Jose Cordova’s Top 5 Games of 2016 (so far)
- Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst (Xone, PS4, PC)
The original “Mirror’s” was the classic example of a game with more potential than actual solid gameplay. I think “Catalyst” falls just short of fulfilling that potential but still has enough breathtaking and inventive moments to warrant a purchase, though you may want to hold out for a sale.
- World of Tanks (PS4)
The free-to-play model often gets a bad rap but I believe that there are certain implementations of the model that can be… tolerable. “World of Tanks” is one of those games. It never feels like the game penalizes you for not spending cash and you can have plenty of fun jumping around different types of tanks while progressing meaningfully. Solid gameplay and something you can really sink your teeth into with tons of depth if it strikes your fancy.
- The Division (XOne, PS4, PC)
After my “Destiny” addiction wore off I had a short relapse with “The Division,” pouring a decent amount of hours into the game in a short amount of time. While the overall world building didn’t completely pull me in, I had tons of hours of funs with my friends taking on challenging missions and scrounging up the best loot I could find.
- Overwatch (XOne, PS4, PC)
I’m not the biggest multiplayer guy. Especially shooter because, full disclosure, I’m terrible at them. Most of the time, as someone who is a huge fan of storytelling in all its forms, I tend to gravitate toward single player experiences with a strong narrative (see above). Blizzard has managed to craft a game where I can join my much more skilled friends and still contribute without having to be a great fps player. That’s a neat trick to pull off.
- Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (PS4)
“Uncharted 4” landed earlier this year with enormous expectations and as far as I am concerned it absolutely met them. Naughty Dog has always had a strong grasp of character and story and their strengths are on full display in “Uncharted 4.” What truly blew me away was small technical achievements made in the environment work and motion capture performances. “A Thief’s End” is the first time that I’ve felt an actor’s presence come clearly through virtual characters. It’s the small details that get me, like tears welling up in someone’s eyes or the nervous hands of a person caught in an awkward situation. All of the visual polish combined with a strong narrative and solid, exciting, blockbuster gameplay makes “Uncharted 4” the best game I’ve played this year.
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