ZTGD

Max: The Curse of Brotherhood is a solid puzzle/platformer that was just what I needed right now. It was definitely a nice palette cleanser from some of the holiday shooting and action, plus it is only $15, which is a fantastic price for what you get. If you have an Xbox One and are looking for a novel title to tie you over, I definitely recommend giving Max a shot.

It may not be a game for everyone, and granted it is a little short, but for $5.99 the experience of flOw is a rather relaxing one that people who enjoy a more art style game with minimalist controls may want to look into it. It has a little trouble with the controls, but it’s still a rather enjoyable ride.

NBA Live 14 is a hot mess. There is simply no other way to describe it. I wanted to derive some enjoyment from the game, hell I was a fan of NBA Inside Drive back in the days of the original Xbox, but this is simply broken on so many levels. With NBA 2K14 even existing, I cannot think of a single reason to pick up EA’s offering. It doesn’t look next-gen, it plays poorly and even its bright spots are hindered by poor implementation.

It may not be the best episode of The Walking Dead, but it still has some good moments in it. Hopefully the glitches will be worked on and the setups established will have some payoffs. If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead and enjoyed what you played of the first season, chances are you need to pick this episode up. Just keep in mind; it may not be as polished as the previous outings.

Angry Birds Star Wars is even more expensive on Xbox One, and that hurts. The extra $10 this version costs is insulting as it really should only be that much for the whole package. The crisper visuals and weekly challenges are nice, but if you already own it elsewhere, there is zero reason to upgrade to the next generation of Angry Birds.

It’s like a badge of dishonor for me to write this review without seeing the main campaign to its completion, but the more I forced myself to play a title that just wasn’t for me, I felt a sense of spite hovering over me for the title which it didn’t deserve as it’s a fully functioning, albeit mediocre, piece of gaming.

Gran Turismo 6 is still a fantastic racing game. It feels like Polyphony improved on GT5 by streamlining most of the navigation while keeping the track selection fresh. Sure, the vehicle count may be padded with a slightly different car, but there’s still a ton of content for any racing sim fan to enjoy.

Peggle 2 is a great follow-up to the addiction we all have. I am happy to once again play in short bursts, especially on Xbox One where I can do it while other games are downloading or installing. It isn’t going to set the world on fire, or change the series. It is Peggle, and if you want more Peggle, you will get exactly that here. For the price it is impossible to complain. Plus you just feel all warm and fuzzy while playing it.

The game doesn’t have too many pluses, but that doesn’t make it a bad experience. Ryse is a title that should be played when you have nothing else to play or are bored with what you do have. But I do not recommend sitting down and playing this from start to finish in one swoop – which you can do, it is only about nine hours – as you will get bored relatively quickly and often.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is the entry that has drawn me back into the series. I had fallen off since Brotherhood, and with the latest offering I cannot recommend enough jumping back in. If the story beats concern you, I recommend heading to YouTube to see what you missed, but Black Flag really never relies on the narrative as heavily as previous games.