James Swinbanks Avatar Image

James Swinbanks

Sydney, Australia
JimStick1
JimStick1
JimStick1
JimStick1

Favorite Games:

45 games reviewed
67.7 average score
70 median score
48.9% of games recommended

James Swinbanks's Reviews

Freelance videogames writer and reviewer - As seen @ IGN, GameSpot, Hyper Magazine, PC PowerPlay, Waypoint, Player2 and others!
Aug 26, 2018

This 2D action-platformer is a gorgeous but frustrating test of patience.

Read full review

4 / 10 - Earthfall
Jul 23, 2018

Earthfall is too derivative to stand out and too disappointing to inspire repeat trips through its 10 mediocre missions.

Read full review

9 / 10 - Wreckfest
Jun 29, 2018

Destruction Derby meets Flatout in this excellent new racing game.

Read full review

Jun 21, 2018

An enjoyable management sim 65 million years in the making.

Read full review

3 / 10 - Conan Exiles
May 24, 2018

This hardcore survival sim is too dense for its own good.

Read full review

Apr 24, 2018

This compact action-RPG will charm you for days on end.

Read full review

Unscored - Sea of Thieves
Apr 4, 2018

It remains to be seen how Sea of Thieves will grow in the future–being a live game it almost certainly will change at some point–but it’s hard not to come away feeling disappointed. Because Sea of Thieves is really a likeable, charming game that I want to see become better. It’s just not there right now.

Read full review

Mar 16, 2018

A surprising and satisfying action RPG with giant saggy butts.

Read full review

It is an entirely functional video game that (in most respects) looks, feels and plays like Payday 2, and given the right circumstances, can also be a bit of fun. But given how readily available it is on other platforms and the concessions made with this version, it doesn't highlight Payday 2's unique brand of shooting and looting the way other platforms have for years.

Read full review

Feb 13, 2018

A new open world breathes life into this ancient franchise.

Read full review

Nov 15, 2017

GT Sport's refined multiplayer racing makes up for a relatively small selection of cars and tracks.

Read full review

7 / 10 - Ashes Cricket
Nov 15, 2017

While it doesn't quite score a century, Ashes Cricket still puts in a decent knock.

Read full review

Oct 23, 2017

GT Sport is very good at what it’s trying to do; create a core racing esport on console, and to that end they’ve offered up a solid core.

Read full review

4 / 10 - ELEX
Oct 20, 2017

Elex is an open-world RPG that aims big, but only manages to shoot itself in the foot.

Read full review

7 / 10 - Gundam Versus
Oct 5, 2017

Gundam Versus is dedicated to the Gundam universe, and the treatment of the source material is easy to appreciate, even for someone unfamiliar with the series. That said, some loose mechanics, the paltry localization, and multiplayer's inability to deal with less-than-perfect network connections aren't easy to ignore.

Read full review

Sep 29, 2017

Despite its ties to old issues, Forza Motorsport 7 is the game on Xbox for those who worship both automotive speed and beauty.

Read full review

WRC 7 faithfully recreates the challenges of rallying--bumps and all.

Read full review

Unscored - Project CARS 2
Sep 22, 2017

All in all, Project Cars 2 is simply excellent. Yes, it has issues, some of which are glaring, and some that most people will never notice. But when weighing up the problems versus the advantages, it’s hard to hold back my excitement.

Read full review

9 / 10 - F1 2017
Aug 27, 2017

Codemasters sweeps the podium with the best Formula One game ever made.

Read full review

6 / 10 - The Long Dark
Aug 16, 2017

Bugs and a rough story weaken what is, at its core, a great survival game.

Read full review