Gareth Fidler's Reviews
Travel the world, visit exotic distant lands, meet exciting and unusual people…and kill them. The Hitman: Season One edition has definitely been worth the wait for any hesitant stealth fans that were unwilling to buy into Square Enix's original episodic vision. Bolstered with enough additional content to keep even the most dedicated contract killer occupied for the foreseeable future, it boasts enough variables to enjoy an almost infinite replay value. Figuring out fresh and inventive new ways of delivering death to a bunch of evil wrongdoers never gets old (which ironically also applies to anybody unfortunate enough to find their name on Agent 47's to do list).
Much like Vermintide's main campaign, Karak Azgaraz sports a fairly thin narrative with a structure focussed on encouraging repeat visits, which makes it perfect for those wanting to farm for new gear courtesy of the recent Quest and Contracts update. Fat Shark has provided a solid excuse for lapsed rat catchers to jump back into the Warhammer universe and release that residual pent-up rodent rage. There's a flagon of Dwarven grog in it for you.
As an expansive compendium of tractor porn, Farming Simulator 17 is unparalleled, and has enough content to keep even the most ardent machinery fetishist titillated until their corn buds are ready to sprout. However, those hankering for a grittier agricultural experience encompassing the many problems faced by the modern day farmer will likely balk at Giants Software's relatively sterile approach.
FlatOut 4: Total Insanity does a surprisingly accurate impression of its aging predecessors, but it fails to expand upon Bugbear's original blueprint in any meaningful way, and as such, misses the opportunity to forge its own identity. While it doesn't quite deliver the heady thrills and spills of Ultimate Carnage, it does come pretty darn close, and given that there's precisely zero demolition derby titles on the PS4 at this moment in time, it fills a tank in the market that's been left unleaded for far too long.
Sniper Elite 4 is a solid entry to the series that's stuck to its guns (pun intended) by not tampering with the formula laid out by its predecessor, but has instead built upon and improved everything that made it so great. Rebellion has delivered a true next gen sandbox shooter that looks fantastic, plays well and should keep fans of the long-distance kill entertained for some time to come.
Admittedly, the multiplayer aspect of Infinite Warfare is actually starting to grow a bit more appealing after a fairly shaky start, thanks to a combination of Infinity Ward's continuous behind-the-scenes tweaking and interesting playlist variations. It can still be one of the most infuriating online experiences out there, and Sabotage does little to alleviate those particular frustrations, but when all's said and done, this is a strong opening statement of intent, showcasing four solid maps and one of the more enjoyable zombie episodes in recent times. Rave on!
Every now and again, it's nice to have the option to play something that doesn't crave a great deal of emotional investment and can be enjoyed with the barest minimum of cerebral input. Killing Floor 2 confidently ticks both boxes and thrusts itself forward as the perfect vehicle for the mindless slaughter of the digitally infected and does so in a true gore-heavy fashion. There's maybe a slight concern about its longevity when taking its repetitive, shallow(ish) gameplay and lack of modes/bosses into consideration, although regular free DLC updates should be more than enough to guarantee frequent returns for Zed duty when the mood suits.
Watch Dogs 2 is lightyears ahead of its predecessor in every way imaginable and conveys a smartly written precautionary tale regarding the perils of living in a 24-hour surveillance society. Clever mission structure, sumptuous visuals, great acting and sound design all contribute to a living, breathing world that's a real joy to explore. While it tackles a subject matter that can occasionally come across as being a bit 'Black Mirror' at times, recent news stories concerning the UK government's controversial Snooper's Charter or the Arkansas Police Department's attempt to leverage Amazon Echo data to help with a murder investigation only serve to enforce that maybe this isn't really that farfetched at all.
Given that its oddly timed publishing schedule saw it emerge as the filling between a COD/Battlefield sandwich during the busiest release window of the year, it's fair to say that Titanfall 2 certainly had its work cut out to get noticed. Despite this, Respawn Entertainment has delivered a solid package that ticks all the right boxes for fans of the first-person shooter, and does so by forging a unique identity in an overcrowded genre that seemingly ran out of fresh ideas some time back. With the promise of free DLC for the duration of its lifetime, here's hoping that Titanfall 2 has a long tail.
Nine years on and Modern Warfare still feels as fresh and vital as ever. As an exercise in nostalgia it's a raging success and Raven Software should be applauded for doing such a solid job of updating a timeless classic without losing the essence of what made it so great the first time around. Whether Activision continues on a futuristic path with upcoming chapters in the franchise remains to be seen, but the fact that more people were excited at the prospect of revisiting this than jumping into Infinite Warfare's multiplayer should at least be an indicator that it might be time for a change.
