Hardcore Gamer

• PC
• PS3
• X360
• PS4
• XONE
• 0.5 / 5
• États-Unis

While BioWare is well known for their strong role-playing games, it’s perplexing how they were able to reach this level of quality with Dragon Age: Inquisition. It’s one of the most overwhelming experiences on the market, containing not only the best character development found in any RPG, but an open world that’s actually polished. The artistic and visual fidelity help with the immersion, but it’s the branching, player driven storyline and exquisitely layered combat system that create something special. Even with the staggering amount of dialogue and lore, newcomers to the franchise will have no trouble hopping right in, while old school fans will undoubtedly grin at the various call backs to past events. There’s even an enjoyable small multiplayer mode to participate in that’s entirely separated from the main campaign. Like a good hundred hour long novel that never lets up, Dragon Age: Inquisition is so engrossing you won’t be able to put it down.

• XONE
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

What could have been the definitive entry in the Assassin's Creed series is actually the definitive example as to why releasing an unfinished product is always a bad call. Assassin's Creed Unity has all the makings of an expansive, ambitious title that fully takes advantage of current generation technology, but it's marred with countless imperfections. From it's lackluster narrative that utterly wastes a well-written love story and outstanding main character to its myriad of technical issues, this is a title that should be avoided until it's sufficiently fixed. Cooperative play, it's most exciting addition, proves to be a disaster, as crashes and server drops are just as likely than smooth missions at this point. Assassin's Creed Unity has made the tragic journey from one of 2014's most exciting games to perhaps its most disappointing.

• PC
• X360
• PS3
• PS4
• VITA
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

MotoGP 14 can be safely avoided by all by the most die-hard fans of the series. While it features an impressive variety of modes, they each share a lot of the same properties, so they don't feel very different. The sim-heavy gameplay isn't very user-friendly and even having a few different options for racing difficulty, sim level, multiple bike power types and tutorials showing you what to do doesn't make it "fun." This issue has crippled past entries and remains one now. Outside of replays, it also doesn't make much use of current-generation hardware to craft impressive graphics, although the sound design is strong. Online is buggy, but amusingly so. It's hard to recommend MotoGP 14 to anybody but fans of the series curious to see how it shapes up on newer hardware.

• VITA
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Tales of Hearts R is a straightforward RPG with a heart of gold. It has a fascinating plot that’s unfortunately populated with a less than compelling cast and spotty character development. A game is only as good as its protagonist, and the ineptly named Kor Meteor is arguably one of the worst in the series. Dungeon designs are also dry and far too simplistic, requiring little thought to get through, but thankfully the combat redeems most of its regrettable qualities. Progression is done well as grinding is almost never needed, while the battle system offers a fair amount of variety depending how characters are developed. While flawed in some places, Tales of Hearts R is still a meaty package that should please dedicated fans.

• WIIU
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Pier Solar HD is a testament to sound game design. Moreover, it’s a delightful throwback title that manages to integrate new-age conventions with those that defined a bygone era of gaming so close to many folks’ hearts. With some of the strongest storytelling in its genre, now or in the past, a deep combat system and a top-notch presentation, Pier Solar HD is at the head of its class, easily sitting alongside some of the most cherished classics of its kind. It does have some flaws, though, namely its seeming disinterest in ever providing any real guidance to players, leaving them confused and wandering for longer than necessary. Even with this issue, though, the game could easily be sold at full price and still be worth every penny. Additionally, the Wii U version has a leg up on the other iterations simply because it complements the solid gameplay with some unique GamePad features. They don’t redefine the experience, but they add to it, and the off-TV play is especially wonderful. It may have taken WaterMelon a while to finally give us this gem, but it was worth the wait. If you’re looking for a memorable, old-school RPG, buy Pier Solar HD. There’s no other way to say it.

• XONE
• 0.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Rarely does a game deliver everything its players could ever ask for, but Halo: The Master Chief Collection does just that. Everything is here that should be here: the campaigns, the multiplayer engines, the maps and the visuals. By adding numerous campaign playlists, six spectacular remastered Halo 2 Anniversary maps, new game modes and increased social connectivity, Halo: The Master Chief Collection finds a way to insert exciting novelty into a collection that would have been spectacular with or without it. The Halo series is all-but required gaming, so 343 should be commended for giving generations old and new the best possible way to play these four titles. Halo: The Master Chief Collection is sure to be on the hard drives of millions for years to come, and it likely will be strange to see an Xbox One owner who doesn’t possess it. This is the definitive first-person shooter experience, a no-brainer purchase for the vast majority of gamers, and the first true system-seller of the new console generation.

• X360
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

MX vs. ATV Supercross doesn’t reinvent the wheel (or should we say handlebars). Those who enjoyed past entries will enjoy this one and get a kick out of the new right-stick jumping and aiming mechanic. Beyond that, there hasn’t been much added to the mix beyond superficial customization options. The core racing action is reasonably good, but it never truly hooks you like a top-level game does. There’s a bit of back and forth, but you’re never on the edge of your seat. It’s more “okay, I came in second…that’s good enough” and that’s never good. MX vs. ATV Supercross is easy to like, but hard to feel passionate about. It’s largely disappointing visually, but delivers more good than bad with its audio.

