Thomas Hughes
Yakuza Like a Dragon is an enjoyable new twist on the series, although it's not hard to imagine that many long-time fans of the series will be put off by its slow pace. In a day and age where video game companies rarely take risks, Like a Dragon is a refreshing change of pace for a series that risked starting to feel stale.
MilitAnt is offensively bad, it looks like a PS2 game and plays like something a few amatuer developers cobbled together. This wouldn't be an issue if there wasn't a price tag involved. Steer well clear of this.
Everything in Touhou just feels pointless; the story is drab, the combat is flat and and the action elements are uninspired. I understand it's a fan made game but I really struggle to find anything to compliment here. I can even imagine fans of the series struggling to like it, which is pretty much the nail in the coffin. Honest opinion: Avoid this like the plague.
Anima: Gate Of Memories is probably one of the worst experiences I’ve had on PS4 so far. Boring combat mixed with unlikable and frankly sexist characters, give me no real reason to recommend this game to anyone. Avoid.
Bridge Constructor is a title that tries to port the popular genre over to console, unfortunately, poorly designed controls and a lack of tutorials mean the experience falls short. Players are never properly introduced to the game's physics, which makes the experience far more frustrating than it ever needs to be.
Warden: Melody of the Undergrowth promises a lot with it's homage to the N64 era of action-adventure games, unfortunately it falls short of the prestige associated with that era. What we're left with is a clunky game that glitches quite regularly, there's still potential in the future, but the game needs a lot of issues fixing.
I have no doubt that those who are into motocross and its associated sports will get some kicks out of MX vs ATV All Out and its numerous modes and racers, but it does come across as a cash-grab with poor graphics and performance on Switch. If you're simply looking for a racing game to play on the go, look elsewhere.
Star Horizon is a forgettable rail space shooter that fails to live up to the legacy set by other titles in the genre on Nintendo systems. I would honestly avoid this and play Star Fox through a Nintendo Switch Online membership; it's cheaper, it plays better and you're less likely to find yourself frustrated.
A lot of Caveman Warriors' design feels outdated; it's a title that relies on mediocre action-platforming, on top of average cartoon visuals and a simplistic combat system. It never goes out of its way to impress you, but it also won't leave you wanting more.
Elite Dangerous: Odyssey is an ambitious addition to the Elite formula that doesn't quite hit the highs it should. It instead serves as a preview of what the game may be like in 6 or 12 months from now, and is hard to recommend as it currently is. Personally? I'd wait and see how Frontier Developments improves the game. Let's face it, there's still plenty to explore in Horizons.
In an industry filled with excellent couch co-op games, it's really hard to recommend Shakes on a Plane. The gameplay is incredibly simple, offering very little variation outside of the core campaign mode. Unless you're desperate for a multiplayer game, having finished everything else, this is one flight you can probably miss.
Dusk Diver is a game that promises a lot with it's gorgeous visuals, but the combat ultimately falls short. Its basic combo system and missable story are not enough to even come close to some of this year's stellar action titles.
Vane is a strange game. Its art direction and visual design frame a grandiose, otherworldly affair, but its puzzle design and narrative squash those expectations, ultimately providing a frustrating experience with fragments of its original vision.
feel like there's a lot of potential to be found in GARAGE: Bad Trip, but the poor controls and lacklustre sound design spoil an aesthetically interesting game.
theHunter: Call of the Wild is a game that will appeal to those who have a genuine passion for hunting, but due to the general lack of content, a poor UI and the horrendous movement speed, I don't think those outside of the hunting world will enjoy it.
Mecha Ritz: Steel Rondo is crude and simple, but manages to passably provide an enjoyable Genesis inspired Bullet Hell game.
For those who want a challenging platforming title on the PS4, DeadCore is right up your alley. For casual gamers out there, I would recommend going elsewhere.
A reliance on meta-jokes and pop-culture references, alongside irrational puzzle design leave this point and click adventure falling short of its true potential. Fans of the genre will likely find enjoyment here though, if only due to the obvious inspirations behind the game.
Senran Kagura Estival Versus is a game about boobs, there's a fairly competent fighting mechanic alongside this, but titillation always remains at the forefront. Fans of the series will be happy with the content on offer, but casual players will likely find the sexual themes a little bit too intense.
Rust Console Edition manages to transcribe the wildly popular PC experience, but a few key missing features mean it falls short of what it should be. It could be great in time, but right now it feels like a disappointing misstep in comparison to the fleshed out PC version.