Hardcore Gamer

• 3DS
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Maybe our own expectations and hype got in the way, but the finished product is not exactly what we thought we were going to get. This is indeed a SaGa game in everything but name, as its trappings are both traditional and experimental, but while sometimes this mash-up of design philosophies pays off, it falls flat at other times. The most ardent JRPG fans will find much to like; though casuals be warned: this is a grindy timesink. Even the rock-solid combat mechanics can't offset how much grinding is present. In fact, it's hard to recommend to an audience other than hardcore Japanese roleplaying game aficionados because of how many great RPGs have just come out or are getting ready to. With titles like Xenoblade Chronicles X, Disgaea 5, Dragon Quest Heroes, Yo-Kai Watch and Stella Glow having just been released or getting ready to, The Legend of Legacy is facing stiff competition; how old school you like your RPGs will ultimately be the deciding factor on whether or not this is a must-own.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

In a lot of ways, Transformers: Devastation feels like Bayonetta in disguise. It has the same linear arena combat format that alternates between narrow hallways (in this case, roads) and open environments that signal a fight from miles away, even borrowing a few similar action set piece ideas later in the game. That's not a bad thing; Bayonetta's gameplay was solid, but its world and tone proved polarizing and its story was nigh-incomprehensible. Devastation takes some of the best pieces of Bayonetta and throws them in a package you can feel unadulteratedly good about while also producing the best Transformers game yet.

• PS3
• VITA
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax is a wonderful fighting game that isn't particularly meant to be played by fighting game diehards. That doesn't make it bad, but rather a love-letter to anime and Sega fans, and an all-around excellent game to boot; one that's filled to the brim with content, unlockables and a colorful cast of characters. Its roster of fighters isn't super deep and a lot of the franchises represented won't be immediately known to even the casual anime viewer, but knowing who these fighters are isn't a requisite to have fun, which is Fighting Climax's aim: fun. Its combat isn't all that nuanced, sure, but it is fast, fluid, flashy, and super accessible. This is the type of game you fire up when friends come over, because of how accommodating a fighting game it is. All of the characters using the same button inputs for moves will undoubtedly make some look down their nose at the game. We pity those people, however, because beneath its simple design is a really fun fighter -- a fighter not built for the usual crowd.

• PS4
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

The Talos Principle: Deluxe Edition is a fantastic package of two great first-person puzzlers. It’s basically identical to the PC version, so if you’ve got those already there’s not much need to double-dip, but otherwise it’s a must-own. The environments are gorgeous, the puzzle design excellent and while the two stories may be a bit heavy-handed in their philosophical overtones, it’s an interesting world with some wonderfully human moments in its mysterious apocalypse. Whatever it was that happened is long gone and the virtual world is a remnant of that time, and now that’s fading too. Solving intricate puzzles may not seem like the best way to save a slowly dying computer simulation of a world, but when they’re this well designed, it’s worth taking the time to give your brain a nice workout on the way to salvation.

• PS4
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

LEGO Dimensions feels like it wants to be the ultimate LEGO game, but never quite gets there. The mashing of different universes comes together quite beautifully in the humorous story. Traveller’s Tales have captured the essence, beauty and sounds of each dimension and have crafted a love letter to each and every IP represented in LEGO Dimensions. It’s too bad not every player will get to experience each world. As fun as LEGO Dimensions is, this is the same LEGO game players have been playing since 2005. Though the Toypad offers a unique take on puzzle-solving, the LEGO formula remains the same and is in need of some evolution, and the high paywall ensures that most players won’t be able to enjoy the majority of content. LEGO Dimensions has a lot to offer, and there’s hours of enjoyment to be had, it’s just not fun when the majority of the game is locked behind a paywall.

• PS4
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

• PS4
• 2 / 5
• États-Unis

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 could have been so much more. There was some expectations early on that maybe it could live up to its name, especially with Activision slapping a number on the end for the first time in well over a decade. Regrettably, the result is a mess. While the mechanics are slightly unpolished, they still have a similar feel to what we’ve come to expect, which can result in some enjoyable antics. Unfortunately, they are contained in a constrained formula where the player must navigate menu after menu to get into repetitive and uninteresting missions. It doesn’t help that the online portion feels underdeveloped, not aiding the player in their search for shredding the streets with fellow skaters. The only positive notion about Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 is that it isn’t offensively bad, and does contain a decent amount of options to choose from when it comes to customizing your skater, but that means playing through dull missions over and over again. It might be best to put ol’ Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater out to pasture. It’s best to remember what it was, rather than dwell on what it has become.

• XONE
• PS4
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

NBA Live 16 is the best game in the series since Live 10, but that's not saying much. It's a technically-proficient game of hoops, but it's lacking the luster and flair that the 2K series and even other EA Sports titles are known for. Although it doesn't feature the pretentious abomination that was Spike Jonze's Livin' Da Dream, Rising Star & Dynasty are shallow career modes that don't add much to the overall experience. So what we're left with is a solid game of basketball with meat and potatoes features. It doesn't hold up to NBA 2k16 and doesn't do enough to be the breakthrough the series needed. That being said, EA Tiburon is on the right track and if they spend the next year truly fine-tuning the mechanics and coming up with a dazzling career mode, this could be the penultimate chapter before the Live takeover.

