"Samsung Galaxy Note 4," "Tears to Tiara II," "Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus" and More [GAMES ROUNDUP]

As much as you might love your PS4 or Xbox One — or even your 3DS or Vita — odds are most of the gaming you do is on your phone. That’s why it’s so important to make gaming capabilities a major component in deciding which phone to get. With its better-than-HD screen resolution, blazing fast processor and beast mode battery life, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 rivals the similarly-sized iPhone 6 Plus as the best gaming phone on the market. On the software side of things, there is an eclectic bunch vying for your attention, with the mysterious, exquisitely written adventure game The Wolf Among Us: Season 1 being the best of the bunch.

Reviews by Phil Villarreal. Phil is an author, blogger and Twitterer. Publishers provided review copies.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

($300 on contract, $700 off contract)

The Galaxy Note 3 was so thoroughly impressive that it was tough to imagine its successor improving on it all that much. The Note 4, though, is just as impressive a leap forward as the Note 3 was from the Note 2, improving on  the impressive standard in countless, barely perceptible ways that add up into a monster achievement that lets the device stand toe-to-toe with the iCompetition. The 5.7-inch, 1440p screen displays games and video in stunning clarity and at smooth frame rates. Streaming is more stable due to the knockout quad-core processor and memory, and it’s all propped up by a battery that can last a day and a half of heavy use on the brightest screen setting.
The fingerprint sensor ups the security while making it easy to unlock, the S-Pen stylus has been upgraded and is sensitive enough to replicate pencil writing, and the camera is bolstered with smart functions that negate your poor shooting skills to provide crisp, clear images and videos, especially if you bump up the resolution from the default setting. One of the only disappointing things about the phone is that it’s not water-resistant like its little brother, the Galaxy S5. That vulnerability will only make you more protective of this hot piece of pocket technology.

---

Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus

(Vita, $50, Mature)

A year after Senran Kagura Burst raised eyebrows — among other appendages — with its shamelessly naughty fetishism, along comes an equally sexy follow-up to the witty and engaging beat-em-up. Packed with upskirt shots, shameless cleavage and ridiculously skimpy clothing, the game goes over the top with sly humor, unrepentant, borderline-creepy innuendo and wild set pieces. The combat can grow repetitive, but that’s only if you let yourself rely on similar attacks. There is plenty of depth to the battle system for those willing to test out its depths.

Shinovi Versus cranks up the ludicrous writing and did-they-really-just-show-that visuals to make for an outing that’s just as much as a smile-spreading head-shaker as the original. The narrative takes on a Rashomon-like feel, letting you guide girls from four competing factions as they tangle over something or other. Although the game is something of a button-masher, it takes skill to work your way up to the most impressive of the mid-air combos. While not for conservative tastes, the Senran Kagura series has quickly established itself as a go-to for devotees of sexy anime in brawler form.

---

Tears to Tiara II: Heir of the Overlord

(PS3, $40, Teen)

A downtrodden hero with a dark secret is at the center of this downbeat, under-the-radar JRPG. The hero is Hamilcar Barca, a servant who watches an innocent girl’s execution, and becomes bent on exacting revenge. His rage takes the form of a demonic force, which he harnesses to liberate his people from the grasp of a tyrannic emperor. As he continues on his quest, he begins to lose himself in the lust for power, placing himself in jeopardy of losing control to the evil powers he’s trying to exploit for the benefit of those he’s trying to protect.
The story is told in the style of a visual novel rather than traditional cutscenes, adding to the storybook feel of the lore. The game adds to the cultural authenticity — and also admittedly takes the lazy route — by sticking with Japanese voiceovers. The complex story weaves a stirring tale, providing context for the riveting turn-based combat. Team-ups allow for tide-turning battle gambits, and upgrades and continual power unlocks add to the replay value. While this is decidedly a game for the hardcore — newcomers won’t get past the opening battle — it’s got loads of depth for those whose tastes it suits.

---

 

The Wolf Among Us: Season 1

(PS4, Xbox One, $30, Mature)

Point-and-click adventure games maestro Telltale Games’ follow-up to the stunning adaptation of The Walking Dead delves into even seedier territory than the bleak zombie apocalypse survival tale. Set in the world of the Fables comics, it flourishes in a 1980s New York populated by fairy tale characters such as the Snow White, Mr. Toad and the Big Bad Wolf. The latter is the lead character, a detective nicknamed Bigby who seeks redemption by busting heads and solving mysteries on the hardscrabble streets. Choices you make as Bigby have repercussions that play out through the entire story. Just as in The Walking Dead games, snap decisions come with pangs of second-guessing and regret.
The new current-gen releases include all five episodes on one disc or download, letting you play through the entire stirring tale without waiting for periodic updates like Xbox 360 and PS3 players had to do. There’s no noticeable remastering or upgrades, but a re-buy will be well worth it for players who have ditched their last-gen consoles and are curious about what happens when they make different choices. The same goes for The Walking Dead seasons 1 and 2, which have also made their current-gen debuts.