A simplistic and repetitive, but appreciably cathartic shark-em-up that would be the perfect weekend blast if it wasn't so frustratingly undercooked
A gorgeous, dense JRPG classic made richer and more beautiful with a seriously impressive makeover and a suite of new features. This is how you do a remaster.
At the end of the day, the value of Saints Row: The Third Remastered will wholly depend on either a heady reverence for the original game/series or a penchant for emphatically stupid antics bolstered by puerile humour. There's no denying that the visual overhaul is thoroughly impressive, but little else has been done to make the game feel like anything other than a throwback to the year that put both Pitbull and LMFAO in the Top 10.
"A remastered and complete version of a divisive franchise entry that won't change anyone's mind but is well worth a replay for die-hard fans or anyone keen for a more considered crime sim"
Almost as quickly as it starts to get good, this genre-spanning indie horror drops the ball by tossing its best ideas out the window and overstaying its welcome
A charming puzzler that makes up for some occasionally awkward design with a simple yet intensely personal and emotional narrative
Slapstick charm and some genuinely welcome quality-of-life features mean there's a lot to love in this chaotic co-op removalist sim, but like any renter will tell you, moving can get old pretty quick
At the end of it all, even under immense scrutiny and in spite of some disappointing shortcomings, there's no getting around the fact that I had a giant grin on my face for just about the entirety of Final Fantasy VII Remake. It's an enjoyable enough game if you're a casual fan of Final Fantasy or action RPGs, but if you're in it for the fandom you may just have your mind blown.
Forget lockdown and hoarding, you'll have all the freedom and paper you need in this utterly entrancing world. PlayStation VR has another killer app
The gist of it is though; this is more than just a few updates slapped on top of an existing game, it's a complete rethinking of the major and minor components that made the original what it was.
A worthy follow-up to the beloved classic that hits and exceeds most of the same high notes while delivering a heartfelt and emotional new chapter in Ori's journey.
Not since Hotline Miami has a game so successfully married ultraviolence with one-more-go arcade action, or so successfully made me really mad
Dreams is the impossible made possible, and most importantly, accessible. There's never been a creative platform like this, and Media Molecule has proven that they were the only ones capable of building it all along
There's a lot that I wanted to like about Snack World. Lite-dungeon crawling, a deep loot system, colourful visuals, quirky 'meta' humour – all the right ingredients are here for a staple dish in my personal video game cuisine. While it all looked great on the menu, though, what has eventually been plated and served is more like fast food than fine dining. It's still enjoyable, but it hasn't been made with the same love and care and can make you feel a bit uneasy.
Though it follows a very recognisable 'indie adventure' formula, Lost Ember has exactly the right amount of heart and creativity to make it compelling
Calling it a simulator is a stretch, but this relaxed and friendly adventure does a great job at showcasing just how great bees are
A daring and fresh adventure in Hell that excels in the most important areas but just barely misses the mark in others
It might not even be a mansion, but the Last Resort Hotel is the perfect stage to another freakishly fantastic entry into the Other Mario Brother's oddball spinoff franchise
The Outer Worlds is the kind of inspired take on a genre that could only come from a team as passionate and talented as Obsidian. It's not perfect, but it's creative, succinct, compelling and funny in all the right ways. I sincerely hope that this signals the beginning of a new, ongoing franchise because the people and stories of the Halcyon Colony will stick with me for a long time to come.
Though it definitely rises above its movie tie-in status, Monkey King: Hero is Back happily strives for adequacy and nothing more