ZTGD

I highly recommend #IDARB, and this comes from someone that doesn’t play sports games, yet I knew the moment I yelled at my TV during a slow motion instant replay victory, this was special. #IDARB will be a social favorite for years to come.

Storm Island is a concept I got behind, but felt like it could have been more. Where is my lightning and thunder crashing down? I want some tropical storm-level insanity to race in. Still for those looking for more Forza Horizon 2 there is plenty to be found in this pack. Just know it doesn’t stray far from the original game at all.

With its simplistic nature and decent soundtrack, I found Funk of Titans refreshing to play. Sure it gets repetitive after a while, but I couldn’t help but keep playing. It has an interesting formula that just works. Of course, it’s not going to blow anyone’s socks off, but it’s not a bad game either. If you’re looking for a fun distraction for about 4 hours and have nine bucks to spare, give it a shot. You may actually have a fun time like I did.

At its heart Super Mega Baseball feels like those old games I loved, I just wish they would have just focused on making the core game work and left out the additional systems, which not only don’t enhance the game but actively detract from it. It’s a classic example of a game that I’ll still play, but always be bothered that it didn’t live up to its potential.

As a straight puzzle game The Talos Principle is very solid, but the setting and narrative really elevate it into something special. It reminded me a lot of how I felt when I was finding all of the glyphs in Assassin’s Creed II – I enjoyed the main game, but I wanted to go the extra mile and dig deeper to understand everything I could.

Fantasy Hero Unsigned will last most players around 8 hours or so, combined with DLC if they choose to extend their time with it. It’s a unique combination of Diablo and Monster Hunter like game play elements, with a story that is decent enough to keep you going, and game play fun and simple enough to keep you engaged. Most people won’t even know what this game is, but as an on the go Vita player, it’s a title you just might want check out.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a marvelous puzzle game that stretches its initial value well beyond what I had anticipated. It will take players a hefty amount of time to master it all, and the game does a fantastic job of making you want to see and do everything. It is rare for a puzzle game to see this kind of release, and especially one of this quality.

As a result the games are consistently good, but playing them back to back to back would likely lead to monotony. These games are better played with some time left between them, so they can each be enjoyed fully. That small bit of advice aside, it a great collection for anyone who missed the originals or series fans looking to replay the early games.

I know many people have been skeptical of The Crew, and after playing it, I have no issues. Just exploring the world was a blast for me. My time spent with the game was very enjoyable, and with some friends it is even more fun. It has a few issues, but The Crew is a fun game with an action movie story that I think many will enjoy especially in co-op.

Still, even with its faults, GGXrd is an excellent foundation for the inevitable half dozen or so iterations to come. While it may prove to be a divisive title in the hardcore community, it’s an excellent point for newcomers to jump in and learn firsthand why the name “Guilty Gear” commands so much respect in the fighting game community.