Hardcore Gamer

• PS4
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Ride 2 doesn't do everything it could have to become the premiere motorcycle racing game on the market, but it comes far closer than the original. The racing action is more intense than before, but the core game is still held back by a bit by long load times. The online play remains solid, so anyone who enjoyed the original's online play will find more of that to enjoy here. Anyone who felt that the first game was a world of unfulfilled potential will find more to like here. The core action is far better and there is more to enjoy than before. It's a well-crafted game and well-worth buying for anyone who enjoys fast-paced sim racing and has a passion for motorycles.

• XONE
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

The console market hasn’t had a solid RTS game since Halo Wars back in 2009, but that all changes with Halo Wars 2. Despite streamlining and simplifying some aspects of the genre, Creative Assembly and 343 Industries have successfully resurrected the series. The story isn’t anything to get excited about, but the addictive gameplay is. Managing an army of UNSC soldiers, vehicles and Spartans can easily make a thirty-minute mission feel like only five. It’s an excellent sequel to Halo Wars, but it does feel like the developers could have done a bit more to add more strategy and fix issues from the first game. Blitz mode is fun the first few times, but ultimately feels like an unnecessary addition that’s only there to provide an additional source of revenue. At the end of the day, however, it’s the multiplayer and gameplay that make or break an RTS game, and Halo Wars 2 checks those boxes. If you’ve ever had the itch to command an army of UNSC soldiers, Halo Wars 2 will easily scratch it.

• PC
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

For a first title, Splashteam has shown that they are more than capable of bringing some original ideas to one of gaming’s oldest genres. The action-packed levels offer plenty of surprises to keep players on their toes, even if a few fall flat, and the brightly colored presentation further benefits the unique title. Yet, Splasher‘s distinct lack of character is unfortunate, as even a few minor touches could have greatly enhanced the context in which all of this exciting platforming is taking place. Nonetheless, casual and speedrunning platforming fans alike will find a pleasantly surprising amount of depth and content that boosts Splasher to exciting heights.

• PS4
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Digimon World: Next Order is a true homage to franchise’s lineage. This an RPG all about management. Digimon management, stats management, Digivolution management and city management are what you’ll be doing the vast majority of the time. Elements of this can be addicting, especially watching your Digimon grow from lowly Rookie to powerful Mega, but it can be tedious thanks to how often your Digimon want to eat, and watching your hard-earned Ultimate and Mega level monsters drop dead can be soul-crushing. While the world is vast, it feels barren with an uneven difficulty. Digimon World: Next Order is a fantastic RPG for those who like to get down into the nitty-gritty of different stats and how they can affect your Digimon. For everyone else, it might have one too many frustrations.

• PS4
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Thanks to the distinctive story and a number of improvements to the overall combat, Tales of Berseria ends up being one of the better Tales games in a while. With that said, this accomplishment isn’t exactly the most difficult hurdle to overcome considering the last decade hasn’t been too kind on the series. The problem is just how slow-paced and one-note the early goings are. It takes more than twenty hours before the plot begins to manifest into something slightly more than a revenge tale, and item management is a tiresome and tedious process that should have been better implemented. The most disappointing part, though, is the straight forward and uninspiring dungeon designs. Everything is formulaic with few branching paths, and even when there are puzzles added thirty hours in, they are some of the weakest and most child-friendly puzzles you’ll find in any adventure. Tales of Berseria has tremendous heart, but if it weren’t for the intriguing plot and colorful cast of characters, it would just be another average RPG.

• PC
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

• XONE
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Candleman is the first true surprise of 2017. An ambitious little platformer that seemingly came out of nowhere and ended up as an unforgettable, brilliant and gorgeous light in the gaming landscape, not unlike its protagonist. It’s a wondrous tale fit for the whole family, be it adults looking for some classic gameplay with a modern twist or kids who want a cute story with an adorable protagonist and some dazzling visuals. It may very well be one of the finest indie games the Xbox One has this year, so make sure not to miss out on it. Again, I’m not exactly sure how we ended up with two great games released recently about candles, but this bit of walking wax joins Teku in having crafted one damn fine adventure out of the concept.

• PC
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Poi is an affectionate love letter to the 3D platformer, filled with challenges and a good number of mini-games to liven up the adventure. The tight level design allows a nice number of objectives in spaces that are noticeably smaller than genre standard, making the game feel far more focused than its inspirations. While another round of polish would do a nice job of knocking off the rough edges, the core experience is a lively game that remains fun and playable from start to finish. Poi isn’t out to revolutionize the 3D platformer, but instead remember and celebrate it, bringing it back from the brink of extinction with clear blue skies and an adventurous smile.

• PS4
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Dynasty Warriors: Godseekers is an unexpected game as it has been well over a decade since Dynasty Warriors tried venturing into the realm of tactics games. It's very accessible and does not offer the same complexity of games like Grand Kingdom or Final Fantasy Tactics and it would not be inaccurate to call this a casual tactics game. That being said, it's actually quite enjoyable either because of or in spite of its simplicity. The element of the Orbs of Power and Lixia make the story seem more like a legendary tale than the historical basis for the Three Kingdoms, but it does provide an interesting alternative version of the story fans have been playing through since the PlayStation 2 days. People looking for a traditional Dynasty Warriors or an extremely complex tactical game will not find one here. Fans of Dynasty Warriors who want to see those characters in a different arena and don't mind a tactics game that has pick up and play accessibility, however, should get a lot of enjoyment out of this.

