropriately brutal, and those seeking a bloody affair will find something to love here. However, it doesn’t have the tightly controlled feeling of other action greats, and the experience is worse for it. Some sections of the game also feel tacked on for little reason, with major story pieces locked away behind hidden unlockables. Still, if you do delve deeply into the game, there are many things to enjoy, and you’ll have some great visuals along the way.

• VITA
• États-Unis

It’s entirely different compared to anything DrinkBox has done before, but Severed is an experience that anyone with a PlayStation Vita needs to check out. The touch-based gameplay works extremely well and is a ton of fun, and the game’s world is so twisted that it keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. DrinkBox has succeeded in not only making a fantastic game, but also in making the PlayStation Vita relevant again in a time where most have left it for dead. Severed is the call to all gamers to dig out their dusty Vitas once more, as the neglected handheld has quietly acquired one of the must-have games of 2016.