Plus LEGO The Hobbit & More
It’s the end of the week which means that it’s time for another episode of Reviews in Review. This week a TON of games came out, so if you missed any of our reviews just check out the video for a quick recap.
Seriously, what else are you going to do for four minutes? This week I use some really bad accents.
LEGO The Hobbit(3DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PSVita, Xbox 360 [reviewed], Xbox One, WiiU)Developer: TT GamesPublisher: Warner Brothers InteractiveRelease Date: April 8, 2014MSRPP: $29.99 (3DS, Vita), $49.99 (PS3, Xbox 360, WiiU), $59.99 (PS4, Xbox One)
Still, there is a good bit to like about the game as well. If you’ve enjoyed the many otherLEGOadaptations, this one is not without it’s charm. The characters and backgrounds match the films well, and the game follows the story of the movies very closely, down to the questionable bonus material padding. Though again, being a bit limited by the original voicework may not allow for the normalLEGOslaptick-type humor, and a few scenes of real tension and whimsy from the films seem to fall a bit flat.
Verdict: 6.5/10 – Read the full LEGO The Hobbit review
Kirby: Triple Deluxe(3DS)Developer:HAL LaboratoryPublisher:NintendoReleased: May 2, 2014MSRP: $34.99
Kirby:Triple Deluxeis yet another winning entry in the franchise. It delivers the core Kirby experience alongside of a few very well done extras, which is pretty much everything a fan could ask for. While the Kirby formula could easily be getting stale for some, it still represents a whimsical corner of platforming games that’s centered around one central ideal — fun.
Verdict: 8/10 – Read the fullKirby: Triple Deluxe review
Child of Light(PS3, PS4, PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One [reviewed], Wii U)Developer: Ubisoft MontrealPublisher: UbisoftRelease Date: April 30, 2014
Child of Lightwill satiate pretty much everyone but the most hardcore of RPG fans, and even then, they’ll find plenty of enjoyment. There are a few minor issues here and there that hold it back from instant-classic status that could be enhanced in a sequel or future work, but regardless,Child of Lightis a noble effort from Ubisoft Montreal, and another win to put in the studio’s diverse portfolio.
Verdict: 8.5/10 – Read the full Child of Light review
FRACT OSC[Mac, PC (reviewed)]Developer: Phosfiend SystemsPublisher: Phosfiend SystemsMSRP: $14.99Released: April 22, 2014
FRACT OSCis a game where you need to be willing to go in blind and just explore; this might be something that puts a player off within the first 10 minutes, as there’s no tooltips or tutorial to tell them what to do, unlike most modern games. If you allow yourself to be drawn into the strange, geometric landscape and understand the structure of the puzzles and progression, then you’ll be rewarded with a great experience.
Verdict: 8.5/10 – Read the fullFRACT OSC review
Life Goes On(Linux, Mac, PC [reviewed])Developer: Infinite Monkeys EntertainmentPublisher: Infinite Monkeys EntertainmentReleased: April 17, 2014MSRP: $12.99Rig: AMD Phenom II X2 555 @ 3.2 GHz, with 4GB of RAM, ATI Radeon HD 5700,Windows 7 64-bit
Life Goes Onmight not start with the most mindblowing hook, but the idea is solid and Infinite Monkeys develops it well. By constantly adding new tricks into its repertoire and not dragging itself out unnecessarily, it maintains a good quality throughout. Puzzle difficulty ranges from easy to medium-hard; it rarely gets diabolically difficult, and when it does it is only when completing optional objectives. Although it is not particularly nice to look at, the underlying gameplay is worthwhile for any puzzle platformer enthusiast.
Verdict: 7/10 – Read the full Life Goes On review
Borderlands 2 Headerhunter 5: Sir Hammerlock Versus the Son of Crawmerax(Mac, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 [reviewed])Developer: Gearbox SoftwarePublisher: 2K GamesReleased: April 15, 2014MSRP: $2.99
As with the other entries in theHeadhunterseries,Sir Hammerlock Versus the Son of Crawmeraxis a short experience with a relatively low price tag. Although it does not complete Borderlands 2with a bang, it does a decent job of rounding out the series and setting up for the next one. Those particularly interested in the path of the characters moving forward will enjoy what this DLC does toward that end, but most otherBorderlandsfans would be just as well waiting for the release of thePre-Sequelthis fall.
Verdict: 6/10 – Read the full Borderlands 2 Headerhunter 5: Sir Hammerlock Versus the Son of Crawmerax review
Daylight (PC [reviewed], PlayStation 4)Developer: Zombie StudiosPublisher: Zombie StudiosRelease: April 29, 2014MSRP: $14.99
Overall I felt as ifDaylightwas made as a jump-scare machine with a loosely tacked-on plot. I never felt invested in Sarah or cared much for the mysterious man rambling through her phone. In fact, I was more concerned with getting Miss Ghost off my back so she’d stop screaming, more so out of annoyance than fear.Daylightwould have benefited from a fresh set of spooks rather than intermittent scares and muddyplot lines, but at the end of the day if you’re looking for a cheap thrillyou’vefound it.
Verdict: 4/10 – Read the full Daylight review
Destiny of Spirits(Vita)Developer:SCE Japan Studio, Q EntertainmentPublisher: Sony Computer EntertainmentMSRP: Free-to-playReleased: March 25, 2014
As is the case with any free-to-play game, you really have nothing to lose but time by trying outDestiny of Spirits. It helps if you’re a hardcore Sony fan and strive for some of the more unique characters, but otherwise the pace is far too slow, and the rewards are far too little for the amount of time you need to invest in it.
Verdict: 6/10 – Read the fullDestiny of Spirits review
The Amazing Spider-Man 2(3DS, PC, PS3, PS4 [reviewed], Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One)Developer: BeenoxPublisher:ActivisionMSRP: $59.99Released: April 29, 2014
The Amazing Spider-Man 2isn’t a complete disaster, and I can easily see fans of Spidey enjoying it at a deep discount. It’s just a shame that Beenox somehow gotworseat makingSpider-Mangames over time, and that the powers that be insist on rushing them as movie tie-ins. Somehow, someway — we will get ourArkhamofSpider-Mangames again. Until then, you can just pick up a used copy of 2004’sSpider-Man 2.
Verdict: 6/10 – Read the full The Amazing Spider-Man 2 review
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn(PC, PS3, PS4 [reviewed])Developer:Square EnixPublisher: Square EnixMSRP: $39.99 ($12.99 per month, with a free PS3-to-PS4 license transfer)Released: August 27, 2013 (PC, PS3) / April 14, 2014 (PS4)
Despite those issues,Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Rebornis my favorite MMO sinceWorld of Warcraft. It has a lot of things going for it, tons of content to explore, and best of all — lots and lots of support. I have no doubt that the popularity ofA Realm Rebornwill continue to rise with every major update and expansion, and I wish Square Enix nothing but the best. I didn’t think it was possible, but they have absolutely atoned for the original mess that wasFinal Fantasy XIV— and then some.
Verdict: 9/10 – Read the full Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn review