Simon Brown's Reviews
A challenging, sometimes punishing platformer that blends a unique hook and fun movement with clever level design that is well worth a look. Don't let the innocent appearance fool you.
Some slight technical issues occasionally hamper what is a solid Mass Effect entry. Fun, dynamic combat, some great missions and an interesting new setting provide an enjoyable place to get lost and spend some time in. It does sometimes feel like a “Mass Effect Greatest Hits” but there are worse things to be.
Nitro is a challenging and fun motorcycle game that doesn’t really do much wrong, the difficulty curve and lack of bike customisation being the main standouts. It’s a really solid title that is well worth considering.
inXile’s spiritual successor to Planescape: Torment doesn’t quite reach the high notes of that game but it does tell an interesting story and explores themes not really touched on frequently in gaming. If you are after a new RPG with an evocative, if grim, setting then this is for you.
Silence is a charming if challenging adventure in a world of dreams with inventive, if sometimes harder than necessary, puzzles. The setting and a gorgeous aesthetic add to the charm. Great voicework with interesting characters make this worth a look.
A great text-heavy RPG in the classic style of yesteryear. It has great writing and a whole cast of interesting characters. The retro presentation might be off-putting for some but give it a chance and it will sink its teeth into you.
Skyrim is still a great place to get lost in and the visual upgrade is welcome. It perhaps doesn’t go as far as it should and it’s a shame no other aspect of the game got looked at but it’s still well worth your time.
Farming Simulator 17’s odd mix of authenticity and not-quite simulation is curious. The core gameplay loop is by its very nature extremely repetitive but if you have an interest in farming you’ve probably already bought into the idea. It’s certainly not a bad game but it’s definitely an acquired taste.
Zombasite might be a little hard to wrap your head around but the blend of action RPG and Civilization-style strategy works really well. A little rough around the edges but the game underneath is a gem worth digging for.
Marvel’s Women of Power brings two fun new beginner-friendly tables to Zen Pinball 2 and Pinball FX2. Focusing on the female-side of the Marvel Universe makes a nice change although the lack of meaningful interactions with the A-Force and Champions characters seems like wasted potential.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice does everything you’d expect from a sequel, and whilst some issues from the past linger you’ll be too engrossed to be bothered. A great instalment for series fans and newcomers alike.
A.W. Phoenix Festa does a decent enough job at transferring the characters and setting of the anime to the Vita but does a terrible job of explaining those things for newcomers. The combination of dating sim and battling works well but no individual part excels.
A generic, bland but functional SHMUP whose technical issues make it unenjoyable and tedious to actually play.
Worms W.M.D as a whole is a lot of fun, it’s the best 2D Worms title we’ve had in a long time and it reminds me why these games are so enjoyable to play. If you are looking for a multiplayer game to play with family and friends on the couch or for a game night over the internet you could do a lot worse than get a bout of Worms!
An impressive piece of technology capable of generating some truly gorgeous vistas, the game layered on top however disappoints in almost every way and just has no depth. Planets are fun to wander around whilst gathering resources to move on but you won’t linger.
A charming strategy game with a retro presentation that is a lot of fun to play. Let down a little by not being that adventurous in its level design and feeling a little spammy. For the price it’s a strategy title worth taking for a spin.
Tick Tock Bang Bang does some interesting things with the time-pause puzzle concept but it doesn’t feel as cohesive and polished as it should. If you are looking for something similar to SUPERHOT to satisfy your first person puzzle urges it’s worth a gander.
Vanillaware have done a wonderful job of bringing Odin Sphere up to date whilst still keeping what made it so endearing originally. If you are after a combat focused game with a compelling setup and a beautiful, painterly aesthetic you really can't go wrong with Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir.
All in all, Heart&Slash is a fun brawler rogue-lite with a quirky and charming presentation, it has a good sense of humour and a lot to offer fans of both genres. The unique elements it brings to the table definitely make the genre more approachable.
An interesting real time take on tower defence that is well put together and is always entertaining. The difficulty might be too much for some but it’s never unfair. If you like tower defence and are looking for something unique, you could do far worse than this gem.