Hardcore Gamer

• PC
• PS4
• 1.5 / 5
• États-Unis

One cannot comprehend who Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is meant to serve. Exploration is a chore based on frame rate issues and less-than-stellar graphics. Questing sucks because there is no real sense of progress or accomplishment. Farming and crafting is similarly pointless as there just isn't a heck of a lot to do. I will confess to giving up after only a couple of hours in hopes that I was the recipient of Alpha code. After confirming that this wasn't the case and no launch patch has come through, I contemplated jumping back in. Before doing so, I asked what the game could do to change my mind without a major overhaul and realized that the answer is nothing since Christina Ricci is married and I don't think my wife would agree to that anyways.

• PS4
• VITA
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

While what should be the biggest draw -- the crossover and the story -- falls flat on its face, Accel World vs Sword Art Online isn't a complete loss. The actual game part of the game works well enough that players might find themselves more interested in taking on side quests and missions than working through the story campaign. Of course, Yui isn't that great of a prize, but still. There is plenty of content with which to engage, but those looking for this type of gameplay would be better off playing Lost Song or Hollow Realization first. Those have more interesting stories and some better translation work in addition to the well-done game systems. If those have already been completed, then this isn't the worst game for fans.

• PS4
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

What's great about That's You right now is that it's free for PlayStation Plus members. It'll jump to $19.99 starting on October 24, a steep price compared to the Jackbox Party Pack, which costs $24.99 and comes with a plethora of games, but it's worth it for those who get in right now. The graphics are great, as they should be since there's not a lot going on visually, the narration is funny and the mini-games allow for a ton of natural comedy. It's also the first of the PlayLink games, so if this is just the beginning, then it's a good sign. That's You is easy for everyone to get in on at parties or just when hanging out with friends and shows the future of PlayLink is promising indeed.

• PC
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Black The Fall isn’t exactly revolutionary when it comes to the world of atmospheric platformers, but it still excels in what it sets out to do. It paints a frightening image of a land deep in the grip of Communism back in the day, but never sacrifices enjoyment in order to get its message out. The visual style is striking and eye-catching, the puzzles are well-crafted and put up a perfect challenge, and everything controls almost perfectly. It’s an impressive piece of work with a lot of heart put into it, and the end result is a brutal but beautiful bit of platforming that comes highly recommended. Indeed, it did end up having the same quality as its peers after all, and can proudly stand beside them.

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

Excelling with its simulation aspect and deep career mode, MXGP 3 is a solid motocross title in a market that is virtually non-existent. Back in the days of the original PlayStation, both 989 Sports (Sony) and EA had flagship motocross titles, but those days have sadly passed. For a smaller developer like Milestone to accomplish what they have with the game speaks wonders, but there is much room for growth. With the game featuring the FIM license, maybe it would be more appropriate to lock up the AMA license to have the official stadium tracks and drivers for this side of the pond. For having all the licenses and sponsors, the audience needs to be broadened.

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

Micro Machines World Series is a great buy for anyone who enjoyed prior entries in the series or simply wants a great racing game that the whole family can enjoy. If you grew up in the early '90s or just have an affinity for the license, it does it justice and delivers a rock-solid racing experience as well. Its mode selection is impressive and there's always something to do if you're tired of racing. Each battle mode mixes things up in interesting ways, while the elimination race keeps you on your A game at all times. While the soundtrack is forgettable, World Series is a visual treat thanks to some impressive texture work along with an impressive depth of field.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

While the N. Sane Trilogy is by no means the perfect and/or flawless remaster fans and interested onlookers may have wanted, there’s no denying that a lot of Vicarious’ microscopic and macroscopic attention to detail alike is demonstrated sufficiently well in Crash’s current-gen revisit. Ignore the occasionally stilted voice-work or odd mixing of sound and what you’ll find is a remaster that thankfully goes beyond the mandatory better visuals — providing, on top of that, added incentives to revisit one of platforming’s most iconic and, above all else, enjoyably challenging iterations. Though the changes and tweaks aren’t as radical, it’s a fond return to a former joy that isn’t just glazed nostalgia. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a fitting and well-sought retrospect to one of PlayStation’s most iconic stars.

• VITA
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

If someone is going to borrow, there is no shame in borrowing from the best. While it’s a bit slower to start, the characters do become fleshed out and interesting. The modern Japanese setting, while becoming extremely popular, is not something that I have even remotely grown weary of. The action works well, with giant bosses and plenty of smaller things to beat on. While it can layer the systems on a tad too thick, there is still plenty of fun to be had. This is an easy pick for Falcom fans. The only remaining question is whether to pick this one up or wait for the expanded PlayStation 4 release. That is a bit of a quandary, but what is in this package does feel content complete, with plenty of post game stuff to do, so there is little likelihood of feeling short changed by jumping on the Tokyo Xanadu wagon now.

