Richard Seagrave
Under no circumstances should you consider buying Super Street: The Game.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider ends the reboot trilogy on a high note. It gives the fans what they want, as well as hope for what comes next. And I really hope there will be a next, because when it's this good, it'd be criminal to have Lara sat twiddling her thumbs.
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On the whole, Ultra Space Battle Brawl is very much worth a purchase if you play games with friends on a regular basis. Its fusion of Pong with an 80's arcade game aesthetic really gives it character, and when your opponent is a real human being it's an absolute riot. It's quite light on features though, and its single player offering really lets the package down.
Its final boss is destined to prevent all but the most dedicated of players from truly finishing it, but the journey there is so enjoyable that most won't care. Ninjin: Clash of Carrots is so unique that you can't help but give it some slack.
It's not going to keep you entertained for as long as a Street Fighter or BlazBlue game, but those familiar with its characters will have fun pitting the likes of Shovel Knight against Issac. Those unfamiliar with its characters will just enjoy it for the fact that there are no barriers to enjoying its gameplay. Blade Strangers is simple, and all the better for it.
Had The Messenger been two separate games, I'd have waxed lyrical about the first while eliciting a "meh" for the second. Put together, it's a package that some will adore, while others will simply grow tired of.
Honestly, Yakuza Kiwami 2 is the best Yakuza game to date. Its story is gripping and has a brilliant pace, its combat is tighter and more engaging, and there's such a varied range of sub-stories and side activities to absorb yourself in that it offers great longevity
While F1 2018 is undoubtedly a great game, only racing game fans who haven't already played its predecessor are going to feel wholly satisfied with it. Meanwhile, avid players of F1 2017 would be wise to wait until the inevitable F1 2019 – unless they really must engage in some multiple choice PR interviews between races right now.
If you enjoyed the original Guacamelee!, this sequel is an absolute must.
Manual Samuel remains a must-have on Nintendo Switch, especially if you've not already played it. [OpenCritic note: Richard Seagrave separately reviewed the XB1 (9) and Switch (8) versions. His scores have been averaged.]
Madden NFL 19 is more of an evolution than a revolution then, but what else did anyone expect? It's a refinement of last year's effort with further graphical prowess, more fluidity and a sprinkling of new features. It's just a shame that its Longshot Homecoming mode is such a let-down.
Despite all of its problems, there's just something about Flipping Death that wins you over.
Dead Cells is such an easy game to recommend.
Salt and Sanctuary is dark. It's just how it is. And being honest, it's all the better for it. On the Switch's small screen though, the darkness of most of the environments coupled with the zoomed out camera makes it hard to see certain enemies and their attacks.
Jump Gunners probably isn't the best game to pick up simply for its single player features. For those who like to get some friends around and engage in some highly entertaining multiplayer action, however, I'd say it's a must-have.
If Code of Princess EX's combat was just a little bit better, it'd be quite a solid game.
If you want to play a third-person cover shooter, stick to the Gears of War series on Xbox or the Uncharted series on PS4 for now. All of their entries are cheaper than Gene Rain, and they all offer many times more fun.
Remothered generates just as much frustration as it does atmosphere, making it one of those games that you want to love but can't because it just keeps kicking you in the face.
It may be unspectacular, but there will be many who'll fall under Aces of the Luftwaffe – Squadron's charm.