While Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy – Deluxe Edition may not entice fans to return for a second play-through, it’s the best version available for anyone who hasn’t played it yet or is simply interested in the franchise.
If you’re a JPRG fan and missed its original release on the Nintendo 3DS, then you will not be disappointed.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 is arguably the best entry for the series.
There are some faults which prevent it from becoming a truly standout title, but it’s a no-brainer for fans and those who are interested the Sengoku era of Japan.
Things like grinding, incompetent AI and unrealised affection and attribute systems mean the experience isn’t going to compare against other RPGs on the market. If you’re a fan then there’s a lot to take in, but otherwise there’s little here to keep you interested for long.
While it took a while to realise IO Interactive’s vision, Hitman Season One is an outstanding achievement and revitalises the series. There is a lot replayability thanks to the Contract, Elusive Target and Escalation modes, the levels are varied and encourage exploration, and constant title updates have ensured a smoother overall experience.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 doesn’t deviate too much from its predecessor. It still features repetitive filler missions, unintuitive combat and only minor improvements and new features. It’s still a good game that will appease Dragon Ball fans, but it doesn’t ascend to become a stand out amongst the crowd.
F1 2016 is the most comprehensive F1 experience yet.
Tumblestone is an enjoyable puzzle game which has a unique take on the Match-Three puzzle genre. There are a lot of unwritten rules and strategies to discover, along with plenty of content including a single-player mode, online and local multiplayer, and an Arcade mode.
If you haven’t played Valkyria Chronicles before then now is the time to do it.
Aegis of Earth: Protonovus Assault isn’t necessarily a bad game. It’s got a good idea that blends city management with real-time strategy battles, and is genuinely a fun experience. Unfortunately the repetitive gameplay, dull story and overall lackluster presentation strike a sour note and make it less than desirable.
At its core Star Fox Zero is a good game. The on-rail levels are frantic and engaging, dogfights in space are always intense, there are inspiring boss fights and it's fun to discover all the hidden paths and secrets the game has to offer. Unfortunately the gimmicky controls and lackluster addition to vehicles really bring down the experience. This is not the Star Fox games fans have been waiting for and will be remembered as a low point for the series.
Hitman Episode 2: Sapienza is a great addition to the game. It features an expansive town to explore, is genuinely challenging, and has a lot of unique kill opportunities and secrets to discover. It is a wonderful playground for Hitman fans.
While Insomniac Games have largely gone the safe route with the rebooted Ratchet and Clank, it's still a fun game that will appeal to both old and new fans alike. The visuals are gorgeous, the gameplay retains the tried and true formula of past entries, the story has been fleshed out and levels have been rebuilt from the ground up. It's a testament to the fine talent at Insomniac Games and is a love letter to the series as a whole.
Hitman succeeds in providing an engaging experience that stays true to the sandbox formula established in previous games in the series. It encourages multiple playthroughs to complete secondary challenges and discover unique kill opportunities, and there's also community made missions to keep you occupied. Just keep in mind the offline experience is bare bones, the frame rate is inconsistent and there are some occasional bugs.
Despite some shortcomings, Gravity Rush still holds up well and is a great experience overall. The gravity manipulation mechanics are engaging, it's fun to explore every nook and cranny throughout Hekseville and the visuals have been enhanced to take full advantage of the PS4 hardware. If you haven't played Gravity Rush yet, now is the time to do so.