Hardcore Gamer

• PS4
• PC
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Last Day of June is a beautiful presentation of a heart-wrenching tale that is hindered by less-than-stellar game mechanics. It should be noted Last Day of June was partially designed to appeal to people who don't regularly play video games. It succeeds as a story and as an interactive work of art, but as a game there are some mechanics that could have benefited from some further tweaking. As unique as this title is, however, it allows it to be one of the rare exceptions to the rule that mediocre gameplay trumps excellence in areas like graphics and sound. The story and concept are compelling enough where playing Last Day of June is worthwhile despite its shortcomings. Depending on the player, it can take four to six hours to complete. It's not something that will appeal to everyone, but it's worth looking into for those willing to forgive lackluster gameplay for a compelling story with a unique presentation.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

AD Clap Hanz’s effort to evolve Everybody’s Golf is a successful way of thinking outside of the box. While there aren't a ton of modes, there's enough here to keep players coming back for more. Keeping its challenging and addicting gameplay, Everybody’s Golf manages to blend frustration and enjoyment successfully. The online aspect has no hiccups and it’s easy to play with other people. Turf War is extremely hectic and fun at the same time. Clap Hanz took full of advantage of the technology that the PS4 offers to create the biggest leap of the series and offering fresh new innovations. Not to mention, you can literally fish.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Ys is a series that has never been a triple A level spectacle, but has consistently put out memorable games for close to three decades. As a long-time follower of the franchise having first been introduced to this world in Ys III: Wanderers From Ys on the SNES (later remade in 3D for PSP called Oath in Felgana), this is quite possibly the best Ys title to date. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana doesn't deviate far from what Ys games are known for, it just takes what they do and expands on them. The story isn't Shakespearean, but it's more developed and interesting than what was shown in previous titles, and while the characters are still trope-based, they have more depth than seen in previous entries and this is on top of improvements in graphics and music composition. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana shows the series maturing a bit but without deviating too far from what made us fans in the first place.

• PS4
• XONE
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

• PS4
• XONE
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition is a proper send off before Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is released next year. Simply the PC game and its expansions released for console in their original form -- with the only changes being ones that make it playable on console -- those already familiar with Eora don't need to revisit on console, but any RPG fan who prefers console to PC gaming owes it to themselves to check this one out. This is a perfect example of an old school RPG done in a way to feel contemporary that still maintains an element of tabletop feel to it. Narrative and dialog are major components of the experience and the story told here is developed enough to justify there being such a heavy emphasis on it.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Despite the fact that there are some technical and acting issues, Observer absolutely excels. Not only is it a great genre entry, but a fine example of interactive entertainment as a whole. The world that Bloober Team has created is one that is wide open for more exploration. I wouldn't mind prequels exploring the fall of modern society or alternate perspective takes on the tale. Heck, even a Chiron management sim, where the company needs to keep the people just happy enough to accept their oppression would be interesting. This is not reggae, but it deserves to be as popular.

• PS4
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

White Day: A Labyrinth Named School is in many ways akin to the horror games that flourished in the PS2 era. It features no option for players to directly attack enemies and emphasizes stealth to stay safe. This “older” style of horror makes total sense given the original’s release in 2001. These trends have been creeping back into the mainstream, which makes this as good a time as any to release on PS4 and PC. Still, there’s a real push and pull between wanting to love the game and finding it too annoying at points to proceed. Fortunately, the pros outweigh the cons and the journey into a haunted school is still worth taking for horror lovers.

• PS4
• XONE
• PC
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

F1 2017 is the best representation of a complicated sport that Codemasters has offered. Offering its deepest and most authentic career mode, it draws players into the sport like no other F1 game ever has. You will learn the in-and-outs of the sport and feel like an engineer yourself. F1 2017 successfully hits 60 FPS at 4K resolution with a sacrifice in graphical detail. The racing is true-to-life on the track, but the A.I. is severely lacking. Fans of the franchise will really enjoy 2017.

• PS4
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Cities: Skylines – PlayStation 4 Edition brings an excellent city-simulator to consoles offering an amazing interface and excellent visuals. Everything is straightforward in terms of gameplay and the game feels like a modern take on the older and excellent versions of Sim City. While the console version may lack some of the content the PC version does, there is more than enough here to keep anyone busy.

• IOS
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy is a solid first step in crafting a new generation of adventures for the franchise, but future installments had best concentrate more on crafting a better bunch of puzzles to be strung together, as well as a deeper narrative, in order to match the glory of the earlier games. And future installments we should indeed hope for, because the charming art, characters, and dialogue all help to create an interesting world that deserves more love (that, and the fact that the game ends on a rather mind-blowing sequel hook). It isn’t the greatest journey a Layton has taken, but it’s still an entertaining one nonetheless.

• PS4
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

This is possibly the biggest update that a Madden game has ever seen. This is one of those years where the franchise takes a huge turn and it pays off. The tightest and crispest Madden to date, it looks and performs stunningly, all while adding tons of little things to correctly represent the game of football. From an outsider’s perspective, Madden is still going to be Madden. If you are one to rarely pick up the game, this would be the one to get due to its advancements. Longshot is worth trying if the mood suits and MUT Squads is fun if your teams are evenly matched.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

With eight different classes that feel completely unique from each other, and the zero gravity mechanics that can yield firefights the likes of which have not truly been seen before, LawBreakers makes a mark of its own in an increasingly crowded genre. Character action shooters aren't in short supply right now, but this one absolutely deserves attention. The high skill threshold and the interplay between classes actually makes this the first game I'd be willing to watch in eSports. This is despite the developers not pushing the envelope in other areas. Considering there are untold amounts of quality gaming to be found here at a reasonable launch price, LawBreakers is an easy recommendation for anyone that truly wants a competitive game with which to test their mettle.

• VITA
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

• PC
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

The Darkside Detective is a charming point and click adventure with a taste for the sillier aspects of horror. Expect to see references to 80s and 90s pop culture while solving cases alongside the Darkside Division’s finest. It’s not the sort of game likely to stump players with inane item puzzles and that’s a good thing. Some changes could have been made to further streamline the experience, but it works well enough without them. Hopefully this is not the last we see of McQueen and Dooley.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Pyre represents another solid effort from Supergiant, as the awe-inspiring world, both in terms of design and depth, coupled with a lovable cast of heroes and villains, continue the studio’s renowned streak for titles with big heart and unique gameplay. The repetitive and overly-lengthy nature of the campaign, as well as a lackluster versus mode, holds the title back from reaching the same heights as its predecessors, but those looking for an original universe and an uplifting tale will be hard-pressed to find a deeper and better-looking game this year.

• SWITCH
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

• PS4
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Milestone has taken MotoGP 17 in a great direction with a valiant leap. The managerial career is great, making an example of what a mode like this should be. Running at 60 FPS on all systems helps the racing experience, but the dated feel with the action on the track brings it back down to earth. The A.I. claims to be improved, but doesn’t recognize your presence. The audio makes similar claims, but remains draining. MotoGP 17 is a game that looks great on paper, but only manages to do enough to please the hardcore fan of the series.