Carl Phillips's Reviews
While the end result doesn’t quite hit the highs of its predecessor, Wolfenstein II delivers one of the best FPS experiences of the year with its take-no-prisoners attitude and cathartic FPS action.
While its twist on stealth mechanics eventually loses steam, Ultra Ultra’s debut title is visually stunning and a delight to listen to. If you’re after a sci-fi experience to dive into, ECHO is one not to miss.
Larian Studios have taken on board the critiques from its previous title and delivered one of the most visceral, engaging, and enjoyable RPGs ever made. If you’re a fan of RPGs or looking for a world to immerse yourself in, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is unmissable.
Bithell Games’ experiment into short-form gaming might not rank as the studio’s best release, but if you’re after an evening’s worth of sci-fi entertainment, Subsurface Circular delivers an enjoyable & well-written adventure title.
Its value may fall depending on your investment in the series so far, but Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue is both an enjoyable way to catch up on the story and a tantalising taste of what is to come.
Twelve years of development haven't stopped the odd issue and a patchy narrative from rearing their head, but they aren't enough to spoil a beautiful and endearing RPG experience. With action-packed combat and plenty of post-game content, players who take their time exploring the world of Eos will discover that Final Fantasy XV is more about the journey – and the memories you make along the way – than the destination.
With exceptional world building, fantastic art design, and polished gameplay mechanics, Dishonored 2 builds upon is predecessor to deliver a game that encourages exploration and exudes replayability.
Despite some odd AI behaviour issues, Firaxis have delivered one of the most enjoyable entries in the Civilization series to date. Beautiful presentation and accessible new gameplay mechanics mean Civilization VI will have you going one more turn for months to come.
With adorable character design, slick gameplay, and surprisingly deep progression, World of Final Fantasy is the perfect nostalgia trip for series fans.
WWE 2K17 shows great potential, and when it gets it right it’s fantastic to play, but its undercooked features and lack of visual polish stop it from getting the 3-count it so desperately craves.
A lot of its new features & systems aren’t revolutionary, but what Blizzard have done is expertly refine them to work with their online game. With a visceral new hero class and an expansive end-game, the end result not only makes Legion the best expansion the game has seen since Wrath of the Lich King, but it reaffirms World of Warcraft’s place as the king of the genre.
The mileage of the remastered games will vary depending on what previous players are looking for, but it’s hard to argue against the value for money in BioShock: The Collection in terms of sheer content, especially for those who have never experienced the critically acclaimed series before.
Seasons After Fall is a labour of love that is nothing short of an artistic triumph. While it does have control issues, it manages to rise above them to become an enthralling puzzle-platform experience.
Although its longevity will be brought into question, the blend of gameplay & thought-provoking narrative makes The Turing Test a well-crafted sci-fi puzzle title worth playing.
Fans of Mars: War Logs might enjoy exploring more of Spider’s dystopian Mars, but I honestly couldn’t recommend The Technomancer to newcomers looking for a sci-fi RPG. Its poor combat balance, dated animations, and predictable storyline result in a game that really could have been so much more, but ends up being uninspiring.
Book Five may have been more about reaching the conclusion than making choices, but a few unexpected twists in both the plot & gameplay make the last leg of the journey an eventful one. Ultimately, Redux delivers an emotionally satisfying finale to one of the greatest and most diverse stories told in adventure gaming.
The gameplay may lack the Quality of Life improvements possessed by modern games, but Battlezone ‘98 Redux is a faithful restoration of a true gaming classic. Improved visuals and Steam Workshop support are welcome additions, making it a blast from the past worth revisiting.
Battlefleet Gothic: Armada isn’t really newcomer friendly or forgiving of mistakes, but those willing to learn in a trial by fire will be rewarded with a rich tactical experience.
While capable of some good looking vistas thanks to the Unity Engine 5, the unfortunate truth is that Adam’s Venture: Origins is an awful game, let alone a series reboot. Other than a few of the logic puzzles, the lack of quality in most areas makes it an unenjoyable adventure game that I honestly cannot recommend to anyone, even genre fans.
Despite not offering anything particularly new in terms of gameplay, The Division manages to be an enjoyable & addictive online experience thanks to its satisfying loot mechanics. With plenty of content in the open world, an end-game supported with both frequent balance patches, & new activities on the horizon, Ubisoft's latest is definitely recommendable to groups looking for a challenge – be it PvE against the AI, or fighting other players in the Dark Zone.