Shannon Grixti's Reviews
Rugby League Live 4 is a step in the right direction. There's a level of polish that we haven't seen in an Australian sporting game in some time and whilst there's still some A.I issues, I never felt that they changed the result of the game. Attack is more realistic, which can lead to frustration when trying to get over the line, but the game rewards you for spending time with it and learning the new offensive/defensive mechanics. If you liked the last game, there's no reason why you won't like this one even more.
The action that takes place in the arenas of Pyre is explosively fast-paced and laced with magical allure. While the action that occurs off the field is a satisfyingly slow unravelling of dense lore and affecting individual tales. These contrasting styles interchange flawlessly throughout the game's duration - creating a rhythm for the journey that consistently feels unpredictable and exciting. Even with all its blemishes, Pyre is a rousing expression of exceptional high fantasy. The PC version of this game was played for the purpose of this review.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is a great standalone adventure featuring two extremely charismatic personalities. There's a story here that's brilliantly told with intertwined gameplay/narrative design that I've not seen in a game in some time. The intriguing relationship of Chloe/Nadine made playing through the game more than worth it, and some questionable new gameplay mechanics couldn't detract from an otherwise brilliant experience.
Ubisoft have crafted something extremely special in Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, and it's absolutely worth the time, effort, and patience to see it all the way through to the end. The references, the tone, and the way it all works with the Switch's portable nature makes it one of the platform's best by a good mile.
FIFA 18 is the most solid entry in the series in several years. The presentation has never been better and the game has never been more realistic. EA have made subtle improvements to the Frostbite based gameplay that was introduced in FIFA 17, but If you weren't a huge fan of the gameplay last year, then chances are you're going to still be quite unhappy with what is on offer here. There's major changes to The Journey for those that enjoy the single player portion of the game. FIFA Ultimate Team and Career Mode have also seen several changes that will be sure to impress the most hardcore of FIFA fans too.
I don't know how Nintendo continues to do it, but they've managed to reinvent another classic franchise and push it further than imaginable. Super Mario Odyssey is the game that we've been waiting to play for more than 20 years. It feels like it borrows key elements from almost every Mario game that has come before it to create what is possibly not only the greatest Mario game, but one of the best 3D platformers of all time.
DOOM on Nintendo Switch is a remarkable achievement. It runs much better than I expected it to and looks fairly decent in handheld mode. The game is still incredibly fun 18 months on and is perfectly suited to the handheld device. It's a great testimony to AAA games on Nintendo Switch and proves that the console can not only handle hardcore games, but potentially even become the best place to play them.
I've had a lot of fun with AO Tennis over the last week and definitely plan on continuing to go back. The core mechanics are promising, gameplay is extremely fun but definitely still a little rusty at this point. If you've played the Top Spin or Virtua Tennis franchises, you'll be disappointed with the features on display, but these are things that can be added over time. I have high hopes for what this game could be with a little more time and I sincerely hope that Big Ant continue to add and improve.
UFC 3 is a rare sports sequel that probably does enough to justify its existence. The betterment of Ultimate Team and the career's focus of becoming the greatest ever help the game feel different from the last. A rich bevy of modes coupled with top notch presentation is a winning formula every time.
There's more reason to play Shadow of the Colossus than ever before. The presentation improves the incredible spectacle that the game is. The core gameplay can still be a little bit clunky at times, but the satisfaction from taking down the Colossus is greater than ever. At the cheaper price of admission ($54.99) that you'll be playing for this game, it's near impossible not to recommend it even if you've played it before.
Whilst I think that it's a little bit overpriced (and should include Bayonetta 1 on a physical cartridge), it's almost impossible to deny the brilliance of both Bayonetta games. Bayonetta herself is one of the sassiest characters in gaming and the combat is simply better than any hack and slash action game that I've ever played (and still is to this day). The game is only made better by the enhanced performance and portability provided by the Nintendo Switch and it's one that every Switch owner should have in their collection.
Payday 2 is a very competent FPS game that allows you to tackle it in just about any way imaginable. Unfortunately, when it comes to the Nintendo Switch version, the price, performance and the fact that content is lacking behind versions that have been out for years will only make it worth purchasing for gamers who are desperate for a new FPS on the go.
God Of War is a cinematic masterpiece that manages to reinvent and push an already fantastic series to new heights. Barring some pacing issues in its narrative, Sony Santa Monica have breathed new life into Kratos and the God of War series, and I can't wait to see what's next.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is an exceptional platformer that feels right on the Nintendo Switch. It's one that both experienced gamers and newcomers alike will both enjoy (thanks to the new Funky Kong mode), but probably not worth it at full price for those who picked it up on Wii U.
Mario Tennis Aces is without doubt the best tennis game to come out in the last five years. It's another must have game for Switch and a testament to how this console allows games to excel both in front of the TV and on the go.
Paladins fills a fairly significant gap in the Switch's library, and should hopefully continue to grow as a great multiplayer shooter on the system. Some general bugs and long queue times aside, what's here is - generally - an excellent experience.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is another great Wii U game that is made better by the Nintendo Switch's portability. It's a fun experience that doesn't overstay its welcome, but definitely does feel repetitive in certain areas.
FIFA 19 is really solid overall with what feels like more changes than we've seen in the last few years combined. Ultimately, when you're making this many fundamental changes to a soccer game, you're going to have certain aspects that lack a little bit of polish, but it'll be interesting to see how EA continues to balance and improve the game over time. I also wonder at this point whether the next few years will be spent polishing this fresh feeling experience or if EA will continue to mix up the tested formula.
Super Mario Party has successfully stripped back a lot of the bloat to return it back to the simple, fun and classic game that it was intended to be. At the same time, the game cleverly uses a number of key Nintendo Switch features making it a game that almost anybody could enjoy. Unfortunately, the weirdly implemented online and lack of boards are only thing stopping it from joining the most top tier of Switch titles.
Starlink: Battle For Atlas is a fun game that adults and children alike will enjoy. The planets are beautiful and the amount of customisations that can be made in the game is impressive. Ultimately, the missions get a little bit repetitive and the Nintendo Switch version leaves a little bit to be desired in the visuals department, but as far as Star Fox goes, this is better than most Star Fox games in recent times.