Laurie Jones
It’s not often games get a second shot at a Game of the Year Edition, but Borderlands 1 makes the most of it. If you’re getting swept up in the Borderlands 3 hype and have somehow never played the original, there’s never been a better time or opportunity to start.
There’s true charm and a surprising amount of substance in this delightful little romp. Every time I booted up my Switch to play, it felt like the console was giving me a loving hug and when my time was up, it left me with a warm glow inside. With its gleeful tunes, soothing sounds, and stunning design, Yoshi’s Crafted World is another wonderful jewel in the Switch’s platforming crown.
Du Lac & Fey is a game I’d recommend anyone play as the story is one of the best I’ve seen in a point & click for a long time. But several patches deep, it’s still ruined by some irritating, occasionally game-breaking glitches. I don’t know if Du Lac & Fey will ever be truly fixed or how much support the game will continue to receive, but I’m rooting for Salix Games to get it right. This game deserves an audience and is a series which must be allowed to continue, but in its current state, sadly, many of these issues are difficult to look past.
The 3DS version is by far superior to the Wii counterpart, and still offers enough new content that it’s worth a double dip. With all the new abilities, extras, as well as the Amiibo support, it’s a fantastic little port which manages to work wonderfully on 3DS and is a typically wonderful Nintendo platformer which really takes the Kirby franchise in fascinating new directions. This is a true classic Nintendo platformer in every sense of the word.
Devil May Cry 5 is an absolute triumph. It’s a true return to form for a beloved franchise, and absolutely full to the brim with smash mouth, in-your-face action. One of the most stylish and slick fighters you’ll ever have the pleasure of committing to your hard drive.
It all started so well, then it tripped and stumbled in the middle, only to partially redeem itself at the end. Legacy of the First Blade is such a mixed bag but it does, at times, offer the best of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and the absolute worst.
The most important and arguably the greatest Civ Expansion of All Time. Just thinking about it now is giving me the itch to dive back in. Wonderful!
Ape Out is a very special, surprisingly wonderful, downright brutal arthouse experience
STEINS GATE; ELITE is as important to the genre as it is the intellectual property and is one of the most surprisingly entertaining interactive experiences I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying for some time.
Band of Bastards sticks to what it knows and as DLC goes does a good job of adding to the overall narrative, giving Henry several surprising, encouraging opportunities to express himself.
Broken Toys gets the Season back on track and has helped prepare me for the curtain call, the episode I never really wanted to play, but one I knew had to come.
Hunted is a strong start for the Legacy of the First Blade portion of the Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey Season Pass. I’m intrigued to peel back some of Darius’ layers and learn more about The Order of the Ancients pursuit of the Misthios. Amazingly, Hunted has made me want to play even more of Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey which, after a hundred or so hours, is quite an impressive feat.
Octahedron isn’t going to be for everyone. You’ll grit your teeth or pull at your hair. It’s unforgiving and harsh, often relishing in your misfortune. But it’s hard to deny the game has a clear hook, managing to still entertain while reeling you in.
New Star Manager is the most satisfying football experience on Switch
Life is Strange 2 Episode 2 Rules is strong follow-up from the hard-hitting first episode but plays a little too safe at times
The Raven Remastered is a well designed, thought out, and ultimately enjoyable adventure, that shows Switch should become the new home of the adventure game
Suffer the Children isn’t awful. There are some clear high points here which have us interested in what comes next, but it is, unquestionably, some of Telltale’s worst work. Considering the circumstances behind the scenes, it’s completely understandable, but also a real shame since it follows one of their best episodes in years.
Resident Evil 2 Remake evolves, iterates, and expands on just about every conceivable and desirable component of the base game and the lore within it to make a more enticing and enriching modern experience that opens new doors for the franchise. This is a monumental achievement that has been well worth the wait.
Pikuniku is an absolute treasure, whether you play on Switch or PC. Sectordub have smashed it with the fabulous soundtrack, the way it looks, plays, feels, and everything else in-between. Pikuniku has me completely wrapped around its’ overly long legs.
Onimusha: Warlords must be experienced, whether you were a fan of the games’ before or have never tried them before. Especially with the portability of Switch, the game has never felt more at home. Whether this is the last we see of Onimusha from Capcom remains to be seen, but having dived back in after all these years away from feudal Japan, I realise that I’ve never wanted to revisit this franchise more.