By: Katelyn Summers ~Copy Editor~
The Xavier Newswire decided to break down some of the great and not-so-great video game releases from 2014.
Best Games:
5. Grand Theft Auto V [GTAV]
The most recent installment of this action-adventure game has earned its place as the fastest selling game of all time. Earning $1 billion within the first three days, GTAV was a smash hit. Featuring three very different protagonists, GTAV follows the story of three criminals committing extreme heists on the streets of the fictional San Andreas.
4. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Taking place in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, “Shadow of Mordor” follows Talion, a ranger captain of Gondor, sent to take out the Orc army of Mordor. Using the brand new “nemesis system,” the game shaped the world around the player according to his or her actions. Enemies remember Talion and adapt to the player’s gaming style. Talion has the ability to take out the hierarchy of the army, placing different orcs in charge. This creates a challenging and personalized gaming experience.
3. The Wolf Among Us
Based on “Fables,” a comic book series by Bill Willingham, “The Wolf Among Us” follows typical Telltale Games play style, leaving the player to make the decisions. This game follows Bigby Wolf a.k.a. The Big Bad Wolf, sheriff of Fabletown, an area located in modern New York that is home to various storybook characters. The game lends itself to be played frequently because each decision you make drastically changes the direction of the game and the possible outcomes.
2. Super Smash Bros. [SSB]
Nintendo’s highly anticipated group fighter game blew fan expectations out of the water. Featuring a handful of new characters, stages and gameplay modes, SSB is as much fun as its predecessors. This game was released for both the WiiU and the 3DS, allowing a variety of gamers, both handheld and console, to get in on the action. If you and your roommate are having an argument, settle it in Smash. Not sure which sibling has to buy the birthday gift for Mom? Settle it in Smash. Not sure if you should study or play video games? Settle it in Smash.
1. Dragon Age: Inquisition
After nearly four years in the making, Bioware released what critics and fans are calling a masterpiece. Set in the world of Thedas, “Dragon Age: Inquisition” is the ultimate immersive fantasy experience. This game is truly the perfect part three to the highly celebrated Dragon Age series. The world is what you make it in this roleplaying game, allowing players to choose from a variety of races, classes and fighting styles. The maps are huge, giving players a sense of unlimited freedom and exploration. Make friends or enemies, be a hero or villain, save the world or rule it: the choice is yours.
Worst Game:
Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric
For video game fans everywhere, the thought of another bad Sonic game is not shocking. Following what many call “the worst game ever made,” Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), Sonic Boom takes the cake on the classic story of “could have been but will never be.”
Sonic Boom is a very good looking game, once you are able to look past the glaring issues. Sadly, having an aesthetically pleasing game is not enough. Full of almost comical glitches, bugs and errors, Sonic Boom may be one of the worst games ever made. The game seems generally unfinished, lacking in details like speed. Sonic fans must continue to dream of when Sega developers will revert to the glory that was Sonic Adventure 2: Battle.