ZTGD

The Ezio Collection is a solid package of three incredibly well-designed games. Probably the best set to remaster for the new generation, but the port is not the best, and if you already beat them all, this is more a trip down memory lane than anything else. I loved revisiting the games that made me fall in love with the series for sure, but I will never see the entirety of this collection again, there is simply too much to play, but for anyone looking to get into the series for the first time, this is the perfect place to start. It is OK to skip the first game, we won’t tell anyone.

Watch Dogs 2 is the proper way to do a sequel. The series is now back in my category of games I care about, which says a lot after how forgettable the first game truly was. I love the tone, the whimsical nature, and just exploring the gorgeous interpretation of San Francisco. Sure it has some bad story pacing, and plenty of useless open world mission types, but I still had a blast playing it.

I find myself in an odd situation where I felt miserable playing Nobunaga’s Ambition, mostly because it’s just not the kind of game that I enjoy. However, at the same time, I couldn’t help but be impressed at the level of depth and polish in the overall experience. Still, it remains that this game did nothing to make me want to delve deeper into the genre of Grand Strategy.

I really wish there was something redeeming in Battle Crashers outside of the visuals. The game really does look great, and the fan service is certainly there, but the tedium of finishing a level is just deflating. I love the genre, and the license lends itself well to this type of game, but the developers somehow made this devoid of any joy to play.

Dishonored 2 is a great game that builds a believable world and lets the player use it as a playground. For those wanting a straight-ahead action game, this is not it, and even more so than the first, stealth is highly recommended. Still it is impossible to argue just how well the team has executed their vision. Crafting one of the most unique and engrossing experiences once again. Don’t miss out on Dishonored 2, it is easily in contention for one of the best of 2016.

All in all through, Ittle Dew 2 is actually a decently paced and pretty fun action adventure game. The controls never ruined the experience for me, and with the amount to see and do and the ease of use the entire game can be, I feel like anyone who grew up playing classic Zelda games will enjoy this one enough to see it through to the end. Just remember, it is more on the simpler side. At the same time, I feel like this may be a bit of a short experience for some epically for the $20 price point. It’s a fun game, but maybe wait for a slight price drop.

The story itself, at least the two paths I took, didn’t really keep me interested, and I found myself just wanting it to end. Never a good thing, but these games live and die by their storyline hooks. What started as really intriguing for me ended up growing dull in the long run. As far as a game goes for the genre, it’s not horrible or broken, and I’m sure some folks will really enjoy the story being told here, but for me it’s too little all around.

It doesn’t help any that Devil’s Daughter also offers less game for more money. It’s a shame, because the story here is enjoyable and the ending has some legitimately tense moments, but almost everything about it feels like it could have, and should have, been better.

Earth’s Dawn isn’t as a good as Odin Sphere, or even at the same level. It doesn’t have to be though. This is clearly a more budget focused title and it shows. All things considered, it’s one of the more fun and addicting games I’ve played this year, and surprisingly so. A game I almost didn’t give a second glance, and here I was being pulled away from other huge heavy holiday games. It offers a lot of content to work through, and for the price, players could do much worse this year.

Still, even with those complaints, Central Fiction adds enough characters, mechanics and fine tunes its already nearly flawless gameplay into something that feels as amazing to play as it looks. It’s currently my favorite fighting game on the market, and I have no doubt that I will be throwing dozens of more hours into it in the months to come.