Hardcore Gamer

• PC
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

It must be an interesting challenge for developers of a series so focused on history to tackle questions of humanity’s future. Obviously both subjects tap into many of the same sources, but where most Civilization games explore who we are, Beyond Earth systemizes who we could be. This is a work of speculative fiction that allows the player to speculate for themselves, starting from a similar place each time but potentially reaching vastly different conclusions. It’s also a tightly-designed, well-balanced 4X game that is sure to consume many gamers’ free time in the coming months and years. That’s one bit of speculation I’m confident in.

• VITA
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Minecraft is one of the most-loved games in the past decade. As it travels to new platforms it makes concessions as it goes, never quite reaching the excellence of the PC original. Still, there’s tons of fun to be had with Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition. For one, players can finally experience a “full” version no matter where they choose to play. A few technical limitations show that Vita may still not be the ideal platform to play on -- but for now it is by far the best handheld option available.

• PS3
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Tears to Tiara II: Heir of the Overlord is a more than competent SRPG. Its combat is tactically-sound, though not unnecessarily complex to the point of being inaccessible. Furthermore, it has a story to tell, and does so with a degree articulation and a cast of well-developed characters. In the process of telling its tale, however, it forgets how to pace itself leading to a regular occurrence of front-loading information by way of event scenes that can literally last hours. This, coupled with the incessant need for grinding between battles, makes Heir of the Overlord a JRPG that simply doesn’t respect its player’s time. Should that not matter to you, there’s plenty to like here. Just know it’s going to take a while to see it all.

• VITA
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus isn't for everyone, but you probably could guess that by looking at a single screenshot of one of the shinobi’s underwear. It’s so shameless in its sexual nature that it borders on comical and that level of near-parody gives it personality along with its titillation. Looking past the upskirt shots and shredded blouses, a surprisingly decent musou game is found with charm to spare. The combat, while simplistic, has fluidity and evolution with its moveset and pacing. The camera is a chronic issue, but it doesn't drain the game’s command of its style. A great story with plenty of unlockables will give you lots to do, and if it still doesn’t catch your eye, the online modes will. As a goofy little fighter for the Vita, Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus provides a solid amount of content and substance behind its shameless fan service, and as a result, transcends it.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

The Evil Within marks Shinji Mikami’s triumphant return to horror, cementing his status as a mastermind of the genre. Smartly aiming for psychological horror over cheap jump scares, it gets under the skin and effects the psyche. Unfortunately, it falls into the modern trappings of boasting too much firepower (Sebastian can look more like Rambo than a detective) at the cost of stealth and intelligence. Still, this is a bold and seductive experience that is seen too infrequently from major publishers these days. In an age where once great franchises like Silent Hill and Resident Evil are falling into self-parody, The Evil Within is a breath of fresh air that deserves to be inhaled by every survival horror fan.

• PC
• 2.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Final Fantasy XIII has its own set of problems, mainly consisting of a mediocre story and incredibly linear progression for the first forty hours, but the poor PC optimization puts it over the top. For a game released on PC in 2014, where standards are higher than ever, Final Fantasy XIII fails in every category. The keyboard and mouse controls aren’t unusable, but for whatever reason, performance becomes unstable if a gamepad isn’t connected. There are also no graphical options and locking the resolution at 720p is infuriating, but how Square Enix thought it was a good idea to map the Esc button to exiting out of the game all together is baffling. At the very least, the frame rate has been unlocked to a max of 60fps, and the dual audio tracks are well deserved. The combat is also a strong component as it mixes both exciting action with some strategy, provided players don’t just spam the “Auto-Battle” button. Unfortunately, these positives doesn’t redeem the RPG for all its misgivings. Final Fantasy XIII is a good game that’s unfortunately wrapped up in a shoddy PC port.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

The game becomes less about being scared of the Alien and more about confronting a worthy adversary and trying your damndest to best him at every turn (by running away from him, of course). The crafting and resource system allows several different methods to distract it or ward it off for a time -- usually a short, short time -- but none of these methods are foolproof. This makes Isolation the highest-stakes chess match you will ever play, and there's nothing wrong with that. Despite having a few superfluous levels, Alien: Isolation ends up being a game Alien and survival horror fans can hold in high esteem.

