Peter Taylor's Reviews
As Mulder once said "all we can do is pull the thread, see what it unravels." Dark Nights with Poe and Munro has a fair number of threads to pull should you want to see them all, adding to its longevity. Brief as it is, the decently written script and well acted scenes tempt you into trying something different if only to see what would happen.
We clearly had the big leap last year, as WRC 9 only shows minor improvements overall. It still suffers from a lacklustre multiplayer experience, but for those wishing to take cars and drive at speeds that defy all sense around roads ill-designed to be driven that fast, WRC 9 is the game to do it with.
Codemasters has managed to inject new purpose into the arcade brethren of their DIRT Rally series. With some fun, community-focused game modes DIRT 5 could be great. It is, however, let down by a lacklustre handling model and mostly non-existent force feedback.
When you're shooting hoops and playing basketball, NBA 2K21 is rather fun to play. However, it suffers from obtrusive microtransactions and game modes that are made in such a way that they try to nudge you to buy more virtual currency. NBA 2K21's appeal dives even more when you realise very little has changed from NBA 2K20. Hopefully Visual Concepts will come back strong on next-generation consoles with something that feels more than just about making money.
HB Studios continues to improve the title that had a rather humble beginning. Each year brings with it new features and improvements and that's no easy feat. That being said, PGA Tour 2K21 isn't perfect and whilst the presentation has seen a much needed improvement it's still a touch limited, especially in the commentary department. Though if you're keen for a round of golf but don't fancy the walk that goes with it, you won't find anything better on offer.
Post-apocalyptic games rarely stray from the formula of making the Earth some barren dust bowl. By doing something a little different, Horizon Zero Dawn affords itself the opportunity to craft a truly unique tale and with it a complex and strong female lead. If you haven't already played it on PS4 and enjoy well-crafted stories, you owe yourself the opportunity of playing your way through the game and its expansion.
F1 2020 continues Codemasters' excellent form in delivering a fantastic recreation for Formula 1. The new My Team mode injects new life into the series and is far more welcome than Devon Butler was last year. It's never easy making iterative releases relevant but they sure do seem to have a grand plan in play. One wonders what we'll be treated to next year, but until then there's a bucket load of fun in F1 2020 to keep you entertained.
When the stars align, racing in Assetto Corsa Competizione is absolutely fantastic. It is, however, marred by some questionable omissions in its configurable options, issues with some of the most popular wheels and pedals on the market, and public lobbies that aren't currently available to all regions. It can, and should, be better.
MotoGP 20 is a top notch recreation of one of the fastest series on two wheels. The career mode is entertaining, especially if you decide to take on being a new team. Visually stunning, audibly arresting and just downright fun to play when you get the hang of it, MotoGP 20 is a must for any serious fan of the sport.
With more tracks and stages than you can shake a stick at, DiRT 2.0: Game of the Year edition barrels on sideways whilst welcoming back the name that started it all: Colin McRae. Despite a lacklustre feel when using a wheel, there's still a very impressive rally simulation hidden away inside just waiting for you to turn the key.