Star Wars: Squadrons certainly has a few issues. Its enjoyable campaign has some dull moments outside of the cockpit and the multiplayer, as stupendously thrilling as it is, is a bit too barebones at the moment. But it's also the most fun and immersive Star Wars flight sim experience we've ever had thanks to its immaculate gameplay and incredibly polished production. Play this game, you must!
Thanks to some rather insightful evolutions from its predecessor, a deep fighting system that rewards dedication, and some super fun alternative modes for the more casual player, EA Sports UFC 4 is undoubtedly the greatest mixed martial arts video game we've seen to date.
Battlefield V is not the revolutionary title DICE initially started out to create, and there are also some annoying technical kinks that should have been ironed out by now. Despite these drawbacks though, Battlefield V offers some of the most rewarding, visceral WWII action in any game out there thanks to genius little tweaks to gameplay and immersion, all produced with an audio-visual technical mastery that is second to none. With its free live-service component as well, the future for the franchise looks very good.
EA Sports UFC 3 is definitely fun to play and does an amazing job at recreating several aspects of competing in MMA's biggest organization. But despite the knockouts it delivers in some places, it's unforgiving submission system, uneven AI, and a few silly UI and gameplay choices means it's still susceptible to a few knocks itself.
Injustice 2 is already a fantastic game, and arguably the best entry in the fighting game genre for 2017. And now thanks to a surprisingly magnificent port, devoid of the headline-grabbing issues that plagued ports of previous NetherRealm Studios games, PC gamers can get to experience all that DC Comics fisticuffs brilliance for themselves in an even shinier package.
Is NBA 2K18 an all-around slam dunk? Not quite thanks to unscrupulous microtransactions, the undercooked Neighbourhood, and mediocre/annoying storytelling. However, despite these fumbles, NBA 2K18 still delivers wildly when it comes to the ability to just play basketball better than any other title without having to leave the couch.
Despite some minor technical quibbles and uneven voice acting, Observer is a nightmarish gem. Drawing heavily on seminal sci-fi film Blade Runner for its overall cyberpunk aesthetic, this new game from Bloober Team adds fantastic game design and an engaging narrative to keep you coming back despite the terror it induces.
FlatOut 4: Total Insanity is a fun, nitro-boosted jaunt down memory lane. But while it's good in small does, its lack of variety - in spite a plethora of game modes - and uneven and sometimes frustrating racing experience leaves it running out of gas. Die hard franchise stalwarts should definitely have a look, but newcomers may find it tiring.
I miss the old point and click adventure games. Gabriel Knight: The Beast Within, Black Dahlia, The Pandora Directive, Tex Murphy, Ripper. If you've also *cough* Myst *cough* playing these classics, consider it lucky that Among the Fallen: A Stricken Tale is here to scratch that nostalgic itch. And possibly also make you want to scratch out your eyeballs as you fail at figuring out yet another puzzle.
Alone With You boasts a charming retro audiovisual aesthetic and some really strong character work, all underpinned by an intriguing central mystery. Unfortunately, getting to these moments involves repetitive, uninventive gameplay that can be a slog to get through
With its unforgiving retro platforming nature, Cursed Castilla EX will undoubtedly be a divisive game. It has its minor flaws and blurs the homage line on occasion, but fans of the genre looking to step back in time to the classic days of coin-munching arcade games will find this recreation of that era to a be a treat. A treat that may just leave you contemplating murder on occasion.