Divinity: Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition is phenomenal. It strikes a balance few other RPGs have been able to achieve, successfully marrying up accessibility with complexity, while amazingly offering a world full of depth and substance. Undoubtedly, it’s one of the finest RPGs this generation, but it will also go down in history as one of the greatest of all time.
Strange Brigade is an entertaining online experience, seperate from most other games in the genre with such a strong focus on puzzle solving. Its gameplay and level pacing works well and Strange Brigade looks lovely, but it’s a game that becomes overly challenging solo and can feel a bit repetitive in long blasts. Splitscreen co-op is certainly missed, and characters don’t vary too much, yet Strange Brigade remains one of the best online co-op games this year with its witty charm and fun gameplay.
This collection is by no means perfect and probably shows off Shenmue’s imperfections more than its strengths, but just having the Shenmue Collection at all still blows me away as it reminds me that this world still holds a very special place in my heart.
Guacamelee 2 is a stunning, slick platformer and a more than worthy successor to one of last-generation’s finest gems.
Done Running sets the scene for a season none of us are really ready to finish. We ‘raised’ this scared young girl into a strong, independent mother through one impossible decision after another. And while Episode One never truly puts us on the spot until the bitter end, there’s an impending sense of dread that worse moments are inevitable, but they will almost certainly lead to some of the series’ finest
The Diaries of Agent Silent Death shows a glimpse of how stealth could work in Wolfenstein to exciting effect, but the foundations of such an action-orientated game don’t provide sufficient backing for that same will and desire.
Sonic Mania was already a must play. Plus makes it essential.
The Adventures of Gunslinger Joe is not the start we were hoping for from The Freedom Chronicles. As a standalone, it’s not worth the money, though as a package deal in the Season Pass it might be better justified. Wolfenstein 2 is among the highest quality shooters this generation, it deserves better post-launch support than this.
Overcooked 2 is just everything you loved about the original game but so much more, better presented, and even more entertaining. This sensational little game can now be played with anyone at anytime anywhere in the world and that’s just the most wonderful thing. Whichever format you play it on, Overcooked 2 is an essential ingredient in your online gaming diet.
Flipping Death is heartfelt, ambitious and wonderfully creative. I love everything about it, faults and all.
Without doubt, Dead Cells is one of the best games in its genre but also one of the best this year. Considering it just released on every major format, there’s absolutely no reason not to pick it up. Dead Cells is essential.
Bring the Crunch is a brilliant DLC that shocks, startles, and almost always entertains even though it’s very different from its source material. It flows exceedingly well while still managing to offer plenty of optional content should you want it. Slight battle grievances aside, Bring the Crunch is not only a marked improvement on Casa Bonita, but it ensures that the Fractured But Whole Season Pass is now an absolute must-buy.
Beast of Winter is an absolutely fine piece of DLC. It made me chuckle a few times, I really enjoyed the major battles and the game looks as stunning as ever. Most importantly, I was gripped from beginning to end. I was just very surprised by how sudden and abruptly it all ended and how little my characters got to benefit from the new items. While the stakes are higher than normal, Beast of Winter just felt like a slightly longer quest that had been added to my journal rather than a new expansion. It was very nice to revisit Deadfire for an afternoon, it’s just a shame that there wasn’t much to digest at the end of it.
TBS 3 is a truly special game and the perfect send off for this epic saga. The evolution of Stoic as a studio is apparent with a work that is truly timeless. No doubt about it, The Banner Saga is full of many great gaming moments, many of which are in this concluding episode, and they will stay with me for years to come.
The good news is the story is finally going in the right direction, despite the poor and abrupt ending. The bad news is that Big Bad Wolf have some serious problems to overcome for the last two episodes. If lines are being skipped and the subtitles are unreliable, how can they tell a story? And even then, if decisions are being ignored, what even is the point? That completely wipes away the illusion that every action has a consequence. Ripples has inadvertently exposed The Council at a core level and leaves us deeply concerned for its future.
Overall, I did enjoy Hide and Seek and I can’t wait to see how Episode 3 plays out, but it needs to keep its foot on the gas now. The stabilisers have to come off and the story really needs to open up. Because while Hide and Seek does some interesting and exciting new things for the genre, some of that initial momentum has definitely been lost.
Lost on Mars is a substantial improvement over Hours of Darkness in almost every conceivable way. It’s not Blood Dragon brilliant and it does have its flaws and weakness, but I certainly enjoyed my time in space more than I didn’t. This helps scratch that Blood Dragon sequel itch, at least for a little while longer.
The Spectrum Retreat is a refreshing independent game with some big ideas and ambition. It creates a truly compelling environment with excellent acting and narrative progression.
This franchise deserves to have a future, whether that’s through DLC packs over the next year, a full sequel or even a series of mobile games. Whatever the case may be, as Wii U to Switch ports go, Captain Toad is perhaps the best of the bunch and certainly the most welcome. Essential for any Switch gamer
There’s no question that Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy is a very welcome sight on a platform not owned by Sony. The Switch version has exceeded my expectations in almost every conceivable way and Crash still remains one of the finest examples of platform gaming from the 32bit era. A must own.