Dave Horobin's Reviews
Red Dead Redemption 2's vast, detailed and stunningly beautiful open world sits as the perfect backdrop for its compelling and well-paced story filled with epic set pieces. With deeper gameplay mechanics, a larger cast of diverse and interesting characters to meet, and a wealth of content from side objectives to mini-games, RDR2 is a shining example of what makes Rockstar's games so special.
There are still some rough spots then need addressing in future titles, and some of the new additions don't work as well as they should, but Odyssey sets a new bar for what an Assassin's Creed game can be.
By this stage, it should come as no surprise that Playground Games finds a way to raise the bar for each release in the Horizon series, and they've once again found another gear in Forza Horizon 4 that leaves its competitors trailing in the dust.
Throw in some odd design choices, a dull story, and lukewarm presentation and The Crew 2 is an ambitious game that doesn't achieve its potential, nor does it approach the standard of some other open-world racers available today.
If you're looking for a standard arcade racer to play alone, it's probably not for you, but if you're looking for something different and have a few friends willing to team up, ONRUSH feels wholly new and chaotically fun.
A Way Out provides a unique cinematic experience that redefines the way narrative-driven games can be played, thanks to its engaging story and varied gameplay that will keep both players interested throughout, though the controls can often feel clunky.
Origins provides a much-needed change in direction for the Assassin's Creed franchise.
FIFA 18 offers the best game of football that the series has seen in some time and provides the best overall package for fans of the sport. It might not be up there in terms of authenticity with PES on the pitch, but this year's release has made up some ground, excelling at providing those wow moments that gets fans of the real sport on their feet and punching the air.
It's a solid jumping-on point if you're new to the series, but seasoned veterans may find too few improvements to justify the price.
Agents of Mayhem offers fast-paced and mindless fun filled with Volition's signature crude humour, but elements of it make it feel like a missed opportunity.
Cars 3: Driven to Win is a competent kart racer that is accessible to players of all skill levels.
If you've enjoyed other LEGO games, LEGO CITY Undercover should definitely be on your radar, but for those who don't, there is nothing revolutionary from the previous formula that will make you change your mind.
With a group of friends, Ghost Recon Wildlands will offer countless hours of fun within the vast and beautifully created version of Bolivia. If you're going it alone, however, the repetitive gameplay and the lack of any character development and story depth offers a far less attractive package. Wildlands is a solid open-world game that is let down an overly long and repetitive story, along with too many small bugs and niggles for it to be great.
For Honor's learning curve can be punishing at first, but if you're willing to stay the course and invest some time into understanding the nuances of its deep combat system, you will begin to appreciate how exciting and truly addictive the "Art of Battle" can be. There are issues with connectivity and a campaign that falls short of its potential, but they can be forgiven because what For Honor does get right is at once brutal, rewarding, and unlike anything else we've seen in games.
Forza Horizon 3 was already the pinnacle of racing games; the stunning new environment, refreshingly challenging handling and difficult weather conditions just highlight that fact even further. It is an essential purchase for anyone looking to expand their Forza Horizon 3 experience.
If you liked Dead Rising 3, you’ll no doubt find some sense of enjoyment in Dead Rising 4. For everyone else, it’s not going to convince you otherwise.
Titanfall 2 is everything for which you could possibly wish to find in a sequel, answering all of the negatives of its predecessor. While short in length, the campaign is an exhilarating ride that showcases everything that made the first game feel so refreshing, and the refined multiplayer will keep you consumed for months to come. This title is a must own for any first-person shooter fan.
Battlefield 1’s campaign provides an emotional and thought provoking look at the horrors of World War 1, while at the same time providing varied gameplay and an interesting cast of characters to help make this the best Battlefield single-player experience in a long while. The multiplayer remains as strong as ever, providing an action-packed and enthralling experience that provides a welcome evolution to the already successful formula.
Quite simply, Forza Horizon 3 is the pinnacle of open-world racers available on the Xbox One.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided provides an interesting and at times thought provoking story which is set in a detailed and immersive world that is begging to be explored.