• XONE
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

For those who missed out on Sleeping Dogs two years ago, the title is correct: this is the definitive version. Unfortunately, those who already visited the compressed streets of Hong Kong will have almost no incentive to go back. All of the downloadable content that was slowly rolled out post-launch is included here, but they’re not worthy of your time to begin with. The upgraded visual effects add to the overall atmosphere of the fantastic brooding story, and the action packed combat will have you coming back for more, even though the driving mechanics will take some time to get used to. While the landscape for open world action titles has changed drastically over the last two years, somehow Sleeping Dogs remains a diverse and highly impactful experience.

• 3DS
• 1 / 5
• États-Unis

• PC
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Though not the most pulse-pounding adventure on the market, A Golden Wake offers an authentic glimpse into one of the defining events of the 20th century. We see it all through the temporarily starry eyes of a man whose struggles were all too common in that time. With period-authentic aesthetics and sharp writing, this point and click will keep you enthralled from beginning to end – and maybe teach you a thing or two about history along the way.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

The NBA 2K series continues to deliver the best professional basketball experience available on consoles and PCs. Though some strange visual bugs might rub a bit of shine off of an otherwise excellent package, there's no denying how well NBA 2K15 plays. No game mode seems like it doesn't belong, as every player should be able to find something that he or she adores. By improving both the shooting system and the RPG-esque MyPlayer mode, NBA 2K15 has taken the next step towards becoming the ideal sports game. You may not ever be able to run pick-and-rolls with Anthony Davis in real life, but you're closer now than ever before.

• PS3
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

For all of its faults, Ranko Tsukigime’s Longest Day begs to be played, even for its outlandishly bizarre story alone. The majority of its gameplay seems like a disappointing afterthought, but the few highlights are well worth the brief journey if you find yourself within the game’s very specific audience. It’s not Suda’s best, but it’s ambitious, and there’s a lot to be said for that. If you’re looking for your next unique and obscure experience, you’ve found it.

• PC
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Styx: Master of Shadows is as pure a stealth game as they come. It forces you to be thoughtful and to observe, and rewards your patience with a satisfying tension that few games can match. The abilities Styx has at his disposal are all great fun to use, and the levels are designed in such a way as to encourage experimentation and creativity. Ghosting through a level is exhilarating in ways I haven’t felt in ages, and Styx brings a substantially better story to the table than most of its contemporaries. Despite a few rough edges, Styx: Master of Shadows deserves a place alongside Metal Gear Solid 3, Hitman: Blood Money, and Mark of the Ninja as one of the best titles the genre has to offer.

• 3DS
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

• PS3
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Ar Nosurge is a confounding and constantly unfolding theater of romantic ideas and sci-fi absurdity. Although some of its mechanics can be dodgier than Cambodian child labor laws, and much of its content will detour some reverent moralists, it's an engaging, frequently touching adventure about love, ambition and overcoming uncertainty. Sure, you'll find a clutch of content that wouldn't be out of place on the confiscated laptops of registered sex offenders, but beneath its roughly textured surface hides something beautiful; an impressively crafted, surreal exposition of human connection. It's as messy, disjointed and confusing as it is brilliant, cavernously deep and emotionally charging. Forgive its flaws, though, and there's a lengthy -- albeit dialogue heavy -- adventure worth its weight in nuts and bolts.

• PS4
• 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. 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
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Part of a surprisingly strong series, Skylanders Trap Team is arguably the best iteration yet. Although Traps are a way to further increase merchandising, they add both a enjoyable layer of depth to gameplay and a fun new aspect of collectibility that will encourage players to trade/loan their captured villains amongst friends. 3D Platforming isn’t dead, it’s just been taken over by Skylanders and this adventure is strong enough to stand on its own as an inventive and creative throwback to some of the most memorable games of the late nineties/early aughts. With strong gameplay and lasting appeal plus creative and collective physical figures, Trap Team is a Toys-to-Life recipe for success and one that keeps the series fresh for yet another year.

• PC
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

For a game in a subgenre synonymous with deep exploration and multi-layered worlds, Outland is a shockingly grounded experience. The abilities are devoid of creativity and the puzzles they’re used with feel unnatural and dull. Beneath a beautiful aesthetic (one that could drop the jaws of many AAA developers) lies a game that takes a low number of risks. But the risks it does take are worth experiencing. Outland is still a fun time, especially if you’re a fan of 2D shooters like Ikaruga or challenging retro games like Castlevania. When the screen is flooded with colored orbs and you’re tenuously leaping from platform to platform, Outland shows its best colors (no pun intended). Overall, it’s a gorgeous game that doesn’t fully cultivate its Metroidvania roots, and while that’s a disappointment, there’s still enough fun to be had here to be worth a look.