Alessandro Barbosa
- Journey
- Portal 2
- Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped
Alessandro Barbosa's Reviews
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.
Frostpunk is an ingenious blend of city building systems and morally ambiguous decision making. Its mechanics are streamlined enough to be easy to grasp, but it's tension and demanding nature make it an apocalyptic experience you shouldn't skip.
F1 2018 doesn't skimp on technically deep and rigorous racing, but its approach to appease both hardcore F1 fans and curious racing fans alike make it a title that has a much broader appeal than just the sport itself. It's a gorgeous package with smartly designed content to keep you entertaining on and off the track, and just a darn fine racing experience around every corner.
Resident Evil 2's remake highlights just how great Capcom's first sequel in the Resident Evil series ways, but does it in a way that makes it the most compelling entry in the series thus far. It's smart changes merge with the classic design expertly, while its atmosphere is rich thanks to gorgeous lighting and incredible sound design. It's a reminder of the past, but this remake would be a fine direction for the future of Resident Evil
Tetris Effect is a visual and auditory treat that bombards your senses with exploding colours and punchy electronic songs. But it's real triumph is combining this with the delicate nature of Tetris, retaining the precise gameplay while also marrying it effectively with the beat of a drum. Tetris Effect is meditative, exciting and incredibly difficult to put down.
Apex Legends is a surprisingly different interpretation of the Battle Royale formula that introduces new rules for engagement while also refining many of the issues the genre has grappled with for months. It's ingenious tagging system and clever character abilities make it a multiplayer shooter that's easy to pick up and play, but also deep enough to sink hundreds of hours into for months to come.
F1 2019 is another exceptional racing game that caters to all spectrums of fans, giving you many modes, exhibition events and an exciting career mode to get familiar with its gorgeous tracks. It's simply one of the best simulation racers out there, again.
The first Horizon was hailed as one of the best racing titles on the Xbox 360, and its sequel just raises the bar. As an arcade or simulation racer, there's not that much that Forza Horizon 2 does wrong. This shouldn't even be a question for racing fanatics, and I'll easily recommend it to every other Xbox owner out there.
XCOM 2 manages to improve a formula that had almost nothing wrong with it to begin with, adding a sense of urgency to the already unpredictable nature of its turn-based combat. It's a rewarding experience, if not sometimes cruelly unfair.
Majora's Mask is a testament to the idea that fantastic game design never ages. It's engrossing while pushy, unique while also familiar and filled with contrasting charm and dread. If you have a 3DS it's a must-have – and a good reason to pick one up in the first place.
Metro Redux sets the bar high for what a HD remaster should be – not only a visual upgrade, but a gameplay touch up as well. Metro 2033 benefits the most from this, and owners of Last Light will have a tough time finding many improvements. Still, if you're yet to visit the bleak world of the Moscow underground, there hasn't been a better time.
Sunset Overdrive's stylistic gameplay and juvenile attitude doesn't make it a title for everyone. It is, however, an incredibly fun, visually beautiful open-world title that exhibits the best parts of what a sandbox game should be. Tight, stylish movement, engrossing combat and chaotic online fun makes Sunset Overdrive a no brainer for any Xbox One owner.
Assassin's Creed: Rogue is a great ending to the American saga of the franchise, and a great game in its own right. Ubisoft has also done a fine job with the PC port, making it an easy recommendation to any fan.
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.
A brilliant adventure packed with some of the best dialogue gaming has even been medium to, Firewatch manages to engross you from the moment it begins and throughout its fittingly brief tale. Even if the journey is far more captivating than the eventual destination, Firewatch is more than worth the price of admission. Wyoming and it mysteries await.
Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam manages to be more than the sum of its parts delivering a steadily challenging RPG experience with light-hearted, witty writing throughout.
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.
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.
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.
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.