Ash of Gods: Redemption is a hodgepodge of a lot of interesting ideas that could've been weaved together, but weren't.
This was a rollercoaster of a review, through no fault on my own. This is the first time I've ever done a complete 180 mid-way through writing, but I suppose that it's only fair if the patches didn't just fix small issues, but rather fundamentally changed the way the game plays. The score has to be indicative of the product the consumer is going to buy, and as of right now, that product is a 6/10 - an average game in every respect, but also one that gets an extra point for being exceedingly faithful to the license it's based upon, and thus likely to please long-term fans of WH40K. It pleased me, at least.
Unlike most studios in the industry which seem to deliver products that consistently fail to meet expectations and the hype, Spiders seems to manage getting better and better with each subsequent release. GreedFall is one of their better titles, if not the best, but it still falls somewhat short of being a truly great game. With that said, it's by no means bad, and it's certainly ambitious. If you find the subject matter intriguing, consider giving it a shot - it has lots to offer in terms of role-playing and storytelling, but fails in other areas.
TSA: NMH is a game I was looking forward to and, in all honesty, I can't say that it fully satisfied my longing for some Travis Touchdown action. As I've mentioned earlier, the game feels like a fun appetizer before the main course comes along. Thing is, we've been waiting for the main course for quite some time and I'm afraid that many of the fans might get up and choose a different venue.
Dissidia NT carries over a lot from its arcade original, perhaps a little too much. It's clear that the developers put a lot of love and care into the product, but it didn't quite hit the spot for me. Dissidia NT fell a little short from achieving excellence, but nevertheless it's definitely a good game. Should you buy it? Yes, you should give it a try, although perhaps not at full retail price - it'll take more content to justify that. Seeing that the Season Pass promises to nearly double the roster, I can sense a Definitive Edition on the horizon, and that's the one I'd be aiming at.
It's very hard to judge this game. On one hand, it has limitless potential, but on the other it's lacking in just about every area. It fails to deliver on the promises made by the marketing team, but I'm not sure to what extent I can blame the developers of the game in this regard. NMS doesn't feel like an attempt to squeeze money out of people's wallets, it's not one of those games that's sold unfinished, with gaps filled in with DLC. It's a genuine attempt at trying something new and innovative, in many ways it's a work of art, it simply grew in scale so much since inception that it grew far beyond the developer's capacity to complete. I sincerely hope that they complete to build upon the solid foundation they've created so far because NMS is a diamond in the rough - it deserves to be polished and enjoyed.
RAGE 2 lives up to his name by mildly enraging the player - like Icarus, it comes so close to being great and then fumbles on the basics. There are some good ideas here, they just needed more direction and polish. It's not a "bad" game, not by any means, but it's not "good" either, it just "is". It sits in that mid-point where games that are "kinda fun" reside. Should you buy it? Sure. When it's on sale and you're itching for a shooter.
Biomutant is less of an experimental game and more of a formulaic open world adventure. You know what you're getting into from the start, with few surprises along the way. Thankfully, the otherwise mediocre mechanics are carried by a beautiful world, a good crafting system and a mountain of loot to collect. It provides pleasant reprieve from the sea of brownish, boring RPG's by taking you to a somewhat unusual setting with an unusual protagonist, topped off with a splash of colour. Based on that alone, it earns a recommendation from me, if narrowly so. If you're looking for something different, but not "too different", give Biomutant a shot.
"They Are Billions" is a kernel of a great game. I'm sure that the more complete PC release is thoroughly satisfying, but the console release, in its current state, feels incomplete. The developers forgot that the game is no longer in Early Access and have released a game that, ultimately, lacks some basic features. Nevertheless, I recommend it to fans of Tower Defense games and RTS'es, or at least I recommend picking it up once the title is actually complete.
