Alessandro Barbosa
- Journey
- Portal 2
- Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped
Alessandro Barbosa's Reviews
Watch Dogs 2 manages to improve on almost every point that made its predecessor so disappointing. It’s a more robust open-world game, packed with meaningful content and mechanics that beg the player to experiment and toy with them. Though it still hangs onto some facets a little too tightly, this is one sequel that manages to make its opening act seem like a mistake best left forgotten.
XCOM 2: Alien Hunters is a clever piece of DLC that serves to entertain the most hardcore XCOM 2 fans around. With fundamental shifts to traditional gameplay and a new set of enemies to deal with, it’s an easy recommendation for those still trying to reclaim Earth.
Kirby: Planet Robobot might be easy, but it’s an equally satisfying platformer to play on the go with the 3DS. It’s an adventure that the round pick hero begs you to join him on, and you’d be hard pressed to be dissatisfied with the journey.
Gears of War 4 is a satisfying, if not overly familiar, return to some of the series’ best beats. A distinctly dark campaign dishes out welcome surprises and disappointing repeats in equal measure, while its refined Horde mode and thoroughly engaging multiplayer round off a package that any franchise fan should be happy to rev through.
SuperHot uses its time-altering core idea to great effect, creating a puzzle game that forces you to balance slow, thoughtful moves with quick, precise shooting. It's a puzzle shooter that is easy to digest in small does but hard to put down, making the entire mind-bending journey one that will get your adrenaline pumping and brain thinking in equal measure.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD offers a sharper, more visually appealing version of a game that has already earned its merits in design. One that sometimes doesn't hit the highest notes the series is capable of, but one that equally manages to keep you engaged in a more though provoking, mature Zelda tale. Whether returning or venturing forth for the first time, it shouldn't be missed.
A wonderfully remastered trip into Nathan Drake's past rekindles some of the joy the franchise has brought to its thousands of fans, but also makes some of its more glaring shortcomings far more noticeable. Still, the best Uncharted Collection you could've hoped for is finally here.
The Division is a strong start for a game that Ubisoft is clearly aiming to keep alive for a long time. It gleefully fulfills promises instead of just making them, even if some of its later elements fall prey to the inevitable wait for more content.
Despite its lingering flaws and often frustrating pacing, The Last Guardian rises above expectation to deliver an engrossing adventure. Team Ico have brought together everything they've learnt over their past two games to present a heartfelt tale wrapped in an often-bewildering platformer – even if it took nearly a decade to make it here.
Ultros' experimentation with elements from both roguelites and metroidvanias creates an enthralling combination accentuated by a captivating setting.
El Paso, Elsewhere combines simple yet delicately balanced action with an engrossing story about vampires, love, and the end of the world.
Diablo IV's surprisingly moving and engrossing story encapsulates gameplay systems that have learnt all the right lessons from entries past.
Hyper Demon builds upon the excellent foundation established by Devil Daggers, offering a more mechanically complex shooter that's also more approachable than its predecessor.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves improves two of the series' best entries with significant, but unsurprising, results.
Unsighted remixes familiar ideas with an engrossing spin on what it means to take on a time-sensitive mission to save the world.
Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye intelligently builds upon the strong base of Outer Wilds, while only stumbling when trying drastically new ideas.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite is a surprisingly deep third-person shooter with tight, enjoyable multiplayer action that has enough variety to tease multiple return visits.
Tight, challenging combat and a gorgeous world to explore makes the morbid act of reaping souls a delight in Death's Door.
Knockout City's surprising depth coupled with its approachable mechanics make it an engrossing new multiplayer offering.
Loop Hero combines familiar mechanics in unfamiliar ways, producing an exhilarating and tactical roguelite that you'll struggle to put down.