Nick Petrasiti
Gears 5 is a brilliant experience which can be enjoyed alone or with friends in equal measure. It keeps much of the series' core gameplay and feel, but also takes it in some new directions. It's great to see Gears evolving, opening the door for even more positive changes in the future.
Killer Queen Black is just an insanely good party game. If you're looking for something to play solo, then this isn't really for you. This is a game best enjoyed with friends where frantic communication and the lightning quick gameplay will have you all rolling around with laughter as you compete to see who has the best Hive.
Need for Speed Heat is the best the series has been in a while. It's not perfect by any stretch, but it has a charm that reminds me of the Underground days of old. Now that's a NfS game I can get down with.
Terminator: Resistance continues the trend of bad Terminator games and is better off being Terminated into the bin. You won't be back to play this one, that's for sure.
Phoenix Point is a good try at capturing some of that XCOM magic, but it falls short of being great. I found myself enjoying the experience, but at the same time, couldn't help feel that something was missing. Hopefully it's something that can improve in a sequel, if it ever comes.
As a freebie included with Resident Evil 3, you can't really fault Resistance, but it helps that its asymmetrical multiplayer is also a lot of fun. It's a unique take on the Resi universe and I hope it finds some longevity.
Capcom have done a marvellous job with Resident Evil 3, reviving another of their beloved survival horror classics and making it feel completely fresh once again. Nemesis is back and he's here to smash your face in.
I loved Nioh 2 and it's definitely earned its place amongst the soulslikes.
XCOM: Chimera Squad is a great game, all told. It's a cheap, fairly lengthy campaign that manages to be both familiar for fans of the series and offer something new and fresh to the XCOM universe.
The Foundation is a nice addition to the Control-verse, clocking in around 4-5 hours to complete. It’s not doing anything groundbreaking, but it is more of the same, which is a damn good thing in Control’s case. Yes, it would have been nicer for the missions to have been a bit more dynamic, but the world-building and the storytelling continue to be one of Control’s major selling points. With the next expansion set to expand the lore even further with connections to Alan Wake, it feels like Remedy is in it for the long haul.
Still, die hard fans of MK should definitely consider picking Aftermath up. The campaign is short but sweet and the new characters are fun to experiment with. It really just depends on your wallet.
Desperados 3 is a fun jaunt through the Wild West on a classic tale of revenge. Mixed with stealth strategy with a diverse roster of badasses this real-time tactics game gives rise to a lot of cool gameplay moments. Yeehaw!
Sentinels of Freedom is a robust turn-based superhero strategy game. While not doing anything groundbreaking and lacking in some areas, Sentinels of Freedom is still a fun romp into the world of comics and being able to create your own hero is even cooler. Just make sure you stick to playing this on a big TV!
PGA 2K21 gives a damn fine game of golf. It controls solidly and there's a good learning curve as you get to grips with the more advanced types of shot. Despite that, I can't help but be a little disappointed with the feel of the overall experience. What should have been a hole in one return of a licensed golf series feels like it's only just managing to hit par.
Worm Jazz is one of the best puzzlers I've played in a long while. It's intelligent, smooth, stars a hat-wearing worm and features a chilled jazz soundtrack. Nice.
RollerCoaster is a great little title to add to your collection if you're either a nostalgia buff or fancy having a classic management sim on the go. Otherwise, you might be best sticking to something a little more current.
Transformers Battlegrounds is a great entry point into turn-based strategy game for younger Transformers fans, and even older fans looking for a more relaxed XCOM-style experience.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is a decent entry in the series, but it feels like it doesn't quite know what it wants to be. The campaign is full of underused ideas, while the multiplayer misses some of the magical charm of Modern Warfare, opting for faster paced aggressive battles which just don't feel as satisfying. While still enjoyable, Black Ops Cold War fails to recapture the magic of Black Ops 1 and 2.
As time goes on, the deal gets sweeter and it’s great for people just starting out with MK11. If you already own it, the asking price for Kombat Pack 2 is fairly reasonable for the three new characters, so there’s no real losers here. Well, unless you are taking a Fatality, that is. But still, as a full package, MK11 Ultimate is the ultimate version of this game and is definitely worth your time.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Heart of the Wolf has a lot of promise, starting out very strong but it's ultimately let down by what feels like a very rushed last couple of chapters.