• PS4
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Evaluating NBA 2K16 as a whole is actually an interesting challenge. On one hand, this is arguably the most mechanically sound sports game on the market and the gameplay improvements that Visual Concepts made are downright superb. The issue here lies with the decision to make Livin 'Da Dream the focus and backbone of MyCareer falling flat. There are some moments throughout Spike Lee's in-game film that might bring a smile to your face, but this story doesn't lend itself to this franchise's gameplay or the video game medium itself. Yes, basketball fans will likely have a great time playing NBA 2K16 for hours on end, but there are too many small steps back here that can't be ignored. The good news for fans of sports games is that the first misstep in this great franchise is still a very good game, which speaks to how truly fun its gameplay is.

• PS4
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

SOMA is at its best when it's challenging you on a philosophical level rather than on a mechanical one. As a horror game, SOMA feels old and archaic. It isn't especially frightening or even satisfying to play, but the questions it raises are worth exploring and make it worthwhile regardless. It's an adventure that will stay with you as you roll the fates of Simon and Catherine around in your head long after the credits have rolled. Due to the current state of the PS4 version, however, if you're going to play SOMA, either wait to see if it gets patched or play it on PC instead.

• PS4
• 1.5 / 5
• États-Unis

• PS4
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Side by side, Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 doesn’t stack up to FIFA 16 in licenses, game modes, or team selection, but Konami’s annual soccer series once again positions itself as a more complex and realistic soccer experience than EA’s flashy but predictable offering. With individualized players, explosive tactical potential and unparalleled realism, PES 2016 redefines what a soccer game can be.

• PC
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Assault Android Cactus is a solid twin-stick shooter with a focus on unique characters and level designs. Each level has its own individual challenges, ranging from arenas with pop-up walls to corridors that drop the floor away as you travel. The robots come with a good variety of attack patterns, and if there are a lot of popcorn enemies on screen it’s usually to mask the more powerful ones causing you real trouble. The game can get a little technical in a few places, and not all of its experiments in limiting player movement work out as being fun, but it plays with level design in so many ways through its length that there were bound to be one or two that didn’t work out. Assault Android Cactus is a big, bright, blast of twin-stick shooting action, filled with personality and clever design.

• VITA
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Persona 4: Dancing All Night has managed to surpass all expectations in what it set out to do. This love letter to Persona 4’s music and fans hits every single note. It stands as an easy recommendation to series adherents and rhythm action fanatics alike; it also serves as a great entry point for those wary of the genre. It is easy to get into and very difficult to put down and the value of the money spent versus entertainment quotient is also quite high. Personally speaking, I have lost count of how many hours I have already poured into this one and I still haven’t seen everything it has to offer. Factor that into the metagame of trying to top high scores and mastering the tracks on the unlockable hardest difficulty, All Night, and the gameplay is near infinite. Anyone with a Vita should absolutely add this to their collection. After all, every day’s great when you’re Dancing All Night.

• PC
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

When we left off with fault milestone one, it seemed the storyline could go anywhere as our group of protagonists began their long trek back to the Kingdom of Rughzenhaide. Instead of another high stakes storyline, side:above feels much more like a detour into something which won’t matter down the line. Why pad out a story like this? It gives a bit more insight into Ritona, Rune, and Selphine/Rhegan, but not enough to sustain the overarching storyline. Presumably the main plot will assert itself far more in side:below, but who knows how long we’ll have to wait for it to arrive. fault milestone two side:above teases fans with a taste of what’s to come but in the end doesn’t provide enough for long-term satisfaction.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Activision and Vicarious Visions have seemingly done the impossible by keeping Skylanders fresh for its fifth outing. SuperChargers is jam-packed with enough content to fill at least two separate games and it’s all quality stuff. The platforming is as strong as ever and the kart racing is some of the best to come along in years. More still, there are enough mini-games, side-quests and collectibles peppered throughout the experience to result in an almost endless playtime. From top to bottom, SuperChargers is clearly a labor of love and fully deserves the countless hours that people of all ages will be addicted to it.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Bungie set out with a goal for Destiny: The Taken King and they have mostly succeeded. While some of the nagging problems from the original game persist – boring patrol areas, recycling of areas and enemies, and bullet-sponge enemies – Destiny: The Taken King does more than enough to make up for the sins of its predecessor. The story may not be anything special, but it’s a colossal improvement over anything Destiny has thrown at players. The Dreadnaught, while not the most aesthetically pleasing locale, is large and interesting to explore thanks to its hidden treasures. With the new Quest system, Light Levels and diverse strikes, there’s never been so much to do in the world of Destiny. Is Destiny: The Taken King worth the investment? For longtime players, this is a no-brainer, and even those who gave up on Destiny a long time ago should give Destiny: The Taken King a look. The Taken King has come and he’s brought a much-improved experience.

• XONE
• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

NHL 16 is a triumphant return to form. After the debacle that was the razor-thin NHL 15, EA has restored all of the beloved modes to the game and they're better than ever. More still, the game itself is markedly improved with slick mechanics, fantastic visuals and incredible detail to individual arenas. It's healthy to be cautious after being burned just one year ago, but NHL 16 is an entirely different beast than its predecessor and deserves to be played by every virtual hockey fan.