Peter Taylor's Reviews
Phoenix Point comes from the creator of the original XCOM, and as such you'd think it'd be an imperious, spiritual successor to the pre-Fireaxis series. Instead, it's a decent if disappointing addition in its current state and in dire need of some TLC from its creator.
NFS Heat is an improvement over NFS Payback but that isn't saying much. Microtransactions are long gone thankfully but not much else has changed. If EA are hoping to return the series back to its heyday it'll need to do much more than this to topple the likes of Forza Horizon 4.
Football Manager 2020 manages to improve upon last years outing in enough areas to justify an upgrade for owners for FM 2019 or before. However, I do feel it's getting closer to the point where a marquee feature will need to be introduced or an existing one improved dramatically such as the 3D match engine.
The Outer Worlds is a competent and well-acted action-RPG with some interesting ideas but one that mostly plays safe. While it doesn't quite reach the heights of Fallout: New Vegas, it certainly cements Obsidian Entertainment as an RPG force.
WRC 8 has laid a great foundation to build on for KT Racing. Whilst it doesn't quite topple Dirt as the king of rally simulations it should give Codemasters something to worry about. Whilst the lack of online lobbies is a concern its in single-player that WRC 8 really shines.
eFootball PES 2020 is a confusing title to recommend. It's best likened to an Alfa Romeo as, when everything works, it's majestic. However, when it's not, which is most of the time, it's such a frustrating experience because you know just how good it could be.
Gears 5 takes the series to new heights but it's weighed down by some annoying bugs and a story that seems to try a touch too hard to tie itself to the original trilogy. Whilst Horde mode is still excellent and the various Versus modes are fun, the new Escape mode is a bit hit and miss.
F1 2019 is a fantastic racing title whether you're a fan of the sport or not. Despite my reservations and perceived lack of improvements I've been proven wrong at almost every turn. Codemasters have done the licence and series proud and look forward now to next year's edition and what it might bring especially with new consoles on the horizon.
Whilst it may not challenge Mario Kart as the king of arcade kart racing, Team Sonic Racing's twist on the genre makes it distinctive enough to discourage comparisons to Nintendo's classic.
OTTTD is a great example of taking a straightforward type of genre like tower defense and adding just enough of a twist to it to make it stand out. Whilst the lack of touch controls limit its fluidity on such a mobile platform, its bite-sized nature suits the Switch perfectly.
Snooker 19 has its shortcomings but none of them take enough away from making it a must for any avid snooker fan wishing to dream of making an appearance at the Crucible. Lab42 has started the frame off strongly and hopefully this is the start of a bright, snooker-filled future.
Xenon Racer wants to become this generation's Ridge Racer. Unfortunately it can't quite get the formula right and thanks to some rather annoying niggles lacks the fun-factor that made Ridge Racer what it was.
Both expansions add new challenges and illnesses to keep fans of Two Point Hospital going for a good while yet. Of the two, Pebberley Island brings in some unique hooks and the last level horde mode of that expansion is quite the test of our management skills.
Both expansions add new challenges and illnesses to keep fans of Two Point Hospital going for a good while yet. Of the two, Pebberley Island brings in some unique hooks and the last level horde mode of that expansion is quite the test of our management skills.
We hoped beyond hope that Anthem would show the world just how sci-fi online action role-playing games were done. What we got, however, was far from that and without some serious improvement, Anthem could take Mass Effect: Andromeda's crown as BioWare's worst ever release.
Apex Legends lays down the gauntlet to established Battle Royale games such as Fortnite and PUBG. The ping system alone is worth its weight in gold and allows for the more reserved gamers amongst us to join in and have fun. Loot boxes aside, Apex Legends is fast, fun and buttery smooth to play.
Hitman HD Enhanced collection bring back one of the series' stellar entries in Hitman: Blood Money and to some, its polar opposite, in Hitman: Absolution. The pack is a great pick up if you're new to the series but some rose-tinted glasses are required for those who've played them before.
Dirt Rally 2.0 is a very competent rally simulator when viewed in isolation. However, when compared to its predecessor and its vastly superior force feedback implementation it loses its allure.
The developers of Jagged Alliance: Rage! likely hoped it would rejuvenate the franchise and it might. It's a competent turn-based tactical shooter but suffers from repetitive missions and sluggish controls. Unless you're a huge fan of the genre you're unlikely to find the gameplay rewarding.
Ride 3 pushes the series ever onwards and whilst it's mostly unremarkable it should be lauded for providing bike enthusiasts the world over with their Forza equivalent.