Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers is one of the best MMO expansions I've ever played. The story is incredibly good, the new jobs are ridiculously good fun, and the mechanical updates work well. The word of the First is a beautiful treat, and music is top-notch. If this sounds like your jam, you should absolutely play it.
If you've been hungry for a pet breeding simulator to arrive on the Nintendo Switch, this will certainly scratch that itch. But, if you're after something more satisfying to chew on, the shallow and repetitive gameplay are likely to disappoint.
Ultimately, Planet Alpha is a visual feast, featuring a fantastical sci-fi world and backed by a hauntingly atmospheric musical score. While it's an old tale that treads over familiar ground, there's plenty of new tricks to make it a rewarding playthrough.
39 Days to Mars an amusing puzzle-adventure that manages to hit the right steampunk notes while mostly preserving that understated British charm. It's worth breaking out to play with friends, particularly if you're getting cheered or heckled by an alcohol-infused rabble. We just wish there was more voyage in this interplanetary adventure.
Yes, it's about shooting and looting, but Destiny 2 is about much more besides. It might not be ideal for MMO diehards, but it's a rich and satisfying experience all the same.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Sonic Mania, and it’s a clear example of just how successful fan-created passion projects can be when they’re nurtured by a studio. I’m also hopeful that the 2D journey doesn’t end here either, but encourages Sega to continue further down this road with even more new content in the future. In the meantime, 3D fans have Sonic Forces to look forward to when it launches later this year.
Even so, Archangel is a giant-sized step in the right direction for VR on the console, delivering a mechanically satisfying experience despite those shortcomings. With further launches planned for both Oculus Rift and HTC Vive later this year, this might be one to keep an eye on.
However, despite my gripes, I’m holding out for more Gnoggins to build on that short PS4 experience, especially with Steam and iOS launches planned for later in the year. If KO_OP decide to include additional game modes and more puzzles to solve, GNOG could become a real head-turner.
Great in short bursts, maybe an hour, as you can have fun and make a little progress, complete a challenge, and see your experience progress. Maybe two at a push to run some Shadow Tower, or work on the Club World. But those meaty, satisfying online experiences need a heavyweight MMO to deliver them and, for all its colourful charm, Trove just isn't it.
In the end, it feels as though Zheroes is a game that can’t make up its mind about what it wants to be. It pulls elements from side-scrolling platformers, deep beat-em-ups, and button-mashing dungeon crawlers, but fails to bring them together. With a stronger vision, clearer direction, and more meaningful narrative, it could have been the sci-fi romp we were hoping for. As it is, this is one for niche die-hards only.