Aran Suddi's Reviews
Hearts of Stone is a piece of DLC that has been done right, genuinely adding to an already great game. The antagonist in this content is for me a better and more interesting character than the members of the actual Wild Hunt from the main plot, and you also learn more about Geralt's past too. If you own and enjoy The Witcher 3 then Hearts of Stone is easily recommended, but go in knowing as little as possible because there are some truly spectacular moments to be had.
Beyond Sol is a very good blend of RTS and action game rolled into a package that has a rather unique approach to games taking place in space. You can easily sink a lot of hours into Beyond Sol, but it would be improved by having more variety to the items and situations that crop up. If Praxia adds more content over time, then Beyond Sol could prove to be a truly fantastic RTS, as the game just needs a bit more before reaching its full potential.
Football Manager 2016 may not be a huge overhaul over previous titles but the game feels a lot more accessible for anyone to pick up and play. Sports Interactive continues to show why Football Manager is the most dominant of sports management sim. 2016 isn't a game you can just switch off and leave behind. At moments during the day you'll be thinking of tactics to use, potential signings to bolster your defence, and who to drop. Most of all you'll be looking most forward to match day as you wait to see if your preparation is good enough or not. Football Manager 2016 isn't just a game, it becomes a major part of your life.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 should be remembered not just as a bad game, but as an indicator of the industry's hubris, where games are continuously released in a broken state. It's a shame, because if there was more time then Robomodo's efforts may have eventually led to a fantastic skateboarding game. Instead a classic franchise has been tarnished and an audience scorned.
Overall though NBA 2K16 is a solid game that has great gameplay, and fantastic presentation.
Dropsy manages to subvert your expectations, and has managed to create a main character you can feel for, even though he doesn't speak. Dropsy just wants to make people happy in a world that is filled with problems, and by helping them he can achieve his goal. There are some design issues though that count against the game, and some may find the pixel art graphics unappealing, but as an overall experience Dropsy is something that point and click adventure fans should play.
The Deer God can be a very absorbing experience. I found myself just running along the landscape exploring the world, and testing my powers on the creatures around me. It's not a tough game to master and it isn't long either once you have the basics in hand. The Deer God is a great looking game for what it is, and if you're looking for something to fill a couple of hours then this may do for you.
It isn't a bad game and there is entertainment to be had, but the lack of variety in this world and some drawn out moments keep it from greatness.
Zombie Vikings is a fun beat 'em up that has some excellent moments of humour, with distinct feeling playable characters and a moderate level of difficulty. While the single-player alone is good, the multiplayer is where Zombie Vikings truly stands out. Zoink Games have shown once again why it is a studio worth keeping an eye on.
Dishonored: Definitive Edition is a game that will be great for those yet to experience the game, since it brings one of last generation's best to PS4 and Xbox One. If you've played Dishonored before then it might be worth picking up closer to the release of Dishonored 2, whenever that may be, as a refresher course, but there is nothing that really shouts "must have" for people who have already skulked in Dunwall's sewers, drank in the Hound Pits pub and blinked across the city's rooftops.
A good platformer puts together well constructed levels and a decent challenge, while a great platformer has levels that encourage you to take risks and move through as fast as possible while offering fun challenges to tackle. Sadly Red Goddess doesn't offer any of these. Instead it feels like you are fighting the game every step of the way, and this is frustrating because of how much promise there is underneath all the problems. Given more time I'm sure Yanim Studio could have nailed this on the first attempt, but instead Red Goddess: Inner World's bugs dominate against the gameplay.
Lost Dimension is a well thought out tactical RPG, but it’s the traitor system which is the star of the game. It constantly makes you second guess your choices as you progress, but it comes at the cost of a compelling story. If you’re looking for a tactical RPG on PS3 or Vita then Lost Dimension is worth a go, but don’t expect it to blow you away.
Curses N' Chaos is a good arena brawler that throws you right into the action. It may not be the most graphical intensive games out there, but Tribute Games has created something that you can get engrossed in really quickly. You will die a lot to make progress, and that may not be for everyone, but if you like your brawlers, then Curses 'N Chaos is certainly worth a look.
Funk Of Titans isn't a bad game but it doesn't do anything interesting either. It is an incredibly easy game to beat, and the gameplay itself is very, very repetitive. Given that the game's focal theme is about music there simply isn't enough variety in the tracks which is a shame. It looks good and plays fine for what it is, but at the same time it's likely that boredom will quickly set in.
Blues & Bullets has a lot of potential and The End Of Peace is a glimpse of that. There is a foundation for a very good mystery thriller, as well as a basis for well thought out characters. The first episode comes across as being too eager to show you everything all at once, instead of taking things slower and allowing you to absorb what just happened. The script is good but has moments that don't seem that logical, but in spite of this The End Of Peace is a decent start to the series.
Q.U.B.E Director's Cut is a very good puzzle game that incorporates a decent story that keeps you guessing right until the very end. The minimalist design throughout the game allows the puzzles to stand out, and nothing feels wasted. Toxic Games have created quite a memorable experience with this game. There is some issue with the final portion of the game with a couple of spikes in difficulty, but overall Q.U.B.E Director's Cut is a fun and accessible title that offers a fair challenge. If you're into puzzle platformers then you should strongly consider picking this up.
Tembo the Badass Elephant could have been so much more than what is offered. SEGA seemed to be searching for a successor to Sonic with Tembo but at the same time wanted to get a piece of the market for particularly hard games, forgetting to make it fair at the same time. It is an incredibly nice looking and sounding game, and when everything falls into place Tembo is a joy to play, but these instances are rare. The poor control scheme mixed with stupidly hard late levels, which almost caused me to destroy my controller, take major points away from what could have been a promising game.
Whispering Willows is an enjoyable game with a good story, though much of it will rely on you reading all the letters scattered through the game. The puzzles aren't hard and while some of the atmosphere is creepy the game doesn't quite present the horror you expect. While Whispering Willows is an interesting experience it is a short one at three hours. There are also a couple of annoyances and the puzzles are incredibly simple to work out, but that keeps things moving at a steady pace. Overall Whispering Willows is for those who like adventure titles but also like to experience a story that unfolds without too much effort being put in, making it a solid debut from Night Light Interactive.
Batman: Arkham Knight isn't the crown jewel in the Arkham series, that remains in Asylum's honour, but it is still a good game in its own right.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is easily one of the most engrossing games I've had the chance to play. The story and characters are well worth the experience alone, and the world expertly draws on the desire to explore with its massive scale. You never know what will greet you or beat you just a few seconds down the path, and that's what is exciting about this game. There are some issues that will need to be improved. The combat is better than the Witcher 2 but isn't quite there either, but The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the first game in a while that has held my attention for so long that I don't notice the time pass. CD Projekt Red haven't just created a great game but a modern gaming masterpiece.