The future of MultiVersus remains to be seen, but if it is aspiring to become a go-to fighting game for both offline and online gatherings, nothing spoils the party more than the free-to-play shell it’s encased in. This model might make it more accessible to players in the short term, but when it’s weighing down the overall experience like this, it’s hard not to see history repeating itself sooner or later – even if you can butcher Shaggy with a machete.
MultiVersus has some shortcomings; stages feel uninspired and the controls don’t feel quite as tactile or satisfying compared to Nintendo’s fighting king, but this is an impressive foundation for what could become a genuine competitor.
An ill-conceived attempt at bringing competitive deathmatch to Resident Evil, that has turned out to be just as terrible as everyone always assumed it would be.
A perfunctory kart racing spin-off that has a few unique charms but falls well short of its far superior competition.
An ambitious magic-themed shooter which, despite its impressive, flashy combat, buckles under the weight of its influences and slapdash execution.
An uninspired retread of Resident Evil Village's best moments, which squanders the opportunity to experiment or provide a hint about the franchise's future.
[A]s a whole, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash feels like a rushed Christmas pick-up after the incredible fan-service of Super Smash Bros and Mario Kart 8.
A semi-successful pirate take on the Like A Dragon formula, held back by its lack of focus, drawn out length, and surprisingly weak story.
An affectionately crafted prequel to The Expanse which, while worthwhile for fans, fails to evolve Telltale's tired gameplay design in any meaningful manner.
A sleek skating hybrid with plenty of compelling ideas and some stylish presentation, but the longer it goes on the more frustrating it becomes.
The argument that Assassin’s Creed is losing its identity isn’t new, but with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, what remains from the franchises' origins is holding back the big picture. Valhalla pulls from every direction to provide a stunning, surprising world which is one of the best Ubisoft has created, but until they take a leap with the aged root at its core, greatness will always be out of reach.
The future of Destruction AllStars hinges on how Lucid Games will support the title in the coming months. The core gameplay is fluid, frantic and fun which may be enough to keep players coming back, but minimal variety and a disappointing lack of decent modes stops this from leaving the lasting impact it should.
There’s plenty to love about Oddworld: Soulstorm, but it’s a recommendation bundled with caveats. The occasionally bad design and frustrating bugs hold it back from the blockbuster Abe adventure it strives to be, but if you can stomach the annoyances, there’s a compelling, puzzle platformer here which breathes new life into Oddworld’s charms.
If Virtua Fighter’s future depends on Ultimate Showdown's success, this barebones revitalisation might be too thin to have long-term impact. With few modes and a basic approach to online, this feels like a quick fix to get Virtua Fighter back into the FGC spotlight. If you’re after a fighter with significant brains however, the incredible mechanics might be enough to rope you in.
A fascinating cosy experiment, packed with memorable characters and sharp writing, but which occasionally stumbles in the execution.
An occasionally spectacular follow-up to one of the best action platformers of the last few years, which unfortunately dilutes some of its appeal by shooting for a wider audience.
A surprisingly lean and mean sequel which amplifies the bloody thrills of the original through its impressive presentation and flexible mechanics.
A fantasy musical adventure which has big laughs to match its big heart, while being built around charming, if shallow, gameplay mechanics.
The best and most balanced Mario Strikers title yet, undercut by limited modes and a lacklustre sense of progression.
An appealing riff on the Pokémon role-playing formula which, while a little too safe, has enough small deviations and improvements to justify its existence.