The past several years in gaming have all felt like they’re trying to one-up each other. I keep expecting a crash, a year in which every developer just happens to be busy working on a new game that won’t come out until later, so we’re left with the dregs and have time to catch up on our backlogs.
Pool Panic is more akin to a puzzle platformer than a billiards game, but it doesn’t fit neatly into any one genre. In fact, nothing about the game is tidy, which is both its greatest strength and worst weakness.
Devoid of any real style or substance, The Alliance Alive is only as strong as its battle system. Fortunately, the combat is interesting and fun, if a bit on the easy side.
Only five games? In 2017?! Madness!
When Cave Story originally released in 2004, old-school design philosophies and pixel art were still unique and refreshing. The market is different in 2017, however, and even with updated HD pixel graphics, the complete package of Cave Story+ doesn’t offer much compared to its contemporary old-school indie peers.
For years, I’ve looked for a game to challenge the greatness of Rogue Legacy. While Flinthook nails the gameplay and most of the roguelike mechanics, it lacks a few little touches that might have elevated it to that level. Even so, Flinthook is a fantastic take on the genre.
Cosmic Star Heroine doesn’t quite hang with the company it was inspired by, but it comes close in some ways and manages to carve a little corner for itself in the combat department.
Last year gave me two of my favorite games of all time. How does 2016 stack up to that?
The Witness is challenging, satisfying, and captivating on a level beyond most of its peers. It leaves an impression that won’t soon go away.
Despite borrowing significant content from previous games in the franchise, Monster Hunter Generations is faster, flashier, and more satisfying than ever. If you weren’t into Monster Hunter before, however, Generations won’t do much to win you over.
If you shattered Mighty No. 9 into a million pieces and reassembled it with only the good parts, it would be an awesome game. As it is, it isn’t worth your time.
A puzzle game that you have to pay for? And it’s not on a phone? It’s okay, Tumblestone is good enough to pay actual money for and play on your couch, especially with friends.
