If Axis Games can use their Franchise mode as a foundation and build on it moving forward, then we might have something on our hands that could be classed as a valid alternative (but not a competitor) to Madden.
Sea Salt is an interesting experimental idea which offers players a cool premise and game world to indulge in. While a lot of thought and care has gone into building a compelling world in order to convincingly provide players the empowerment of being a cruel omnipotent being, the actual real-time strategy gameplay is far too simplistic.
Legrand Legacy: Tale of Fatebounds on Xbox One is a passable Japanese RPG knock-off at best. It has some original elements and ideas in its premise and presentation, but everything else feels too familiar and it doesn’t exactly borrow good ideas from genre exemplars.
Nikola Tesla led a fascinating and unbelievable life. The Serbian-American was an inventor, an electrical genius and a futurist. He came up with ideas involving X-Ray machines, death rays that could end all wars and automated boats. He died penniless in New York and the true nature of his successes and ideas only came to light many years later. The gaming world has taken to his mythology over recent times though, delivering several projects in which he has appeared or influenced the experience. In Close to the Sun he is one of the major players as the game delves into the imaginings of his work to create a fantasy adventure. But does it electrify?
There’s no doubt that the different Williams Pinball Volumes released so far have been pretty damn decent, but can the latest monstrous pack - Williams Pinball: Universal Monsters - raise the stakes and be one to howl about from the rooftops?
Kine is an intensely entertaining and challenging puzzler dripping with charm. It has bags of character and will have you smiling from start to finish. I can’t say much more than do yourself a favour and buy this game.
Whether you’re a fan of the original or want to experience this franchise for the first time, Cat Quest II is the superior game of the two and builds upon the original in all departments.
Monochrome Order on Xbox One makes a decent fist of being an interesting RPG, but then shoots itself in the foot by making it harder to play unless you buy extra things.
It is great having Super Monkey Ball back on consoles, and like any good friendship you can jump straight back into it and feel like you’ve never been apart.
Having actively avoided horror games, and anything remotely scary, for many years due to a lack of enjoyment found in being scared witless, I figured it’s time to delve back into the recently flourishing genre. The 2D pixelated action-adventure horror Worse Than Death on Xbox One, developed by Benjamin Rivers Inc., caught my eye as a good place to resume; after all, a few pixels can’t be too frightening, right?
While it seems that Popcap and EA have played it somewhat safe, Neighborville is still an interesting game to play, and with more of an emphasis on the story mode, including the return of the gnomes to find and vanquish, there is plenty of fun to be had here. Just don't expect to have your socks blown off with the originality on display.
