The Best Games of March 2016

Mar. 1, 2016: Heavy Rain (PS4) - 7/10

Justin Clark, Heavy Rain Review - "Re-releasing Heavy Rain in the current landscape does much to sharply contrast everything good and bad about it. Its commendable presentation is amplified, as too are its grander faults in storytelling and voice acting. And yet even as there are games that succeed where Heavy Rain fails, it can still be said there’s almost nothing else like it."

Mar. 4, 2016: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD - 9/10

Rob Crossley, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD Review - "Twilight Princess HD is unmistakably a product of its time; one that was cursed from birth with a warped identity. Crafted during anxious times for Nintendo, developed for two consoles simultaneously, this was the GameCube's last hurrah, a Wii launch title, and a defining test for motion controls (which have been stripped out). Perhaps now, ten years later, it can finally be remembered how it ought to be; the dark and violent showpiece of a treasured series."

Mar. 8, 2016: The Division - 8/10

Scott Butterworth, The Division Review - "Still, no matter how frustrated I grew with the game's semi-indestructible enemies or its repetitive leveling structure, I absolutely could not stop playing. The world was too engrossing, the loot was too enticing, and the campaign was too gripping for me to simply walk away. I stopped caring about the game's flaws after the first few hours and proceeded to lose myself in obsessive stat optimization and cooperative gun battles. The problems (and frustration) never disappeared, but I was more than happy to play through the pain."

Mar. 11, 2016: Hitman Ep. One - 7/10

Peter Brown, Hitman Episode One Review - "Hitman's opening act isn't ground-breaking, with a host of tiny problems lending it a dated feel. However, Hitman's a veritable playground that will delight you with its open-ended design, comical NPCs, and contract creation tools. These qualities, and the flexibility to be as hardcore or laid back as you want, are much appreciated, even if they don't disguise Hitman's lesser qualities."

Mar. 15, 2016: EA Sports UFC 2 - 7/10

Richard Wakeling, EA Sports UFC 2 Review - "The standing combat is so accomplished, and the changes made to make grappling more accessible, ensure you’re almost guaranteed to have a good time. Some issues drag everything down, particularly the lack of intuitive feedback, and the barebones tutorials, and a dry career mode, but EA Sports UFC 2 is a welcome improvement on its predecessor that shows this series is going in the right direction. It’s just not a number one contender quite yet."

Mar. 18, 2016: Pokken Tournament - 9/10

Tamoor Hussain, Pokken Tournament Review - "Nintendo’s Wii U provides a paucity of fighting games, but Pokken Tournament has redeemed that drought by being one of the best on any platform. Frequently magnificent to look at, delicately designed, and rewarding for players across all skill levels, it’s the Pokemon fighting game deserving of a 20-year wait."

Mar. 22, 2016: Republique - 8/10

Justin Clark, Republique Remastered Review - "Needless to say, despite its mobile game roots, the world of Republique is meant to immerse, to beckon the your curiosity, and to involve you enough in the city-state's ins and outs to get Hope, our frightened girl, out of danger. The good news is that, in transitioning to PC, the game remains largely successful. All that remains is for the game's two remaining episodes to stick what is undoubtedly going to be a rough landing for everyone involved."

Mar. 22, 2016: Trackmania Turbo - 7/10

Jason D'Aprile, Trackmania Turbo Review - "Trackmania Turbo really isn’t much different than the rest of the series. It looks better and offers console players a chance to get in on the action, something not seen since the Wii version, but is largely the same game it’s always been. For racers who live for direct competition, the time trial focus of TM might be too off-putting. Otherwise, this is simply one of the most entertaining arcade racers on the market for both experienced and more casual gamers."

Mar. 24, 2016: Samorost 3 - 7/10

Scott Butterworth, Samorost 3 Review - "Though I did eventually grow bored of its puzzles, I never tired of Samorost 3's world. Added mechanical depth and variety would have certainly made the game richer, but every subtle visual detail, every lingering musical note, every delightful interaction coalesces into a truly special world that makes Samorost 3 worthwhile nonetheless."

Mar. 25, 2016: Hyrule Warriors Legends - 7/10

Ian Dransfield, Hyrule Warriors Legends Review - "Assessed solely as a Zelda game, Hyrule Warriors probably isn’t good enough to lure in non-Dynasty Warriors fans, but it is passable enough to offer Musou lovers something different to play between their usual battles for dynastic superiority. Stereoscopy notwithstanding, it’s technically impressive. And while age-old criticisms of Warriors' repetitiveness still applies, that burden is eased somewhat thanks to the option to play this handheld edition in bursts. Now nearly twenty years since the birth of the Warriors series, here we have a convincing argument that this franchise is best suited to handhelds."

Mar. 29, 2016: The Walking Dead Michonne: Ep. Two - 9/10

Justin Clark, The Walking Dead: Michonne - Episode Two: Give No Shelter Review - "Unlike its listless predecessor, Give No Shelter flies by, ending just as it reaches a critical, shocking apex, stoking anticipation for what's to come in the finale. Middle chapter syndrome be damned. The Walking Dead: Michonne is now on par with the best this series has to offer. It is brutal. It is heartbreaking. And it is brilliant."

Mar. 31, 2016: Hyper Light Drifter - 9/10