• XONE
• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Valkyria Revolution might not hit on all cylinders, but there is always a positive aspect to make up for a nagging flaw. Overall, the combat is different and offers many different ways of attack. Coupling the combat and alchemy with an exciting story about war and conspiracy will make you not only want to progress through the game, but actually get into the story and its characters. The artwork behind the graphical engine adds a storybook look to a Japanese anime with characters you'll develop emotions for. More importantly, the game retails for $39.99 and does more than anyone can ask for at that price, even offering cross-saves between the PS4 and PS Vita versions. Valkyria Revolution is an excellent action-RPG if you're looking for something new after playing through Final Fantasy XV.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Get Even may be a bit polarizing depending on how you want to approach things in terms of gameplay and what you hope to get out of it, but it's advised that you see it all the way through, as the end result is a highly satisfying game with an engrossing story that delivers in creepy, emotional and thought-provoking moments that helps it stand out, especially with its more subtle presentation of morality in gaming. You can argue that it may not be one of the best action games of the year, even when it delivers a tense moment, but its enjoyable hunt for the facts and the eventual truth highlights it as a winning adventure game. It may look sloppy, but it's pleasantly surprising and worth going in blind for.

• PC
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

Tokyo 42 has a lot of potential, and moments of greatness where it can deliver satisfying action, but unfortunately gets bogged down by an annoying camera and notable structure issues and technical snafus. There’s still fun to be had in the candy-coated world of a futuristic Japan, especially when it comes to exploration and the occasional parkour, but those looking for a more focused and more effective action game would be better off checking something else instead. So in the end, it’s sadly less Blade Runner and more Johnny Mnemonic.

• PS4
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

Dark Rose Valkyrie is a bit of a mixed bag. The hybrid of the visual novel inspired interview system mixed with a traditional JRPG is an interesting idea, and that the traitor is never set does give reason to play through the story more than once. The downside to it is like most JRPGs this is not a short game, and there are enough issues with the gameplay where tackling it once would be enough for most people. The pacing makes it difficult to fully get immersed into the story and outside of the interview portion, the gameplay does not live up to its potential, especially in battle. The result is an overall good but unremarkable JRPG. Compile Heart's signature charm and humor is present throughout, so fans of their other games will likely be able to forgive its shortcomings and enjoy this title for what it is.

• PC
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Star Trek: Bridge Crew is that it's a VR experience that encourages repeat play. Having put a decent amount of time into the title already, it's understandable that some may hope for additional content added, such as an adversarial crew vs crew mode. What's in the package already, though, makes for some hectic times and an incredible use of the technology. The message behind the actual game mechanics, that of the need for understanding and cooperation among the players, is possibly the most clever expression of the themes of the franchise a game has ever mustered.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Codemasters has provided enough meaningful upgrades for DiRT 4 while keeping the core simulation racing aspect intact. This should appease the hardcore fans while allowing people with interest in the series to take a drive. The game manages to have two distinctions in its makeup: fun competition and serious racing. The technical aspects of the game will make any car nut smile. The visuals and audio design are fantastic, and there are plenty of modes to enjoy. The Career Mode and Track Generator are great additions but ultimately leave players wanting more out of each. If you have missed out on DiRT games in the past, DiRT 4 is the definitive version to go with.

• PS4
• XONE
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

The Town of Light is an ambitious game to cover such heavy subject matter. There's no real action to be found, just exploration and a bleak but intriguing story to be told. The game is rather short; most players can expect to complete a playthrough in under five hours, but that seems like a good length for this type of experience. The strong points include the story and the narrative style used, but wandering aimlessly looking for the next trigger to progress the story can feel tedious at times. The Town of Light is a niche game, but overall it is a good one for the target audience. I found it enjoyable, but I also have an interest in old medical and mental illness treatment practices. Someone looking for action or a Resident Evil style horror experience should skip this, but those looking for a good story in a beautifully bleak environment to explore at a leisurely pace would likely find some enjoyment in The Town of Light.

• VITA
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

• 3DS
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, by no means a flawless entry in the nearly three decade-old franchise, may well be the closest the series has gotten to somehow finding a happy medium between past legacy and contemporary appeal. Robust, entertaining and perilously engaging, while it may still find itself tainted by contemporary RPG standards in its character cast-listing or adamancy in offering "more" for the pure sake of it, Fire Emblem's own "remake" phase in the end pays off in ways both clear and subtle alike. Ways that will appeal to either end of the fanbase spectrum. Its core gameplay and the many grid-based maps may not have evolved as much (perhaps less so here), but it's everything going on around the combat that makes Shadows of Valentia a game you'll look to beyond the avid necessity of leveling up your units. An interesting detour if nothing else, Nintendo would be wise to look at Echoes' many entertaining and delightful offerings when the series, inevitably, makes its long-awaited return on home consoles.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

After more than a decade and a half of these things, it would be understandable to grow sick of the formula over the countless iterations. Heck, one wonders what the rate of burn out is like for the creative minds at Omega Force. Yet, they always manage to tweak the formula, adding and subtracting elements each time, leading to interesting results. This philosophy can be seen in Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada. It is obvious that the same engine from the last Samurai Warriors game is being used, but it really does feel like a fresh, focused take on the Musou series.