We shared the Sword Art Online announcement, but that really only scratches the surface as Bandai Namco has a whole lot more in store for us this year.
Bandai Namco has so many games coming up this year
We shared the Sword Art Online announcement, but that really only scratches the surface as Bandai Namco has a whole lot more in store for us this year.
Month In Review - December
Looks like it’s that time of the month again! See everything that we’ve been up to and catch up on anything you may have missed.
First and foremost we want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
With the year coming to a close, a few of us (Nick, Jeff, Hamza, and myself) decided to visit the idea of what we consider memorable when it comes to gaming which can be found to the right for a while longer before they hit the archives.
Now to the games!
Article by Pierre-Yves
First and foremost we want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
With the year coming to a close, a few of us (Nick, Jeff, Hamza, and myself) decided to visit the idea of what we consider memorable when it comes to gaming which can be found to the right for a while longer before they hit the archives.
Now to the games!
Anime and Movies
Hardware
Microsoft Xbox One
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III
- Just Dance 2016
- Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 3: The Last Place You Loo
- Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 3: The Last Place You Look
- Divinity: Original Sin - Enhanced Edition
- Starpoint Gemini 2
- The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing
Nintendo 3DS
Tabletop
PC
- Age of Empires II HD: The African Kingdoms
- Astral Terra
- Between Me and the Night
- Ceres
- Empires of Creation
- GUILTY GEAR Xrd -SIGN-
- Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth3 V Generation
- Mugen Souls
- Mordheim: City of the Damned
- Tactical Soccer The New Season
- Thea: The Awakening
- The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing: Final Cut
- The Rivers of Alice - Extended Version
Sony PlayStation 4
- Dariusburst: Chronicle Saviours
- Dreamals
- Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair
- Kromaia Omega
- Lords of the Fallen: Complete Edition
- Star Wars Battlefront
Sony PlayStation Vita
Article by Pierre-Yves
Our 2015 Games of the Year - Gaming Thoughts
We're not the biggest of sites, though our team is continually growing. That being said, we have had an opportunity to play a large number of games over the span of 2015, often on multiple platforms. Now we wanted to take a few minutes and share our personal favorites, much as we did last year.
Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization announced
GUILTY GEAR Xrd -SIGN- - PC Review
Arc System Works knows a thing or fifty about fighting games, and GUILTY GEAR Xrd -SIGN- is yet further proof of that. On a technical level, this is a proficient fighter that does not necessarily bring a lot new to the table, but the depth of content, best-in-class visuals and fluid combat make this one of the best fighting games on the market.
The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing - Xbox One Review
Having already been released on the PC, we have given a good deal of coverage to the Van Helsing games. How about its console release? It is a decent action-RPG that is held back by a handful of issues that are impossible to overlook, and take some of the luster off of what is otherwise a fun game to play.
Banner Saga coming to consoles in January
Banner Saga was awesome. I thoroughly enjoyed it on PC when it first came out and I've been looking forward to any and all news about it since. Well, this qualifies not only as news, but good news.
Black-Handed Henry's Potion Party - Tabletop and Board Games Review
Black Handed Henry's Potion Party is Ninja Division and Soda Pop Miniatures' latest card-game. From the same company that brought the likes of Karate Fight! and the hilariously fantastic Dead Fellas comes the tale of 2 to 4 alchemists attempting to recreate the great Captain Henry's potions. Ripe with "resource gathering" and Sabotage, Black Handed Henry's Potion Party is an enjoyable experience best played with three other friends.
Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires - PS Vita Review
There is literally no shortage of love for the Warriors series here at CGR. Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires for the PlayStation 4 was a solid entry with Nick back in March and it has now made its way over the PlayStation Vita. With a solid blend of mechanics that we’ve come to love, the Empires label adds in Politics and Strategies in order to change up the style of play making it worthy to stand among its brethren without worry of not measuring up.
