Alessandro Barbosa's Reviews
Starblood Arena has the mechanics to be a compelling online VR shooter. But the lack of any compelling content and the difficulty of finding other people to play with proves to be one too many obstacles you shouldn't need to be facing for a game this expensive.
Although Prey's combat and narrative fail to fill the shoes of the games they're so obviously taking inspiration from, the visit to its Talos I space station is a marvel in interconnected level design and presentation. This is environmental storytelling and mechanical tension done to a tee, even if Prey is working hard to try and yank you out of its immersion far too often.
Farpoint makes the act of shooting feel exhilarating and accurate with the new Aim Controller, but just about everything else in this first-person shooter fails to live up to the billing PlayStation VR desperately need. A trite, boring shooter wrapped up with some poor decision designs and frequent bugs that's just incredibly disappointing.
Brushing its hilariously goofy teamwork aside, Star Trek: Bridge Crew is a shallow, repetitive experience that even the most optimistic Star Trek fans will struggle to sink their teeth into. It's a missed chance at making piloting your own craft a pleasure, and a sore disappointment.
ARMS is another great new IP from Nintendo that shows their growing commitment to robust, competitive online games. Its elegant flow of fighting is supplemented by numerous options of continued experimentation, with a strong suite of game types to keep you playing for hours on end.
Splatoon 2 is a far more robust, polished game, with heaps more content than its debut ever had, but still sadly retains some of its biggest shortfalls. An absurdly addictive formula of gameplay that remains unique and inviting, but with an encompassing online infrastructure that's sometimes at odds with itself.
Tacoma is a captivating tale that messes with established tropes in a way that Fullbright might become known for. Although it spins its wheels at the start, this slow and methodical journey through the lives of a small group survivors is one with some fantastic twists and turns, and one that should stick with you long after its conclusion.
Inherited PSVR hardware issues aside, Superhot VR is to date one of the best games you could possibly play on the platform. Its expert pairing of challenge and empowerment make for an exhilarating shooter experience, that has you thinking and reacting in equal measure to feel like a lighting fast action hero.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is a tightly compacted Uncharted experience that leans heavily on the established structures and mechanics from the past. But its new choice in cast and creative, emotional tale that really makes the brief journey shine - from one massive action spectacle to the next.
Forza Motorsport 7 is the exhilarating, technical racer you expect it to be when you've finally put rubber on the track. But outside of that it's a mess of randomised loot boxes, microtransaction structures, tepid progression and watered down multiplayer support. A real bump in the road for this illustrious racing franchise.
FIFA 18 makes some notable and important changes both on and off the pitch, but it's a formula that still often feels at odds with itself. And while EA is trying to recapture its former glory with the series, it continues to lose ground to the competition. Even if FIFA 18 is the best entry in the series for some time.
It’s impossible to pinpoint a fault in Super Mario Odyssey, which both elegantly and eloquently surprises and calls back to its storied history. It’s a game full of surprises; one that plays with your expectations and supersedes them in almost every way. If you have a Switch (or are yet to get one), it’s simply essential.
DOOM is a technological marvel to behold on the Switch, and the fact that id Software got it working at all seems like a miracle. But the magic comes with some heavy concessions, making DOOM on Nintendo's handheld a more difficult recommendation for Switch players than any other platform.
Star Wars Battlefront II is a gorgeous, incredibly fun shooter that builds on its roots with a host of new content, welcome gameplay tweaks and a fun single-player campaign. But all of its improvements are overshadowed by the Star Destroyer of crooked business decisions and terrible progression, making it a hard sell right now.
L.A. Noire is still a strange, sometimes brilliant game that you should try at least once. But if you're returning to try and recapture what enjoyment you might have had with it six years ago, you might find yourself staring at a package that hasn't aged well at all.
InnerSpace wears its inspirations on its sleeve, and manages to replicate the tranquil atmosphere it's clearly aiming for. Its flight is enjoyable, with breath-taking views and colourful planets to poke around in. But it's progression and overall narrative really buckle under the weight, making the crumbling Inverse a wasted space for this otherwise relaxing exploration title.
The Inpatient is a fittingly terrifying visit to the sanitorium that set Until Dawn in motion and does a good job pivoting from campy slasher tropes to more psychological horror. Its choices lack the same punch though, and despite its shorter runtime, The Inpatient does a worse job of convincing you to play through it multiple times. Despite that, it's captivating world and solid opening remain engrossing, even if its upended near its closure.
Every bit the genre-defining, captivating adventure that it was 13 years ago, Shadow of the Colossus reminds you yet again just how masterful design and keenly focused art direction never age. But it's Bluepoint's respect of these elements and the smart decisions to tweak and improve them that make this the most definitive version of the Team Ico classic you're likely to ever get.
Dragon Quest Builders is every bit the captivating building adventure on the Switch as it was when it first released. It's strong sense of progression, charming aesthetic and easy mechanics make it great for casual play, while its robust worlds and interesting characters make for a charming tale. It takes a misstep or two along the way, but Dragon Quest Builders isn't an adventure you want to skip out on.
Though the first game's starting to show its age as far as visuals go, the relentless action remains timeless. Fast, frantic and frivolously fun, it's still worth playing. The sequel, however, improves upon everything; deliver a more focused, more nuanced and more refined. It's a glorious masterclass in design and flow.