Hardcore Gamer

• WIIU
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

• WIIU
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Madden NFL 13 is the first Wii U port we’ve played that uses the console to make a notable impact on gameplay. Instead of simply throwing in disposable features, time was taken to ensure the GamePad was utilized to its full potential. Diehard fans and casual players alike will relish in the ability of having a second screen to playcall, while the addition of custom hot routes and defensive changes add a whole new dimension to Madden. While it’s hard to recommend buying the game to those who already have it (although tempting), anyone who has yet to experience the only pro football game in town shouldn’t overlook this launch game — even if the playoffs are already around the corner.

• WIIU
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

With Darksiders II, the franchise has cemented itself as an essential property among the likes of Devil May Cry and God of War. Even with the scale increasing in practically every area, the game manages to be less intimidating than its predecessor. The story certainly needs improvement, but the gameplay will always remain the main draw. Those who already own the game have no reason to buy it again, as the Wii U version is largely the same as the prior console versions. While they don't hinder the experience, the touch and motion controls are largely disposable and the graphics prove nearly indistinguishable from PS3 and Xbox 360. Still, it remains the same great game as before, so those who have yet to venture out into the great unknown as Death are guaranteed a great launch title with the Wii U version of Darksiders II.

• 3DS
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Disney could have simply released a rushed tie-in to the Wii U game, but instead used this as an opportunity to develop a backdoor follow-up to one of the best platformers of the Genesis era. The entire game features enjoyable gameplay and clever level design that will inspire nostalgia in older gamers and expose younger ones to the wonders of 2D platforming. Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion must not be overlooked; it may be marketed towards today’s youth, but it’s adult gamers who grew up in the ‘90s that will truly appreciate it.

• PS3
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

F1 Race Stars isn’t the worst choice for those desperate for a kart racing fix, but it’s truly a title reserved for Formula 1 fans and their offspring. While the racing is enjoyable, its lack of polish and unique features make it play second fiddle to Mario Kart. Anybody well-versed in the sport will find more to admire, as picking super-deformed versions of world class racers and having them bump into each other in go-karts is appealing regardless of how the game plays. Less derivative gameplay could have made this a solid title in its own right, but fans will still find it amusing to whip out after some intense laps in Codemaster’s big brother F1 2012 and a great way to welcome their children into their obsession.

• X360
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

While a property as strong as The Avengers warrants more than a Kinect game, Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth rises above the movie-tie in it would have likely received instead. A great opportunity for fans to step into the shoes of their favorite heroes, it’s a fun fighting title that makes great use of the Kinect with multiple characters, modes and an impressive amount of polish. Unfortunately, it’s not a deep game and the limited combat options will disappoint hardcore fighting fans and hurt replay value with casual ones. Still, for a family-friendly motion game belatedly cashing in on the popularity of a movie, it’s certainly better than it ought to be.

• X360
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

• PS3
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Okami HD is an incredible value, offering absolutely gorgeous visuals, fluid Zelda-like gameplay, and an intriguing story filled with Shinto lore to boot. It remains one of the best games on the Playstation 2 and can now be considered one of the best games on the Playstation 3. Capcom broke out their calligraphy brush and created a masterpiece that, while shows some signs of aging, remains an awe-inspiring experience like no other.

• PS3
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Once you've found a favorite helicopter and figured out the pros and cons of the others, it's time to turn the landscape into a cratered wasteland of smoldering scrap metal. Under Defeat HD gives you a relatively simple set of tools and a large number of targets to use them on, and it always feels great when you mange to leave nothing standing in your wake. There's a ton of excellent shooting arcade action in Under Defeat HD, and it's absolutely worth seeing what Dreamcast importers got to play 6 years ago.

• 3DS
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Liberation Maiden is an outstanding on-rails shooter worth its $8 price tag. They money gets you only a handful of levels, but they’re very replayable thanks to the game itself just being a lot of fun to play, variable difficulties adding challenge, and a score attack mode giving you a reason to want to play them over and over. Online leaderboards would help, but for such a low-priced download, I’m not too disappointed by them not being included. The core game is very well-crafted and has addictive gameplay mixed in with some impressive graphics that never suffer slowdown and a rocking soundtrack. If you like on-rail shooters, snatch this up as soon as you can.

• PC
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

Pid is an interesting game with a lot of quirk, but it’s filled with some tiresome and unappealing puzzle solving elements and a poor control scheme. If you play the console version or have a gamepad, that can fix one of the problems, but when it requires slugging through drab puzzles, it’s an experience that wears thin. While it’s enjoyable at times and boasts some charm, it’s ultimately an unfulfilling puzzle platformer that tries to go outside its box with limited success.

• PC
• 1.5 / 5
• États-Unis

In Clan of Champions’s defense, there are several multiplayer options I didn’t get to test. Maybe taking out the enemy is more fun when it’s you and your human teammates coordinating against another group of players. Finding anyone to play with was impossible during the review stage, though, and seems highly unlikely later. It’s possible a game about fighting a bunch of guys in a single room using a bare-bones combat engine might catch on, but the likelihood is pretty low. Clan of Champions is far too stripped down, generic, and forgettable to ever recommend.

• PC
• 2 / 5
• États-Unis

This isn’t a remake or a reimagining of the original Painkiller; this is a high-resolution texture pack for an outdated eight-year old game that’s missing significant story beats. You can only reuse elements of a certain formula for so long before they become stale and archaic. It’s a fundamentally flawed game that consists of going from room to room with no plot other than to collect seven thousand souls. Even at a budget price, this will only be a compelling offer to the most dedicated of fans.

• VITA
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Ragnarok Odyssey rules; it's just that simple. It's an action RPG for folks who not only love the genre, but have been burned by them in the past. The pace is quick and the game is complex, but not hard to learn. It appears that Game Arts made this to appeal to more than just a niche audience, and the game is much better for it. RO is the first action RPG with mid-air bear juggling, and that alone is reason to try it out. The visuals have their flaws, but remain a highlight that adds both lush views of the world and comedic animations to the list of reasons the game is worth buying. Sadly, the soundtrack isn't one of them unless you're a huge fan of medieval tunes. If you like action RPGs in the vein of PSO and Monster Hunter, you'll love Ragnarok Odyssey.

• VITA
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Orgarhythm surprised me in a lot of great ways. I expected to be terrified of an RTS/rhythm hybrid going in, but its user-friendly nature made it easy to learn. The fast pace is great for people who have avoided RTSes due to slow pacing, and it winds up creating a fantastic gateway game for newcomers. It may be rough around the edges visually, but the outstanding soundtrack and incredible controls (for something that is largely touch-based) make it a must-buy for anyone remotely interested in the genre.

• VITA
• 0.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Virtue's Last Reward follows up on 999 wonderfully and delivers everything you'd want in a sequel. It's got the same kind of creepy soundtrack and cerebral gameplay 999's fans will love, but done far better. Part of that is due to it being more user-friendly, making VLR an easy recommendation for anyone who missed out on 999. Everything about how VLR plays is improved, resulting in a better experience in every way imaginable.

• VITA
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

• PC
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Hotline Miami is an outstanding title that manages to stand out despite both retro-styled games and overhead shooters being crowded genres. While I wish it supported controllers, particularly twin sticked-ones, the default control setup works well once you put some time into it. It's an easy recommendation for those who love overhead shooters, games with creepy tones or retro styles and enjoy either dubstep or synth music. The soundtrack is one of the game's greatest assets, and would be worth buying on its own regardless of interest in the game itself. Anyone used to a WASD control setup will want to play this ASAP, while those who aren't may be better served to wait for a sale.