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PlayStation 4 Video Games Xbox One

Strike Vector EX Hands-On Preview

When Strike Vector was released on PC in 2014, the sci-fi dogfighting game was online-only, and just had a handful of arenas and multiplayer modes, though they added more of the former later on. But in bringing the game to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as the rechristened Strike Vector EX, which they’ll be doing soon, the good people at Ragequit Corporation are not only adding more multiplayer modes, reworking a couple of the maps, and rebuilding the game on a new (read: better) engine, but they’re also adding a story-driven campaign and a training arena as well.

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Movies PC PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 PlayStation Vita Reviews Video Games Xbox 360 Xbox One

Star Wars The Force Awakens Pinball Review

Though it was clearly delayed to avoid spoiling the film — what, Han Solo has turned into a silver metal ball!?! — Zen Studios have finally released their Star Wars The Force Awakens Pack for Zen Pinball 2 (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Vita), Pinball FX 2 (Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC), Zen Pinball (iOS), and Zen Pinball HD (Android, Amazon), which includes two tables inspired by the titular film. Though it may be a spoiler for the next movie that the better table is the one that embraces the Dark Side.

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PC PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 PlayStation Vita Reviews Video Games Xbox 360 Xbox One

Worst Games Of 2015

While there were some great games in 2015, there were also a bunch that weren’t so great.

And then there was the following bunch of crap that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, even if they stepped on my foot and didn’t say “Sorry.”

Here now, in no particular order, are the worst games of 2015.

 

The Order 1886 02

The Order: 1886

Developers: Ready At Dawn

Publisher: Sony

Systems: PlayStation 4

While much was made about this game’s length, or lack there of, the real issue was how it wasted that time with dated mechanics and way too many cutscenes. But my biggest problem with The Order: 1886 was that it took a cool idea — a Gears Of War-style shooter set in a proto-steampunk London — and squandered it.

SCORE: 4.0/10 (read my full review here)

 

Helldivers 03

Helldivers

Developers: Arrowhead Game Studios

Publisher: Sony

Systems: PlayStation 4PlayStation 3Vita

What should’ve been a fun and frantic arcadey, top-down, sci-fi shooter was instead a frustrating slog thanks to a lot of little problems that included, but were not limited to, pointless mechanics (I mean, seriously, what kind of a trained soldier doesn’t know to reload their weapon), bad graphical choices, and a wildly inconsistent difficulty.

SCORE: 3.5/10 (read my full review here)

 

Godzilla 01

Godzilla

Developers: Natsume

Publisher: Bandai Namco

Systems: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3

Caught somewhere between low-budget and low-rent, this game is not only overly simplistic and repetitive, but it also has counter-intuitive movement that makes this more frustrating than fun.

SCORE: 6.5/10 (read my full review here)

 

Resident Evil 01

Resident Evil (HD remake)

Developers: Capcom

Publisher: Capcom

Systems: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC

This game isn’t so much bad as it is a waste of your money. I would’ve loved a new version of this classic 1996 game with upgraded graphics and better controls. I can even understand why someone would want a faithful recreation of the original game with the original controls and the original graphics. But what we got instead was the 2002 remake of the game that Capcom put out on the GameCube, but with that game’s awkward controls and the original graphics in HD. And why would I want that? Oh, right, I don’t.

SCORE: 3.0/10 (read my full review here)

 

Onechanbara Z2 Chaos 02

Onechanbara Z2 Chaos

Developers: Tamsoft

Publisher: Bandai Namco

Systems: PlayStation 4

While it would be easy to condemn this game for being overtly sexual but not all that sexy, it actually has bigger problems than just being potentially offensive. It’s terribly redundant, which makes it rather tiresome after a while, and I say that as someone who really likes hack & slash games you can just button mash to victory.

SCORE: 6.5/10 (read my full review here)

 

Afro Samurai 2 Revenge Of Kuma Volume 1 02

Afro Samurai 2: Revenge Of Kuma: Volume 1

Developers: Redacted Software

Publisher: Versus Evil

Systems: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

As someone who liked, but still saw the flaws in, the original Afro Samurai game, I was encouraged when the people behind this sequel said they weren’t happy with the original either, and we’re striving to make something better. Which makes it even more sad that they failed. Miserably. Not only was it a bad game, but it was so flawed and buggy that the publisher gave everyone refunds and cancelled the other two volumes.

SCORE: 2.0/10 (read my full review here)

 

So, what were your least favorite games of 2015. Let me know in the comments below.

 

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PC PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 PlayStation Vita Reviews Video Games WiiU Xbox 360 Xbox One

Best Games Of 2015

 

While 2015 wasn’t the best year for video games, there were a bunch that I had a lot of fun playing.

Here now, in no particular order, are the best games I played in 2015.

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PC PlayStation 4 TV Video Games Xbox One

Interview: Gemini Heroes Reborn Lead Designer Steve Bowler

I’m not going to lie to you: I gave up watching the TV show Heroes at the end of the second season, and haven’t bothered with the new Heroes Reborn. But after seeing a demo of the upcoming game Gemini Heroes Reborn (Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC), and talking to Phosphor Game’s Steve Bowler, the game’s Lead Designer, I may have to…okay, I’m still not going to watch the show. But I’ll probably play this game when it comes out digitally on January 12.

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PC PlayStation 4 Reviews Video Games Xbox One

Just Cause 3 Video Game Review

As a fan of ’80s action flicks who saw actually some of them in theaters, I’ve always appreciated what Avalanche Studios have tried to do in their over-the-top, action-packed Just Cause games, even when I haven’t liked them. But while it has some new wrinkles and some old problems, Just Cause 3 (Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC) still manages to be as much fun as a flick from when Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson, and Bruce Willis weren’t too old for this shit.

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News PC PlayStation 4 Toys Video Games Xbox One

Funko Announce “Fallout 4” POP! Toys

Funko have announced that they will release a series of Fallout 4 POP! toys this February.

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PC PlayStation 4 Reviews Video Games Xbox One

Fallout 4 Video Game Review

In a year that’s already seen such great open world games as Batman: Arkham Knight, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, and The Witcher III: Wild Hunt, the idea of wandering around another vast landscape might seem like a bit much. But Fallout 4 (Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC) is such an engaging, addictive, sprawling adventure that it not only trumps them all, it’s easily one of the best games of the year.

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Reviews Video Games Xbox 360 Xbox One

Rise Of The Tomb Raider Video Game Review

When it came out in 2013, Tomb Raider rebooted this third-person action series in such grand style that it was easily one of that year’s best games. So it should come as no surprise that its sequel, Rise Of The Tomb Raider (Xbox One, Xbox 360…for now), largely follows the same template, and is thus not only as invigorating and addictive, but is also easily one of this year’s best games.