Chris Hyde
Knowledge is Power: Decades is how not to do a sequel. The premise is still fun, but should only be purchased if you can't get access to the original.
Nickelodeon Kart Racers is just about a passable karting game. It feels rushed and bland, meaning there's little here to inspire you for very long.
There's too much packed into Warriors Orochi 4 making it an over-complicated mess. It's fun at first, but you'll lose interest as the challenge wanes and you get burdened with micromanagement.
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise will undoubtedly appeal to fans of the series. For others, the wacky combat is the main draw, which should be enough to offset some pacing and story issues.
For some, Flood of Light will be a relaxing, thought-provoking puzzler perfect for a rainy day. For others its slow pace, frustrating collectibles and difficulty will mean reaching for another title instead.
A compilation that will appeal to die-hard fans mainly. Others might fancy a dabble but will soon be put off be the repetition and lack of challenge before moving on to something else.
Stay has so much promise, and initially gripped me in a very personal way. As the story goes on though, ridiculous puzzles and multiple restarts will frustrate you, souring the overall experience.
A nice little game, with emphasis on the little. You'll have a great time in its couple of hours of quirky gameplay, but that might not be enough for some, considering the price.
The VideoKid clearly loves the 1980s, and it hopes you do too. But strip away the nostalgia and you're left with a pretty basic experience. Unless you REALLY enjoyed Paperboy, you're better off looking elsewhere.
A quirky and charming beat-em-up with plenty of variety, strategy and humour. If the challenge doesn't put you off, you'll find yourself having having a great time.
If you can take the difficulty on the chin, you'll experience a broad range of top-notch puzzles, that are well-executed and overlaid with a cheeky, playful tone. Rolling a ball around around a level shouldn't be this much fun.
By letting you morph the environment, Semblance is a new twist on the puzzler, asking you to creatively solve its challenges. New mechanics keep things fresh throughout, but also highlight what could have been if the game were longer and its ideas developed further.
Mario Kart 8 is a great example of how to keep a 20-odd year old franchise relevant. It isn't shy to give you what you've already had before with it's predictable racing fun. But conversely it also offers up so much more with this latest installment thanks to brilliant track design, item tweaking, customisation and a strong online offering to keep you coming back for more for months to come.
1954 Alcatraz is a competent Point & Click game, that through it's non-linear storyline approach and decision element offer an experience that is fun and varied. Throw in an attention to detail to visuals and music and you have a nice little package. The experience is marred however by a lack of creativity in the puzzle department, and plot problems that are caused by it's non-linear design. It's still a decent game overall, but a lower price may be required to encourage most to take the plunge.
Part one of Broken Sword: The Serpent's Curse sets a decent standard for the franchise. In a return to its roots it shows that a beautifully imagined 2D world can still be engaging and relevant. Its puzzles are varied without being over-strenuous, but the game's narrative makes them feel somewhat linear, which could put some gamers off. Overall though it's a worthwhile purchase, assuming the second half can maintain the same standard or even surpass it.
NES Remix actually stands as a Nintendo example of an iOS game. Loads of pick up and play charm, mixed with the Nintendo magic. Memorable games, numerous challenges, and great MiiVerse integration creates a nice little package for a reasonable price. Some however will resent these being the same games they've played (and paid for) numerous times already. The remixed stages serve as a reminder to what this game could have been, but as such its content, whilst entertaining, will not be new and different enough for everyone.