Craig Shields's Reviews
It’s not the 3D Sonic game we wanted but it’s the one we’ve got. Sonic Forces gives us glimpses of what a good Sonic 3D game could look like but it does so much wrong that it’s not worth your time or money unless you’re a truly die-hard Sonic fan.
Coming with five short and largely forgettable experiences, it would’ve been the perfect free pack-in with the headset, but as a costly product, it’s hard to reccommend when other VR games have already vastly surpassed its offerings.
Pokken Tournament DX feels nice in everything it does. Which, for more casual fighting game fans who also love Pokemon is ideal. For those looking for a different fighting game, it’s best to look elsewhere, but, if you want an action-packed and easy to pick up and play fighter with a bit of colour, Pokken Tournament DX might be what you’re after.
While it may lack modes to keep your attention for long at launch, Arms’ base gameplay is solid and, more importantly, fun. If Nintendo can support Arms like it previously supported Splatoon, then this could be the next big franchise for Nintendo.
Chapter One of Loading Human is an interesting start for the series. While the writing and character development won’t win any awards, most of the basic mechanics are solid after adjusting to the way you navigate. It might be worth waiting to see how Chapter Two and Three plan out before dipping in, but Loading Human is one to keep your eye on.
Despite its drawbacks and lack of game modes, there’s something to Kick Off Revival that makes me smile and wince at the same time. With friends, its fast paced gameplay and chaotic nature can be a blast in small bursts, but for some, the intricate controls with just one button may prove to be an issue. Kick Off Revival fills a void that football fans that are bored of FIFA and Pro Evo need, but right now it feels unfinished, and will need a few more updates and tweaks to satisfy players for longer than just a few hours. There’s potential in a different type of football game, but we’re not quite there yet.
There are gameplay concerns but the setting helps to make up for it as Watch Dogs 2’s version of San Francisco is faithful, colourful and a joy to explore. It’s not in the top calibre of games this year, but it has interesting characters, unique elements, and more than enough missions to keep you busy for a while.
With a few friends in close proximity, you can still have fun with FIFA and its nice presentation. But for a real football fan who wants to recreate the moves of Barcelona and Dortmund, this isn't the football game you're looking for.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.