Max Parker's Reviews
The game of football in FIFA 23 is great, but everything else misses the mark.
Forza Horizon 5 is more of the same for the series and it makes a glorious impression. It’s a visual treat on Series X, with fun and approachable gameplay that always feel varied.
FIFA 22 offers a better game of football than before and a whole load of new features for PS5, Xbox Series consoles and Stadia. Shame it’s let down by countless bugs and a lack of true improvements in many modes.
Football Manager 2021 is a winner and a real worthwhile upgrade not only for those who played the previous game but also those who might have lapsed in recent years. This is the most realistic version yet, with deeper player interaction and more varied communications with your team and key staff making you feel even more like a real manager.
FIFA 21 is an often great football game packed with content and modes. The few gameplay tweaks that are here make for a better overall experience and keeping Volta around adds some variety. Sadly, the redesign of career mode focuses on the wrong features and feels like a wannabe Football Manager without any of the depth.
If you've already got PES 2020 and have found other means to update the squads and kits, there's very little of note here. The changes are minimal and this edition is likely just for those who decided against picking up the previous entry. But if a cheaper version of PES has you interested this is a great starting point. Yes, there are plenty of issues with the modes, commentary and AI but most of that just fades into insignificance when you're actually playing a game. Until the next-gen version arrives next year, this is the best representation of football you'll find.
A welcome refresh of the UI, more visually pleasing training and tactics menus, and all the addictive depth you'd expect from an entry in the Football Manager series.
I'll still be exploring islands that I haven't touched and meeting NPCs whom I haven't yet met. This big, beautiful, bloated world has no end in sight.
"Mega Man 11" makes the series feel new again, rather than stuck in the past. It keeps everything that makes the series challenging and rewarding, and flawlessly incorporates the gear system into its design. Even after 11 classic games, this latest sequel is one of the best in the series.
Episode one can be a slow burn at times, but it sets the tone for the rest of the series nicely. While not a continuation of its predecessor in any way, it stays true to the series while adding enough to make the formula feel engaging to the player. I'm looking forward to seeing where the new series goes.
FIFA 19 is a great game, packed with plenty of detail. It isn't a huge step forward in terms of raw gameplay, but the sheer amount of stuff to do will mean you keep coming back for more.
It has all the trappings of a triple-A game at first glance, but it doesn't quite manage to distinguish itself from the rest of the series. This is especially apparent when compared to its predecessor that took the series in drastic new directions. In an overcrowded fall season that is packed with $60 games, "Shadow of the Tomb Raider" needed to do more.
This is the Spider-Man we know and love, but so much so that it's to a fault. "Spider-Man" for PS4 does more than enough to make comic fans and webhead fans happy. It clears the middling bar for Spider-Man games. It's the best Spider-Man game ever made. But, its uninspired narrative keeps it from reaching the heights of the "Arkham" series. Admittedly, that's a tough series to top. This is just the beginning for this new vision of Spider-Man and his journey, and his best tales may be waiting around the corner.
Pro Evolution Soccer remains the best, most accurate representation of football you can play without suddenly realising you can play out from the back like Harry Maguire.
"Sonic Mania Plus" is a speedy return of Sonic the Hedgehog, and this time he brought even more friends. The new and improved cast does plenty to enhance the game and its many stages. This is the best version of the game to check out whether you're adding to "Sonic Mania" via DLC or picking up the beautiful physical copy. If you gotta go fast, this is the best way to satisfy your need for speed.
"God of War" is the culmination that the series always had the potential to be. Better yet, it's just the beginning of a new legend forged by the God of War.
For now, it's a wonderful social experience that kept me wanting to see more. And when I wasn't playing, I was looking forward to returning to the open sea.
There are few open world games that can match the pure escapism of the "Far Cry" presentation. With a few sanded edges, the gameplay can match that presentation.
Whether you're hunting by yourself or bringing on a full squad of hunters armed to the teeth, "Monster Hunter: World" is a wonderfully unique gaming experience. Even after dozens of hours I still feel like I'm scratching the surface with each new mission. That experience comes with a steep learning curve, but sticking with it just might get you to your new favorite game.
Football Manager 2018 is a great game, but that's mostly down to the sheer depth of the series on offer from previous years. A few new features here are fun as ideas, but I'd like them to have a more meaningful impact in-game.