Brad Goodwin's Reviews
Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part I is a legendary remake of a legendary game. Any new or returning players will find this game to be an emotional and action-packed journey which will continue to stand the test of time.
Santa Monica Studios deliver an action-packed and emotional journey that includes everything you would ever want in a video game. The exemplary performances of the cast, innovative gameplay mechanics, and masterful storytelling make God of War Ragnarök one of the best games in the 21st century.
Resident Evil’s formula has been perfected in this outstanding remake of 2005’s Resident Evil 4 with revitalised gameplay while still remaining true to the original game. If Resident Evil 4 is CAPCOM’s new benchmark for a Resident Evil game, I can’t wait to see where the franchise goes next.
Nintendo has delivered yet another memorable experience that is delightfully ridiculous with surprises from start to finish. There’s a perfect combination of old and new mechanics executed flawlessly which feels fresh yet nostalgic at the same time. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a masterpiece worthy of being titled one of the best platformers of all time.
Square Enix transcends the Final Fantasy VII trilogy to new heights, providing a deeply captivating story and robust combat mechanics. These qualities, paired with entertaining main and side content, cements Final Fantasy VII Rebirth as one of the best RPGs of all time.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is the expansion that the fans have so eagerly been waiting for. With more brutal challenges and exploration around every new corner, Shadow of the Erdtree is a masterclass expansion on par with the most exceptional expansions of all time, such as The Witcher 3’s Blood and Wine DLC and Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty.
Final Fantasy IX is a masterpiece that will stand the test of time. The captivating story is paced perfectly, and is equipped with a lovable cast of characters, and a charming art style allows it to effortlessly justify its place as one of the best in the franchise.
Hazelight Studios elevates the benchmark for cooperative games, excelling at level design, story concepts, and admirable technical achievements. Split Fiction is the best co-op game on the market, an experience that will create core memories to share with family or friends.
Beacon Pines is a wonderfully crafted adventure game with a twisted yet heartwarming story. The way the narrative is told is extremely captivating in a way I haven’t experienced before. I’m excited to see what Hiding Spot games are able to achieve if they keep expanding on this storybook-adventure genre that they’ve pioneered.
Recent years have spoiled gamers with exceptional horror game remakes such as The Last of Us Part I and Resident Evil 2 and 3. Dead Space continues this trend by bringing a legendary horror game back onto our screens with an immense amount of polish and craftsmanship. Motive Studio have delivered a terrifying and intense experience that old and new fans alike will be talking about for a long time.
Before Your Eyes is an emotional and essential PlayStation VR2 experience with a heavy impact that will stay with you for years to come. GoodbyeWorld Games has masterfully crafted a unique VR experience that will set a benchmark for story-driven games in the virtual reality space.
Respawn have taken Fallen Order’s formula and perfected it to produce what could be considered one of the best Star Wars games ever released. The combination of exceptional storytelling and cinematics makes Star Wars Jedi: Survivor an experience that I would easily recommend to anyone.
Planet of Lana takes everything we love from Studio Ghibli and Limbo and infuses it into one of the most breathtaking and exciting indie game experiences of the year. A must-play indie title.
Separate Ways delivers a compelling experience that compliments Resident Evil 4’s narrative by providing unique insights into Ada Wong’s character and actions. The DLC offers a thrilling and enjoyable expansion to the Resident Evil 4 universe with more than enough additional content to warrant the $15 purchase.
SCHiM is one of the most distinct platformers released this year, and that deserves to be celebrated. The attention to detail in art direction and game direction, combined with a sublime concept executed near-flawlessly, may classify SCHiM as one of the best indie platformers of all time.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble brings back a classic series in a way that fans will adore. The short but sweet levels and tight controls are great, with a wide variety in levels to maintain interest. Though where it lacks polish is the online multiplayer, which was an ambitious move for the series that unfortunately falls flat compared to the solo adventure.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s PC release boasts impactful graphical and performance enhancements that allow one of the greatest Spider-Man games to glow gold. While riddled with a few very minor performance issues, the dynamic combat and engaging narrative slings this game to the top of my favourite Action/Adventure games.
South of Midnight is a triumphant entry into Compulsion Games’s library, offering a captivating narrative with likeable characters in a sheer spectacle of a world that you just wish you could spend more time in. The combat, while robust, may not satisfy all gamers, but the narrative and compelling worldbuilding are more than strong enough to shoulder that burden.
Elden Ring Nightreign takes the best elements of Elden Ring and applies an engrossing core gameplay loop that will have Nightfarers in a trance. Everything is better with friends, and this makes Elden Ring Nightreign the best multiplayer game of the year.
Ghost Pattern has delivered an experience like no other. The complexity of the simultaneous narratives that unfold around you in real-time creates a beautiful experience that should be played by all gamers. I can’t wait to see what is next on the horizon for Ghost Pattern.