Hardcore Gamer

• PC
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition for PC is plagued with a number of issues that vastly damage the experience. The core gameplay remains untouched and the campaign, while dated, can still be a lot of fun with friends. The keyboard and mouse controls are well implemented and they can be remapped if you don’t like how they’re structured. Finally, despite having a short campaign, there’s still a fair amount to shuffle through, so long as you plan to explore the expansive online components. Unfortunately, all of that is moot if the visuals aren’t working correctly. Had things gone as planned and the PC port lived up to even the Xbox One version, then we could have had the start of something magical on our hands. There’s still a plethora of content here to enjoy if you somehow are able to look past this crippling technical issue, but unfortunately it seems the transition to the open platform has failed to live up to certain expectations.

• PS4
• 2 / 5
• États-Unis

Alekhine’s Gun is a title where the ambition of design outmatches the execution with gusto. Describing what it tries to do makes it sound like the tonic violence prone adventure gamers have been wanting since Hitman: Blood Money. With great dismay, it must be reported that Maximum Games missed the target. The right ideas are in place, but everything about the execution falls flat on its face. Considering how much I wanted to enjoy this, the average player probably won’t be able to handle a full playthrough.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

It would have been an absolute travesty to see one of the highest regarded mobile games in recent memory suffer on the big screen, but Hitman GO: Defintive Edition is a stellar way to play Square Enix Montreal’s debut title. Granted, if you’re not a fan of the original mobile release, then a collection of all of its content is probably not going to change your mind whatsoever, but those with an aversion to mobile gaming are going to find themselves in for a treat here. Aside from the fact that the camera will, very occasionally, cause some input issues, there’s really nothing to complain about in the Definitive Edition that you couldn’t have griped about when the original title released two years ago. There’s also the secret bonus of PlayStation fans who want something similar to Volume finding their solace in a mobile-to-console port (how’s that for interesting?). To make a long story short, if you’re looking for a puzzle game that feels just as awesome in short sessions on the go as it does on the big screen for hours at a time, as well as what is likely the best Hitman game since 2006, then Hitman GO: Definitive Edition is absolutely for you.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

TRON RUN/r is a weird — but exciting — proposition from Disney given that the company saw fit to revive its long-dormant movie franchise after 28 years with 2010’s Tron: Legacy before apparently killing it again. It feels like the company is gauging interest in its neon-infused techno-dystopia again to test the waters for a third movie, and curiously enough, it chose to do so through an endless runner game for the hardcore crowd. TRON RUN/r stumbles in a few spots and is a little too expensive for its own good, but it’s beautiful to look at, incredibly fun to play and offers the perfect sense of challenge for players with good reflexes.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Taking away guns, cars and explosions sounds like a huge risk on paper, especially for a franchise that has built itself on those properties. This makes it even more shocking that Far Cry Primal works as well as it does. Ubisoft Montreal has successfully taken the Far Cry franchise to the Stone Age, crafting a game that is both entertaining to play and watch. Primal isn’t without its problems. Melee combat can be disorienting and the story isn’t all that memorable. Still, Far Cry Primal nails what it does right. Beast Mastery is a great new mechanic, the presentation is fantastic, and most importantly, it feels just like a Far Cry game. Woolly mammoths may have gone extinct, but Primal ensures that the Far Cry franchise won’t follow suit.

• PC
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

Layers of Fear almost feels like two different games smashed together to make up a single experience. Its first half is brutally chilling, deeply frightening and an overall success. Its unique use of perspective and camera manipulation, though derivative, evokes a sense of dread so powerful that it becomes frightening to even turn on your gaming device to play it. It quickly becomes apparent about halfway through, however, that its power lies in a reliance on simple jump scares and the impact of themes that are disturbing in any context. Bloober Team should feel proud that it was able to turn its fortunes around with Layers of Fear and this release is something to build upon, but it manages to miss the mark just enough to feel somewhat forgettable. Those who have experienced the Early Access release have likely seen all there is to see here, as its ending feels too flat to create a true sense of endearment. If you’re looking for something to scare you for an hour or two on a dark night, then this is a title you should consider picking up. If you’re looking for the next great horror title, however, your efforts will be better served elsewhere.

• 3DS
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Project X Zone 2 is a funny, charming and amusing title. It sets out to entertain video game fans of all stripes and allows the player to jump from world to world to get a taste of other titles they may have been missing. Just based on the built-in "Crosspedia" encyclopedia database, the stack of games that I really want to try out has grown (Resonance of Fate, in particular.) It's not challenging, but it was never meant to be. The gameplay is simply the vehicle to deliver the true focus of this title: dumb fun. Players who don't need everything to bristle with a dark malevolence will find a great time in this one.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

In the end, those who are more familiar with works of Nitroplus will get the most out of Nitroplus Blasterz (shockingly enough), but even those with no prior knowledge of the included franchises should easily be able to enjoy it. Despite slightly lacking in the innovation department, what we have here is still an extremely solid fighter at its core, one with a nicely offbeat atmosphere and some great, inclusive gameplay that anyone can get into, so the end result is a fun 2D brawler perfect for rabid fans and noobs alike. Also, you get to smack people upside the head with a cat. So there’s that.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Arslan: The Warriors of Legend takes the Warriors formula and franchise in a new direction, but the core gameplay is largely familiar. Though they can grow repetitive, the large scale battles are still impressive and the anime art style and story make the game feel like an immense, interactive movie. Although there isn’t a huge challenge in defeating the rank and file soldiers, the boss battles are tough, and when you add in all the unlockable heroes to try and the many ways to customize and level each character, the amount of content and replayability add up to Arslan being one of Omega Force’s better Warriors games.

