Previewing Saints Row IV is a tricky proposition. There's a number of things I'd love to talk about, while at the same time understanding that these things are best experienced fresh.
Author: Darren Forman
Atelier Totori Plus: The Adventurer of Arland Review
Moe as Can Be
HIGH It's beautiful and charming.
LOW The rigidly enforced time limit for getting things done is way too harsh.
WTF Barrel!
Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel Review
The Devil's Backside
HIGH Some melee kills are decently animated.
LOW An utter lack of excitement from start to finish.
WTF The Devil doesn't even make an appearance in this game. Liars!
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen Review
Checkmate
HIGH Bitterblack Isle is a great addition, dripping with atmosphere.
LOW The insufferably slow Ox-driven escort quest to Gran Soren returns.
WTF WHAT THE F*** HAPPENED TO DANGAN?
Metro: Last Light Review
Tunnel Vision
HIGH Stepping out onto the irradiated surface in the midst of a downpour.
LOW The stealth approach is so overpowered it can completely break immersion.
WTF Those dancers jiggle harder than the Dead or Alive girls.
Sacred Citadel Review
Combosome
HIGH Fighting through a snowstorm is quite pretty.
LOW There's a deadly amount of repetition.
WTF The achievements require at least seven or more playthroughs.
Aliens: Colonial Marines Review
Horrific in All the Wrong Ways
HIGH The touchdown on LV426 is adequately realized.
LOW Everything else.
WTF They released this colossal pile of dross at full price?
DmC: Devil May Cry—Bloody Palace Review
Dante Must Combat
HIGH More glorious DmC combat…
LOW …that takes too long to really get going.
WTF The time required for an entire session is substantial.
Dishonored Third Opinion
Metal Gear Squalid
HIGH The final mission in high chaos adds much-needed narrative tension.
LOW The penultimate mission seems to drag on forever.
WTF The "shocking twist" can be seen coming from orbit by a blind man with his eyes closed… Not that having his eyes closed actually matters, what with him being blind and all.
DmC: Devil May Cry Review
Fanboys May Cry
HIGH Comboing through a group of enemies like a tidal wave, leaving nothing but their shattered remains in Dante's wake.
LOW The penultimate boss fight is disappointingly pedestrian compared to the rest of the game.
WTF The battle against Bob Barbas is… is… it's…