Tom Bickmore
Same as the last one: an average, if somewhat enjoyable shooter.
Three of the PlayStation 3's strongest titles remastered by BluePoint Games for the PlayStation 4. Old problems with the gunplay are smoothed over with the boost to 60fps. The best way to play Uncharted for the first time or to catch up before the release of Uncharted 4.
A unique take on the turn based shooter, and a fun character-driven space adventure.
While carrying the same improvements to the resolution and artwork as seen in last years Resident Evil re-release, Resident Evil Zero still cannot escape its status as the weakest of the original Resident Evil games. A retread through scenarios already set in previous entries, it brings no redeeming features of its own.
A hastily cobbled together mess of a videogame, Red Game Without A Great Name doesn't deserve your attention. I suffered it so you don't have to.
Bombshell doesn't seem to have gone down well with other critics, but I had a blast. Solid shooting backs up what I found to be an engaging gameplay loop. By no means the best twin stick shooter around, I had fun during the 8 hours I spent with it, and that's enough for me.
Tying up the final chapters of the Shippuden story in a fun and flashy fashion, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 really is the ultimate Naruto game. Every character, and every battle, is present in some form. The peak of the Ultimate Ninja Storm series.
An industry supergroup brings together their experience to tell an engaging narrative in a beautiful world. Firewatch explores love and commitment through two of the most authentic videogame characters I've seen. A simply wonderful game.
Street Fighter V is the best fighting game available on the PlayStation 4 and the PC, and easily surpasses what the Xbox One has to offer. Street Fighter is back on top.
When it comes to gameplay, Sorcery! won't be taxing for anyone. While the melee and magic combat don't shine on their own, they support the text adventure side of the game well, breaking up the extended periods of reading. Doesn't try to be an epic adventure, and will entertain over an afternoon.
Hitman GO: Definitive Edition is a neat little puzzling package that thoroughly entertains. Despite taking a different approach to gameplay, it very much remains a Hitman game.
Avoid Alekhine's Gun. There are much better games out right now that are actually worth your time and money. Hell, there's a proper Hitman game out this month - go get that, it's a fraction of the price! Alekhine's Gun will not be remembered for its own efforts, but for the efforts of the Youtuber's that will tear it apart.
The Division doesn't have enough of a story to carry it as a shooter, let alone an RPG, but what is here is good. Each firefight is different due to the importance of weapon classes, and mix-and-matching skills when in a group adds a small depth. The Dark Zone is the freshest idea in The Division, but I don't see it carrying the game for months to come. A standard Ubisoft AAA game that may not live as long as intended.
A fun romp if you recognise enough of the characters, with enough surprises to keep you guessing who will show up next. Fighting mechanic is simple and stays that way throughout, and hasn't changed since its predecessors on the PlayStation 2. Writing is focused on gags and references rather than staying true to original sources, but will entertain so long as you can endure a boob joke once in a while.
The big thing to take away from WWE 2K16 is that not much has changed, yet again. The roster is a lot bigger, and features that were missing last time do return, but this game being back in line with your 2014 release isn't something we should be thankful for. The fighting, which was slated last year anyway, only seems to have been limited yet again, but not to a devastating degree - it just still isn't good enough.
Like it's world, Dark Souls III is a ferocious beast, and what every action-RPG should strive to be. A rewarding experience for veteran players, the kingdom of Lothric is littered with remnants of the past. Simultaneously, it is also the most accessible for new players, with its more prevalent plot and kinder introductory stages. Dark Souls III is everything I could have wished for as a fan, and a marvellous conclusion to one of the greatest modern trilogies.
Superb writing and a unique combat system combine to make The Banner Saga 2 something quite special, in the same way it did back in 2014. The larger variety and frequent introduction of enemy types stops The Banner Saga 2 from becoming dull and repetitive. The Banner Saga is fast becoming one of the best series in modern games, with some of the strongest characterisation and world-building in years.
An interesting and superbly told story, with far more emphasis on character and mature themes. Redesigned gunplay makes the combat rewarding in ways it never was before, and large arenas encourage constant movement. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is visually stunning, and the best we've seen on console. Naughty Dog have produced a fine farewell to one of PlayStation's most beloved characters.
Some poor design holds The Collider 2 back from being great, and a surprisingly good looking game. While the number of individual missions is high, the differences between the objectives are negligible - play this game is short bursts. Worth a shot over a weekend.
Sorcery! Part 3 is more of the same, and I’m beginning to grow tired. The episodic format works well for stories that offer more dramatic or emotional moments, and having to wait months between each part has allowed other, better, roleplaying games to steal my interest.