Brett Claxton's Reviews
No Man's Sky is not a game where the focus is on story. Its focus is on exploring a galaxy, seeing beautiful things and having some cool moments. It may be a tired cliché, but it’s something that is definitely not for everyone. For those it is for though it's great.
If you’ve wanted to play, or replay, Day of the Tentacle for a while then the remaster is definitely the way to go. If you’ve never played a point and click game before then it’s also a fairly good starting point. It’s not a game for everyone, but it’s a genuinely funny experience. Considering genuinely funny games are few and far between, even today, it’s a welcome change of pace.
What Remains of Edith Finch is a great looking game that will be talked about for years to come. Its handling of a usually dark subject matter is delicate and the game mechanics make it stand out in the walking simulator genre.
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a game that is definitely worth picking up if you're looking for a new co-operative experience. It's easy to play, but difficult to master, with lots of things to tinker as you to try and figure out the best way to set up your ship. Some understanding of videogames is definitely needed, but the difficulty settings mean that even if you're someone with just a basic grasp of gaming you'll have fun.
Flame Over shows that the world of fire fighting can make for a very good game. It piles on the panic of battling a fire, but keeps it fun for all thanks to its style and presentation. If you have been wanting to attempt a roguelike game, you consider yourself a veteran or you just want to put out some fires and save some cats, then Flame Over is well worth picking up.
It's in these moments of fantasy that Football Manager 16 delivers like it does every year. Seeing your best laid plans come to fruition is wonderful. If you have enjoyed previous Football Manager games then you'll enjoy this. It's more of the same, which isn't a bad thing, but does mean people that bought Football Manager 15 might feel that the differences don't warrant investing in the new game.
Stikbold! A Dodgeball Adventure is an oddity. A game where I feel that the price they’re asking for is incredibly generous for what you get. There is a solid story campaign that offers laughs and variety. Not only that, but there is a wonderful multiplayer mode that leads to some of the most addictive party gaming available on this generation of consoles at the moment.
If you've never played a Yakuza game before then Yakuza Kiwami is a great place to start.
There’s plenty on offer in Puyo Puyo Tetris and it looks great whilst showing it all off. It’s not just a great modern upgrade of one puzzle game, but two. It may be the kind of thing that looks crazy on paper but somehow Sonic Team have made it work.
Even if you're not a Star Trek fan this is still a game worth considering, especially if you're after a social virtual reality experience. Just try not to become a redshirt.
Rocket Arena is a blast to play. As someone that often steers clear of competitive shooters Rocket Arena is an experience that I genuinely enjoyed and plan to return to for a while.
Not only that but it does a wonderful job of showing off the power of the PS5. The game looks incredible, plays well and builds upon the 2018 original superbly. It is kind of just “more of the same” but when “the same” is of the quality of Marvel’s Spider-Man that isn’t really a bad thing is it?
Immortals Fenyx Rising feels like a wonderful fusion of Breath of the Wild and Assassin’s Creed, as well as other Ubisoft open-world games. Moving around the world is fluid and combat and exploration are very satisfying. Graphically it’s far from a powerhouse but it’s got a nice aesthetic that still makes it look good.
If you’re a fan of RPGs, crime dramas or just want to try something a bit different, Yakuza: Like a Dragon is definitely worth your time.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is a great addition to any PS5 games library. The worlds, the characters, the cutscenes all look great and it’s one of those games that is just fun to play. Stepping through rifts into a completely separate world works seamlessly and it’s a technical marvel in that part.
Bandai Namco and the team behind Scarlet Nexus should be proud of what they’ve made. It’s never easy to launch a new IP and Scarlet Nexus is a debut full of confidence and swagger. It is some of the most fun I’ve had with a game this year and has all the makings of a cult classic.
Tales of Arise is a beautiful JRPG that is fun to play that fans of the genre will no doubt get a lot out of.
The improvements to the early part of the game really help you feel ready for the rest of your adventure. Although it shares elements of lots of games it also does a great job in feeling unique. There isn’t much else like Death Stranding and the Director’s Cut helps refine an intriguing game to be the best it can be.
If you're a fan of Dark Souls, action RPGs, or if you like games that offer a challenge then this could be the game for you, as long as you can accept it won't be an easy ride.
If you have played This War of Mine before then The Little Ones probably doesn't offer enough to go back to it. If, however, this is your first opportunity to play the game, it's an experience I would recommend considering. It's a surprisingly addictive strategy game, despite its morbid setting, and it's one that has a fair bit of replayability. It's rare that games deal with the non-combat side of war, and I can't think of many that do it as effectively as This War of Mine: The Little Ones.