PC / PS3 / Reviews / Video / Vita / Wii U / Xbox 360 / by
2 
/ 
How do you follow a game that not only revitalized a franchise, but also restored many players’ faith in the power of the platformer? 2011’s Rayman Origins combined a refreshing and gorgeous aesthetic with smooth, interesting level design, and had some seriously questioning Mario’s place as the top of the genre.
Rayman Legends follows up in the most straightforward way it can: by stepping up its game in every possible aspect.
The Bureau is a confused game. It doesn’t seem to have a single, driving focus, and that really hurts the experience. Instead of, I assume, working with the folks at Firaxis to craft a narrative that dovetails into the narrative of last year’s XCOM: Enemy Unknown, The Bureau spins a tale that is gripping at the front and completely nonsensical at the conclusion. READ MORE
DuckTales Remastered is just that: an HD conversion of an NES classic. It isn’t a remake or a reboot, and should not be viewed as such. Most of the mechanical and design changes are subtle. The real draw is the presentation: the adorable HD visuals and robust animations, fully-voiced cutscenes and yet another energetic Jake Kaufman soundtrack. As long as you know what you’re getting into here (or aren’t above choosing “Easy” mode), DuckTales is just as fun as it was on the NES, with a hefty helping of extra charm. READ MORE
The Tales series has developed a very dedicated, core following by sticking to what it knows. Not every franchise is Final Fantasy, reinventing itself with each new installment. Just as Dragon Quest, as much as it evolves, will be forever shaped by the mechanics of its NES days, Tales has embraced its roots in the late-’90s JRPG environment. READ MORE
The latest release from Vanillaware, Dragon’s Crown, is a bundle of contradictions. It’s brilliantly elegant, except for the moments when it’s mind-numbingly frustrating. It’s gorgeous and lush, except for the moments when it makes you intensely uncomfortable. It’s a multiplayer-focused design that may be best played solo, and it’s a much-needed evolution of the brawler genre that nevertheless clings tightly to long-outdated mechanics and methods.
