Drew Hurley's Reviews
Yomawari: Night Alone on PlayStation Vita is a brilliantly refreshing return to the iconic Japanese horror game, and it's a real joy to see it get localised here in the UK. Horror aficionados need to pick this one up and when better than just in time for Halloween? Get some good headphones, a pitch black room, kick back, and let this special adventure take you on a journey, but don't forget to keep a torch nearby, just in case...
To those players who always were interested with the hunting genre of games but couldn't get on with Monster Hunter, God Eater 2: Rage Burst may be the game for you. It's like an "Arcade" version of Monster Hunter, thriving on fast action and fun combat, while still capturing the feel of the genre. It has an engaging story, fun gameplay, and a mammoth amount of content - perfect for anyone searching for a game to really sink their teeth into.
Go tell Aunt Rhody she needs to play Resident Evil 7, as it's an absolutely stunning rebirth and return to form for survival horror. This soft reboot has reinvigorated the franchise and brought AAA survival horror back. The future of Resident Evil looks very promising too, since Capcom established that the Bakers have taken plenty of visitors over the years and have filmed them all. These experiences are already set up to be the part of some upcoming DLC and for future instalments this leaves plenty of story threads hanging and questions left to be answered.
With so many disappointments in recent Telltale titles, it's fantastic to see the team recreate the magic of Clementine's earlier stories in A New Frontier. It manages to introduce a great cast of likeable characters that have their own tale to tell, while also expanding Clementine's saga. This feels like a return to the form of the glory days of the first season of The Walking Dead, or even The Wolf Among Us, so here's hoping the team can keep the quality up for the rest of the series.
The Walking Dead: A New Frontier - Episode 2: The Ties That Bind II keeps the course, delivering another quality storytelling experience with aplomb. Javi's story is a compelling one and fans can't help but clamour for closure and answers for what happened to Clem… and what happened to AJ. Plenty of pieces are in motion and this is building to be a very special story. If only Telltale could get this quality over to its other recent titles...
Yooka-Laylee is the perfect collectathon game for veterans of the N64 and a true spiritual successor to the spectacular Banjo-Kazooie. It is exactly what people were hoping it would be, but there are a few critical flaws that are impossible to ignore. It feels like a title taken from the N64 and polished up to this generation, but games have changed a great deal since that era. Arguably, had this incorporated some of those changes, it could have been even better, but instead it has embraced its concept and stayed true to its roots. Regardless, the low price point, inviting gameplay and pure fun of the game means this is one that everyone should try.
ACA NeoGeo: Shock Troopers is an ideal game to add to anyone's Nintendo Switch library for playing while commuting, dropping into tabletop mode for some local co-operative action at a friend's house, or even diving into at home on the big screen to try and top the online leaderboards for that strong feeling of satisfaction. It may have a short playtime, but it is extremely enjoyable to go back to it again and again - a truly excellent dose of arcade fun.
Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns could have been a repetitive and tedious experience, and indeed the first few days playing it seems to deliver exactly that, but this breaks expectations in the long run. It manages to keep a steady flow of new gameplay elements and mechanics to continually keep the action interesting. This is the perfect title to chill out with after a long stressful day, and thanks to its addictive gameplay and huge amount of things to do, it's one to keep returning to again and again.
You'd think a game set around playing as a snake wouldn't have a leg to stand on, and yet this simple puzzler about a snake on a plane has no ereptile dysfunctions. Sorry, sorry… Snake Pass is a truly enjoyable, addictive and original platforming puzzler gem that really stands out. The only real issue is how short it feels. There are four worlds to complete, with fifteen stages in all, and an unlockable time-trial mode, but even with all that, there is a desire for more.
A World to the West is actually superior to its predecessor. The puzzles are wonderful and offer up some real head-scratching challenges, and the mechanics are engaging and fun. Parallels are evident between this and A Link to the Past and considering the quality of that game, in the comparison, it shows the quality of this one. A real surprise here, it is definitely one of the best Nindies to hit Nintendo Switch yet, and considering some of the titles hitting the console recently, that's really saying something.
