George Foster's Reviews
It can be a tad too tricky for its own good, but the charming presentation, quick-witted writing, and creative use of its standout feature make it more than worth the occasional swear. To put it simply - yoyo need to play this.
Considering how long Onimusha fans have been waiting for Samurai’s Destiny to make a return on modern platforms, the lack of significant bonuses doesn’t feel like a big sticking point. More than anything, it let me finally experience a brilliantly unique series that for years I’ve been missing out on.
Bleach: Rebirth of Souls has some uneven presentation and can get overly repetitive towards the end of its campaign, but its more thoughtful combat mechanics and commitment to doing the series’ story justice make it a strong first entry in what I hope is a new series. Whether you’re a seasoned Bankai user or a newcomer to the Soul Society like me, Rebirth of Souls is sure to show you why Bleach earned its place in The Big Three.
Despite some repetition and bloat that makes Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ final stretch drag more than the rest of the game excites, its brave approach to exploration in a gorgeous world, heartfelt personal stories, and satisfying tweaks to the formula still make it stand as one of my favourite entries yet. While no one can say if Shadows will be the all-timer hit that both Ubisoft and the series need right now, I can at least say that it’s more than worthy of your time.
Even with the confusing cut content that hopefully gets added back in at a later date, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is the perfect way for newcomers to get into the series with its most action-packed and visceral entry. Veterans are still likely to prefer the ridiculous cruelty of the original game, but most fans are just going to be happy to see Ryu return and right most of Sigma’s wrongs.
Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind’s simplicity and short pace sadly mean that it doesn’t come close to trading blows with the bar-setting Shredder’s Revenge like I hoped. Still, by lovingly capturing the series’ trademark energy, providing simple but satisfying brawling goodness, and setting itself apart with unique Zord sections, it manages to be a good time and a treat for hardcore fans. I just wish there was a little more to it and a lot more of it.
Even at its most difficult and frustrating, I couldn’t stop myself from admiring how well put together every facet of Antonblast is. Its wonderful sense of humour, bright and bombastic style, and endlessly rewarding platforming mechanics make it one of the best platformers I’ve played in years, and is hopefully a strong start to a series I’m dying to see continue. True to its name, it’s a total blast.
Despite its combat and platforming only being serviceable and the overall package needing a bit more polish, Mutants Unleashed still managed to be a turtle surprise because of how much love and understanding it has for the source material. It may not reach the same gameplay heights of Shredder’s Revenge or Splintered Fate, but it has one of the best tales to tell of any TMNT game.
Even when my time leaping into enemies was interrupted by these technical issues, Unknown 9: Awakening’s excellent cast of characters and inventive soul-hopping combat mechanics kept me invested all the way through its gloriously last-gen adventure. With how depressing this generation has been at times, that is absolutely meant as a compliment.
While I’m sure that’s not going to be enough for those who have already played hours of Worms Armageddon or who already own it on PC (which remains the best way to play), for everyone else it’s a nice way to experience the series at its best. Hopefully, above all else, it’s a reminder to Team17 what makes Worms works so well - and it isn't when it's trying to be a battle royale.
Its smart evolution of Budokai Tenkaichi’s combat, stacked and detailed roster, and near-endless amount of modes and features make it one of the best Dragon Ball games of all time and one that’s going to be nearly impossible to Toppo.
While they are some of MK1’s strongest characters (in terms of how they play at least), they can’t make me overlook what is otherwise a weak expansion greatly overshadowed by NetherRealm’s last offering.
I’m not sure that anything can ever capture the lightning in a bottle that was Epic Mickey’s original concept, but Rebrushed is the closest thing we’ll ever get to that dark magic, even if one of its core pillars is something that still drags it down. If you’re a diehard fan, you’ll love all of the small changes Rebrushed makes to cut down on the grind and monotony the original suffered from, and if you’re a newcomer you’ll experience Disney’s weirdest venture at its absolute best.
Still, even if Street Rumble doesn’t do much to stand out from the crowd, it’s a decent brawler in its own right and worth checking out for fans of The Karate Kid. It’s not going to win at the All-Valley Tournament, but at least it put up more of a fight than Cobra Kai: Dojo’s Rising.
Even if Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster tones down the diamond-sharp edges of the original game a little too much, every single change ultimately works towards making it unarguably the best way to experience Dead Rising, especially for a long-time fan who wants to revisit Willamette in a more approachable game.
Even though I reached the credits after just a few hours, that didn’t stop me from diving back in to uncover as many secrets as possible. This is the first Five Nights at Freddy’s game that has captured me like the original trilogy did, but it’s also the first to stand on its own two legs beyond the allure of what’s happening outside of the screen. Into the Pit is exactly what the series should be, and I hope future FNAF games are taking notes.
Even with its short length and simple gameplay, Thank Goodness still stands as one of my favourite indie games in recent memory. Thank Goodness You're Here's consistently giggle-inducing jokes and wonderful visual humour are great, but its surprisingly authentic and heartfelt interpretation of England is what made me reyt chuffed wi’it.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate might not manage to reach the same heights as the game it so clearly takes inspiration from, but ‘being as good as Hades’ is perhaps an unrealistic goal for any game and it's a wonder that it comes even close. It still provides a satisfying roguelite experience with one of the best interpretations of the TMNT universe I’ve seen in some time. It won’t be replacing Shredder’s Revenge as the franchise’s best modern game, but it’s sitting nicely in second place.
RKGK's stunning graffiti-based art style and high-octane platforming make it a great entry into the genre and one of 2024's hidden gems.
Even with my love of the 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and my enjoyment of the fun, but simple gameplay, Wrath of the Mutant's short run time and high price point make it an incredibly hard game to recommend. If this was a bonus game added to The Cowabunga Collection or a part of a sequel collection for some of the modern games then it’d be a notable treat, but on its own, it's simply not worth it.