October 2014
1. Skylanders: Trap Team
This brand new Skylanders adventure gives players the options to go into battle with Trap Masters. These powerful rivals turned out allies get added to your huge roster of Skylanders’ heroes through the use of the new Traptanium Portal. The coolest part of all this? Hearing your defeated enemy yell out via those lil’ crystal shards that are outside of the game. Trap Team will increase your addiction to saving Spyro’s colorful world.
2. The Evil Within
We’re happy to play a game that actually scares the hell out of us and doesn’t give us a whole ton of huge guns/ammo to run around with. A lack of ammo and health regeneration items on this game’s Survivor difficulty brings back that classic survival horror feel we missed. The Evil Within is filled with intense scares, mind-bending puzzles, disgusting creatures and some of the scariest moments seen in gaming for 2014.
3. NBA 2K15
Visual Concepts always does a bang up job with its line of basketball sims. NBA 2K15 arrives on the Xbox One with cleaner visuals, stronger gameplay, a new MyLEAGUE mode, face scanning technology and so much more. This year’s cover star Kevin Durant represents this annual iteration quite well. His name and image can be compared quite simply to NBA 2K15 in just two simple words – professional excellence.
4. Alien: Isolation
Here’s another horrifying, survival-horror game that will test your wits and patience. Instead of moving around a space station while mowing down aliens with a M41A Pulse Rifle, you’ll have to sneak around and avoid one nasty Xenomorph. There’s also some haywire android you’ll need to steer clear of and other humans who may or may not have it out for you. Step into the boots of Amanda Ripley and dodge the most dangerous alien of them all in Alien: Isolation.
5. Sunset Overdrive
Insomniac Games has knocked it out of the park once again. Sunset Overdrive is an imaginative open-world, 3rd-person shooter that’s full of hilarity and fun. That damned energy drink has turned everyone into mindless mutants. You and your arsenal of out there weaponry (shooting down your enemies with explosive teddy bears is awesome!) do huge damage to those relentless baddies. And the parkour elements within this game makes navigating the city a joy every time.
6. Fantasia: Music Evolved
Harmonix Games and Disney Interactive Studios have done a fine job using the Kinect to bring music and motion technology together. Fantasia: Music Evolved is the interactive successor to Disney’s Fantasia animated films and it lets you use your hands to create wonderful music. Songs by artists such as Lady Gaga, Missy Elliot, Lorde and Imagine Dragons make up the eccentric soundtrack that encompasses this incredible musical experience.
7. Lords of the Fallen
This Dark Souls inspired action/adventure is darker and its warriors look a bit more bulkier than normal. You wield the formidable power of Harkyn, a man who’s out to murder demons and fend off the many behemoths coming from Rhogar. The name of the game here is simple – survive as much as possible, keep your defenses up and venture through the dark world of Lords of the Fallen.
November 2014
1. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
2014’s installment of Call of Duty is heading into some future territory. Advanced Warfare changes up the annual FPS formula for the blockbuster series with new exoskeleton suits and the same fast and fluid gameplay we’ve all loved for years. The always addictive multiplayer comes with added mobility, even faster movement and a explosive campaign that features a struggle between terrorists and Private Military Corporations.
2. Halo: The Master Chief Collection
How can you go wrong with the incredible package of remastered Halo games? Halo: The Master Chief Collection comes packaged with Halo 1 Anniversary, Halo 2 Anniversary, Halo 3 and Halo 4. Each game comes with updated visuals, multiplayer co-op and a bevy of options that multiplayer fans will enjoy. This is the definitive way to experience Master Chief’s main numbered entries in the Halo universe.
3. Assassin’s Creed: Unity
Ubisoft takes player on another open-world adventure within the Assassin’s Creed timeline. The French Revolution is also a huge part of the ongoing brutal Assassin vs. Templar conflict, but the option to take on your opposition with three fellow Assassins gives you the edge you need. Assassin’s Creed Unity looks amazing on the Xbox One and offers the same incredible stealth mechanics this series is highly regarded for.
3. Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisition is near perfection. The battle gameplay adopts the best elements of the 1st DA and its more action-oriented sequel, the army building is awesome and the world of Thedas has something for you to do around every corner. Taking on the massive dragons of its world and saving your world from demons falling out the sky gives you pleny of reasons to get sucked into this incredible RPG.
4. Far Cry 4
Ubisoft’s 4th Far Cry adventure transports you into the fictional location of Kyrat, which is based on the real-world location of the Himalayas. You play your part in the middle of a brewing civil war between a rebel group and an evil yet charismatic dictator. The gunplay, expansive open-world and excellent co-op/multiplayer options fill out this amazing experience. Far Cry 4 builds upon the great gameplay that was introduced in Far Cry 3.
5. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
These LEGO games improve each and every year they release. Traveller’s Tales went back to Gotham City this time around, but they’ve expanded their playable settings by sending DC’s best heroes into space. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham features a more focused campaign style that features linear but fun stages. A ton of playable DC good guys and villains are available as you run around solving puzzles and collecting plenty of LEGO stubs. The fun factor here is incredibly high with this one.
6. Grand Theft Auto V
Rockstar Games didn’t just want to spruce up the visuals for the next-gen edition of GTA V. They added an awesome 1st-person viewpoint that dynamically changes the gameplay, even more music and added original tunes and a bigger population of non-playable citizens. The Xbox One version of GTA V is miles ahead of the Xbox 360 release, which means you need to hop back into the definitive edition of Los Santos.
7. Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions
This twin-stick shooter assaults every gamer’s senses in the best way possible. The fun displayed in the last two games in the series are magnified here with an adventure mode, classic mode and the same brightly colored explosions you’ve come to appreciate. The series has reached an evolution point with this downloadable shooter that’s great in all areas. Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions must be in your digital game collection.
December 2014
Nothing to see here, folks…