Daniel Bloodworth
Overall, even if the engine ran smoothly and the bugs were squashed, Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric wouldn't be that great of a game. As-is, it's an unfinished mess, astounding only in how rapidly you can count its flaws.
In all, The Crew can be enjoyable for some casual cross-country joy rides, especially if you have some friends to drive along. However, it comes up entirely short of most of its goals, and makes a wreck of car handling and competition for the sake of lackluster MMO mechanics.
It also doesn't feel like you go on much of a journey. There's little variation in the forests and caves, and you'll be done in about three hours. That said, Feist is still worth checking out if you're curious. It establishes an eerie mood, making you feel vulnerable to what lurks in the shadows. It just gets hung up in awkward moments at times.
CounterSpy doesn't really develop beyond its opening concepts. It's fun to play the spy game for a while, but it quickly falls victim to tedium and repetition, with an unrewarding ending that comes off as a smoldering dud.
However, the game's main problem is that it's just rather dull overall. Perhaps it's the push to avoid enemy contact or the lackluster sound design or the droning music, but Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China never really comes to life. It's a different take on side-scrolling gameplay, but the added depth doesn't save it from feeling flat.
In all, Shadowgate is a formidable if sometimes frustrating return to classic adventure gameplay. If you're a fan of the original or undaunted by Shadowgate's unforgiving depths, it's worth grabbing a torch and venturing inside.
In all, Titan Souls is for people who don't mind struggling to overcome a challenge, but there's little else to grab your attention. It doesn't carry the same weight or intrigue as the games that inspired it, but there's a fun set of battles to test your reflexes.