Last year, I wrote an article entitled 5 Games That Will Blow Minds in 2015, 5 That Will Just Blow. It was a bit, um, controversial at the time. So, how did I do? How accurate was my video game crystal ball? Let’s take a look.
5 Mind Blowers
The Order: 1886
I said:
Early impressions have been rock solid and if they hold up, this game will be unreal.
What happened:
While our own Shawn Petraschuk was enamored, saying “If the experience is one worth having and it keeps you engaged from start to finish it shouldn’t matter if the game is five hours or fifty hours” and awarding a score of 86, the consensus wasn’t nearly so positive. The Order owns a Metacritic score of 63, and is firmly rooted in the bargain bin at most retailers.
The verdict: Miss
Evolve
I said:
“The asymmetrical 4 vs. 1 gameplay was shown substantially at E3, and it sounds like there will be enough classes and monsters to keep this game on playlists for many moons. Be the Kraken!”
What happened:
I reviewed Evolve in February, and thought it was mediocre, awarding a 63:
“While it’s high points are among the most fun I’ve had in recent memory, its problems and low points ultimately win out. If you have a solid group of five you can count on to play with at all times, Evolve might be worth a look. For the rest of us who just want to jump in and have some fun, I’d recommend looking elsewhere.”
The Metacritic consensus was slightly better at ~75, but the way Evolve fell off the surface of the earth tells the story here.
The verdict: Miss
The Witcher 3
I said:
One hundred hours of game. Larger than Skyrim. Get me a bib for my drool. Where previous Witcher games have felt guided, Wild Hunt is completely open world. Combine that with more refined tactical combat and magic systems and a dynamic world brimming with characters and consequences, and you’ve got a sure fire winner on your hands.
What happened:
The Witcher 3 was a critical darling and absolutely gobbled up by consumers. Our score of 90 closely matches the Metacritic score of 94, with reviewer Trevor Houston saying:
There is no question The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt delivers a superb ‘Triple A’ RPG experience. Featuring some of the best story telling we have seen so far this year and an unforgettable, dynamic and vast open world, Witcher 3 stands as a must own for not only fans of the franchise but those looking for rich experience they can soak 100+ hours into. Some of the glitches, bugs and other small annoyances hamper the experience but the pros outweigh the cons as the Witcher 3 is a journey worth taking.
The verdict: Hit
Batman: Arkham Knight
I said:
Arkham Asylum was astonishingly good, and Arkham City applied the formula to an open world. Arkham Knight is set to make jaws drop far and wide with staggering visuals, and numerous modifications to the already rock steady (see what I did there?) gameplay mechanics. The recent delay does nothing to dampen my optimism for this next-gen titan.
What happened:
Although it was a pile of flaming garbage on PC, console versions of Batman rocked the critical world. Our review pegged Arkham Knight at a decidedly mind blowing 98, with reviewer Doug Mercer trumpeting:
In the end, how good is Arkham Knight? It’s the best Batman game you’ll play and by that measure, the best superhero game to date. A terrific sign off, Rocksteady.
The verdict: Hit
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
I said:
Japanese games are often quirky. Metal Gear is downright weird, with its crazy anime style storyline and absurd gameplay mechanics. However, Ground Zeroes was super entertaining, and I’m very intrigued by the move to a sandbox style of gameplay for the 5th iteration of Solid. I’m sure there will be multiple hour long cutscenes, but attaching bad guys to rocket parachutes looks like way too much fun to ignore.
What happened:
Rocket parachutes are indeed too much fun to ignore. MGS5 is a front runner for game of the year despite the shift away from its cutscene heavy storytelling. Receiving 93 on Metacritic and 95 from us, Metal Gear is face-meltingly good.
The verdict: Hit