Adam Cook
Aside from knocking the drab story on the head, it’s tough to know what more I could have wanted from Hitman 2.
It’s still compelling and you’ll want to train every day, but perhaps it’s not quite as essential as it once was when we played it on the DS-family of handhelds. Just don’t take that brain age too seriously
While it looks lovely and isn't a bad game by any means, Star Allies is aimed at a very specific age group, and most others will find it far too easy and, sadly, rather dull.
This feels like a very capable studio being told to annualise a series that really didn't need to be yearly, because it bypasses everything that makes Trials great.
The fact that it's a mechanically solid sporting experience can't save it from mediocrity or a lack of any real reason to come back, and that's really the worst sin a sports game can commit.
Has-Been Heroes includes good ideas but is let down by an insanely high difficulty level and a lack of reward. You'll enjoy it in bite sized chunks via handheld mode to begin with, but you'll quickly grow tired of feeling like you're making no progress.
It's not bad, but it lacks imagination outside of the singular gimmick that you can change vehicles at any time, and ends up just being rather average.
Deadly Premonition Origins looks bad on the switch, and there are various issues including poor frame rate and awful driving controls, but its just as bizarre as it ever was.
A cliche-ridden written story that has some decent ideas throughout, but is so bleak it's hard to grow attached to.
There is fun to be had, but in short bursts, and you'll play it every time you want to show the system off to someone new to Switch, but this is a shallow game, with a few fun minigames, and some cool tech.
VR Worlds is a curio to use when showing off your shiny new product, but one that's otherwise consigned to the shelf.
If you can disengage your brain and just plough through the endless array of same-faced enemies, you'll enjoy the glorious visuals and well designed audio – but this is a game destined to be forgotten fairly quickly, even if it does help prove the Xbox One has more power than we first thought.
It will score a lot of points for the sake of nostalgia, but in all honesty the reboot does nothing important that the original didn't do better, 34 years ago.
Despite an incredible opening hour, the second half of the game really falls off a cliff, and never quite recovers. If you have PSVR and like Until Dawn, it's a no-brainer, but it's not the "more Until Dawn" we all really want.
Warner Bros. attempt at getting things going again with Gotham Knights feels largely flat thanks to unwieldy movement and a world that is more "checklist" than immersive, but in small doses it can be fun, and the heroes all feel unique and work well in co-op multiplayer.
Pool Panic isn't quite engaging enough to heartily recommend. The fact there's an option to mute the music suggests that Rekim are well aware of how irritating it can be, but the gameplay isn't always compelling or tight enough to make it the next big thing. The price is right, but don't expect to be playing this one in a month's time, but that's not the worst thing in the world.
Whether you take the "Bro" elements for what they are, which is to say a daft gimmick to add an extra layer to a fun, challenging, carefully crafted love letter to the 80s, is up to you, but nothing about Broforce is serious bar the difficulty and dedication to the bit. If you're the type to roll their eyes at a bad pun while others around you snigger, you might still enjoy the shooting, but this is a full on mickey-take on the Team America generation that will be like nails on a chalkboard to some.
"As a teaser for Life is Strange 2, Captain Spirit does its job, but here's hoping there's more subtlety to the writing for the next big thing from Dontnod"
While it has a vast amount of ideas that work individually, Rain Code rather feels like a missed opportunity that doesn't quite come together right.
A dated version of FIFA, then, but still a fun one, with plenty to build on for next year.