The Witch and the Hundred Knight: Revival Edition - a new trailer and more
I enjoyed the original game when I had a chance to play it on the PS3, which is why I was excited when the Revival Edition was announced. Here we have more information and assets to mull over until the title releases.
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens - Movie Review
I am an admirer of Darth Vader, whom I consider to be much more than a super villain with amazing powers; I have enjoyed several Star Wars video games; I consider the Star Wars universe to be a source of almost infinite inspiration; I have even bought a stormtrooper stuffed toy (the little guy is so devoted to his duty, he never leaves his post!). On the other hand, I wish the movies were more adult and had better choreography and plots. So, my relationship with Star Wars is complex: I was eager for the seventh episode although I didn’t have high expectations, especially after the last three productions.
Pirate Loot - Tabletop and Board Games Review
Pirate Loot might sound like a bit of a generic name, but it has a pretty solid pedigree behind it. Jason Bulmahn of Pathfinder fame works with Scott Kurtz and Dylan Maconis as they provide their art to this quick and easy to learn base for two to four players.
Ninja All-Stars - Tabletop and Board Games Review
Ninja Division and Soda Pop Miniatures have done it again; they have developed a miniatures board game that absolutely blew my mind. Their latest venture comes in the form of Ninja All Stars, a board game that in many respects is similar to their stupendous Super Dungeon Explore, though felt far more like an actual roleplaying game than I could have thought. Any fan of miniature board games, roleplaying games, and/or samurai and ninja must pick up Ninja All Stars.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
We just wanted to reach out and wish you all a very happy and safe holiday. Hopefully you got some gaming goodies to brighten up your winter months?
Expeditions: Viking announced
This one looks like it has the potential to be very cool, and we have enjoyed some of the work by IMGN.PRO in the past. Here is hoping that it lives up to its promise.
Memorable Music in Gaming #16
So we have another batch of music to leave you with before the holidays here. I like to think of this as our winter / Christmas mix. Just video game songs that were set against generally cold, snowy levels and left an impression on me, so that every time I hear them? I picture some snow and ice and a brisk, cool wind.
Dariusburst: Chronicle Saviours - PS4 Review
The Darius games have been largely in hibernation for the last several years now, but to longtime shooter fans, they know what to expect from these titles. So what about the new Dariusburst: Chronicle Saviours on PlayStation 4? Simply put, it delivers on multiple fronts for shmup fans.
First screenshots from Blood and Wine, the second expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was pretty amazing. The free DLC that came out in the weeks following was fun and now the paid DLC is giving us good reason to go back to our adventures yet again.
Kanex Pro SW-HD4X1AUD4K 4 x 1 HDMI Switcher - Hardware Review
With more and more devices outputting to HDMI, televisions are strapped for inputs to match. My living room might have more consoles and devices than most, but I do not believe that having a cable box and a handful of gaming consoles is extraordinary either. The Kanex Pro SW-HD4X1AUD4K 4 x 1 HDMI Switcher helps to solve a very specific problem, and it does so just about perfectly.
Dementium Remastered - 3DS Review
Dementium Remastered looks the part, but a short campaign, repetitive environments and a disappointingly shallow narrative. The exploration is actually fun in that tense, horror game kind of way while the pacing of the game is actually just about spot on. The end result is a mixed action horror game that is good for a few hours of play, but gives you little reason to come back to it again.
Epic Games Reveals its MOBA Paragon with First Details and Trailer
Chris is the big MOBA guy around here, but I've played my share and Paragon's system looks rather interesting to me thus far, if only because it appears to have a good deal of strategy baked in.
Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders From Planet Space - PS Vita Review
Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders From Planet Space (EDF2 here on out) benefits from a campy, enjoyable style that has actually aged quite well. It also possesses an excellent loot cycle that serves to keep players coming back for more. The term 'dumb fun' comes to mind, but it works here all the same.
Starpoint Gemini 2 - Xbox One Review
There is a lot to like about Starpoint Gemini 2, though it may require a bit of digging to find it all. The reason is twofold: this was a PC game first and the interface is not as intuitive with a controller, and there is a lot to learn before you can really leverage the wide open world the game has to offer.
