Geoffrey Tim's Reviews
It's definitely fun in short bursts, and is perfectly suited to the Switch with its casual, light-hearted multiplayer. That said, it's just not especially engaging or memorable. As far as rhythm games go, this one going to be a bit like Marmite. As a rhythm game. it's not nearly as quirky or interesting as something like Rhythm Heaven - and as a sports game, it can't top Wii Sports. As a combination of both, it's unique - but the sum isn't as good as its parts.
It's by no means a great game, but The LEGO Ninjago Movie Videogame does more than enough to avoid accusations of being an egregious cash-in. The simple co-op platforming coupled with the invigorated combat system deliver a game that's a mindless bit of fun.
The roguelike elements didn't quite work out for me, but I'm sure Sundered will find its audience. Though I learned not to hate them, I would have preferred if the game stuck closer to tradition. It becomes a good game, but until you really become acquainted with how it works, it can be a frustrating and monotonous slog.
In the end, The Mage's Tale is a decent, fun but flawed dungeon crawler that got a little more narrative meat than most games of its ilk. It's not quite a full-blown RPG experience, but it's enjoyable anyway.
The inclusion of the Infinity Stones and the change to a more measured 2v2 format make up for the slightly slower pace. Marvel vs Capcom Infinite succeeds as a superlative fighting game, it's just a pity that everything moulded around it doesn't quite reach those heights. The Story Mode is abysmal and the roster is uninspired. Despite that, it's still a blast to play.
As an exercise in nostalgia, or an introduction to one of the most seminal fighting games, Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers is great. Its new modes, characters, and features are ultimately disappointing though, making the definitive edition of Street Fighter II less meaningful than it should be.
It's Job Simulator with a coat of nihilistic, irreverent paint. It's fun, funny and indulgently self-aware. It's undoubtedly a must-have for fans, but like the character you play as, it's a disposable clone.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force isn't really Metroid game, then. But if you can set aside your preconceptions of what Metroid game is, you'll find a more than competent first person shooter that’s fun to play - even if it is let down by some odd design decisions and a lack of checkpoints.
EVE: Valkyrie is a delight to play, with tight and accessible controls. It’s the space-bound dogfighting dream you’ve always wanted, but a lack of single player content and some nasty microtransactions take the shine out of it all.
A Block and a Hard Place isn't a terrible episode – it's certainly better than the fumbling second one – but it caps the adventure with a mild fizzle as opposed to the great big bang I'd been expecting. One of the biggest problems with it though, is that I don't really care what happens in the concluding episode
It's hard to deny that it is a fun thing to play with family and friends – even if the formula is in dire need of a shake-up. Its focus on having fun over meticulously learning dance steps makes its a great game for all ages, though it's "if it ain't broke, then don't fix it" approachis waring a bit thin.
ABZU is at home on Nintendo's Switch. The simplistic, but vibrant visuals shine on the Switch's screen, and the system doesn't falter in its presentation or performance. There's perhaps a little more aliasing than you'd find on its bigger console and computer counterparts, but the three-hour long adventure has been faithfully ported.
The story presented in this first chapter isn't the most engaging, but the writing, coupled with the detail makes it all come together. As is usual though, I find it hard to recommend until all of its episodes are released and we can judge it as a whole - but this first episode is indeed promising, laying the groundwork for what should be a grand adventure.
When it all comes together, Rainbow Six Siege offers some of the best multiplayer action you'll experience this generation, but the anaemic content and lack of a cohesive single player campaign mar what should be one of this year's best shooters.
Though it fails to live up to the promise of its biggest ideas, Knack is a good game, a solid a challenging old-school adventure for gamers young and old.
Hardly strays from the established formula, but that's not entirely a bad thing. Any single game that allows you to play as both Batman and Gandalf has to be doing something right.
Though its brevity's become it's biggest talking point, there's much more to Ground Zeroes than meets the eye. Beyond that it's accessible, featuring the most fluid stealth the series has shown - and delivers a promising glimpse at the future of Metal Gear Solid.
Infamous: First Light provides a bite-sized experience, a mere sliver of Second Son. It mirrors that games main themes and focuses on the best of its powers, but is let down a little by its brevity.
Online issues and forced connectivity for single player modes keep NBA2K15 from being the year's best sports game. Impressive visuals and rock-solid core mechanics however, make it a necessary addition to any NBA fan's library.
Though it doesn't have the emotional weight of The Walking Dead or the witty humour of Tales from the Borderlands, Minecraft: Story Mode's best episode yet shows the series fulfill its promise.