Overcooked: The Lost Morsel contains six of the most fiendishly designed kitchens yet to appear in Overcooked; and those relishing a challenge will definitely have their work cut out if they want to earn all three stars in each stage. Toss in six new chef characters to unlock including a panda, a pig, and a bulldog (brining in to question whether people should eat at these establishments) and there's a solid, fun-packed bundle ready for the next appropriate social gathering. The only downside is that there don't appear to be any additional trophies to unlock, but then again, a well-balanced meal is its own reward.
Infinite Warfare is very much the same slick, expensive looking/sounding, finely honed product that crops up every year, regular as clockwork. No surprises there, really. Maybe it's the COD fatigue talking, but the multiplayer just feels a bit regressive, all told, and the 'pay to win' aspect does a great job of killing any residual enthusiasm to persist with it. In direct contrast, the campaign is the real surprise here, as Infinity Ward has exceeded all expectations and delivered an action-packed sci-fi epic that elevates itself from the usual 'military contractor gone rogue' narrative that the series is known for. Zombie lover? The Hoff is in it... 'Nuff said.
Mafia III inhabits an interesting era in time rarely visited by video games, and, for the most part, it succeeds in spinning an engaging yarn involving some well-developed characters. Hanger 13 should be applauded for creating a highly detailed sandbox that maintains a gritty, authentic feel throughout, and that, most importantly, is a fun environment to kill both time and henchmen in. It's just a shame that the overall package is marred somewhat by the particularly dense enemy AI and its repetitive mission structure.
Like all the best party games, its strength lies in its simplicity, its clever design, and the fact that it's just so much darn fun to play. Overcooked is one of those rare gems that possesses the ability to endlessly generate comedy moments and is the perfect choice for those lengthy multiplayer sessions, though probably best avoided if Gordon Ramsay is due a visit.
Given the inexplicable yet continued absence of Left 4 Dead in this current console cycle, Warhammer: The End Times - Vermintide steps up to fill that festering void with gusto. Granted, it doesn't stray too far from the zombie slaying blueprint laid out by its undead inspiration, but given that it's one of the better co-op experiences currently available, it's easily forgivable. With that said, it would be hard to recommend this to any non-PS Plus/Xbox Live subscribers, as ignoring its online social aspects pretty much flies against its raison d'etre. The thin narrative and occasionally iffy AI of the bots just don't come close to replacing the sheer joy of surviving a vicious onslaught of Skaven with a well co-ordinated bunch of mates (or strangers, for that matter).
Headlander deftly delivers a smart story via a constant stream of varied, original ideas, to ensure a journey that feels remarkably vibrant and fresh from start to finish. Crammed full of Double Fine's trademark humour, and loaded to the brim with references to classic sci-fi, it pays loving homage to that corny, yet fun, era of film and television, that often gets overlooked in the age of the green screen and digital effect.
Given the imminent release of Infinite Warfare, with its lofty ambitions of taking the franchise to a fresh new territory, Treyarch's steady DLC output over the past year provides plenty of reasons to schedule regular return sorties to the Black Ops III killing fields. Salvation rounds off the collection nicely by providing a conclusion (of sorts) to the chaotic Zombie narrative, as well as four well-varied arenas to peacock and flex those e-muscles in. Those considering a PS4 Pro purchase will also get to enjoy upgraded visuals via a day-one patch, which, if nothing else, goes to show that there will still be plenty of life in the old girl going forward.
It's been said that all's fair in love and War, but clearly not by somebody that had just been attacked by bandits four times in quick succession and reduced to wandering Calradia penniless, alone, sans horse, and left wearing nothing more than tattered undergarments. Mount & Blade: Warband does look and feel incredibly dated by modern standards, and while it can prove to be quite an absorbing experience at times, it's unfortunate that those are regularly countered by the frustrating mission structure, clunky combat, and regular progress setbacks. Ultimately this won't be a game for everybody, but those willing to overlook its many irritating quirks could potentially find themselves losing many hours on the lengthy road to victory.
With Uno, Ubisoft has taken an old classic and tweaked the formula just enough to make it feel fresh without losing the familiar, addictive gameplay that it's renowned for. It's just a shame that the social aspects that made previous iterations an entertaining, unpredictable place to hang out, have been completely neutered, leaving behind an online component that feels comparatively sterile.
Sparkle Unleashed proves to be a mildly addictive ball-shunting diversion, and amply fills the Zuma-shaped hole that still inexplicably exists on the PS4, but it's highly unlikely that it'll rock anybody's world. In conclusion: this is best enjoyed as a palate cleanser between bigger, meatier titles.