Aran Suddi's Reviews
Observer: System Redux is well worth playing if you enjoy psychological thrillers, a dash of cyberpunk, and noir detective fiction, and it all looks fantastic on the new consoles. The story has many layers to it, exploring the nature of parent child relationships, corporate domination, human augmentation, and mental health.
If you are looking for a charming little puzzler and hidden object game then you cannot go wrong with I Am Dead. The story experience can be swept through in a few hours, and they will pass quite quickly, but it's an unforgettable journey.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? stays faithful to the show's traditional format, packing in thousands of questions and several modes for both local and online multiplayer – the battle royale mode is a pretty good idea. There can be some odd difficulty spikes though, not to mention the need to grind to unlock more question packs and the player avatar and host doing little more than taking up space. A practical recreation that lacks any sort of soul.
Space Crew is a solid management and strategy title with enjoyably tense space battles, but the grind does get repetitive after a while. A bit more variety to mission structure would be very welcome.
Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix is a decent kart racing game. The tracks are well made and take proper inspiration from Nickelodeon's retinue of shows, the Crew system adds a tactical element, and the challenges are decent, but it's just missing a little sparkle and a certain charm. Still, it's a thoroughly competent kart racer that leaves its predecessor in the dirt.
On the pitch, FIFA 21 is an incremental improvement over FIFA 20, but doesn't address some of the biggest issues with defending and the high-scoring matches this leads to. With Volta still missing a certain spark and Ultimate Team not really changing much, it's the Football Manager-inspired Career mode that takes the biggest step forward. It's still a good football game, but it feels like the real focus is on next-gen.
Tennis World Tour 2 is a solid all-round tennis game, and the inclusion of the wildcard system offers an additional and entertaining tactical layer to consider as you play. It's just a shame that some minor issues hold it back from being great.
Kingdoms of Amalur Re-Reckoning is a good solid remaster, just don't expect much to have changed compared to the original. The world is as magical fantasy as you could get, and it really does draw you in, but some technical issues and a number of repetitive quests can dull the otherwise colourful experience.
Raji: An Ancient Epic is a solid first attempt for Nodding Head Games, but there are issues that will need to be addressed for future games. The Indian setting and use of Hindu mythology differentiates Raji from similar titles, lending it a fast-paced story and interesting protagonist, but the presentation, quality of voice acting and platforming all need improvement.
UFC 4 is an evolution over UFC 3. A much better and more cohesive online, a better system for advancing your created fighters, a career mode that has a bit more depth, and gameplay that opens up the series to more people, makes UFC 4 the game that UFC 3 should have been.