Peter Taylor's Reviews
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.
Hidden beneath the bugs and the controversy lies a game with great potential. As it stands, Fallout 76 is an okay multiplayer survival game that needs some serious work.
Diablo 3 makes its way to Nintendo's diminutive console and it's a perfect match. Now you can turn your commute into a demon-smashing extravaganza.
Football Manager 2019 takes the series to a whole new level and finally brings in some long needed refreshment. What we have is easily the most accessible Football Manager in recent memory but one that can still many moons to master.
Fast cars, twisty roads and more fun and challenges than you can shake a stick at. If you get bored playing Forza Horizon 4 then clearly you've not spent enough time going sideways.