The Callisto Protocol is a satisfyingly gory spiritual successor to the Dead Space series, but it’s ultimately more of a striking modern mimic than a scary new mutation.
Metal: Hellsinger might not be the greatest demon-slaying shoot 'em up in the world, but it's certainly a stirring tribute.
Madison is a creepy crawl through a twisted haunted house with enough genuine out-of-your-seat scares to leave you shaken like a Polaroid picture.
Sniper Elite 5 is still a satisfying and spectacularly gross way to shoot Nazis in their nether regions, but it feels like the series needs to start aiming its sights a little higher.
Martha is Dead is an unflinching and utterly absorbing ordeal to be endured rather than enjoyed.
Alan Wake Remastered is a fairly inessential upgrade for existing fans, but this moody mystery is still well worth a look for newcomers.
Death Stranding Director's Cut is more accessible than the original, but feels like a compromised version of the director's vision.
Lost Judgment disappoints with its main story and simplistic detective work, but excels with its substantial school-based side quests.
Hoa is a beautiful but brief puzzle-platform adventure that's all chilling and no killing.
Axiom Verge 2 is a dual-dimensional Metroidvania that's engaging to explore despite its one-dimensional combat and underwhelming boss fights.
Little Nightmares 2 delivers similar stealth and scares to the original, but leaves less of a lasting impact.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon takes some bold steps in a new direction for the series but neglects to maintain its balance.
PGA Tour 2K21 delivers the most flexible and enjoyable game of golf since the Tiger Woods series was at its peak.
Helheim Hassle is a limb-lobbing, rib-tickling puzzle-platformer that suffers slightly from overly finicky controls.
AO Tennis 2 is a better-looking, smoother-playing and more fully-featured follow-up to the original.
Like the gaming equivalent of binge-watching a playlist of the funniest Vine videos, WarioWare Gold provides some enjoyable short attention span shenanigans, particularly for newcomers. But in the absence any substantial new additions and a paucity of worthwhile extras, WarioWare Gold is more like a runner-up silver for long term fans of the series.
While it’s a shame that its dungeon dwelling enemies are far too easily exploited, Blaster Master Zero is ultimately an enjoyable reimagining of a largely overlooked 8-bit classic thanks to the rewarding exploration-focussed structure of its side-scrolling overworld. There are enough secret rooms and power-ups to seek out (including an additional ending), that I was compelled to scour every last inch over the course of my eight-hour completion time. It’s a good reboot; just not a Masterful one.
Despite its improved HD veneer and tweaked controls, I just didn't find the Amplitude of 2016 to be as addictive or long-lasting an experience as the Amplitude of 2003. I had some fun with it for as long as it took to play through its hypnotic campaign and unlock all its tracks in the quickplay mode, but the samey soundtrack and meagre selection of modes meant that I had little motivation to return to it thereafter. Committed high score-chasers will probably stick around in an effort to top the online leaderboards since the challenge is most certainly still there, but for everyone else Amplitude will likely feel like a commendable cover of a classic, but a mere cover all the same.
Powerstar Golf has last-gen looks but incorporates forward-thinking features, and is a fun way to hit the links.
The Golf Club is a fun way to hit the links for golfing purists and would-be course creators.