Dominic Leighton's Reviews
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 Record Breaker is a fantastic handheld RPG with a deep combat system, characters that you care about, and a well-delivered story. Returning fans will also find plenty to enjoy here too, whether it's the new difficulty settings, voice-acting, or the fresh story arc. As such, Devil Survivor 2 takes its place amongst the best the Nintendo 3DS has to offer.
It's telling that having played through the whole set we returned to play Quiplash XL and Fibbage 2 for a number of hours, and they're both hugely amusing and engaging games that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to play with a group of friends. While the other entries aren't as strong, with Earwax proving to be a particular disappointment, and despite technical issues that suck some of the fun from the experience, Jackbox Party Pack 2 still offers one of the best multiplayer experiences I've ever had on a console.
Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition is an in-depth and thoughtful RPG that offers console gamers an experience normally reserved for PC gamers. It's pace and mechanics may take some getting used to and there are a few mild technical issues, but for those willing to put the time and effort in there are countless hours of questing and combat here that should enthral any RPG fan.
Tales Of Zestiria is a highly enjoyable JRPG, with likeable characters, fun combat and an engaging plot, that's only mildly let down by a few technical hiccups and a lack of grandeur to the locations. For Tales fans, Zestiria is certainly amongst the best entry's in the franchise and one which deserves to finally enjoy success in the West.
Rock Band 4 is fundamentally an excellent update to what was arguably the finest rhythm-action game of the last generation. However, it currently feels like it lacks ambition, and some features haven't been given the update they could have had while others have been removed. As a platform it's certainly a solid, and highly enjoyable, base that at its best makes you absolutely feel like a rock star. Fundamentally, with its series of planned updates still to come, only time will tell if Harmonix can make this generation's Rock Band a truly essential purchase.
Elite: Dangerous is a phenomenal piece of simulation software, masquerading as a game. I felt like Mal Reynolds, Captain Picard and Luke Skywalker at various points, while at others I felt like a delivery man who was able to make a cup of tea whilst travelling to the next drop off. The emptiness of space can be overwhelming, and Elite: Dangerous revels in that a little too much, but for the brave, or foolhardy, it offers an experience that is unlike anything else on Xbox One.
Fans of the series will probably still find some enjoyment from playing through the four story arcs, but it feels like a missed opportunity for such an iconic property.
Etrian Mystery Dungeon is an enjoyable and fully featured dungeon crawler, with some great touches to keep you coming back time and time again. Though there are a few occasional niggles it combines the two franchises very successfully and that should see it find fans in both camps.
There's a good level of content to be found here, between the constant flow of resident's requests and the expansion of the town plaza, which you can extend for as long as you like with remodels and redesigns which unlock later on. There's also plenty of variety to the different items, and with the ability to repaint and create your own designs you can make something truly unique. The simple and intuitive gameplay will especially appeal to younger gamers, as will the creativity, but the key disappointment is the limited scope. Happy Home Designer captures some of the Animal Crossing magic, but not enough to make it an essential entry in the series.
The Golf Club Collector's Edition is a well-featured and enjoyable game, only held back by the lack of licensed content and performance issues that hamper the fun. The asynchronous multiplayer lends plenty of real-world competition to the proceedings, and the course designer is a powerful tool in the right hands. Its more serious tone may not be to everyone's taste, but the fact that HB Studios has created an indie title that can genuinely contend with EA's monolithic PGA franchise makes it worthy of attention.
Forza Motorsport 6 is beautiful, meticulous, dramatic and generous. It is arguably a faultless piece of driving software, and on top of that, Turn 10 have definitively proven that the Xbox One is an exceptionally capable machine when in the right hands. Serious racing fans owe it to themselves to experience Forza 6, while franchise stalwarts may find that this is the next generation Forza they were waiting for.
Madden 16 builds on last year's fantastic entry in the franchise, and while there's more refinement here than revolution the improvements are meaningful, with the addition of Draft Champions a huge success.
Devil's Third's singleplayer campaign is dumb, misogynistic, shoddy and borderline broken at times, but its multiplayer may well be its saving grace. While it remains lo-fi and decidedly rough around the edges, there's some fun to be had and an experience that could see it gain something of a cult following on Wii U.
Toy Soldiers: War Chest brings its unique brand of tower defense to the new generation, and though there are some wrinkles caused by slight performance issues and questionable DLC practices, this is more of the same classic Toy Soldiers gameplay. There's a lot to enjoy here in a well-rounded package, with plenty of replay value thanks to the range of different heroes, collectibles and high-scores to aim for, as well as the online and offline multiplayer options.
While Sword Art Online Re: Hollow Fragment is an enjoyable budget release that offers hours of anime adventuring, it's tainted by inexplicable performance issues that simply shouldn't have made it to the PS4 edition of the game. If you can look past them, and enjoy anime-flavoured RPG's with an interesting setting, then SAO Re: Hollow Fragment may just be for you, though fans of the TV series will certainly get the most fun out of it.
Whether returning to games of your childhood, or experiencing these titles for the first time, Rare Replay should be an essential purchase for Xbox One owners.
It hasn't been the easiest journey for Skullgirls to the PlayStation 4, but with 2nd Encore, Lab Zero have turned in the definitive edition of a high-quality fighting game that not only has bags of character but matches it with both technical and enjoyable action.
Rory McIlory PGA Tour fundamentally plays a great round of golf, with an excellent range of playstyles to suit fans old and new. Despite the welcoming gameplay and often outstanding graphical representation of the courses though, enthusiasts and series stalwarts may soon feel that while progress has been made in some areas, this may not be the experience they expected from the first PGA Tour of a new console generation.
Despite the huge flaws, there's still something that kept drawing me back to play a bit more, to destroy a few buildings or beat one more Kaiju. It's not smart or clever, nor remotely modern, and it's mostly repetitive and dull. But it's Godzilla – a giant nuclear accident that is as likely to destroy you as protect you. After 60 years, there's still some part that's inherently enjoyable about that and it has found its way into this game. That or I have radiation sickness.
Astebreed is a remarkably well-built indie title, which nails both the mecha genre and its anime flavouring. Anyone who's enjoyed Radiant Silvergun or Ikaruga will find plenty to like here, and though it can be easy to blast through the levels as quickly as possible, its rewarding mechanics and high-score leaderboards will ensure plenty of reasons to make repeat visits.