Craig Shields's Reviews
Red Dead Redemption 2 has problems when it comes to its moment-to-moment gameplay but its attempt at pushing the boundary in mechanics, interaction and narrative within an open world that’s one of the finest ever crafted, almost more than makes up for its faults.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, it was witty, it presented a challenge and – most importantly for a VR title – is comfortable to play. For owners of PlayStation VR looking to justify their headset purchase and an enjoyable game, look no further than this.
It’s fast, it’s fun and if you have any type of nostalgia for fast racing games on a Nintendo platform, then Fast RMX should be your first port of call on the Switch.
It’s charming, relaxing and can also provide a challenge. Snake Pass is a wonderful game to get lost in for a little while and if you can pick it up on the Switch, you’ve got a title that is great to play on the TV and on the go.
It won’t present much of a challenge but RiME is a delightful experience from beginning to end. It urges you forward at every turn and while there are minor technical issues, it’s a wonderful game that most should explore.
Mr Shifty is a frantic top down brawler at a staggering pace. Great on the go and with a suitable price point, Mr Shifty is a strong candidate for your next Switch game.
Splatoon 2 offers a stellar single-player, a robust and addictive multiplayer and in Salmon Run, a horde-like mode that provides a great alternative to standard online matches. Splatoon 2 is funky, fresh and most importantly, fun.
F1 2017 is another leap from last years game. While it won't reinvent the wheel, the addition of classic cars, a more in-depth career mode and tougher AI makes it a significant improvement on 2016.
Golf Story is a delight to play. It’s an RPG with a unique take, humorous writing and an enjoyable and easy to play philosophy running throughout it. A great addition to any Switch collection – whether you like golf or not.
Easy to play with a satisfying, if over-simplistic, battle system but Fire Emblem Warriors does a good job of balancing a game that can be played by newcomers to Dynasty Warriors-style games, veterans of Fire Emblem or newcomers to both.
While it might not fill the story itch that many have been looking for, the Champions’ Ballad will provide some of the best challenges and puzzles in the Zelda series. In essence, it’s more of the same but that’s a good thing in our eyes.
Both Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 are fantastic games in their own right, despite being more than just a few years old. In the Switch, both have found their true home and compliment the system perfectly, so it’s only right that the best version of both games is found on Nintendo’s portable console. If you haven’t already played them, these two deserve to be in your library.
Detroit Become Human touches on interesting and pertinent subjects that affect both our world and its. While it doesn’t present an overly compelling story, by the time the credits rolled it made me think about the decisions I made in a way I wasn’t expecting and in that regard, Quantic Dream achieved what it set out to do. A narrative-driven game with the ability to make players think about their decisions.
Mario Tennis Aces provides a tennis-themed Mario game with an in-depth gameplay system that has the potential to hook you for hours. While it won’t satisfy single-player gamers, the basic gameplay portion of Mario Tennis Aces can keep you looking for matches online for some time.
It’s dark, it’s punishing and it has an atmosphere that brings its dead world to life. While Metro Exodus has problems in the gameplay and technical department, it still offers a wonderful alternative to games that are a little bit more safe.
Hyrule Warriors provides a nice distraction without being anything too compelling. For Zelda fans, it provides some nice fanservice but as a musuo it falls somewhat short, lacking the personality and charm of others – especially Fire Emblem Warriors.
While it's able to stand on its own, Star Fox Zero is more of a re-imagining of a Nintendo 64 classic rather than an all new Star Fox game. But that's not a bad thing. One thing that might be the biggest issue is the controls, getting to grips with aiming and steering at the same time is something that some players just won't be wired to do, making for a frustrating experience. For those that can overcome the control issues they'll find a Star Fox game begging to be replayed for secrets after the 4 hour main story is completed. There's much to be unlocked, but don't expect to still be playing in a months time.
Andromeda isn’t the return to form for Mass Effect that we were hoping for. Its issues are obvious from the opening few hours and if you can manage to accept them, Andromeda is capable of providing an interesting and combat heavy RPG.
Mighty No 9 has been created in such a way that it's impossible for it to escape the Mega Man comparisons, a contrast that it doesn't get away from throughout. That's not to say it's terrible though. Mighty No 9 is an enjoyable, albeit tough, game to play through and despite what you may see elsewhere, it isn't a bad game. With a little bit more originality and a different direction, Mighty No 9 could've been a fresh addition to the usual 2D shooter games we see, but you won't find a true evolution of the Mega Man style game here. Mighty No 9 is not a bad carbon copy of Mega Man, but a missed opportunity to expand on its legacy.
The way Firewatch presents two people who barely know each other, is an intriguing way of exploring relationships between characters. Henry and Delilah's tale was the sole reason I wanted to continue playing. But it's the performance issues that may leave the long lasting impression here, as the PS4 version of the game was released in an unacceptable state.