Encleverment Experiment is a mix between the thinking games made popular by Brain Age and Big Brain Academy and party-based game show games like Buzz! But this game isn't as clever as its name might lead you to believe.

Video games are a largely subjective art form. A game can be judged on whether it appeals to you in terms of setting, gameplay, narrative, visual stylization, or many other factors; therefore a "good" game tends to be one that appeals to us and those who think like we do. When we call it "good," often we set people up for an experience they should find pretty entertaining. So when I say that these things about a game that is "good," please take note that there is the opposite end of the spectrum for games that are "bad."

When I first read rumors of a Lego Rock Band game, I thought they were ridiculous. The franchises are managed by unaffiliated media heavyweights, and the brands target different demographics. Once the rumors were confirmed, though, it seemed logical – the Lego games brand would expand beyond platforming into other gameplay types, and Rock Band would have a family-friendly title with which to take its casual multiplayer innovations to the masses. There are a few ways that the franchises are similar: both use unlockables and customization to promote continual play, and Rock Band’s highly stylized world is related to the Lego games’ abstracted environments. Lego Rock Band effectively bridges these distinct franchises while providing a gameplay experience that is both familiar and fresh.

Here we are: Tales of Monkey Island: Episode 5: The Rise of the Pirate God. A long title for the final episode of this revitalized piratical franchise, and a title whose length matches its developer’s ambition. While the full weight of Telltale’s drive and skill has been blunted somewhat by a noticeable lack of originality, the company finishes up their latest episodic series with a flourish.