New Beneath the Surface dev diary for Sheltered
Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair - PS4 Review
If chaotic co-op brings you joy, join the EDF and prepare to deploy!
Starship Troopers is a big freakin’ deal. In fact, last week I watched it for the 23rd and ½ time (give or take 10 or 20 viewings) with one of my childhood friends. As per each viewing, I was brought back to the spectacle that was my theatrical experience in ‘97, a moment when, rather than meticulously analyzing absolutely everything for underlying meaning, as is my nature, I enjoyed the film purely as Human VS. Arachnid entertainment -- without any consideration for its obvious satirical, political, and metaphorical elements. The film strapped an M3 tactical helmet to my head and air-dropped me into its militaristic universe. Top-notch special effects and cheesy but sincere acting intertwined with lurid, graphic violence and a morale-boosting score to compose a future sci-fi classic that I, ignoring the inconvenience of greasy hands befouled by an over-buttered popcorn bag, could appreciate as a simple action movie.
Mugen Souls - PC Review
Mugen Souls is an outrageous, over-the-top, and a JRPG title that never takes itself seriously and was most recently ported to the PC. 2015 has been a spectacular year for JRPG ports on the PC with the release of the wonderful Hyperdimension series as well as Fairy Fencer F, add to that list the Final Fantasy games, Tales of Zestiria, Legend of Heroes, and Grandia II and you have some of the most popular (and powerful) JRPGs in the genre having been ported. Mugen Souls while far from a serious affair, adds its name to that veritable list of powerhouse ports and in many ways can hold its own among the giants of the industry.
Arc System Works Releasing 5 Titles on Steam by Summer 2016!
I will be honest - when it comes to Arc System Works, the first thing that usually comes to mind is their stable of excellent fighting games. Well, more of those are coming - to PC. These are definitely going to be worth a look.
Tactical Soccer The New Season - PC Review
With elements of simulation as your players develop to turn-based strategy on the field, Tactical Soccer The New Season is not going to appeal to everyone. This is not for those players who want to spend their time testing their quick reflexes out against other players. The pace is slower and more deliberate, but the experience is a solid one.
Star Wars Battlefront - PS4 Review
As you might know, there is a little movie called Star Wars that just released. Not too long prior, another small-time video game adaptation of the series also came out. Now of course, I say all of this with tongue firmly planted in cheek, because I am a huge fan of the Star Wars franchise and also thoroughly enjoyed the Battlefront games in years past. As a title paying its respects to the source material, Star Wars Battlefront succeeds on several levels. As an actual shooting game, the offering is solid, but unspectacular.
Nioh coming to PlayStation 4 in North America
Astral Terra - PC Preview
Dungeons and Dragons meets Minecraft is about the only way I can think of describing the sandbox/survival/RPG game called Astral Terra. It’s currently in Alpha and very rough around the edges but it could hold some promise if the developers focus on their goals and try not to do too much.
Dreamals - PS4 Review
The creators of Ender of Fire, Xiness, are back once again on PlayStation 4 to try and deliver an experience that goes in a very different direction from their previous delve into the Action RPG genre. Welcome to the world of Dreamals, in which three separate bickering friends are brought into a world of dreams in which the only way out is to help the one that brought them there. Can these three put aside their differences to work together? They don’t have much of a choice and being in a world of dreams means that interesting things can happen as the standard rules of reality do not apply.
XSEED Games Announces Limited Edition Version of Senran Kagura Estival Versus
Empires of Creation - PC Preview
Built around a procedurally generated system, Empires of Creation has some interesting ideas, but at this point the game itself is really just that - a series of ideas that are not interwoven into a complete package. At least not yet.
Lords of the Fallen: Complete Edition - PS4 Review
Lords of the Fallen: Complete Edition brings the underrated action-RPG title from last year back to the PlayStation 4 with access to all of the prior DLC. So with a year of patching the game under its belt and some additional items and a new zone, how does the game hold up now? Quite well, actually.
