Sunset Overdrive
Reviewer: Daniel Bischoff
Quote: “Sunset Overdrive doesn’t take itself seriously, making the action and character of the game stand out about as much as its vibrant color scheme. Sequences that slightly alter gameplay or offer a big boss manage to delight beyond most of what’s available on the latest consoles today. If I couldn’t recommend the game to you based on its intense sense of motion or wild enemy and environment design, then I’d say the third-person shooter combat and unique upgrades will do the trick.”
Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare
Reviewer: Daniel Bischoff
Quote: “Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare takes beloved characters and tosses them into an entirely different dimension. I’m both a shooter and a PvZ fan, but no matter which side you come down on, win, lose, or draw, someone’s gotta eat those brains.”
The Walking Dead: Season One
Reviewer: Alex Osborn
Quote: “When I finished the final episode of The Walking Dead, eyes welling up with tears, I started thinking about the possibilities of where Telltale might take the series in Season Two. The series only got better with each subsequent chapter, so I can’t wait to see how the studio plans to expand the franchise further in 2013. This might sound totally ridiculous, but as of right now, there isn’t a game I’m more excited about. Forget BioShock Infinite or The Last of Us. I want more of The Walking Dead!”
The Stanley Parable
Reviewer: Paul Tamburro
Quote: “The Stanley Parable is a game about endings. The Stanley Parable is also a game about beginnings. It is also a game about the bits in between those beginnings and endings. In truth, I’m still not entirely sure what The Stanley Parable is about, but that’s what’s so wonderful about it.”
Grand Theft Auto V
Reviewer: Daniel Bischoff
Quote: “Rockstar Games have unleashed the Skyrim of third-person action games. It’ll have a lasting impact through controversy, through harshly addictive gameplay, and by taking the zeitgeist of 18-36-year-old males hostage and torturing them with nipple clamps.”
The Last of Us
Reviewer: Daniel Bischoff
Quote: “That sound, the one you’ll hear in dark abandoned cellars and subways, will absolutely haunt you. To think that the studio that once made Crash Bandicoot a household name has revitalized and redefined the survival horror genre will surprise you, but there it is. In atmosphere and narrative, Naughty Dog knows few barriers, and turning their talent and craftsmanship to such haunting and profound subject matter will ensure that the developer is poised to continue its dominance as a premier auteur development studio well into the next generation of console hardware.”
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Reviewer: Daniel Bischoff
Quote: “Animal Crossing: New Leaf finally evolves and revitalizes the formula, expands on the way you interact with your town in meaningful ways, and more importantly returns the series to portable hardware. There are countless elements I haven’t touched on here, but maybe in playing the game for yourself, you’ll access them before I do. Giving players the choice of when and how the town should expand means you can be as aggressive or as passive as you like. Suddenly Animal Crossing isn’t about debt if you don’t want it to be; It feels more like you have an integral role in shepherding your town to its full potential. Whichever you prefer, let this animal bite you.”
Assassin’s Creed III
Reviewer: Daniel Bischoff
Quote: “Give it time and Assassin’s Creed III may prove itself the best experience this year. With the game’s mix of a hugely interactive open world, a compelling setting, and a finely tuned combat system, I’m eager to return to delve even further into the Animus. Combining the best of the franchise so far, Assassin’s Creed III doesn’t disappoint long-time fans who’ve been with the series while also making it easy enough to jump in for the kill.”