• PC
• 4.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Firewatch is one of those games that you need to take a step back and think about after it’s over. This tense four-hour adventure might lead you to believe it’s going places it never goes, and while some might wish for a grander tale loaded with conspiracy, what’s actually there stands on its own as wonderful. A touching human story sprinkled with player agency, Firewatch succeeds in causing players to consider what it truly means to be alone. Its open-ended exploration and gorgeous visuals force players to get lost and really contemplate how along they really are, despite the voice on the other side of that radio. It’s a bit sad to think that some might be disappointed with how authentically human Firewatch is, perhaps instead hoping for a western thriller that goes all in on conspiracy. This would be, quite literally, missing the forest for the trees, as Firewatch is a joy in and of itself.

• PS4
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

CyberConnect2 knows what their fans want in a Naruto game and have delivered for the most part. Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 has solid controls and an outstanding roster of characters, but suffers from too many flaws to allow the average gamer to drop $60 right now. Wait for this one to show up in a bargain bin because the few things added into the series at this point do nothing to make up for its shortcomings.

• PS4
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

• PS4
• 3 / 5
• États-Unis

LEGO Dimensions felt like much-needed innovation for a game series that has seen little change since its inception in 2006. Unfortunately, LEGO Marvel Avengers didn’t take many of those innovations to heart. This is the same formula we've seen for years, but done better in older games. Traveller's Tales strict adherence to the Avengers films is admirable, but ends up hurting the game more than it helps. While a decent action-adventure title, Avengers does little to innovate or set itself apart from a vast library of superior LEGO games. If you’re a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, are fine playing solo and partial to the LEGO formula, then you might enjoy LEGO Marvel's Avengers. If you’re not one of those people? Well, there’s a vast library of other LEGO titles for you to enjoy.

• 3DS
• 3.5 / 5
• États-Unis

Enjoyment of Final Fantasy Explorers is defined by two things: nostalgia for Final Fantasy and the amount of immediate challenge desired. Square Enix has crafted a game that unabashedly caters to the Final Fantasy faithful and provides some wonderful opportunities for customization and collaboration, but experimenting with abilities and grinding for new weapons and armor can only keep you entertained for so long when the beasts you're battling aren't putting up a fight. The challenge does come later, but there's so little motivation to chew through the gristle that boredom will conquer most adventurers before they enjoy Final Fantasy Explorers at its best.

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

There's not a lot about Attractio to pull you in from a distance. It doesn't look, sound or even feel that great. Its story is obvious and uninteresting. Everything about it screams "knockoff" like a "ROLAX" watch, but don't be fooled: if you're a fiend for devious puzzles, Attractio is the real deal.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Gravity Rush Remastered is close to perfect. The original Vita game was very well received, and while this update doesn't exactly push the PS4 to its limits, it still looks and plays extremely well. It's got a big open city to explore that's intricately designed and just feels nice to walk through. Each of the four major areas has its own design style, and all of them are packed with events and other reasons to explore. The combat is fast-paced and fun, and the story missions are always engaging with a large amount of variety not only between the chapters but also within them. Kat is a truly likable character too, strong and cheerful while not overdoing it. There are certain aspects in the use of her powers that could stand to be beaten with a blunt object until they respond better, but somehow the game rises above this and becomes fantastically playable from beginning to end. Kat, her cat-companion Dusty, and the entire supporting cast bring their world to life in a huge adventure set in and around a fantastic city, making Gravity Rush Remastered a must-play for anyone who never got the chance to see the Vita original.

• PS4
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Asking The Witness to be a traditional video game is essentially asking the impossible. If the reason Jonathan Blow’s newest game has been in the oven for nearly eight years is that he wanted to avoid compromising on his ambition, then it makes sense that it would stumble a tiny bit along the way. The Witness is a game that can easily cause players to eclipse the one hundred hour mark and the vast majority of that time is going to be spent engaging with hundreds of brilliantly designed puzzles. While it won’t have the industry-shifting impact that Braid did in 2008, The Witness will influence video game puzzle design for years to come.

• PC
• 4 / 5
• États-Unis

Minor issues aside, The Deadly Tower of Monsters is a pleasant surprise indeed and a particularly impressive budget action game showcasing a lot of creativity. The quirky retro cheeseball charm may be the main selling point (right down to having a “VHS” filter you can use on the graphics), but the gameplay still has quite a bit of meat on its bones as well. So if you have a taste for the days of laser pistols and killer brain monsters, or if you like unique action games in general, check it out. It’s work worthy of the Satellite of Love crew (and I mean that in a good way).