BANDAI NAMCO Announces Ni no Kuni II: REVENANT KINGDOM
When it came out, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch was one of my favorite gaming titles that year. It had a couple of flaws, but it was beautiful, enchanting and a great deal of fun. I have been hoping for a sequel and well...
Call of Duty: Black Ops III - Xbox One Review
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 for the Xbox One is the continuation of what is easily the best sub-series of the megalithic Call of Duty franchise. This third entry in the series is arguably the best, with lightning fast gameplay, interesting locations, stunning graphics, an interesting progression mechanic, and some of the most explosive action I have seen in quite some time. Black Ops 3 is, without a doubt a must have for any shooter fan.
Between Me and the Night - PC Preview
While the idea of sanity is hardly a new one in video games, it can still make for one of the most interesting topics you might encounter. You take on the role of a boy who is in a strange house filled with puzzles but also some pretty heavy themes that are worth exploring.
BANDAI NAMCO Announces ACE COMBAT 7
It is hard to believe how long this series has been around for, but by and large it has been a lot of fun on different platforms. This newest announcement could be a good deal of fun.
Kromaia Omega - PS4 Review
6 Degrees of Manic But Padded Bullet Hell
Throughout my early gaming years, Shoot ‘em ups were up there with JRPGs as my favorite and most frequented genre. I owe this affinity to my brother’s copy of Super R-Type, a side-scrolling space shooter that insulted my hand-eye coordination and working memory with swarms of positionally patterned enemies and their respective barrage of blinking bullets. Infuriatingly difficult at all moments and forgiving only when the game’s cartridge was lunatically removed from the SNES, Super R-Type introduced a 7-year-old me to a universe of space battles that required reflexes, patience, and a reluctant acceptance of momentary failure.
Ceres - PC Review
Ceres. A simple name, but not at all a simple game. That is not to say that it is a hard game, but there is a good deal of nuance to pick up. Ceres may start with a single ship, but before long you will be issuing carefully considered commands and earning experience on an adventure that may well slip under this year's release radar - but it absolutely worth a look for space strategy fans.
Fallen Legion looks like it could be right up our alley
Boss Monster 2: The Next Level - Tabletop and Board Games Review
Boss Monster 2: The Next Level takes the original game premise, and expands on it in smaller, subtler ways that work within the confines of the original game while still creating a better experience overall.
The Rivers of Alice - Extended Version - PC Review
The Walking Dead: Michonne - A Telltale Games Series Premiering this February in Three Episode Event
We cover a lot of the Telltale Games titles, and with good reason - they are usually excellent. As such, several of us are looking forward to what was recently announced on The Walking Dead front.
Thea: The Awakening - PC Review
Thea: The Awakening is one of those surprise title that came out of nowhere for me. I had seen a handful of things about it prior to release, but I had no real idea what to expect when I fired it up. At minimum, I was hoping for a solid 4X strategy title - but Thea: The Awakening is far more than just that and one of the best surprises of the year, even if it is clocking in late in 2015 calendar.
Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 3: The Last Place You Look - Xbox One Review
Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 3: The Last Place You Look proves that there may still be hope for this series. While the prior two chapters were both underwhelming, I actually came away from the third chapter both entertained, and anxious to see where the story goes.
Launch date for The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel announced
Boss Monster: Tools of Hero-Kind - Tabletop and Board Games Review
Earlier this year, we had a chance to sit down and play Boss Monster: The Dungeon Building Card Game, and we enjoyed it a great deal. Now that the video game season is slowing down a bit, we thought this would be an excellent time to visit some more tabletop games, including this expansion to the original game.
Mordheim: City of the Damned - PC Review
Mordheim: City of the Damned drops you into a challenging game and does not really hold your hand early on. The tactical difficulties are pronounced and to some users, potentially off-putting. That is a shame, because the title is actually a great deal of fun if you give it enough time to show off its bright spots.