I have to say I enjoyed my time with this one. It's yet another "diamond in the rough" kind of title that needed just a little bit more polish to truly stand out. With that said, it's still easily one of the better installments in the series and a solid strategy game, both for Space Hulk fans and new recruits. It's precisely what a Warhammer 40K game should be - a well-thought-out, slow and methodical strategy game with a strong focus on squad-based tactics. If you feel that you can look past its flaws, give it a fair shake - after all, serving the Emperor is not a duty, it's a privilege.
MMXLC Vol.1 & 2 were most certainly fun to play and I'm glad that I got to review them as they introduced me to the series, but the collection has some inherent problems, not to mention that the asking price is simply way too high for what you get.
MMXLC Vol.1 & 2 were most certainly fun to play and I'm glad that I got to review them as they introduced me to the series, but the collection has some inherent problems, not to mention that the asking price is simply way too high for what you get.
Kirby Star Allies is the first installment of the series on a brand-new console and it bears all the signs of a somewhat rushed game that's testing the waters on new hardware. That being said, it has a gem of classic Kirby gameplay, it's nostalgic and immediately enjoyable from the moment you pick it up to the moment you put it down. If you enjoy Kirby, pick Star Allies up, but keep your expectations moderate - it's not a perfect game, it's just a good one, and that's fine.
I had a great time playing Broken Sword 5. Is it as good as my personal favourites, the first two games in the series? No, it is not, but it's still an excellent Point & Click adventure that I would personally recommend. It's quite a different experience to the more recent releases in the genre that adheres to a more classic format, which both works in its favour and against it, depending on how you look at it. It's definitely a solid title, especially considering the fact that it was funded via Kickstarter, and with the low price point in mind, I'd definitely consider giving it a go - you won't regret it.
ELEX II is like a weathered veteran donning their armor for one more campaign, ready to show the youngsters some of the old tricks they may have foolishly forgotten. It's a brand-new game that somehow feels like it has a grey beard - it feels dated, in good and in bad ways. I personally enjoyed it thoroughly and I was happy to start it back up each day, eager to carry on playing because products like this one, ones that don't just play homage to the classics but rather play like the classics, are few and far between. Given the size of the team behind ELEX II it's remarkable that they've managed to push out a project this good - Piranha, you've done it again. Once again, you release a game that's bigger, better and prettier than its predecessors, and I hope you'll continue doing so for many years to come.
Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart is definitely a title worth picking up, for a number of reasons. The concept is interesting, the audio-visual presentation is great, the gameplay is solid and it's one of those Japanese RPG's that are wacky, but not wacky to the point of being unplayable for a typical western gamer. If you've never played a JRPG or SRPG of this kind, this is a good game to start with. If you have, all the better, you'll feel right at home with Noire and her CPU friends.
While Inkulinati isn't groundbreaking by any means, its unique presentation draws you in. The title has a lot to offer to fans of the genre. While the game is not complex, it can surprise an unprepared player - its simplicity is deceptive. It's endearing, it's humorous and it's fun, what's not to like?
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is well-worth your money if you're a fan of dungeon crawlers and JRPG's, the it can definitely provide hours of quality entertainment. The game is well-executed and although it has some shortcomings and it isn't always true to its roots, it manages to deliver an enjoyable experience that's worth recommending.
Ghost Trick was one of the classics for me, and one of the games that really took advantage of the hardware it was on way back in the day. With that being said, this is a remaster, which comes with a different set of expectations. While the game plays just as well as it did on original hardware, it only does the bare minimum without extra bells and whistles for returning players, so I have to dock some points for that alone. This was a perfect opportunity to extend the game a little and include some additional content. Thankfully, it does that bare minimum very well and remains an enjoyable game that leaves you wanting more. Hey Capcom - maybe it's time for Ghost Trick 2? If this is an honest attempt at a seance, consider the title to be resurrected successfully.
Chernobylite might not be AAA, but it's great bang for the buck. At £29.99 I think it's a steal, but buyer beware! With its numerous performance issues the title isn't for everyone.