• PS3
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

F1 2014 plays to its strengths and doesn't get bogged down with clutter. While classic F1 races can't be recreated this year, the career mode is a far more diverse and enjoyable experience. The racing action is more intense than ever before, leading this to be one of most enjoyable F1 games ever created. For a series that has been hampered by annual installments, this one makes significant changes in all the right ways. It plays like a dream and will remind you of just how good a last-generation game can look thanks to its impressive car modeling and environments -- even the usually-iffy character models impress here. Be sure to pick up F1 2014 if you're a lapsed fan of the franchise. It does everything right and eliminates the clutter that has hurt past entries in the series.

• XONE
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

The first Call of Duty built for the current console generation, Advanced Warfare is a leap in the right direction for the series. The exoskeleton power doesn’t change “everything,” but it creates a fresh experience. The added verticality simply makes multiplayer more fun, allowing players to fling around the map in ways previously impossible. Game modes are relatively unchanged, but they’re presented with thousands of impressive new customization options, allowing players to tailor the experience to their liking. On the single player side of things, signing up Kevin Spacey was a brilliant move that makes the campaign more cinematic than ever before. Boasting the tightest multiplayer of the series and one of the strongest campaigns, Advanced Warfare proves that Call of Duty is here to stay — and it's welcome.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

• 3DS
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is another exemplary entry in a short but long-lived line of exploration-driven platformers. The gameplay is fun, varied and challenging, and will test the skills of even the most hardcore platforming fans. WayForward are among the best in their field when it comes to production values, and the music, animation, and artwork in this game are all top-of-the-line. Outside of Nintendo and occasionally Ubisoft, we rarely see sidescrollers this polished and enjoyable. This is one of the most satisfying games I’ve played all year, and I’m excited to see how WayForward will use their filthy crowdfunding loot in crafting the series’ first HD entry, ½ Genie Hero.

• WIIU
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

• PS4
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

Some parts of Lords of the Fallen are surprisingly enjoyable, but many weigh it down. Enemy AI can occasionally be frustrating, not because of difficulty but their odd defensive patterns, and while boss battles may look cool at first, their strategy for defeat usually boils down to simplistic attack patterns. Occasional bugs plague the game, not to mention an absolutely atrocious camera that doesn’t even know what to do during a backstab animation. Some of the early architecture pieces are visually pleasing, and the snow-covered terrain gives off some vibrancy, but it's quickly apparent how uninspired most of the world really is. With that said, combat feels weighty, ensuring each swing of the sword, axe, or whatever weapon you may wield needs to be on target, otherwise death may follow swiftly. Lords of the Fallen is a divisive game that has all the charm in its presentation, but doesn’t follow through with its execution.

• VITA
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Freedom Wars is a decidedly solid action-RPG. Its fantastic premise and intense thematic elements will engage those willing to put up with its weaker elements. Even though overall mission structure can feel repetitive at times, the feeling of bringing down a massive cyborg with a rag-tag team of prisoners never ceases to get old. Players who take the time to fight through Freedom Wars' confusing menu system will find some of the deepest RPG elements the Vita has seen in a fair amount of time. Freedom Wars isn't an unmissable gem, but there's enough good here to overshadow the bad.

• XONE
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

• XONE
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

Just Dance is a series that’s hard to hate as it genuinely wants players to have a good time, but 2015 is a misstep. Hardly anything has changed and practically nothing has for those who don’t partake in the online functionality, some features are missing and the interface has become too basic. More still, this is undoubtedly the worst tracklist of the entire series, squarely aiming towards a tween audience with tracks from One Direction, 5 Seconds of Summer and other equally awful “artists.” While those who like the included music will have fun, the series needs to be more than a glorified track pack to continue warranting its existence.

• PS4
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Samurai Warriors 4 is the best entry into the franchise, and is the one most mechanically sound Warriors title available, but there are still some drawbacks. Even with the diverse cast, the level-specific combo system is something that may turn people off at first as it requires a grind of thirty minutes for each character before the experience gets any better. The Chronicles mode, even with a strong opening, is also a bit dry and will require a fair amount of patience. Fortunately, while the combat system can be a bit repetitive, it’s still overly satisfying to cut through thousands of enemies within the course of ten minutes. Throw in two-player cooperative play and there’s amusement for hours on end. If you can put up with the grind, Samurai Warriors 4 is well worth your time.

• PS4
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

The Legend of Korra might not have any of the panache of past Platinum Games titles, but it’s a surprisingly good entry point for newcomers to Platinum’s design philosophy. It has a lot of button mashing, but delivers enough exciting animations and pitch-perfect defense controls to channel the spirit of the skill-based opuses that Platinum have produced in the past. Still, its personality is damaged from a bad story and lack of key figures in the series. For a game set in such an identifiable universe, The Legend of Korra doesn’t do much with its characters, locales or lore whatsoever. The side missions are also hit-or-miss, from messy endless runners to an underdeveloped pro-bending mode. Despite a poor use of its license, The Legend of Korra still provides some fun for its price. It might not live up to Platinum Games’ sky-high pedigree, and you might be compelled to call it their first misstep, but The Legend of Korra is a good starting point if you want to see what Platinum Games are all about.