Aran Suddi's Reviews
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.
Schrödinger's Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark is an amusing game that has just the right amount of challenge to keep it from being frustrating. I found the puzzles quite easy to work out which helped keep things moving forward, with the game itself taking around seven hours to complete. The minor bugs and a couple of questionable design decisions keep Schrödinger's Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark from being a great game, but it is a good game nonetheless.
I found my time with Lost Orbit to be enjoyable, and I wish there was more to it outside of the three hour campaign and time trial mode. The fact that I want more speaks highly of Lost Orbit and how it managed to hold my attention all the way through. The levels are well crafted, the voice acting well done, and the environmental art looks fantastic. There's also an enticing level of challenge, especially if you go for the platinum medals or look to climb the world leaderboards. If you like dodge 'em ups then this is one of the best available, and if you're new to the genre it's a great starting point.
Considering Guns, Gore & Cannoli costs £6.99, it packs quite a punch for the price. There's a lot of fun to be had in the time the game lasts, and it looks great to boot. The exaggerated voice acting fits perfectly with the tone of the title and the story is surprisingly entertaining too. There's never a dull moment in Guns, Gore & Cannoli, and it ends just at the right time too. Vinnie may not be the most likeable protagonist in a game but he knows how to get the job done.
Space Colony: Steam Edition brings a classic game to the present with a great deal of polish applied. In a way it is surprising just how well the gameplay has held up after twelve years. Every character brings their own quirks and needs which have to be managed, though some characters are more prominent than others. The strangeness of seeing some things interact properly while others ignore it can take you out of the zone for a moment, but, as far as sim management games go, Space Colony is one that is worth checking out.
Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China is a decent change of pace for the franchise. The goals are more focused and deliver some great stealth gameplay across the approximately five hours it takes to complete. With all the open world distractions stripped away I felt like I was playing a proper assassin-based title, with the only focus being to take out the target. The issues with the combat, as well as a story that feels shallow, combined with lackluster delivery, detract from the overall experience.
Infinity Runner is a really good addition to the runner genre, and at a price of £4.99 offers decent value for money due to the re-playability factor. You can try and beat your own scores to ascend the leaderboards, as well as tackle the game challenges such as completing the story without dying on hard. Infinity Runner is a good looking game with solid sound work, and it is fun to play. The motion controls aren't the best and I wouldn't recommend using them, while the stuttering on the loading screens also needs addressing. If you're looking for a small game to play though, and like first person runners, then Infinity Runner could well be for you.
Dead Synchronicity: Tomorrow Comes Today is a game that is quite hard to judge. On the one hand the art style, atmosphere, and interesting story premise are things that are worth experiencing. However the pacing of the puzzles can be frustrating, especially when what would appear to be the obvious solutions don't work in a world where regular logic usually applies. It is a very well crafted title and the effort of the team can be seen. At the same time the puzzles are as infuriating as the atmosphere is brilliant.
Super Mega Baseball is one of the best baseball games out at the moment. Sure it may not be a licensed game like The Show, but the gameplay is as good as the official MLB game. There's a surprising amount of depth within this game, allowing players to build a team how they wish be it focusing on being strong in bat, or having a strong fielding selection. The game's Ego system makes it approachable for all players, and the visual style itself is really appealing. The lack of online is a mark against an otherwise fantastic baseball game.
Krinkle Krusher is a game best played in short bursts, otherwise it feels repetitive very quickly. Despite the distracting voice acting and the early difficulty spikes, if you stick with it you can find that there is a solid game underneath, and plenty of fun to be had if you like the tower defence genre.
Overall Bloodborne is a fantastic game and could be considered one of the best exclusives available on the PS4 so far. The gameplay will not be for everyone, with the difficulty and repetition a potential turn off, but if you are looking for a new challenge, Bloodborne is a fantastic choice. The twisted atmosphere of Yharnam, the great design of the monsters, and the fear it can instil within you is something that won't be forgotten in a hurry. There's a time when you realise a game will be revered and spoken of fondly years from now, and Bloodborne will be one of them.
I loved the art style of Aaru's Awakening, I loved the story premise it had, and I loved teleporting. I did not love the rest of the gameplay decisions along the way.
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is an entertaining game, at least for the majority of its play time. It takes what made Hotline Miami great and made it greater, these being the weapons and level design. It is a much longer experience too, though personal playthrough times will be dependant on your skill. However, Wrong Number also tries to do too much too quickly, and its multiple character paths don't work as well as hoped. Add in the fact there are fewer masks and it feels like a major part of the game has been stripped out. Overall it doesn't quite reach the same heights as its streamlined, bizarre predecessor.
To me Pillar is a game that simply exists, and even then I don't see it having an appeal to a broad audience. I really like the premise that Michael has come up with – wanting to set a game based on personality types – but I don't think that idea is fully explored here. Some of the puzzles are fun while others aren't. I don't want to say that Pillar is a badly put together piece of work, because it isn't, and clearly love went into the project. However, it isn't a fun puzzle game, and feels like a missed opportunity.
The Book Of Unwritten Tales 2 is one of the best point and click adventure titles to be released, and stands as an example of what the genre has to offer. I would easily place it in the company of revered adventure titles like Grim Fandango or Tales Of Monkey Island, perhaps even surpassing them as it takes what made those titles great and expands upon them. KING Art has created a game that rarely falters over its 21 hour playtime and if you're a point and click fan then The Book Of Unwritten Tales 2 is highly recommended.