A long-forgotten joy that deserves to stand side by side with the best of the franchise. There are so many great elements that all combine for such a special experience. The soundtrack from Hitoshi Sakimoto is filled with such a wide variety of tracks, ranging from grand orchestral themes, like the self-titled "Final Fantasy" to the light cheerful tones played throughout towns and some fantastic battle music. All of these sound even better here, reworked with 7.1 surround sound. The models and designs look stunning. The story falters, but still tells a gripping tale. Most importantly, however, the gameplay is ridiculously addictive, with the quality of life enhancements addressing most of the problems with the original. A must-buy for both those who played the PS2 version and those who missed it. Fantastic.
Ignoring the graphical issues and the crashing, this is almost a return to form. The story gets back on track and is truly engaging, character development continues to excel, and the choices remain difficult. This is topped off with another superb cliff-hanger that delivers a sequence that will make players want to immediately go back and see the fallout from the other branching option, not to mention eager to get their hands on that final episode. If only it could be bug free...
For anyone who has been interested in trying out an otome visual novel this is a perfect entry into the genre. There are tons of playthroughs to see the whole story, a wide range of characters to romance, and truly compelling tales waiting in this superb story. It's also a must-buy for the hardcore fans out there. For those who have invested numerous hours to see every romance, with endings both good and bad, this is the perfect accompaniment. It's a fresh breath of life that manages to tell new tales and even give further insight into beloved characters.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and more ready for a hidden blade right through the centre. Assassin's Creed: Origins is an absolutely stellar return to form and even those who have previously not enjoyed the series would be wise to give it a second shot here. The new combat design is a big improvement, the world is rich, the story compelling; there is a lot to like here and it also massively returns on its investment thanks to the amount of content. There are easily over 30 hours here just in taking on the regular story and way over double that to complete the whole map. Buy this game.
An absurdly good game. The story, the world, the characters, and the distractions all add up to one thing: immersion. This is the type of game to invest tons of time in, and for those new to the franchise, it's all the better because there are so many other Yakuza titles waiting to be played! For returning fans, Yakuza: Kiwami gives the inaugural game new life. It's been long enough removed from the original release to feel special again, and, even better, it is released at a budget price. In fact, it's a shame that only the first title has received this remaster, but with some "big announcements" coming this month, hopefully, the others in the series will see similar rereleases on PlayStation 4. Until then, dig out those PlayStation 2s and 3s and get cracking on the rest of Kiryu's story. There may just be time to catch up before Yakuza 6 - billed the finale of Kiryu's story - arrives next March in the West.
The Monster Hunter franchise has a rich and varied universe but outside of a handful of spin-offs; its games have always been limited to their very specific formula. That's a doubled-edged sword, as the fans don't want big changes but those who don't enjoy the series' core mechanics are missing out on a fantastic universe filled with some amazing monster designs and the fabulous Felynes. Monster Hunter Stories breaks the mold and delivers an experience that shows that universe is just waiting for more innovative ideas. Like Final Fantasy Tactics and Dragon Quest Builders, Monster Hunter Stories delivers a wholly new experience that is utterly addictive and absolutely superb. If you enjoy Pokémon, give this a chance!
There are so many big games these days, it's easy to forget the details of one even as recently as last gen, and L.A. Noire does a fantastic job in reminding just how good it is. The story is engaging, the investigations are fun, the world is deep and immersive, and the interrogations are truly unique. Even with the slight performance woes, the game is very impressive on Switch, especially in handheld mode. This, along with titles like Skyrim and DOOM, sets a promising precedent, and open the door to many other games well deserving of remasters that would be amazing to be able to play on handheld.
While the original clocked in at only 3-4 hours, this is easily double that. A superb sequel that more than lives up to the original and a truly chilling experience that any horror game fan owes themselves to experience.
Okami is a truly beautiful game and it's in its best possible form with this absolutely stunning 4K remaster. Okami HD is something truly special; the sort of game that is still remembered fondly years later by those who play it, and wonderful in every aspect. While remasters often get a bad rap, classics like this deserve the chance to get more sales - especially if it increases the chance of a sequel - not to mention more players get to experience an amazing and memorable adventure. Combine this quality with the low asking price here and this is a no-brainer. Buy this game. Love this game.
The original Hand of Fate had a Vita port planned, which sadly never came to fruition. Hand of Fate 2 on Nintendo Switch shows just how good that port could have been. It's so absurdly addictive and utterly unique. It improves on the original in every way and is a truly unique experience. It takes elements of so many different types of games and mashes them together; a process that usually results in a metaphorical goopy mess, but here it's somehow turned into gold.