• PS4
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

2064: Read Only Memories is a glimpse into a cyberpunk future that has traded today’s modern problems in for more advance technological grade issues. The backdrop that Neo-San Fransisco sets up is one filled with an uneasy tension that really makes 2064 feel like an ultra futuristic high tech society, with real and intimate complexities that come along with human interaction. Through its creative cast and interesting interactions, 2064 brings its pixel art world to life. Despite a few technical hitches, 2064: Read Only Memories is a step forward in the way games interact and intersect with politics and how storytelling in games can make a statement in today’s climate.

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

On paper, it’s easy to pick apart Resident Evil 7 for its inconsistencies; the game struggles to find a balance between being purely horror or a title more reminiscent of Resident Evil's past, and the poor presentation and writing don’t help. And yet, in the moment, much of that can be easily forgiven or even straight-up forgotten because it immerses the player so well into a terrifying world of horrors thanks to the polish, initially intense combat sequences and numerous memorable sequences that range from simple exploration to grand, over-the-top boss fights. Capcom has once again managed to reinvigorate and reinvent one of gaming’s most beloved series, and there’s already plenty of intrigue as to where the franchise is headed next. But for now, the Baker family’s tale is one that demands to be shared, and Resident Evil fans and horror fans alike will find plenty to encourage and engross as they push, crawl and fight their way through a bold new step for the classic series.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

It feels cruel for Nomura and company to continue teasing Kingdom Hearts fans who just want Kingdom Hearts III, but a delicious appetizer is better than nothing, and that’s what Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue is. Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance HD finally makes its way to a home console and plays infinitely better than it did on the 3DS. Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth By Sleep: A Fragmentary Passage is short, but it’s a thrill ride that sets the stage perfectly for Kingdom Hearts III. The only downer of the bunch is Kingdom Hearts X: Back Cover, which feels like it needed a bit more time to flesh out the story fully. Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue may not satisfy those who desperately want Kingdom Hearts III, but it is the perfect collection to experience old and new adventures in the Kingdom Hearts universe while we wait.

• PS4
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Yakuza fans are in for a massive treat with Yakuza 0. For the first time they’ll be able to live out events that led to the rise of Kiryu and Majima as they are known today. Not only that, but they’ll get to see an entirely different side of Majima - and view Kiryu at a truly weak point at the start of his yakuza lifestyle. With that said, anyone new to the series should absolutely jump in now. Sure, all games in the series offer a summary function, but having the story retold in a massive, but highly truncated, description is nothing compared to seeing things in action. Not only that, but since this is a prequel, players aren’t missing anything by being completely fresh to the world. Completing Yakuza 0 will leave newcomers poised to take on Yakuza Kiwami in the near future and then obsess over the rest of the series with longtime fans.

• PS4
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star has a title that makes as little sense as its punctuation to an outsider, but it serves as the glue that holds everything together. The actual game portion is well done, and fun in small chunks, but becomes a bit too repetitive for its own good. One can’t help but feel that series fans who devour everything connected to this series will love this, but the feeling that this same loyalty should be rewarded with more energy in design just can’t be shaken. Admittedly, there’s a lot to like here; Elizabeth Bathory is portrayed as a wannabe J-pop star and that would make young me cringe, which can only be a good thing. Others may want to stop and consider how much they want a sequel to Extra before purchasing.

• VITA
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

From personal experience, it can be said that Atelier Shallie Plus: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea is the perfect place for series newcomers to start. The various areas of character improvement built into the systems here means that it feels like the player is always making rapid progress, even when completing the most mundane of tasks. Coupling this with an interesting, if not revolutionary, story makes for an engrossing game that would have dug its hooks even if it were not the only digital escape hatch provided for a trip to the in-laws. PS Vita is one of the most important destinations for JRPGs on the market and Atelier Shallie Plus is another major reason why.

• PS4
• 2 / 5
• États-Unis

Saban’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Mega Battle is a love letter to both the show and beat-em-ups that falls short of reaching its goals. The franchise’s earliest games were largely better than this, and while this does scratch a nostalgia itch to some degree, it isn’t a satisfying gaming experience. Movesets are far too lean and there are too few enemies to keep the action interesting for very long. Dedicated fans of the show may want to check it out, but everyone else can safely skip it.

• PS4
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

“More of the same” could very well be the simpler way to sum up what players should expect coming into Gravity Rush 2. While the gravity-shifting mechanics and genuine sense of discovery make for plentiful amounts of time-well-spent (regardless of the duration) moments simply exploring and rediscovering the extent to which level design can be fashioned here, the game can run the risk of losing its own bearing with some occasionally questionable padding and objectives that offer no genuine or worthwhile substance. All that said though, Gravity Rush 2‘s hybrid of cel-shaded animation and classic anime/manga illustration with its aesthetic remains pleasing to the eye and gives its game’s world a newfound sense of liveliness — whether it’s up amidst the clouds or wandering through the many streets or isles below. Though not as almighty a step up as some of the more recent sequels we’ve seen, Gravity Rush 2 remains a fun and intriguing place to return to.

• PC
• XONE
• PS4
• PS3
• X360
• IOS
• ANDROID
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Perhaps Batman: The Telltale Series’ greatest flaw is inconsistency; playing each episode separately can make some of the weaknesses of the lesser episodes, like technical issues and poor pacing, more apparent in a way that most other Telltale series do not suffer from. But, for players who can dive into the full series all at once, Telltale’s Batman easily stands strong as one of the Dark Knight’s greatest video game outings, providing a gripping tale that clearly separates itself from a standard Batman affair. Add in more interactive gameplay sequences and improved visuals, and you have not only one of Telltale’s best seasons to date, but the return of a promising video game future for Bruce Wayne, Batman, and the city of Gotham.