Shooter

My expectations for Halo 5 Guardians were mixed. One one hand, it is Halo, and 343 Industries and Microsoft have rarely strayed from the core mechanics that make up a Halo game. On the other hand, 343 promised a much different Halo experience, which they demoed multiple times at many trade shows: squad combat. Although squad combat is not new to the franchise, it was the first time it was used exclusively in the a numbered Halo game. So how does Halo 5 Guardians hold up to other Halo games and this current generation? We think it did okay, if not better than okay.

We've been playing Halo 5: Guardians for a few days now and cannot wait to share our impressions with you. So far, it has been as good as we expected, and even better in many instances. The future looks bright for the Halo franchise and 343 Industries. It was announced this week that Halo 5: Guardians would launch with a 9 GB update. Here is what to expect.

343 Industries has opened up on the list of achievements for Halo 5: Guardians, showing us 65 achievements to unlock. Completing the campaign on Legendary by yourself makes its achievement return as well in Halo 5. It could be a grind to unlock all of the initial achievements but as always Halo will be a fun time.

Like many others, the second the download went live for Battlefront I jumped on my computer, navigated to the Xbox website, and made sure to hit download so it would be ready when I got home. For some, this worked out great, for others...not so much. The first two days of the Battlefront beta for myself were frustrating to say the least, but overall, Star Wars Battlefront is a game I want to be playing when it launches this November.

When Reggie and Activision announced at E3 2015 that Nintendo characters were coming to Skylanders, I was fairly skeptical, especially since it was also announced that these characters would also be amiibo compatible. Now that I have the figures in my hands - thanks to Activision who saved me a lot of money (more on that later) - I can say my skeptism was unfounded. While I wish the characters modeled an amiibo more than a Skylander, the final figures are still excellent little toys that are loads of fun to play with in Skylanders SuperChargers.

Outside of Assassins Creed, Ubisoft has made a name for themselves via the Rainbow Six franchise. The game has always been a lot of fun, focusing on team game play. Rainbow Six Siege is no different. Armed with a number of tools, players are let loose to fight each other in 5v5 multiplayer matches, and from what I have played, it is really, REALLY fun.

For the longest time, I often would determine my level of interest in a game after sixty minutes. Growing up, I rented a lot of video games, all of which had to pass the sixty minute test before I would buy it from the store. As a reviewer, I technically can't have a sixty minute barometer - I must review the entire game. However, I often still use my sixty minute rule, even if I plan to play the whole game. With the release of Disney Infinity, the the almost impossible ability to adequately review everything in one 'review,' I've decided to share my thoughts ...

I've only been playing Mad Max for a few hours, but I've already noticed a few things that both excite me and make me groan. Within the first few hours, you will know whether or not you will be spending significant time with this title or not. I think I will, although getting over a few hurdles was frustrating for a number of hours.

There is something wonderful about getting old games remastered for new systems, but also something inherently problematic. Often these titles, from the present looking to the past, are viewed as iconic, industry changing experiences. With a re-release, the question almost always becomes, "Will it live up to the original?" Gears of War: Ultimate Edition walks the fine line between being an outstanding shooter, but with many faults. Updated graphics and an overhauled multiplayer system cannot make up for the flaws of most early Xbox 360 titles.

I think everyone understands that Nintendo's E3 event was a little disappointing. I also believe that everyone thinks Nintendo is holding on to the really good announcements for the NX. After attending the Nintendo Summer Event in Toronto, Ontario this week, I've realized that some games need to be played to be appreciated. Blastball was one of those titles.