Darryn Bonthuys's Reviews
As Marvel games go, Iron Man VR doesn't quite hit the high mark set by the superlative Spider-Man, but it's an often engaging and exhilarating experience to step into shellhead's signature armour. Long load times, overused padding and poor writing mar what would otherwise be the ultimate Iron Man adventure.
Disintegration absolutely nails the idea of managing a squad and blasting away at the opposition from within your high anti-gravity horse, but some rough edges in the multiplayer department derails this ambitious concept before it can truly stand out from the pack.
Greymoor may be a paint by numbers expansion to The Elder Scrolls Online, but it still manages to be a nostalgic return to the glory days of Skyrim that is enhanced by the fascinating Antiquities system and scenic locales.
A modest expansion to Pokémon Sword and Shield, Isle of Armor doesn't stray away from the established formula of last year's blockbuster game. But when the core experience was that good to begin with, more of the same is exactly what the series needs to still stay fun and fresh.
West of Dead isn't going to win any originality contests, but it knows how to draw with the best of them and it's quick enough to hit you with six rounds of stylistic fun. Beneath the obvious comparisons, there's a game that plays out like a passionate high noon homage to the best of film, games and comic books.
Project Warlock has its moments, but the retro good comes with some nostalgic bad. If you're able to look past its flaws, there's a chunky and satisfying first-person shooter that still manages to be a blast from the past when you get to grips with it.
Fly Punch Boom is the fighting game love letter to epic anime showdowns that you want to love, but its flawed execution and hyper-active QTE combat derails all the charm that this brawler brings to the table.
Desperados III is an absolute hoot. The best strategy game of the year, cowboys and chaos never felt this good and this revival is one for the ages. It may be lethally challenging, but its gung-ho strategy is a masterpiece of design that's accentuated by lovable rogues, lively levels and a dedication to its genre that can easily outdraw any challengers to its throne.
Command & Conquer Remastered Collection is the gold standard for what a blast from the past should and can be, as Petroglyph's efforts have resulted in a handsome and hefty package of classic strategy, passion and modern-day improvements.
A decade of gaming in a single package, the latest return to Pandora still stands tall as a testament to brilliant game design, and even with a few technical concessions along the way, it makes for one handsome pack of fun.