It might lack a little originality but The Adventure Pals is a lighthearted adventure that’s as fun and as eccentric as its obvious inspirations.
Swords of Ditto doesn’t do anything groundbreaking. The roguelite mechanics have been done many times before, the procedural generation has been done before, the limited in-game play time has been done before and the dungeon diving has been around for more than 2 decades. What Sword of Ditto does do differently, however, is wrap all of this together for the first time in such a neat “compact” package that’s bursting with charm and insane amounts of polish. Strangely, while Swords of Ditto borrows the best bits of those that came before it, the combined complexities that they give this game make it feel as original as any of its forebears. Its unforgiving streak aside, Swords of Ditto is a very good game indeed.
Omensight is a 3D action adventure game that has all the hallmarks of a PlayStation 2 3D action adventure made in the heyday of the genre but with the benefit of 20 years in technological and design advancements to spruce it up. Some occasional frame drops, a little bit of repetition and some occasional dodgy camera angles aside, Omensight is an edge-of-the-seat adventure that is hard to put down from the start until the credits roll.
TT Games once again show care and attention for a set of beloved movie characters, bringing them to digital plastic life with a level of authenticity that’s a rarity these days. Adding some small additions to a formula that has worked for them for a decade, LEGO The Incredibles is a family friendly game that’s great for fans of the films and just as enjoyable for those that aren’t.
Shift Quantum might not feature the most original aesthetic and feels only half committed to its narrative elements but those are only small drawbacks to an otherwise brilliant game. This is a puzzle game that's full of moments that'll make you feel like a genius, will make you say "Of course! Why didn't I see it before" and manages to curb the difficulty throughout just before it becomes frustrating. If you like a good headscratcher, I highly recommend Shift Quantum.
It’s when you’re not in control of things – like in the snippet that I opened this review with – that the Jurassic World feeling really kicks in during this game. When your T-Rex is fighting Velocirators and your guests are running scared from rampaging Triceratops’ and you’re trying desperately against the odds to put everything back the way it was. It’s sublime.
A number of glitches and the occasional obtuse plot point stop Vampyr from truly exceeding expectations but it’s a well crafted, expertly designed game that’ll likely be talked about for many months to come.
The art style is charming, the music is excellent and despite telegraphing itself from early on, the plot to the campaign is enjoyable. It’s the game play mechanics which really shine here though so if you’re looking for something easy to play while being deceptively deep, Insane Robots should be your next port of call.
Treadnauts is a fun couch multiplayer game that’s (I’m going to say it) easy to play but difficult to master. It’s an excellent session game that’d feel at home sandwiched between Nidhogg and Worms during a night of competitive gaming. It’s not a visual powerhouse but the art style is suited to the game play so who needs millions of polygons when you’ve got back flipping tanks that shoot ricocheting lasers?
Visually splendid with a terrific art style, a surprisingly unique premise and a whole bucket full of charm makes Bow to Blood a very entertaining and worthwhile game. While it’s not quite an essential title, feeling a little clunky at times, it’s certainly one I’d recommend to any PSVR owner who’s in the mood for something a tad different.
An unnecessary story and a small niggle aside, Big Crown Showdown is an enjoyable, accessible, family friendly party game that’s suitable for any gamer, no matter how small. It’s a colourful tool for getting up to mischief with a group of friends on your couch or across the world with online play. Having a party this Christmas and want a new game to play? Give some serious consideration to adding Big Crown Showdown to the mix.
Some mild frustrations and pacing aside, Pikuniku is disarmingly agreeable, revelling in the random while telling a surreal and well-structured story. