Hardcore Gamer

• PC
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is a nice bite-sized piece of content that will help players get a good grasp on what to expect when The Phantom Pain is released sometime next year. It retains the stealth features hardcore fans have come to enjoy, while at the same time implementing various modern mechanics that will appeal to an even greater audience. This also marks the first time Kiefer Sutherland replaces David Hayter as Big Boss, cementing the actor’s place in the series. While it may only take an hour or so to complete the main mission that acts as the prologue to the next game, the PC port of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes not only lives up to expectations, but surpasses them in creating an overly satisfying sandbox to sneak through.

• PC
• 2 / 5
• États-Unis

• PS4
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

MXGP is a mixed blessing of a game and those dying for a current-gen motocross game might be tempted by it. The solid controls and reasonably-exciting gameplay make it fun for a while, but the modes are far too similar with only surface-level changes beyond the overall length of the events to set them apart. It’s not the prettiest-looking game on the PS4 and wouldn’t even be a top-tier game on last-generation consoles. The sound design also underwhelms. The total package is one, however, that’s at least worth a rental for motocross fans, and die-hards will likely get a lot of use out of the lengthy career mode.

• XONE
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Kalimba is an action-packed platformer that experiments with a lot of puzzles and design gimmicks to consistently provide a genuine challenge. It is devilishly difficult and there are times when the level design and touchy mechanics don’t complement this very well, mainly instances that require dumb luck rather than intuitive skill. Despite these minor issues, however, Kalimba remains a cool puzzle platformer that features gameplay and design which simply brim with creativity. Fun and charming with some nice extras to boot, Kalimba kick-starts Xbox One’s indie wave with a bang.

• PC
• PS4
• XONE
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris has a lot of going for it. The main campaign is fun to sit through with its progressive variation in puzzles, platforming and blazing action. The boss battles are the real treat in this package, and the element of collecting and exploring keeps things engaging and interesting even after the credits have rolled. Despite issues with some of the puzzle designs, there’s a lot to enjoy on your own, and even more so in local 2-4 player co-op where the inclusion of additional players freshens up the design and gameplay. The major glaring fault in this package is how its online features have been implemented, with strange bugs and forceful overwriting of campaign progress.

• XONE
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

Neither great nor terrible, WWE 2K15 is truly divisive. It’s a departure for the series, but this new direction should be unsurprising for anyone familiar with how 2K does sports. To that end, some players may pine for the older days of this franchise, where gameplay was frenetic and fast-measured. WWE 2K15 steps away from that methodology, and in turn delivers a much more deliberately-paced game, and one that is more intent on providing an authentic, one-to-one recreation of the drama that goes down in the squared circle. Its methodical pacing will put some off, but those wanting a wrestling match simulator will welcome 2K15 with open arms.

• PC
• PS3
• X360
• PS4
• XONE
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

After a few submissive years, Konami has put forth a game that caters to soccer fans with superb flexibility for creative expression, fluid gameplay and astoundingly intelligent AI. The lack of licensed clubs and presentation standards well below the competition make it appear like a sub-par package, but it won't take long on the pitch to realize the quality of the soccer PES 2015 is build around. Unfortunately, these superficial flaws will keep many FIFA players from tasting what is easily a superior experience, but fans who appreciate the beauty, unpredictability, and finesse of soccer will find PES 2015 is what they're looking for.

• 3DS
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire may not be perfect, but they’re an exciting step forward for the long-running franchise. It’s a tough task to make a remake feel as exciting the second time around, but Game Freak managed to pull that off in spades. The solid and addictive mechanics that have made Pokémon a staple of the RPG genre are back in full force, and while they’re noticeably easier than years past, it’s still hard not to be engaged. Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are almost worth purchasing for the Delta Episode alone, as this unique apocalyptic tale combines engaging battles with a gripping narrative to deliver what we can only hope is the future of the series. What’s more, the interesting online functionality has the potential to keep players coming back for more months down the road. Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire aren’t just great RPGs, they’re a great example as to why Pokémon might be the surest thing in gaming.

• 3DS
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire may not be perfect, but they’re an exciting step forward for the long-running franchise. It’s a tough task to make a remake feel as exciting the second time around, but Game Freak managed to pull that off in spades. The solid and addictive mechanics that have made Pokémon a staple of the RPG genre are back in full force, and while they’re noticeably easier than years past, it’s still hard not to be engaged. Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are almost worth purchasing for the Delta Episode alone, as this unique apocalyptic tale combines engaging battles with a gripping narrative to deliver what we can only hope is the future of the series. What’s more, the interesting online functionality has the potential to keep players coming back for more months down the road. Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire aren’t just great RPGs, they’re a great example as to why Pokémon might be the surest thing in gaming.

