ZTGD

Everything about Assault Android Cactus feels perfect. From the controls and gameplay to sound and design. All lovingly crafted by Witchbeam, a development team of just three guys. It may have taken a while to get to the PS4, but I can now see why. Slick menu design, challenging gameplay and genuinely funny characters all add up to a create one of the best games I’ve played in a while.

For the most part, Samurai Warriors 4: Empires is a decent Musou game that is distracted by the Empires lure. It makes up for it with tons of options, even when the tutorial doesn’t really show them off. For the Warriors fans that are looking for hack ‘n slash with small RPG elements involved, I’d say go for standard Samurai Warriors 4. It is a much more condensed game that is a lot of fun to play.

Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a gem of a game that deserves to get more attention on its second time around. Those that have nostalgia for platformers from the 16-bit era owe it to themselves to check out this quirky experience. There is a lot to love about the half-genie, and certainly not enough of these types of games currently available on home consoles.

You could say it’s their destiny to be better, and so far that is proving so. I’ll need more time to observe them in the future but for now there is only a good outlook for the future of the Division and its many agents.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is a must-have for players that enjoy the series. It is a lot better than my memories led me to believe, and I cannot stress how good the dungeon design in this game truly is. The wait for a new Zelda game has been painful, but Wii U owners now have two remastered adventures that beg replaying. This timeless series never fails to impress every time I dive back into one of them.

While not a bad game, it doesn’t actually stand out even with the ridiculous premise. The multiplayer is where the game works well and even then, players may find themselves done with the game before the actual ending. The single player is bogged down with having to maneuver while switching characters constantly and ends up being a slow paced experience overall.

If there is one thing that stands out about Alekhine’s Gun, it is the setting. Spanning from the early days of World War II to the Cold War, the atmosphere actually works here. It feels like this was the part of the game that was complete. Given another year or two this might have turned out to be a solid Hitman alternative, but as it stands Alekhine’s Gun fails on every level – poor AI, abysmal frame rate, sub-par visuals, and horrendous shooting.

As far as Conquest goes, this one is not for the Fire Emblem novice. This game suggests that you are familiar with many workings of the games and the new additions are explained once and then forgotten about a mission later, leaving you to your own devices. On top of that, no real way to grind for levels or earn money make this one of the most difficult Fire Emblem games I have ever played and at times one of the most tedious.

A great game that ultimately becomes less than what it could have been due to external circumstances is a damned tragedy. While the core gameplay of Fire Emblem: Fates remains intact and enjoyable, the poorly conceived release model, along with a predictable story that feels incomplete holds it back from true greatness.

It’s hard not to draw comparisons to Joe Danger when talking about Action Henk; the influence in both gameplay and design is there for all to see. But Action Henk falls short in too many ways, allowing Joe to speed off in to the sunset, leaving Henk in his dust.