James Marshall
Fighter Within doesn't just tarnish the tenuous franchise that Ubisoft seems to be attempting to forge. It does motion-controlled brawlers a disservice, writing off a genre that probably shouldn't exist anyway. Even worse it tarnishes Microsoft's shiny new Kinect as well as the black box to which it's leashed.
Want a Cold War stealth game? Play Metal Gear. Just not this.
Lazy, shoddy and rushed this is a Spider that could do with a good blast of Raid.
It's another lacklustre, characterless cash-in and one that solidifies Dead Rising's downloadable output as dismal, only appealing to those who haven't bought another game since or die-hard fans of pointless tasks. It's better than Chaos Rising but by capping off a promising mini-campaign with such disappointment, The Last Agent retrospectively tarnishes the whole wretched endeavour.
As it stands, this first part passes the time, promises more but ultimately devolves into a third-person shooter peppered with fetch quests. Like the combination weapons it proudly (and rightly) brandishes, Operation Broken Eagle seems hastily constructed but not half as entertaining.
If a few new weapons are enough to part you with your cash then Fallen Angel is an expensive addition worth a look. If it's content you seek, look elsewhere - this expansion is so lacking in thought that even Dead Rising's brain-craving zombies would pass it by.
Chaos Rising is probably the most fun of the three episodes so far, but their similarity in everything from structure down to animation does little to endear the player to these hastily-sketched caricatures. There's every likelihood that the next episode will follow the same pattern but an hour is enough to draw an intriguing character. We haven't seen one yet - perhaps Capcom Vancouver are saving the best for last? We can but hope.
Knack seems to have no ambition beyond wowing you with rendering lots of objects, making it feel like an overlong tech demo. If parents are looking for some cartoon fun to keep the children occupied... well... the PlayStation 4 has a knack for playing blurays, too.
The flames of my attention are beginning to wane, my empathy draining, especially with the return of HBO's flagship show. The next episode will need to step it up, in terms of story and in finding a way for me to care about the Forresters again. As of now, this family is coming across as decidedly wooden, in need of a chop.
A disappointing end to a series with promise, Game of Thrones needs likable characters to engage emotion.
Not quite the diamond in the rough, India is at times sumptuous but often shallow in almost every other way.
The best part in being free-to-play will be that Neverwinter is there for those looking to try and there's certainly no harm in paddling in Cryptic's pool. The number of players encountered is a testament to its accessibility. However, veteran MMO players may find it too easy; newcomers may disagree with the payoff vs. time spent. Either way it's worth venturing in - just don't expect a tale for the ages.
It comes across as a budget title - both graphically and thanks to the bugs that make it feel unfinished. This used to be acceptable - it was, after all, the epitome of a guilty pleasure, some gory ridiculousness to pass the time. Now it feels overstretched and too reliant on that gimmick, diluting the core sniper experience. In the shadow of Wolfenstein: The New Order, even shooting a digital Hitler (and, yes, even the legend that is Charlie Brooker) feels underwhelming. A greater focus on ballistics, not ballsacks, would serve Rebellion well.
Gratuitous in lieu of sense, Outlast 2 is unpleasant. Fans may lap this up but, while technically competent, there's nothing here to truly enjoy.
If the thought of a long-range shot passing through the eye-socket of a Nazi appeals well, then, give it a shot.
A flawed experiment, Steep is revolutionary in the most laid-back fashion and full of those charming Ubisoft follies.
Like the red fella front and centre, Unravel lacks personality and ultimately feels, well, a bit woolly.
Although a greatest hits in a sense ' what with chocobos, Moogles and more ' Lightning Returns can't shake the feeling of a track on repeat. Time is of the essence in real terms as well; time to move on, perhaps.
The bugs still remain but Syndicate is saved by a wonderfully vivid London, despite everything else feeling dated.
Bold concepts, but the experience never quite comes together. For all its potential, Battleborn feels dead on arrival.