Ryan Esler's Reviews
Q*Bert rebooted is an unfortunate product of its time, even with the adjustments made to bring it kicking and screaming in to 2016 it still feels like a shallow experience that's short on modes. It also has one of the worst names for a game in existence, ever.
Electronic Super Joy is the epitome of background colour and unique artsyle with lots of variety in the fast paced gameplay. But, even with its short runtime, the sound design is so bad that it's enough to put you off entirely.
A piece of art that asks the player to buy in to it's massive cast of characters and fall in love with The Banner Saga's involving story. Finding the perfect route will have players replaying The Banner Saga an endless number of times.
Star Wars Battlefront is a beautiful recreation of what it is like to be amidst the chaos in the fight against the darkside hampered by a distinct lack of singleplayer content and an absurd season pass.
Guitar Hero Live tries to rekindle and re-imagine itself on next gen consoles, but early issues with GHTV failing to save data and the stale approach to background environments results in a once unique charm being usurped by chasing a realistic experience.
With a campaign that forces you in to the boots of 343I's poster boy rather than allowing you to play as the enigmatic Master Chief, it's hard to really enjoy what guardian's has to offer. With tragic AI and a very underwhelming campaign it's a hard pill to swallow for those who relish in the magnificence of the original trilogy.
Transformers: Devastation is a fully realised and unbelievably accurate adaptation of the autobots. It feels exhilarating to dart about the world and even better to destroy it.
Never has a game retroactively ruined so many fond childhood memories. If it weren't for the absolutely out of this world soundtrack, THPS 5 would have literally no redeeming features.
In a surprising turn of events, GG&C presents a humour riddled take on gangsters vs zombies. It's snappy and great fun with friends at a low price. It's hard not to pass up an Italian zombie mash-up of Metal Slug.
The return of Gears of War is a bittersweet one. The updated graphics detract from the original artstyle, but the improved netcode and online features drag Marcus and the gang kicking and screaming in to the next generation. Putting aside the issues with frame rate, it is a smut have for any lancer enthusiast.
Mad Max is another generic open world game tossed on the ever-growing pile of open world games. Even with its unique setting and stunning visuals, Mad Max is very much a game of fetch quests and tall towers.
One of the scariest and most immersive experiences on the Playstation 4 right now. Even with a few lingering plot threads, you'll be haunted by your decision in Until Dawn and talking about them with friends for months to come.
After some frustrating delays, Dontnod more than deliver on the promise displayed in Life is Strange Episode 1.
Batman: Arkham Knight fails to live up to the expectations of its predecessors and focuses on the Batmobile far too much. With the addition of even more moves in combat, it loses touch with what made Arkham Asylum feel so punctual.
One of the most ambitious and diverse fighters to deliver on everything it promises. Mortal Kombat X takes series staples, combines them with a stellar story, and gives you enough variations on fighters to give infinite depth. People will talk fondly of MK X for decades to come.
From Software turn expectations of a "soulslike" on their head with this fast paced and visceral approach to combat and Lovecraftian horror. Bloodborne isn't just a game you can justify buying, it's the type of game you justifies buying the console too.
A combat and team focused Musuo game that is tragically let down by buggy AI, poor optimisation, and dodgy framerates.
Ori and the Blind Forest is a must have for Xbox One users. Ori manages to cptivate players with gorgeous environment design and a heart wrenching story.
DmC Definitive Edition lives up to its name and corrects many of the wrongs that were present in the original. With faster gameplay and a load of replay value you, it's hard to argue that it isn't Capcom's best port in recent memory.
Although Dynasty Warriors 8: Empires follows in the tradition of a core game followed by its Empires equivalent, the combat feels stale and despite its massive cast there is very little do with it.