Strike Suit Zero: Director’s Cut
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4
Harking back to 3D dogfighters like Top Gun and Starfox, Strike Suit Zero is finally having its day in the sun on the next-gen consoles. Though the game was re-outfitted from its PC version for the high-end graphic environments of the XB1’s and PS4’s juiced-up hardware, we were still underwhelmed by its lackluster look. But it didn’t take long before that disappointment faded away, because the space-fighting gameplay and simple, intuitive control scheme more than make up for the subpar stylings of Strike Suit Zero’s environments. We’ve come to terms with the fact that no matter how old we are, locking on an enemy, firing missiles, and blowing said enemy to bits still makes us smile like 8-year-old miscreants.
Platforms: Xbox One
Xbox’s answer to the addiction of Wii Sports, Kinect Sports Rivals is an entirely motion-controlled game that’s meant to show off the chutzpa of the Xbox One’s updated sensor. First, make your super-detailed avatar by letting the Kinect do a body and face scan, then let your avatar loose in all of the six sports mini-games included on the disc. Bowling and Tennis are highlights here and are easily the most competitive of the games, especially when you take your skills online against the world. Word to the wise: Be careful when playing head to head locally – what starts out as a forehand swing in tennis turns into a bitchslap really fast if you’re not careful.
Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, PSVita, WiiU, 3DS, PC
In the gaming world, it’s well known that LEGO games are often better than their franchise counterparts. We’ll direct you to Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter if you don’t believe us. It appears that even Warner Brothers has figured this out, because the only way you’re playing a Hobbit game is if you dig into the LEGO version. LEGO: The Hobbit is a plastic-blocked remake of the first two movies, encompassing everything from An Unexpected Journey and Desolation of Smaug, but with the excellent storytelling and cut scenes we’ve come to expect from all LEGO video games. While we still think there’s plenty of room for a more adult-themed Hobbit video game, we certainly don’t mind going toe to toe with an angular, bricked version of a badass dragon like Smaug.
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