James Swinbanks's Reviews
This 2D action-platformer is a gorgeous but frustrating test of patience.
Earthfall is too derivative to stand out and too disappointing to inspire repeat trips through its 10 mediocre missions.
Destruction Derby meets Flatout in this excellent new racing game.
An enjoyable management sim 65 million years in the making.
This hardcore survival sim is too dense for its own good.
This compact action-RPG will charm you for days on end.
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.
A surprising and satisfying action RPG with giant saggy butts.
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.
A new open world breathes life into this ancient franchise.
GT Sport's refined multiplayer racing makes up for a relatively small selection of cars and tracks.
While it doesn't quite score a century, Ashes Cricket still puts in a decent knock.
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.
Elex is an open-world RPG that aims big, but only manages to shoot itself in the foot.
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.
Despite its ties to old issues, Forza Motorsport 7 is the game on Xbox for those who worship both automotive speed and beauty.
WRC 7 faithfully recreates the challenges of rallying--bumps and all.
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.
Codemasters sweeps the podium with the best Formula One game ever made.
Bugs and a rough story weaken what is, at its core, a great survival game.