Rebecca Smith's Reviews
Aside from a few visual bugs and the odd agile guard that hasn't yet worked out how to climb down a ladder, players can spend many unhindered hours doing what Templars do best in Assassin's Creed Rogue.
In summary, this is a neat little puzzle game that will keep puzzle aficionados content. You won't know anything more about the world that you leave behind, nor will you know why you were ever there, but you will be satisfied at a job well done. Even if the journey is a bit short, the easy gamerscore is sure to be a bonus.
Oddworld New 'n' Tasty tells a story of a world that contains a great amount of injustice, from the persecution of defenceless creatures to the tyranny of people who hold far too much power. It's a story that is just as relevant now as it was sixteen years ago. However, the title is also an ode to gaming from a forgotten era, when campaigns took a while to complete and violence wasn't the main objective. With a lick of HD paint and tweaks to gameplay to accommodate modern gamers, this title has found its place amidst the new generation of consoles and there is absolutely no reason why this type of game couldn't reclaim its crown. Long live Oddworld.
Life is indeed strange. Meddling with time is not as easy as you would think and this engaging story does a great job of driving that point home. The moral decisions that players make really do have an affect on the story's future. The game's time-rewinding mechanics mean that all options can be considered and those all-important decisions need not be rushed. While the story so far has followed a fairly predictable path, the events of Episode 3 have really turned things on their head. Dontnod has the potential to mix things up in Episode 4. Will they stick with this new direction or will we be turned back onto the path that we have been treading so far? Only time will tell.
Now That's What I Call Sing is the first karaoke title to hit the Xbox One, but a lot of people may choose to give this one a miss. A narrow selection of songs that is restricted to just a couple of music types makes this game a choice for like-minded friends rather than a large gathering of different people. There are plenty of game modes to try and a presentation that is friendly for karaoke novices, especially when there is no fail option to discourage people before they've even begun. The main problem, though, is that the game cannot recognise high notes regardless of your microphone. The only way that you'll be able to get a high score and unlock all of the achievements is if you can sing comfortably in mid-range, and not many can do this.
Baseball Riot contains a lot of content for a low price point, but it will only really be enjoyed in short bursts. The gameplay is easy to learn but difficult to master, especially with the differing enemies, various obstacles and, unfortunately, somewhat random ball physics. The latter factor will frustrate some players and luck does play a larger part in a player's chances of success than it should. While the levels do, predictably, get more difficult as the player progresses, the difficulty can spike unfairly in places. Finally, all of the achievements are tied to optional objectives and one of these is slightly buggy -- the completion is not easy.
Cubot - The Complexity of Simplicity does indeed offer complex puzzles set in an extremely simplistic environment. Featuring an easy-to-use control system, minimalistic design and clever game mechanics, players get a competent puzzler that has made the jump from mobile to console with few issues. Some may find the lack of replayability a factor to discourage a purchase, but the extremely attractive price point means that most players will be satisfied once they have gotten their initial 2-4 hours worth of gameplay out of the title. Add to this a relatively easy achievement list and players would be a fool to pass this one over.
Although the game may feel short, the story doesn't outstay its welcome and players will likely appreciate the shorter amount of time spent listening to the variable quality of the voice acting. Adventure fans shouldn't pass this one up, and even those who don't normally play this type of game should perhaps consider splashing out on an easy and enjoyable completion.
At just 6-7 hours for a single playthrough and with little replayability outside of the achievements, I'm not entirely sure that it does justify that high a price, especially when there are other similar titles that offer more for a lower price point.
Far Cry Primal takes the franchise back thousands of years to the Stone Age and a tale of a tribe decimated by their enemies. While this tale had promise, the lack of a central villain means that the story also lacks focus and is relegated to the sidelines while the side missions take pride of place. Away from the story, Primal offers hours of other activities that usually involve the game's satisfying melee combat and a beast from the game's rather fun taming mechanic. Players are never left with nothing to do, but it's for how long players will persist before the game starts to feel a bit too repetitive. This doesn't mean that it is a bad game by any means, especially when offering 40-50 hours of gameplay before reaching 100% completion. It just means that Far Cry veterans will have seen this all before but under a different skin.
Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek is another solid adventure game from Artifex Mundi. Despite bringing the gameplay back to basics with basic hidden object scenes and point & click problem solving, players must use their own initiative to progress through the game, while the new Evidence wall means that players will truly become immersed in the story rather than watching the events play out.
OlliOlli 2 takes everything that was found in its predecessor and builds on it to create a smoother and more addictive experience.
Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride is proof that Artifex Mundi is trying to make all of their games seem different even if they do share similar gameplay mechanics. The domino games provide an alternative for those tiring of scouring the screen for small objects, but the inability to undo mistakes means that most players will stick to what they know. Despite this, adventure fans shouldn't pass up the chance of another easy completion even if it involves two playthroughs instead of one. For those who don't normally play this type of game, Grim Legends, or any Artifex Mundi game for that matter, continues to be a great starting point for their entry into the genre.
Frogwares has taken the best bits from Crimes and Punishments and has added to them for The Devil's Daughter. The problem is that these additions aren't always good. Accompanying the improved point and click gameplay are action sequences that add variety to each case, but they are also clumsy and prone to outstaying their welcome. Unfortunately the game's engine is also showing its age and loading times can often feel interminable. This title offers a typical Sherlock Holmes storyline and an easy completion, but its issues turn this into a mediocre affair rather than the elementary experience that you would expect from Holmes himself.
Kinect title will have even the fittest of players reaching for water and a towel as the game gives players a thorough workout. This surprising remaster will be great to keep children amused, although adults may become bored a little quicker due to the short throwaway story and lack of replayability.
If you're a fan of Kinect, there's no reason why this game shouldn't be in your collection because FRU is a game that is testament to what could be achieved with Microsoft's peripheral.
Momentum takes the premise of Marble Madness and adds its own touch. With the ball at the mercy of gravity, players must rotate the track to get the ball to the finishing line. While this may sound simple, the game's difficulty ramps up sharply after the tutorial levels are over and failure is inevitable. When you add the complications and unnecessary frustration presented by a free moving camera, casual puzzle players would probably be best giving this one a miss. Only the most patient players will succeed here and a completion will not be easy, but those that persist will be awarded with many hours of gameplay.
If ever a game felt like it was rushed to release, it is this one.
While the gameplay and storyline certainly aren't lacking and will likely keep Gears fans amused, The Coalition seems reluctant to let the past go and to move on. Away from the campaign, there are tweaks to competitive multiplayer that include a couple of new game modes, but the real focus of the title is the improved Horde mode. It is here that players will spend the majority of their time and where the real enjoyment lies.
Yesterday Origins is a game that brings a retro feel back to the Adventure genre. It's a game that places emphasis on a decent storyline, a great cast of characters, thorough exploration and puzzles that actually make you think. While these factors will make the game appeal to Adventure fans, newcomers to the genre will likely be put off by the unforgiving nature of some of the puzzles.