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Laurie Jones

Cardiff, Wales
LaurieTLC
LaurieTLC

231 games reviewed
79.2 average score
80 median score
82.7% of games recommended
Liked-a-lot - Dead Island 2
Apr 23, 2023

Dead Island 2 brings blood, brutality and bloody good fun. It is a thrill-ride from the opening credits with its use of hard-hitting weapons, good characterisation and stunning backdrops. A limited plot and constraining development options aside, this is the Dead Island you remember and one we’ll likely never forget again.

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Worth your time - Octopath Traveler II
Mar 12, 2023

Octopath Traveler 2 is wonderful, from the choices it gives you right at the start, to the stories it tells, the ways they’re presented, and the mechanics that drive them. This is Square Enix at their RPG making best, the types of games they were renowned for years past and are at the very core of their DNA. One of the most enjoyable, refreshing retro-modernistic adventures I have ever had the pleasure of playing and one RPG fans simply must add to their collection.

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Worth your time - Dead Space (Remake)
Feb 25, 2023

Dead Space is a world class remake that thrives on next-gen and remains absolutely horrifyingly brilliant. The gameplay hasn’t aged a day, it looks, feels, and plays better than ever, and the new content make this a must-buy, whether you’re new to Dead Space or you’re back for another trip to the Ishimura. I always thought Isaac Clarke deserved better and thankfully Motive’s efforts have given him a well-deserved lifeline and hope for a very promising future indeed.

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Liked-a-lot - Sonic Frontiers
Nov 14, 2022

Sonic Frontiers takes the Hedgehog in an exciting, fulfilling direction. The controls feel cohesive and coherent, the open zone concept is a smart game-changer, with the freedom of exploration coupled with a genuine feeling of enjoyment. It doesn’t always get its choices right, it doesn’t look as crisp as it could and there’s a few things holding it back from being the game it should be. Ultimately, though, the future of the franchise is looking less blurry and more bright!

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Liked-a-lot - Rollerdrome
Aug 20, 2022

If you ever loved Tony Hawks, Jet Set Radio, Max Payne or any/all of the above, you should definitely look into Rollerdrome. It’s a smart, well-designed, polished genre hybrid that genuinely does something a bit different while still giving you a game you’ll enjoy and be familiar with.

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Completionists will relish all Isle of Armor has to offer, with so many new Mon to add to your dex and lots to explore, as well as some new and unique powerups that further alter the way you play, it makes for an essential purchase. If you’re coming into this for story, though, you’re probably going to be pretty disappointed as it’s over before it even gets going and you’ll feel like Game Freak could have done a lot more with it.

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Jun 27, 2019

Simply put, Bloodstained is brilliant. It’s hard as nails, but refreshingly fun at the same time, and it absolutely celebrates the qualities of a very special talent in this industry. If you were ever a Castlevania fan or if you quite enjoy a good old action adventure, then this one cannot be missed. Best game of its type since Symphony of the Night for my money.

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Apr 24, 2019

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.

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Liked-a-lot - Yoshi's Crafted World
Apr 16, 2019

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.

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Liked-a-lot - Mortal Kombat 11
Apr 24, 2019

For me, it shows how deep the MK lore has become, how many interesting and surprisingly well-developed characters the games have, and how easily the franchise could carve out a narrative-focused niche for itself.

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Mind-blown - Monster Hunter Rise
Apr 26, 2021

Whether you want to dip into it for an hour here and there, or stay glued to the screen for an entire weekend, Rise is an incredible accomplishment in every sense of the word. With a ton of depth to get the most of your battles, a fulfilling end-game, and a ton of updates still to come, this is the most generous and rewarding third party exclusive on Switch. If, for some reason, you still don’t own one and you’ve been holding out for a quality exclusive that makes it the envy of other formats and doesn’t have a single Mushroom Kingdom resident in sight, Rise is the reason you’ve been waiting for to buy a Switch!

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May 16, 2023

LEGO 2K Drive takes the best bits of Mario Kart and Forza Horizon then fuses them together in a distinct, everything is awesome kinda way. Whether you’re looking for a fun party game you can play with your mates across formats, an exciting creative tool to exercise your imagination or something to keep you busy for weeks and months ahead, this surprise package is an absolute delight. Slight balance and terrain issues aside, the potential for this is massive and might just be the best ever use of the LEGO license in a video game to date.

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Burning Shores is one of the best DLCs I’ve ever played and is up there with Left Behind in a way it develops its character, progresses its story in a smart way but equally raises the bar for everything to follow. A fitting send off for Forbidden West and a tantalising taster for the future of the Horizon franchise.

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Resident Evil 4 is more brutal, intimidating, unsettling and intriguing than ever. By far, the best of the Resident Evil remakes in a way that it honors the foundations of the source material, logically expands upon them in interesting ways, and manages to make everything look, feel and play better. Regardless of where Capcom go from here, this is peak Resident Evil – it just does not get much better than this.

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Feb 14, 2023

Metroid Prime Remastered is exactly everything I’d hoped it would be and more. The game is jaw-droppingly beautiful on Switch OLED, the Remaster has made the game feel as if it was always made for dual-stick support, and it plays so smoothly that it’ll be hard to ever look back at it on old hardware again. Without question, this is Nintendo treating their legacy products with the highest amount of love and respect. While we’ve seen them do some fantastic upgrades, this is up there with Mario All-Stars in terms of the effort put in and the quality put out.

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Feb 19, 2023

Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is full of joy and an enjoyable experience whether you dip into it for ten minutes or ten hours. It reminds us how many incredible moments the Final Fantasy franchise has given us over the years and it encapsulates them beautifully in one package. Mechanically sound with wonderful content, this may yet prove to be among my favourite games this year.

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Jan 13, 2023

One Piece Odyssey is the best One Piece game to date. It’s full of depth, substance, style, and even offers something different to the genre. Everything comes together in a well presented and structured end product that is surprisingly enjoyable from start to finish. 2023 has started with a big surprise and one that’s a perfect fit for this enduring world.

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Dec 20, 2022

Marvel’s Midnight Suns is a refreshing delight. One you know went through rigorous stages of pitching and proposal and, at one point, may have been left on the cutting room floor. I am so glad this game has been made as it offers a fascinating insight into characters you know and some you may not. It tells a compelling tale that has room for humor and typical Marvel fun. Most of all, it has intriguing gameplay mechanics that evolve over time and individually suit one of the most impressive rosters we’ve seen in any Marvel title before. Midnight Suns is simply brilliant and a must play whether you love the franchise or just fancy a bit of strategic action.

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Nov 26, 2022

Syberia – The World Before is a wonderfully directed, well-flowing story that keeps you guessing and invested through developing mechanics, varied puzzle solving and well written characters. There are some minor performance issues but nothing that holds the adventure back from being a fitting, apt conclusion and the best installment in a series that began nearly 20 years ago.

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Loved - Pentiment
Nov 24, 2022

Pentiment has unexpectedly shot towards the top of my favourite games of the year. It’s yet further proof of the amazing talent and creativity bubbling away in the Obsidian studios and is one of the best examples of a game that dares to be different by not trying to do everything, instead focusing its approach. Smartly written, beautifully drawn, and masterfully designed, Pentiment is an intelligent, humorous adventure that is as enriching as it is enjoyable.

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