Wonderfully authentic, but it's too familiar, cumbersome with a pad, and the career management is unusually tedious.
"Keeps making the journey feel pleasantly curated despite its semi-random elements."
Revenge of the Savage Planet is a large, ambitious adventure with great visuals, varied gameplay, and split-screen co-op to boot that's a great sequel to an underrated sci-fi platformer. However, the crude humour and corporate satire can be grating and the whole game feels like a collection of shallow busywork – though the design of the final few hours is exemplary.
It's easy to play, yet complex enough if you exploit the full possibilities of combat and it's easily as entertaining to watch as it is to play. A surefire hit with the family or just as a wholesome treat for yourself, the blocks fit together perfectly either way.
Less assured and sorely missing story mode, this feels like a downgrade over F1 23.
Sonic Superstars is like a modern version of the Genesis classics, with all the good and bad that entails. The four-player, same-screen co-op functionality works surprisingly well, and the new Emerald powers keep things fresh. While it isn't as good as Sonic Mania, Superstars is a fresh twist on classic Sonic action.
Forza Motorsport's fantastic online racing, brilliant weather effects, and liquid-smooth game engine are at odds with the dull, one-note offline gameplay that's nowhere near as fun as that of its superlative predecessor. Turn 10 has delivered a racing game that's slicker than ever, but also a bit of a step backwards.
An open world racer that gets better the more you play it, revealing a wealth of high-quality racing in a beautiful, technically spectacular Hawaii. While it lacks originality, it is better than Forza Horizon 5 in several ways.
The sequel brings welcome enhancements, but the on-track racing simulation is a let down.
The excellent story, still-superlative career and loot-based F1 World make for a convincing and gigantic F1 experience.
LEGO 2K Drive is big, bold, and beautiful, and some of the later races are truly superb.
At 4K/60, Need for Speed Unbound is a clear showcase for the new generation of consoles"
Another superlative career mode, but the avatar customisation and tacked-on supercars feel like bullet points.
A breathtakingly expansive and authentic recreation of the core Star Wars universe in LEGO. Its gameplay is predictably simplistic at times, but literally everything else is stellar. At last, THIS is the droid you are looking for.
Super-slick, arcade-leaning racing from Codemasters, now with better handling and a live-action story mode to enjoy. Instantly enjoyable online and off.
Not the best racing game ever made, but a contender for best driving game. While perhaps overly familiar, everything here is very slick, refreshingly wholesome and easy-going.
Another superlative simulation of the Formula One world, now with an enjoyable story mode too.
A perfect blend of authenticity mixed with modern-day quality of life enhancements. Joyous, slick, hi-score gaming that looks nice too.
Project Cars 3 is a great way to get into sim racing for newcomers thanks to its overtly gamey career mode, but the move into proper 'simcade' territory feels odd and unfulfilling.
The deep career mode is even better when managing your own team, and the racing is superbly tactical.