2016 Video Games Recap: App Trigger Reviews Of 2016

We were honored to cover some amazing titles on App Trigger over the last year, so for our last 2016 recap, we take a look at all of the year’s reviewed games.

2016 was a big year for games, and a big year for App Trigger, too. In March, we moved to the new domain from our old home, GameSided, and took up the mantle of mobile games in addition to our regular coverage. From March onward, we had the great honor of reviewing some of 2016’s best titles, alongside other games we’re less enthused about that we’ll hopefully have forgotten by the end of 2017.

We’ve had a blast over the last few weeks going over the gaming greats of the past year, with both editor Daniel George, and I, presenting our personal Game of the Year lists alongside the overarching list contributed to by all staff members. We’ve paid visits to the best mobile games of 2016, distributed superlative awards for outstanding accomplishment in other categories, and even looked ahead to the most anticipated games of 2017.

But we have one last look back to make, and it’s the most all-encompassing one yet. It’s time to review the reviews, recapping all the games we reviewed in 2016. We’re very grateful to all the companies who graciously provided review copies for us over the past year, especially as our review coverage has increased yet again from 2015 to 2016.

On behalf of Daniel and myself, I’d like to extend our deepest thanks, both to those who provided review copies or codes and all of the App Trigger staff members who put in time and effort to review games for us.

And so, here’s our final look-back at 2016: the App Trigger review recap!

March

• Pokken Tournament (7/10) – “In spite of [Pokken Tournament’s] faithfulness to the letter of Pokemon, there’s little faithfulness to Pokemon’s spirit of all-inclusiveness. There’s simply nothing to do if you’re anything less than above average at fighting games.”
• Hitman: Paris (7.5/10) – “It is, without a doubt, the Paris map that represents the “piece de resistance” here, and the entire setting shows off IO Interactive’s masterful talent when it comes to sandbox level design.”
• Mario & Sonic at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games 3DS (7/10) – “[Mario & Sonic] brings you right into the heart of the tournament, offering a ton of different events to compete in and offers the opportunity to engage with AI and friends, alike…Those looking for depth, however, need to look elsewhere, as there are too few exemplary standouts among the crop of minigame offerings.”
• Hyrule Warriors: Legends (8.5/10) – “[Hyrule Warriors: Legends] has several upgrades from the Wii U version that certainly warrant purchasing the title. Yes, the story is, essentially, the same, but it is a seductive and rich story with tons of dialogue which makes playing through it again still enjoyable.”
• Fallout 4: Automatron (8/10) – “Ultimately, the additions to Fallout 4 are solid and compelling, but only if you’re still playing the game. It makes for a great addition to the Fallout 4 experience, but it isn’t going to make you pull the game out of the drawer if you’ve already beaten it and moved on.”
• MLB The Show 16 (7.5/10) – “Caution goes to those who are on the edge of picking up the newest iteration [of MLB The Show] each year, as all signs indicate a massive holding pattern. Things look better overall, but underneath that glossy new coat of paint, the song remains the same.
• Republique: Episode 1 – “République has crafted the beginnings of an interesting puzzle narrative game that sees you sympathizing with “terrorists” and working with Hope to help her escape in Episode 1.”
• Sébastien Loeb Rally Evo (7.5/10) – “With a little refinement, [Sebastien Loeb Rally Evo] could be the best rally experience on the market. As of yet, it hasn’t quite reached its potential, but remains a worthy competitor.”