Carl Phillips's Reviews
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 Vault of the Traveler finishes off what Escape Plan Bravo began, delivering an entertaining conclusion to the Tales From The Borderlands series. Even at this late stage, important choices are made and help create a finale that is fun and satisfying.
As the situation escalates for Fiona and Rhys, we're treated to another slice of masterclass storytelling from Telltale. Hilarious, exciting, and containing several unexpected twists, Escape Plan Bravo delivers what can only be described as an emotional roller coaster.
A few linear moments and one rather lazy twist aren't enough to derail what is perhaps the most faithful representation of the TV show to date. Well paced scenes and yet more agonising choices make Nest of Vipers a strong penultimate episode, and set up a big showdown for House Forester in the conclusion of Telltale's Game of Thrones series.
While exploration takes something of a backseat this time around, the result means Revelations sets up a grand finale for Dreamfall Chapters. Previous player choices make some big impacts throughout, and it's clear there'll be more to come thanks to some key scenes in Book Four. With the game engine's upgrade to Unity 5 a huge success, let's hope that Red Thread Games can focus on delivering an engaging conclusion to Zoe and Kian's journey.
Despite some technical gremlins causing cosmetic issues throughout the game at launch, Book Two: Rebels successfully builds upon Book One's excellent start. More agonising moral choices lie in wait on the streets and Propast and Marcuria as Red Thread Games deliver another well-written and entertaining instalment of Dreamfall Chapters.
Despite the limitations of its aging engine, Telltale have managed to replicate the world of Westeros in its cel-shaded art style. More than that, the dangers and intrigue from Game of Thrones are there, and if Iron From Ice is any indication, we could be in for an enjoyable yet emotional charged journey to save House Forrester.
With more narrative setup slowing the pace a little, it's steady as she goes for the second episode in Telltale's Game of Thrones series. New characters, some twists and turns, and more familiar faces keep things interesting, but let's just hope that, with the pieces now in place, the action can ramp up for the next episode.
After two episodes of build-up, we finally get some narrative progression in Episode 3. Choices are starting to matter, the dangers becoming more immediate, and the decisions harder to make. Along with effective use of the TV show's soundtrack at key points, it makes the The Sword In the Darkness the best episode yet, and a fine half-way mark for Telltale's series.
The Forrester's finally make a stand as the second act of the series comes to a close. Great pacing ensures this action-packed forth episode is enjoyable throughout, but it's quite clear that greater dangers await players in the next instalment. Regardless, Telltale have done a fine job with Sons of Winter, as the quality of the series continues to rise.
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.
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.
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.
This alternate timeline in the Sword Art Online universe is reserved for only the most hardcore of fans. Poor frame rates in the social hub, curious customised character restrictions, and a lack of true narrative focus will get to players over time thanks to repetitive content. A true lack of visual improvements makes the Vita-to-PS4 transition ultimately appear underwhelming, but those desperate for more adventures with Kirito no doubt enjoy running around the colourful world of Aincrad – so long as they employ patience while getting to grips with the combat system.
While owners of the PS3 / Xbox 360 version won't have much reason to upgrade, newcomers to Rocksmith 2014 Edition will find a wealth of options within this musical training tool… provided they have an optical-out audio solution. Without it, the latency could ruin an experience that is otherwise well presented, highly customisable, and a great way to improve those shredding skills.
Combining with frantic combat and an utterly barmy sense of humour, the side-scrolling action of NOT A HERO can be just as unforgiving as it can be enjoyable. Providing you have the patience to overcome its challenging later levels, BunnyLord's flawed yet commendable political campaign is certainly worth your vote.
Once the balancing had been fixed it could be a great team-based shooter, but its monetisation and unlock system will no doubt rub a lot of players to wrong way. That said, it's free and a fairly small download, so it's certainly worth a look, but time is running out to get things right with new competitors almost ready to steal the spotlight.
Despite the glaring issues that, understandably, some might not be able to overcome, Destiny does manage to create a sturdy foundation from which Bungie can build its new franchise. If you can get past its foibles you'll discover an addictive online shooter that is just good old-fashioned fun on a delicious tasting bun.
Its level design may be repetitious, especially on solo play, and it may not innovate on the genre or the Sniper Elite franchise, but if you're looking for some competitive co-op fun that prioritises non-stop action over narrative, Zombie Army Trilogy hits the mark, and then some.
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.