The Reaper of Souls expansion provides a great amount of content, changes and balancing that significantly improves and extends the original Diablo III experience. The maps feel more focused, the bosses refined and the Crusader class is a joy to play. There is however one little sting in the tail: the cost.
Perhaps the most polished and enjoyable release of any in the series, only let down by a baffling AI and some hopefully resolvable niggling issues.
In the end the Old Hunters expansion is just as an essential purchase as Bloodborne itself.
With its incredible level of customisation Planet Coaster is the pinnacle of theme park management games, however be warned that this depth comes with a vicious learning curve.
An almost perfect sequel, only spoiled by some frustrating bugs.
The blending of genres, those perfect Moments and the beautiful pace of each game make Blizzard's new IP a must.
The only fault one can aim at Dark Souls 3 is its lack of originality, everything else is perfect.
You can praise them for all the wonder and beauty they have created, then damn them for the illogical or irrational design choices they make elsewhere, but it is yet another diamond in the rough from Bethesda.
By very slightly opening up the experience, Dark Souls II has risked unravelling this success, particularly for the hardcore fanbase. But in actuality the minor changes do not hugely alter the overall gameplay. It is still wonderfully mysterious and horrendously punishing, all backed up by a unique battle and skill system that is so gloriously balanced it feels like a real talent to master.
It is still utterly fantastic to play. It is still one of the best action fighting mechanics in gaming. It still invokes that deadly and intense sense of failure matched with the heady highs of success that few other games (if not any entertainment) can match. It is still enriched with the uniquely mysterious touch of Miyazaki and From Software and that is all that it really needs to be.
Going backwards from Bloodborne feels almost archaic, and it takes some time to settle into that once familiar gameplay. However Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin offers the chance to revisit that still fantastic and familiar world with a slight twist to proceedings and a respectable face lift. The addition of the DLC makes this package more than worthwhile for any fan of From Software's catalogue, but those that already own the content on another platform may find the investment too high.