Ryan Esler's Reviews
Valley is never going to be on anyone’s “Game of the Year” list, but it does have loads of potential. With a little more time in the oven and perhaps a bigger budget this could have been something special. Instead we are faced with a linear game that feels the need to offer value without committing to delivery.
When it comes to Batman, I have some unreasonably high expectations and I am highly aware of it. But I can’t shake the feeling that I am not the only one let down by what Telltale has provided. On one hand they have laid the groundwork for a truly interesting and perhaps more human story that we have seen in Batman games before, but at the same time the delivery of said story doesn’t quite match the potential.
I am not sure if this is what Andrew W.K. had envisioned when he first sang Party Hard. Party Hard was a song about embracing the atmosphere and having fun at a party, but in a way this game has really embraced the song wholeheartedly in the most psychotic way possible.
There are some really great ideas in ReCore and they feel realised, but it never really hits the point where they feel like they have been executed efficiently.
quantum Break takes an interesting concept but keeps it as simple as possible, ultimately failing to grip the player with its players or horribly long "TV episodes".
A combat and team focused Musuo game that is tragically let down by buggy AI, poor optimisation, and dodgy framerates.
As it’s own story, it works well and does really showcase a great range of emotions in a developing and presumably pivotal relationship. But none of it matters. We know how it ends. With one episode to go, a series that prides itself on the ability to manipulate time is somehow running out.
As a standalone title, I found Dreamfall Chapters very hard to get into but those who do get absorbed are in for a treat. The story and delivery are fantastic and there is a lot to take in within the worlds, even if these worlds are let down by a few visual faux pas and dull puzzles.
Watch Dogs 2 might be the best soundtrack and scenic open world game from Ubisoft in recent memory, but inconsistent theme and my failure to really resonate with the central themes prevented me from enjoying it.
Dangerous Golf fails to capture the excitement of the Buronout series, in which it was marketed off the back of, but it will keep you entertained for a short time at the very least.
The Flame in the Flood is a trying and calculated experience in which you roll the dice with death. If it was for the bugs and constant crashes it would have been a sleeper hit, but in its current state it's a very hard game to recommend.
I find it hard to justify Overwatch as a final product, it feels lacking and without friends I really struggled to embrace what it had to offer - even something as simple as returning to battle after a death felt like a bit of a slog at times. But with friends Overwatch instantly transforms in to a fun, but awkwardly paced shooter on consoles.
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.
The Division isn't a bad game, it just lacks character. With little to no real customisation in the early game you often feel hard pushed to really invest in your character and by the time you reach the end game, there is nothing really left to do. It feels poorly thought out and the delivery of the story is really lacking and uninteresting.
Ultimately my time with Final Fantasy XV was spent chasing the very few highs I found among a lot of mediocrity and poor design choices. Realistically, nobody ever enjoys filling their petrol tank, ever. And it’s this obvious lack of thought in design choice that rings true with large sections of Final Fantasy XV, I just failed to see the point in it all.
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.
Deck13 Interactive have created their own unique take on the action RPG genre in an intricate and, at times, labyrinthine world. Even with a few bugs and camera issues there is a lot to love in Lords of the Fallen.
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.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm Episode 1 fails to live up to the promise of the original. While providing a great soundtrack, updated visuals, and better animations it struggles to realise just what made Life is Strange special.
Mantis Burn Racing is a loving note to games like Micro Machines and R.C. Pro-Am. Although it captures the feeling well, it seems to be lacking that xfactor that made those title greats. Best played in small chunks, Mantis Burn Racing is an interesting title to lose a couple of hours too.