All things considered, LA Cops is a decent addition to the sub-genre but one that falls short of its initial promise. With more sophisticated AI and a comprehensive partner system in place, this could've been a worthy stablemate for its East Coast cousin. As it stands, it's hard to recommend LA Cops when you can pick up the next slice of Hotline Miami's gory abstraction at a similar price point.
With the release of HoMM3HD following hot on the heels of Avernum 2: Crystal Souls, it feels like revamped versions of old-school fantasy games are the flavour of the month – and we're not complaining. As with Avernum, HoMM3's sheen has not been dulled by the vitiating properties of time; instead, its unique blend of roleplaying and strategy is just as alluring 15 years on.
Nevertheless, these technological hiccups – try as they might – couldn't taint an otherwise rewarding journey through the divided lands of Avernum. For those who are already fans of the series, I'd suggest Crystal Souls is an essential purchase. For those none the wiser to Spiderweb Software's extensive back catalogue, there's no better time to join the fight.
With two players pushing and pulling the coffin of their own accord it's redolent of a classic Chuckle Brothers sketch. It's chaotic fun in a mould that's largely disappeared since the advent of online gaming but has seen a revival of late with the likes of Towerfall: Ascension. Nevertheless, Chariot is still an engaging single player experience that's well worth the admission fee. Just remember to hold X to pay your respects.
In truth, this writer wasn’t overly excited at the prospect of playing McDROID when they first read into it – more fool me. While I still harbour reservations about its long-term appeal (a product of the genre’s repetitive nature more than anything) McDROID is an excellent tower defense romp with enough candied charm to keep you coming back.
It's a shame that Infamy devolves into such juvenile practices as there are some nice flourishes on display – for instance, the hand-drawn aesthetic lends a quaint, homely feel to adventuring that feels refreshing in light of the grandeur that western RPGs typically strive for – yet it's impossible to root for a game that makes such a critical misstep.
At its best, Fract is a wonderful celebration of a videogame's capacity to ignite your senses. At its worst, it can be a downright chore.