Jack Bampfield
Rocket League is mechanically simple, but utterly brilliant because of it.
For the majority of the game, the difficulty continues to be a non-existent challenge. Then there’s act 4-4; the last level. Suddenly everything is turned up to 1
Stardew Valley's art style is vibrant and reminiscent of the SNES days, but it perfectly fits the overall aesthetic and feel of the game
The story is told through comic strip cut scenes which feel out of place for this world, and very half-assed
The UI in Ace of Seafood is a mess most of the time… there is so much information on the screen and so much going on that it’s difficult at first to know what you’re supposed to be looking at
Each of the four chapters ends with a finale that is the best the game has to offer; the fast-paced rhythm is taken to the extreme as everything crumbles around you while you race through the level
Sound design is at it's best when you don't really notice it, you just absorb it – and that's exactly the case with Overwatch; I'd go as far to say that its sound design is revolutionary
It may be repetitive, but flying around with the ODM gear and cutting up Titans is just fun enough that it never really became a huge issue
There are plenty of moments in Legion that make you smile, and playing with friends has been the engaging social experience that WoW has missed for a long time
Like a cryptic film, you’ll probably find yourself finishing a playthrough and heading to Google to search ‘Dear Esther meaning'
Planet Coaster gives you such an incredible degree of freedom in creating what you want that any obstacles just become part of that meticulous process of building the perfect park.
Though funny at almost every turn and a rather competent first game from Billy Goat Entertainment, the fact that Her Majesty’s Spiffing leaves you flat-footed on a cliff-hanger that may never be resolved is a real shame.
The post apocalyptic world of Diluvion has a steampunk mixed with sci-fi feel to it, and the story reflects that too. I just wish there was less travelling from A to B, or a busier, more detailed landscape to explore along the way.
It’s the narrative you discover through exploration that holds The Crow’s Eye together; reading and listening to people slowly lose their minds – as perhaps your character does too – makes the psychological thriller element of the game take centre stage. It’s just a shame that the horror never quite gets there.
Solstice Chronicles: MIA is an enjoyable experience. Most of the gameplay is engaging, and when you're using all its mechanics and systems as intended, it's fun and gels well.
For a genre that is continuing to grow thanks to the monumental success of Overwatch, Gigantic is a bigger splash than I expected.
I very much enjoyed my time with AER Memories of Old. It's not perfect; it's a little on the short side, its puzzles are a bit lacklustre, and it has an overt religious message — although if anything, that it adds to the world that AER creates.
After completing We Were Here Too, I couldn't help but wonder if it took the series anywhere new, or whether it could have simply been classed as an expansion to the first. In the end, what I wanted from this title was more; I wanted to do more puzzles in this world, in this unique way, and that's exactly what We Were Here Too delivers on.
Subnautica is one of the original Early Access triumphs, and in my view, the best of them all.
The best Asemblance: Oversight has to offer is the hunt for all the endings, not so much the lead up to that.