More than worth a look-in.
It's also never glaring (aside from a few very obvious <b>Nintendo</b> design nods), and so the end result is an experience that feels whole and homogenous, and entirely new in the lit videogame pantheon.
Hades is a rare breed of game. Supergiant’s design confidence is almost reflected in the cavalier attitude of the game’s protagonist, Zagreus; capable and arrogant, young and vibrant. But evermore charming as a result. I’ve used the phrase before, but this is absolutely a franchise-in-waiting, and more, if the studio and Private Division were so inclined. But know this, at the very least: those accolades? The ones that kept coming? We’re adding to them -- a year on, and now with a new audience and new homes, Hades is still near-perfect and an absolute must-play. Don’t miss the bus again.
Elden Ring is among my favourite games ever. Those frame hitches, while significant, marred mere moments in my playtime with From's masterpiece. I played 95 hours of Elden Ring, and I could have played oh-so-much more. I will, probably. I railroaded myself with my weapon choice, but I found dozens of amazing looking spells that I'd love to try out. And I can't PVP at level 150, so I'll need to start a new character if I want to invade people. And there are two other endings that I didn't achieve — you aren't thrust immediately into NG+ in Elden Ring once you achieve an ending, but I don't think you can achieve other endings later. I already kind of know how to do them, I think. Well, I think I know, anyway. But I don't know what I don't know, so…
An absolute must-own.
Talk about ushering in a next-generation
Honestly, I can't recommend Hand of Fate 2 enough.
It's arguably not the best Zelda game, but damn, it might be the most polished, and the most ambitious.
I honestly hope this becomes a longstanding series, it's simply that good.
So being shackled to deviceless divulgence of the game's key drivers will be a challenge indeed, but it's one we're willing to take given The Last of Us Part II is arguably one of the year's biggest releases, and stands as something of a swansong for the <b>PlayStation 4</b> as we sit ready to slide into the next generation.
Tassing, however, has other plans for our young penman.
They've injected more fun and diversity this time around, and they've done so with a city backdrop that is truly alive, and is utterly inviting.
Ubisoft Quebec has made you a cog in the Peloponnesian war, but they've also allowed you to dress up that cog however you see fit, and this transcends the cosmetic, right through to being able to romance other characters in the game-world. A game-world that is truly alive.
After all, videogames serve to fulfil fantasy, right? So why not let players jump between stage rallies and supercars; between the garage and the showroom?.
Enrol yourself today in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This might be one of the year’s best courses.
[E]ven with that level of polish I'd have liked to see, it's difficult to think of any reason you shouldn't play this, because I can't. It's a compelling experience unlike anything else out in the market, despite borrowing heavily from a couple of other big guns. Thoroughly recommend.
Reactive hipoints on enemies would have been a much more "definitive" way to go here, but like the core story and animations, it's delivered in the same broken (or unrealistic) fashion as the 2013 release. Combat is the least fun in the game, but it's passable regardless. What's best to take away from this is you get the full game and all content released, updated visuals that actually make the game look next-gen, and that same rewarding sense of adventure and exploration coupled with Lara's personal, traumatic ascension to true Tomb Raider. Bring on the inevitable sequel, I say.
Star Wars Battlefront might not be terribly considerate of solo players and its by-design accessibility might deter DICE's hardcore Battlefield fans, but there's no denying the multiplayer is a hell of a lot of fun, and as far as creating the feeling of being part of a Star Wars movie, it doesn't get any better than this.
Obviously the audio is top notch as well, the background music is subtle and not repetitive and then there is the amazing narration that really makes Darkest Dungeon something really special.
The art is something the videogaming landscape has never seen before and is, arguably, worth the price of admission alone. But we come for the art, and stay for the challenge. And boy, does Cuphead have challenge in spades.