Brad Goodwin's Reviews
Unholy presents a compelling story that will keep the player engaged, even after enduring the poor gameplay design. While the innovative mechanics using ‘masks’ and ‘emotions’ are standout features of the game, the frustrating enemy encounters will find some players wanting to put the game down. Overall, Unholy offers an intriguing narrative with some unique gameplay elements, but technical flaws hinder its full potential.
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is a technically great accompaniment to Nintendo Switch 2 that showcases the new features perfectly, however, the decision to charge for this interactive manual feels unjust in every way.
Redfall ensures a fun, vampire-slaying time despite the flaws it has in its current state. Even with the uninspired quests, a mid story, and poor optimisation, I do think this game is one to revisit at the end of the year after a few refinements.
Synduality: Echo of Ada is a ton of fun but ultimately struggles to capitalise on the addictive and satisfying gameplay loop it has with a subdued story.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection is a solid collection of games that will appeal to long-time fans of the iconic franchise. Though this will hardly bring in new fans, half the titles in the collection offer incredibly engaging and varied gameplay and stories within the Yu-Gi-Oh! universe.
Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a loyal remake of a beloved game that is both: a great entry point for new players to the series and long-time fans of the series that want to jump back into Luigi’s flagship series. While some of the gameplay design and mechanics didn’t translate perfectly over to the Nintendo Switch, this is still a title worth checking out.
Princess Peach: Showtime! is a great return for Princess Peach as the main protagonist. Even though the game has some performance issues, the different costumes and genres the game explores will easily sustain most gamers’ interest throughout the 8-hour journey.
Unknown 9: Awakening is an ambitious debut title from Reflector Entertainment that is brimming with charm. It has a world worth exploring but fails to capitalise on that with a plot that leaves a lot to be desired.
Mario Kart World is a solid entry into the Mario Kart series, but it is still outshone by its predecessor in many ways. While the world in Mario Kart World feels barren, the entertaining and chaotic gameplay we love from the series may well be at its peak.
Avowed offers a serviceable RPG experience that relies a little too heavy on its ravishing combat and compelling world-building. The story, while distinguished, can falter occasionally due to some unfair dialogue choices and suffered writing. Despite this, Avowed is still a game worth playing because it capitalises and personalises action-RPG tropes and mechanics found in its peers.
They say cats always land on their feet, and Copycat proves this theory. Copycat brings a grounded and often heartfelt narrative to an authentic Australian setting and brilliantly tells a story of self-discovery. It may be far from purr-fect, but even with a few missteps in the pacing of the narrative and preciseness of the platforming, this is a charming experience that will stay with you for years to come.
Konami has brought some of the greatest games of all time to modern consoles in Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol 1. The games, while still legendary, are let down by Kojima’s absence and Konami’s greed.
WarioWare: Move It! takes the chaotic and unhinged WarioWare series to new heights with its near-on perfect utilisation of the joy-con functionalities. While some microgames are hindered by inaccurate joy-con registry, they are still ridiculously fun.. just make sure you have friends to play with to get the full experience.
Despite some minor flaws, Bramble: The Mountain King is an entertaining and well-crafted addition to Dimfrost Studio’s portfolio which will tickle that itch of any horror fan.
Scars Above has been a pleasant surprise that has cemented an already fantastic year in gaming. While it has its shortcomings with it’s uninspired story and weak world-building, it redeems itself with its fun and engaging gameplay.
Despite worrying performance issues and graphics, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is a large leap forward for the Pokémon franchise. The many additions to the gameplay make this iteration one of the most reinvigorated and entertaining Pokémon games to date.
The Devil In Me is another entertaining addition and finale to the first season of The Dark Pictures Anthology. While the story’s ending may be more predictable than others, it still delivers an enjoyable and captivating experience for players to enjoy solo or with friends.
The Midnight Walk is a light horror adventure that is brimming with personality and charm thanks to the worldbuilding and exceptional art design. Fans of horror akin to Tim Burton’s wheelhouse will love this game and the peculiar characters in it, but the choice to create a game with a non-VR and VR mode, while admirable, may have been to its detriment.
The Casting of Frank Stone embodies the Dead by Daylight universe exceptionally well, providing a revelating taste of lore unexplored within the universe. This is one of Supermassive’s best, an experience that promotes replayability and one that will capture the attention of horror fans across the world.
Alan Wake 2’s Night Spring presents an entertaining ~3-hour journey through the lenses of some of the franchise’s most iconic characters. Remedy manages to squeeze in the humour, chaos, and exhilarating gameplay of Alan Wake 2 in these bite-sized episodes, which will tide over any fan until the final expansion this year.