While you can of course use Xbox Game Pass to try this out for yourself, I can't say that you'll be playing Robocraft Infinity for long. Limited tools aside, the construction process is the best thing the game has going for it, while the multiplayer just seems to play second fiddle; there's too much focus on the creation and not enough on making the game fun. I'm sure they'll add things to it, but the progression is just a tad on the frustrating side.
It's a shame not to see anything new here for the gameplay, but the 4K visuals and orchestral soundtrack do a lot to drive home the point that VanillaWare make good looking and sounding games.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is much better suited to Switch and outperforms the original for a stable frame rate.
Despite its ridiculous name, A Robot Named Fight! could be a sleeper hit. It made a bad first impression for me, but over time it grew on me with the things it did ever so right. It even blends two genres that theoretically shouldn't fit together, yet somehow in this context and with the clever implementation of its gadgets, a far more enjoyable experience. It's by no means perfect, but with great ideas it deserves at least a look for yourself.
It's clear that Crisis on the Planet of the Apes has a lot of ambition and it does get a lot right in this regard, but at the end of the day, all we have here is a VR tech demo. Climbing around here was the most immersive VR moment I've had to date, but the controls could sometimes took me right back out of it. As a showcase for what VR could do in the future, it's another great example of things to come.
Octahedron is a great platforming experience with a unique identity, style, and gameplay. Its dozens upon dozens of levels are a tiny bit on the short side, but mastering those challenges is what kept me coming back for more. It's one of the more distinct offerings as part of the Square Enix Collective and is something of a hidden gem.
Detective Pikachu is a deceptively small game with simple cases and not a heck of a lot else. As someone whose detective itch is usually scratched by the Phoenix Wright games, this felt like solving the really easy introduction cases in each, rather than challenging logic and reason. It certainly has the presentation chops, but the people who'll get the most out of Detective Pikachu are diehard Pokémon fans and younger gamers.
Exorder certainly has some potential, but it ultimately has a few issues with the UI and balancing of the campaign missions.
Far Cry 5 is a rollercoaster of emotions; from the sheer adrenaline of the gameplay, to the psychological trauma resulted from the most disturbing underlings in the series' history. Much like a pilgrimage, the initial trials and tribulations are very difficult, but as things progress it becomes significantly less so. A hugely enjoyable experience, even if it's certainly got a few pacing and open-world teething issues to address.
Castle of Heart is a generic, infuriating, and ultimately underwhelming experience. It doesn't even come close to emulating what made the old Castlevania games classics, as it just crams enemies and traps into levels and hope it works, rather than having coherent level design. If anything, all that Castle of Heart has done is reminded me of how good the old Castlevania games were and that this doesn't fill that void that has been left behind.
Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom may be vastly different, but it's ruddy marvellous! Its many systems sure are intimidating at first, but things click into place very quickly, and there's a lot to do in this gorgeous and well-crafted game. They say that it's difficult to recapture the magic, but this is one more Level-5 game that has become essential. They may have moved on from Studio Ghibli's tutelage, but the lessons learned have resulted in a phenomenally good JRPG.
Kirby Star Allies feels like a greatest hits collection rather than its own unique experience. It takes inspiration from the majority of classic Kirby games and while it doesn't have quite the level of scope that Kirby Super Star had back in the day, there's a great amount of fun to be had. It's certainly more fun with friends and is well made, having plenty of nostalgia for the pink puffball's fans, but it's certainly the easiest Kirby game in years.
While I appreciated the insight into the folklore of the Taramuhara people, Mulaka as a game is about as average as an action adventure title gets. It's got some great ideas lurking within, but the overall structure is incredibly dated and only really saved thanks to the subject matter. As a game, it's not really doing much that hasn't been done better before, but as a cultural insight, it has a lot to offer those interested.
I'll be honest; Age of Empires: Definitive Edition is a bit of a hard sell at this stage. At this point in time, it's just Age of Empires: Gold Edition with fresh makeup; it's almost exactly as you'd remember it though, warts and all. Yet there's always that potential for it to get plenty of all-new expansion content. So while it doesn't really deserve the “definitive” moniker now, it will in time.
If Kingdom Come: Deliverance has a ton of bug fixing to improve the performance drastically, it could be a hidden gem. It's clear that the game, despite its grand ambitions, was simply not ready for public consumption. Shimmers of brilliance are there and had it seen more time in the oven, or set its ambitions at a more reasonable level, it could have been brilliant and scored significantly higher as a result. Alas, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is another cautionary tale rather than a trend setter.
I wasn't expecting to have a good time playing Sairento VR because of all the movement, but once I'd gotten used to it I really enjoyed the over the top action. Even though it was just because of the ease of slaughtering enemies mindlessly, doing so in VR really helped with its appeal. It's by no means perfect, with some structural and technical issues getting in the way of the fun, but from a small studio making a relatively ambitious VR title, they could have done a whole lot worse.
Most people probably won't mind Lost Sphear's nostalgia tinted approach to game design, but there's surprisingly little to write home about. Despite a rather intriguing premise, the characters come across a tad too bland, while the quest itself is too linear. It's hard to knock it too much, but after the thoughtful journey at the heart of I Am Setsuna, this is a pretty average showing and certainly not a fresh take on the JRPG.
2018 is off to a strong start with an Dragon Ball FighterZ early contender for this year's best fighting game. By shattering some boundaries, Dragon Ball FighterZ has combat that's more than worth getting into, but also a diverse roster and some phenomenal presentation. The Story Mode could have been improved if it were more streamlined, but it's a mere blemish on an otherwise spectacular game.
Full Metal Furies surprised me in just how diverse the gameplay could get in a brawler/shooter hybrid. Some experiments don't come off, but upgrades change character play styles nicely and the game is a joy to play with others. The teething problems that online play is suffering do make it hard to recommend for those with online co-op in mind, but once it's all fixed or if you plan to play locally, Full Metal Furies is a decent way to spend a couple of evenings worth of co-op brawling action.
Space will likely be the issue that prevents users from experiencing L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, but while it isn't a perfectly controlled VR experience, it's impressive that we're seeing a VR game that utilises Room Scale VR in ways that make sense. To actually be part of this crime drama, investigating crime scenes and apprehending criminals, was more enjoyable in VR. Here's hoping the next time we see something like this, it's a dedicated experience.