I like golf. It’s a sport that virtually anybody can become good at, and the camaraderie that comes from walking with friends for a few hours while competing for longest short and best hole every weekend is one of my favorite childhood memories. And that’s why computer and console golf has always held a special place for me: not only is it the rare sports game that I understand, but the attached nostalgia makes every round a fun one. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 is the most complete golf game I’ve ever played. From the excellent swing mechanics, to the variety of courses, to the great excellent online offerings, I was pleased at every turn with the experience. READ MORE
There are some games that have come along this console generation that will stand the test of time. They will be fondly remembered and analyzed for years to come, even with some flaws. The number of titles that meet this criteria are not large in number, but they come around just often enough and help people realize why they love games in the first place. The original BioShock is the perfect example of this, setting the groundwork for a potential franchise and becoming one of the most revered games in the past several years.
Irrational Games’ follow-up, BioShock Infinite, doesn’t just live up to that legend. It surpasses it.
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The Ultimate Ninja Storm series has entered the third (or fourth, if you count Generations) entry in the series. Known for its amazing visuals and staying true to the anime itself, this game brings all that back for another round. You have to wonder if the series can simply survive on just those two elements alone. The last few games have introduced some new things and spice up the gameplay a bit. Fortunately, Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 does enough to keep this series going strong.
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When discussing action franchises that defined a generation, you can’t forget to bring up Tomb Raider or its protagonist, Lara Croft. As one of the first major 3D action-adventure games to hit it big, Tomb Raider became a cultural phenomenon. However, after so many games in the venerable series, the popularity died down and the quality of each subsequent entry became less stellar. In short, the series needed a fresh take, and thus providing Crystal Dynamics a chance to start anew. Bringing us back to Lara’s very first adventure, Tomb Raider is a return to form for a series that desperately needed a new beginning. READ MORE
Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds is comfortable in its own skin. The side-scrolling beat-’em-up from Mages and 5pb knows it’s going to come across as very Japanese, so it just embraces it. The result is a game akin to a sugar rush; there’s not a whole lot of nutrient-rich depth here, but it’s certainly fun as a complement to a healthy gaming diet. READ MORE
