Rob Kershaw's Reviews
A short, sharp, back-to-basics roguelike which will amuse for a couple of hours.
The narrative is delightfully disturbing, but Masochisia needed more meat to its gameplay.
An engaging diversion for newcomers, but Pillars veterans will lament the lack of tangible story.
An emotionless take on the genre, with little but its reliance on nostalgia to sustain its brief running time.
Splatoon is an inventive new IP, hampered by a lack of content and almost desperate need to appeal to kids despite having enough depth for all but the most hardened players.
Slick, addictive, yet oddly unfulfilling, Invisible, Inc. is great for dipping into, as long as you aren't expecting deep gameplay or substantial narrative rewards.
In almost every respect Pillars of Eternity is a true successor to the genre - a perfect introduction for RPG newcomers, and for everyone else, the game they've been waiting fifteen years for.
With Dragon Age: Inquisition, BioWare has rallied from its previous disappointments to deliver a near-flawless fantasy experience of staggering scope, mending the oft-broken hopes of a gaming nation alongside its own reputation as the foremost purveyor of adventuring. As 2014 draws to a close, Inquisition is a contender not only for game of the year, but for the best title to come out of BioWare's impressive stable - either way, it's an essential purchase for any RPG fan.
There are between fifty and seventy hours of gameplay in Wasteland 2 for those willing to invest in its world, explore each new area fully and complete each available mission. That we were happy to do just that is testament to the brilliant design, engaging storyline and immersive combat of inXile's world. Brian Fargo and his team have excelled here, and it leaves us with one remaining question - if Wasteland 2 is this good, what can we look forward to with the forthcoming Torment: Tides of Numenara?
GoD Factory is a technically competent and enjoyable blast created by a studio that have an obvious eye for detail. Ultimately though, it's a game that could have used a few more months in development to increase the launch content to a level which would have brought players back for more.
No Going Back lacks the punch of the first season's finale and becomes an analogue of the second season as a whole: an above-average game which has vainly struggled to step out of its predecessor's shadow.
Despite the usual high production qualities, Amid the Ruins does nothing to curb the meandering nature of the fourth chapter which afflicts their franchises, once again leaving us with the weakest episode of the series to date.
Whilst not reaching the heights of the excellent Star Wars tables, The Walking Dead Pinball is a respectful amalgamation of Telltale's atmosphere and Zen Studios' intricate knowledge of the silver ball.
Magic 2015 may not be on the level of Dungeon Keeper in terms of its attempts to squeeze your bank balance, but it does itself no favours either. Do yourself one instead: if you're thinking of investing in a digital Magic experience, get last year's instalment and avoid this soulless excuse for a game.
If you can get past the narrative dissonance introduced for the sake of agency, In Harm's Way is still a cracking entry in the season with a few super twists, a truly satisfying punch-the-air moment, and an ending which leaves you in no doubt that the momentum started in the previous chapter shows no sign of abating.
As gamers, it's heartening to see such serious and prevalent issues being treated with the weight they deserve in a medium more inclined to hand you a gun and point you towards the finish line; Ether One is a decent alternative to mainstream mindlessness, a thought-provoking and moving experience for those willing to commit.
A Crooked Mile continues the Fabletown tale in fine form, elevating it above the weaker second chapter and putting it on a par with the first.
Luftrausers is an entertaining blast. Its two- to three-minute forays into the skies provide some of the most enjoyable arcade fun we've had outside of... well, an arcade, for some time. A crudely drawn cipher of Richthofen you may be, but there's no denying the majesty those basic pixels bestow upon the player, your inner Red Baron leaping for the chance to prove your worthiness amongst the clouds.
The beauty of Year Walk is in its discovery, and it's heartening to see a crossover of a more niche mobile title onto the PC platform, especially one which brings such atmosphere and creativity to the fore.
You'll not leave this episode happy, but the very nature of this series is to challenge and provoke; Telltale continue to refine and polish their craft to such an extent that even the misery of the narrative can't hold us back from wanting more - this second episode is a triumph.