Super Smash Bros. for Wii U - 9.8
THE VERDICT
Nearly every aspect of Smash Wii U seems fine-tuned not only to appeal to the nostalgia of long-time Nintendo fans, but also to be accessible to new players. Once they’re hooked, it draws them in deeper with a set of great modes and tempting rewards. There’s just so much here, and I’ve rarely seen a game with so many enjoyable and replayable ideas in a single package. Playing eight-player matches and classic four-player brawls are only the beginning, and I don’t see a reason to stop playing Super Smash Bros. for Wii U for a long time. - Jose OteroBroken Age: Act 1 - 9.5
Broken Age Act 1 is an absolute joy of an adventure. It’s filled with unforgettable characters, incredible puzzles, and one of the most gorgeous worlds you’ll find in games. It culminates with an effective cliffhanger that has me counting the days until I can finish Vella and Shay’s adventure in Act 2. Broken Age is a great reminder of why I fell in love with adventure games in the first place, and that the genre’s strengths lie in its fertile ground for storytelling and worldbuilding rather than mechanical tweaks. - Marty Sliva
Bayonetta 2 - 9.5
THE VERDICT
Every aspect of Bayonetta 2 feels polished and focused. At times, the writing feels ridiculous, but I still love how it plays. The superb pacing and combat are just that good. By the end I was convinced: This sequel builds on everything that made the original great, and delivers one of the most satisfying action games I've played. - Jose OteroThe Walking Dead: The Game, Season 2 - 9.5
THE VERDICT
Episode 2 of The Walking Dead: Season 2 is one of the best Telltale has ever made. It’s big, full of great dialogue, devastating consequences, memorable and fun action scenes, and places a smart, scary plot at center stage. Clementine’s character growth remains the most interesting aspect of Season 2, and The Walking Dead is walking her down a more brutal, disturbing path than ever before. - Mitch DyerChild of Light - 9.3
THE VERDICT
Every aspect of Child of Light has an unmistakably artisinal, organic feel to it. None of it feels focus-tested, or designed to appeal to the broadest possible audience; rather, it always comes off as exactly the expression its creators intended. The artwork on display is stunning, and the combat is constantly engaging, and the characters openly defy genre convention. But perhaps the best thing I can say about Child of Light is that I was often unsure as to whether I was headed in the direction I was supposed to, and I never once cared. I just wanted to fly to every corner of the world, take it in, and smile. - Vince Ingenito
The Wolf Among Us - 9.3
THE VERDICT
The Wolf Among Us Episode 5: Cry Wolf is a wonderful cap to Telltale’s season. It made me not only want to replay the episode to see various outcomes, but the entire series to see if I had missed any clues planted early on. The writing is great, the action is satisfying, and living with the consequences of my decisions is fantastically powerful. Simply put, The Wolf Among Us’ finale provides some of the finest storytelling I’ve played in a long time. - Marty Sliva
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor - 9.3
THE VERDICT
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor stands out from other open-world action games by putting a great new layer on top of the trail that Batman blazed. I was surprised at how well it integrates its excellent combat with rewarding feedback and progression not just for me, but also for my enemies. I’ve had many more memorable and unpredictable battles with its randomized Warchiefs and captains than I did in the scripted campaign missions, and I expect those to keep on coming. - Dan Stapleton
Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls/Ultimate Evil Edition - 9.2
THE VERDICT
With Reaper of Souls, and the recent round of content patches, Blizzard has transformed Diablo 3 into something far more akin to what long-time fans like me wanted all along. It still requires that annoying always-online connection (which has behaved itself), but it’s more sinister in tone, more rewarding to play, and more maddeningly addictive than it’s ever been. I’m looking forward to many more hours in search of that perfect legendary drop. - Vince IngenitoPersona 4 Arena Ultimax - 9.1
THE VERDICT
There are plenty of good things to say about Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. It looks and plays great, it’s easy to dive into for beginners, and rewarding to learn for veterans. It’s irresistible sense of style speaks for itself, but given how much I love its predecessor, the biggest compliment I can pay it is that it’s 100% the sequel that Persona 4 Arena deserved
