It is incredibly difficult to find a fault with Odin Sphere Leifthrasir, and as it can probably be gauged by the length of this review, there is so much to do in this game.
For avid pinball players and Star Wars fans, The Force Awakens pack is a must for any table collection. The two tables featured in the pack represent all the wonder that Zen Studios has provided, and it has opened up a whole world of possibilities in what the team could deliver next. Help Rey, Finn, Poe and the Resistance, or crush planets under the might of the First Order. These two new tables are a must own, and should provide many more hours of fun and enjoyment, while providing the right amount of challenge for new and experienced pinball players.
Playing as a genie has never been more fun. Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is a wonder to behold, and can be enjoyed by players of all ages.
DiRT 4 is a racer that purists need to get. Simply put, the rally driving is incredible to control, as every little movement can derail control of the car.
VooFoo Studios' free DLC pack Snowbound for Mantis Burn Racing is a handy addition to have. Featuring four new snow-based tracks that can be troublesome to learn, as well as the ever-frenetic 'Spotlight' event, this is a great pack of content. There is plenty of fun to be had here, though it is not for the faint-hearted. There is a reason these tracks are packed into two additional seasons for the Veterans. It isn't supposed to be easy, so coming in with plenty of experience in the earlier races, as well as plenty of upgrades, is required to try to at least contend with the best.
Steamworld Dig 2 is a wonderful addition to the Nintendo 3DS library, especially as the heavy focus of Nintendo's future focuses on the Switch handheld-console hybrid.
Mantis Burn Racing: Battle Cars is a must-have add-on for enthusiastic fans of the original game. If the act of simply racing opponents is beginning to get a bit stale, then throw some machine guns and destructive mines into the mix to turn each race into a total bloodbath. "King of the Track" is a total blast (pun intended) to play and each race can last a while. "Survival" mode is the quicker of the two, as most matches can end in no time. This pack is pure mayhem and a heap of fun to play.
Monster Hunter: World is a vastly complex action-adventure game littered with plenty of menus that customise the various weapons and armour pieces, while gathering useful resources to assist the hunter in taking down the next big monster. The gameplay loop of hunt-upgrade-hunt-upgrade is an addictive one that rarely stumbles into "grinding" territory, although some may see the whole game as a grind. Fans of the long-running series will find plenty to love with this latest edition, although newcomers will have an accessible title with which to dip their toes into. Do not be fooled, though, as this is not an easy game that sugar-coats the experience. Monster Hunter: World is hard, but it is satisfying to do the homework on each monster, preparing well for them before dishing out some hunting justice and slaying them for their materials. While the battle system can be mechanically clunky, and issues will surely arise in every fight, this is by no measure a deal breaker, as the majestic monsters and beautiful locations with the addictive gameplay loop and complex systems more than make up for it.
The Universal Classics pack of for Pinball FX3 delivers on three charming film-based tables of the '70s and '80s with Back to the Future, Jaws and E.T. With booming soundtracks to complement the tables, each stage captures the essence of their based-films perfectly. From the magical moments of E.T. to the heart-stopping moments of Jaws, there is a lot to do in each during that great chase for the top of the score leaderboards. While some tables are easier than others, it certainly does not make the experience any less fun, as this pack is a great way to begin the table collections for Pinball FX3.
Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 5: Same Stitch is an extremely satisfying end to what has been such a rollercoaster of a season.
Play through the chapters from the film and re-enact some of the more iconic moments from the movie, although pinball aficionados who don't watch or are not privy to Star Wars may not find much to appreciate in terms of the details.
The Council - Episode 2: Hide and Seek is a fantastic narrative continuation from the first episode.
Tom Clancy's The Division 2 has thrown its hat into the ring for being a possible 'Game of the Year' contender for 2019.
Despite it being an expansion pack, Iceborne is pretty much another game built upon the many layers of Monster Hunter: World.
Frostpunk is quite simply one of the best city-building experiences on the PlayStation 4 with a highly detailed narrative written for four huge campaigns. The sadness in there only being four campaigns is a true testament to the team at 11 Bit Studios, as they have crafted such a memorable experience, with gut-wrenching decisions at every turn. The savagery of the game can have long-lasting effects that can carry into the subsequent play-throughs, as the memories of what arose from making previous decisions can sway future decisions down other pathways. For those who wish to experience a more laid-back 'Sim City' like experience, then this title may not be the right title to jump into. However after experiencing this, it will be easy to feel anxious to see whatever the team behind it has in store next.
Codemasters has delivered a masterful racing experience with F1 2020. Despite the heavy jargon-filled opening, there are plenty of helpful tutorials that break down everything to make this easy-to-understand for those who may not necessarily be car enthusiasts. For those who are after a deep and engrossing racing experience, the My Team Career mode is a joy to play through, with plenty of features to deep-dive into that extends across many hours. Whether playing online or offline, the developer has put forth one of the best racing experiences that can be enjoyed by F1 fans or newcomers alike.
Hue is a visually beautiful title that begins with dreary music, as the greyscale world hints at hiding a lot of dread. However, before too long, the haunting environments become a crescendo of colour. While the story is simple and not all that important to the overall scheme of things, it is the gameplay mechanic of changing the background colour to bypass obstacles, or make new landscapes and blocks appear, that is at the forefront of what Hue has to offer. Clever stage designs get progressively harder as more colours are unlocked, and they constantly keep Hue on his toes, as he has to discover new methods of approach to each new puzzle. If there is any game that needs to be checked out, please make it this one.
Once again, Zen Studios has successfully delivered another exciting and interesting new pinball title. By playing on the Ant-Man's ability of being able to shrink down in size, this newest table mimics that to an extent that could never be replicated on a real life pinball machine. Hank Pym and Scott Lang help bring the table and the characters to life, and unlike previous games, the dialogue never seems to run dry here. The cooler colour scheme does help to see things clearly, especially in fast motion, and the visuals do not clash with each other once the multi-ball hits. For fans of the franchise or newcomers alike, Zen Pinball 2: Ant-Man is a must-have for the ever-growing pinball collection.
However minor the various issues may seem, LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a worthy addition to the LEGO Star Wars videogame franchise. Even though the gameplay mechanic feels a little bit dated, and is still susceptible to a plethora of mechanical glitches and rough controls, this latest adventure is a refreshing take on the ever-expanding galaxy that is Star Wars. With new locations and characters taken from the movie itself, with a booming soundtrack to back it up and plenty of humour thrown in, this LEGO adventure is a must-buy for any fans of either LEGO or Star Wars, and is definitely one that should be experienced with another player, if possible.
Marvel's Women of Power pack sees Zen Studios dip into the well of licensed properties, and bringing to life some of the lesser-known female super heroes in the Marvel comics franchises. The audio serves a great purpose in giving these characters some personality that would be enjoyed by newcomers to this Marvel property. The A-Force table is the easier of the two due to its openness; however, both tables are ultimately great additions to the ever growing Zen Pinball family. The comic art style used further embellishes a pack that Zen Studios has put as much tender loving care into as any of their previous packs.