Dominic Leighton's Reviews
Dangerous Driving is the game Burnout fans have been waiting for. Insane speeds, takedowns, permanent wreckage and a raft of events make this not just a spiritual successor, but a new beginning for aggressive arcade racing.
If you're a fan of run and gun games like Contra or Metal Slug, Mechstermination Force really captures the essence of how tough those titles were, while pairing it with a modern look and a wild penchant for mech design. There's no easy mode.
Bow to Blood: Last Captain Standing is the kind of future sport I can get behind, with tons of style, plenty of bombastic airship action and an identity all of its own.
Elli is a lovely little puzzle platformer that's well worth spending a few hours with, though its relaxed vibe and accessible gameplay could see your attention waning before the end.
There's a ton of potential in Xenon Racer, but while it looks and sounds the part, its difficulty level and overly weighty handling keep it firmly stuck in the slow lane.
While fans can likely find enjoyment in spending time with the One Piece crew, there are far better open world adventures out there.
Swords & Soldiers 2 Shawarmageddon is a fantastic RTS addition to the Switch's library, and thanks to its portability and the addition of touch controls, Nintendo's console is once more the best place to play.
Dead or Alive 6 is an objectively great fighting game that's likely to be hampered by its continued objectification of women.
Just as Codemaster's competitors were starting to creep towards the digital rallying crown, Dirt Rally 2.0 puts them firmly back in the rear-view mirror. Utterly convincing, enthralling and punishing, Dirt Rally 2 is an exquisite racing sim.
God Eater 3 boasts fantastic monster hunting combat and the best visuals we've seen from the series, but hangs onto too many of the previous game's hang-ups.
In a world bereft of a new Advance Wars, Wargroove is a worthy successor. Its fantasy retro strategy stylings mark it out as a wonderful amalgamation of the classic Fire Emblem and Wars games, and while it doesn't revolutionise the genre in the way that the modern Fire Emblem games have it nails the feel of Intelligent System's best games – while standing proudly on its own.
Override: Mech City Brawl is an indie mech arena brawler that gets a lot of things right. The single player is often a little on the easy side, but the great character designs and weighty combat help to make up for it, with local multiplayer proving to be a hell of a lot of fun. It's perfect for fans of giant mechs and kaiju brawling, and easily one of the best additions to the genre in a while.
In Ace Combat 7 dogfighting games have a new Top Gun. The VR sadly turned my stomach, but the series' trademark action is bigger and better than ever, with the spectacular weather effects introducing a level of realism and drama that will win over any wannabe Mavericks.
It's a huge relief to find that Tales of Vesperia hasn't just aged well, but continues to prove itself to be amongst the best games in the Tales series. The enhancements made to the Definitive Edition tidy up and expand on an already enjoyable game, bringing the characters to life more effectively than ever before and making it more than capable of enthralling both returning players and newcomers alike.
It's a shame that more time wasn't spent on Gear.Club Unlimited 2 as there are a glimmer or two of hope amongst the horror. However, appalling loading times, terrible handling, and moronic computer AI all contribute to a racing game that rolls its way off the assembly line and straight into the scrapyard.
Just Cause 4 is the best entry in the series to date, offering spectacular free-wheeling destruction on a scale that's not been attempted before. Rico remains one of gaming's most enjoyable protagonists, but more than ever before, it's really all about what he's capable of doing rather than the events unfolding around him.
At times spiritual, transcendental and zen-like, at others excruciating, heart-poundingly tense and eye-wateringly immersive, Tetris Effect is game of the year material and essential on PlayStation VR.
Diablo III Eternal Collection is the best version of a classic game, and on Nintendo Switch it makes more sense than ever, whether playing alone or with others.
GRIP: Combat Racing is an unpolished gem that's currently too flawed to fully recommend. When it comes together – particularly in multiplayer – GRIP is capable of providing some of the most engaging future racing this side of Wipeout 2097, but it's all too easy for it to fall apart, especially when you're placed in the hands of the game's cheating AI.
My Hero One's Justice sees Bandai at their property-managing best, bringing a hugely enjoyable fighting game experience to the My Hero Academia franchise. The Switch version has a few rough edges, but ultimately the colourful anime brawling feels perfectly at home on Nintendo's continually surprising handheld.