• PS4
• 2.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Never Alone is a major disappointment. It masters aesthetic design and cultural storytelling, but simply cannot succeed on that alone. The gameplay is dull and uses the same tropes throughout the experience without any real expansion on them. The clunky controls and haphazard mechanics serve to limit its incredible vision with unreliability. The levels are imaginative, but the imagination is purely on an aesthetic level instead of a gameplay level. This is all delivered in a small package not worth its asking price. It’s a travesty to see it fumble, because this is a setting that has gone untouched in gaming and more games should explore this side of the world. Never Alone makes experiencing this untouched world cumbersome and frustrating, draining the magic away from its promise and leaving a sketchy, unpolished game in its snow-covered wake.

• PC
• PS3
• PS4
• X360
• XONE
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

The problem with reviving such an excellent series is that comparing it to past games is both completely fair and also a bad idea. It's easy to look at all the things Geometry Wars 3 leaves behind while neglecting that it's a still a fun, challenging shooter. Every level is something new, and if the fully 3D arenas come across as more gimmick than enhancement they're still neat to look at. There's fifty unique levels of varying gameplay with individual leaderboards for each, and that's the kind of challenge that can easily provide many hours of shooting challenge. Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions is a solid reboot of a series that's been gone far too long, and even if all of its experiments on the old formula don't work, enough of them do to make it a game worth chasing as many high scores as you can manage.

• PS3
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F 2nd isn’t for everyone. It appeals to a very specific sect of gamers, but those who find themselves within its territory will quickly become spellbound by the polish, challenge and sheer volume of content offered. At its core it may simply be more of the same tight, frantic rhythm gameplay found in its predecessor, but with intelligent additions and a robust tracklist, Project Diva F 2nd is an easy recommendation for returning fans and anyone looking for a concentrated dose of J-pop flair.

• 3DS
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Persona Q should be a hardcore Persona fan’s dream game, and if you only come to the series for its character writing then it kind of is. It made me laugh out loud more than once, and I played it with a nostalgic smile on my face. But in evoking that nostalgia it reminds us of other, better games, which only serves to highlight its own failings. Weak continuity and weaker dungeon crawling gameplay make this hard to recommend to anyone who enjoys the series for its depth. If you're not bothered by a bit of stupidity, give it a play.

• PS4
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

LittleBigPlanet 3 is an endearing and charming game that will work its way into your heart thanks to its presentation and new characters. The end-game possibilities are endless thanks to the co-op, level creator and millions of community driven stages imported from past titles, but it’s held back due to Sumo Digital’s unwillingness to fully flesh out their ideas. While Oddsock, Toggle and Swoop are solid additions, they’re underutilized in the core experience. LittleBigPlanet 3 is a good game, but stops short of being a great one.

• WIIU
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

• PC
• PS3
• X360
• 1 / 5
• États-Unis

Escape Dead Island squandered whatever opportunity it had to make a compelling story, while offering only sub-par gameplay to tide you over in the meantime. It has no business being a game, rather than a one-shot graphic novel for dedicated fans. Fatshark leaves the mystery solving mostly up to players, with a series of sometimes cryptic and sometimes obvious secret files, without revealing if Cliff makes it out alive, if he was imagining all of this or if he was a comatose patient trying to battle his way out of unconsciousness (all legitimate possibilities). Who knows? More importantly, and this is applicable to Escape Dead Island as a whole, who cares?

• PS4
• 0.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Rockstar has improved upon one of the greatest games of all time. The original version of Grand Theft Auto V was a major accomplishment upon its initial release and remains that way even after a year of the new console generation. The current-gen version, however, allows it to continue its legacy for many more years. It's worth diving back into Los Santos simply to experience the saga in smooth 1080p, but Rockstar has gone above and beyond by adding new features and content to it. More than just a gimmick, the first-person mode really does change how it's experienced by adding a new layer of gameplay. It won't be for everybody, but the sheer fact that the option is there is commendable. More still, multiple new vehicles, weapons and animals have been introduced. If none of that were enough, over a hundred new songs have been added to the already robust radio stations. While there's nothing wrong with the last-gen version of Grand Theft Auto V, Rockstar has created a museum piece with its remastered version. Everybody, from those who have spent the better part of the past year exploring everything its world has to offer to the three people who have yet to play it, should experience what has been put together here.

• PC
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Freedom Planet is deeply rooted in a lot of SEGA history, taking inspiration from that unique legacy and creating something that others can only vaguely imagine. It‘s among the very best indie releases of 2014, and is right up there with Shovel Knight as a game that is deeply embedded in the hardcore gaming culture of the ‘90s. Freedom Planet is thoroughly polished and engaging, and with every passing moment it becomes hard to believe that such an imaginative game can exist. It is perhaps the most Sonic game to have come out since 1994, one that feels like a true evolution and more importantly a resounding step forward. Freedom Planet is a love letter to SEGA fans, and newcomers are in store for a special gaming experience that they won’t experience elsewhere in this modern age.