Dene Benham
Dene received a digital copy of MLB The Show 17 from PlayStation NZ for review.
Ubisoft have shown over the last ten years, with Assassin's Creed and the Far Cry franchise, that if they come up with a good idea they don't mind running with it. Far Cry 4 sticks very closely to the successful formula set out by Far Cry 3. So, if you loved Far Cry 3 you'll love Far Cry 4. However, if you found Far Cry 3 got repetitive, you might get the same feeling with this version.
Counterintuitive or not, Forza Horizon 2 is a premier title.
F1 2017 is an impressive game. It not only retains the feel and flavour of Formula One racing, it makes it all accessible.
When you're not waiting for it to load, Just Cause 3 is an incredibly fun game. Crisp visuals and a clever soundtrack bring all the explosions to life. Even with the violence and destruction, it manages to maintain a lighter tone than the Far Cry games, without sliding into the outright silliness of Saints Row. But, it's still silly enough. Dropping boats on satellite dishes, tying enemy soldiers to exploding gas tanks, and grappling, wingsuiting, and parachuting the length and breadth of beautiful Medici, just to blow the crap out of it. Just Cause 3 is an absolute blast.
So, it is a very good thing that core gameplay is the most important feature of a sports sim, because, playing football in Pro Evolution Soccer 2017 has never been better. The argument could be made that playing football has never been better in all gaming. While there are plenty of issues, if you’re willing to work around, or ignore them, there’s an awesome, accessible, and complex game that won’t match FIFA in everything, but may just beat it in the thing that matters most.
Dene received a digital copy of Madden NFL 18 from EA for review.
Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition is as good as it could possibly get. The only problem it has is the obvious one; if you have the original release on PC, or on the last-gen consoles, it's up to you if you want to spend money on an expansion pack.
While there's a robust simplicity to the gameplay that is engaging, right or wrong, we've all got used to a level of completeness and polish that PES, even twenty years on, is still sometimes missing.
A serious sports sim in all its primal glory.
Funny, smart, and all about the flatulence.
But, it all lends itself to the challenge of the game. EA’s NHL has always been my favourite sports sim. It is a beautiful game (with apologies to that other beautiful game). Speed, power, finesse, toughness, and teamwork. I am just glad it’s time to drop the puck on a brand new season of hockey.
Forza Horizon 2 is awesome. And Forza Horizon 2: Storm Island just adds a bit more to the awesomeness.
Despite being set one hundred years in the past, maybe what The Order: 1886 is actually doing is showing us our gaming future.
Although not having online co-op is an issue, and there are a few difficulty spikes that might put off younger gamers (as well as less coordinated older gamers), Chariot is a very smart and good looking puzzler.
State of Decay has everything you could ever imagine in a zombie game, and than some. But, it still plays and feels like an Xbox Live Arcade game. Thankfully, at around $30, it's priced like one too. Running away from the zombies infesting Trumbull Valley I continually got stuck on invisible obstacles, attacked through walls, and had special powerful zombies appear from nowhere, and disappear just as quickly. But, even that didn't stop me enjoying the game. Despite what you may have heard, shooting zombies in the head and being torn in two by the living dead, never gets old.
Dene received a physical copy of NHL 18 from EA for review.
For anyone who hasn't had their fill of retro side-scrolling platformers, Broforce effortless and undeniable fun. Load-up, settle in, and invite a few bros.
Build a world, share a world, shoot everyone in the world.
So, with twelve bikes to unlock, enough Tours and challenges to last a week or two, and absolutely stunning scenery and weather, Driveclub Bikes is a solid DLC. When promised extra content starts pouring in, like the trophies and unusable cars, there's no telling how much better Driveclub Bikes might get.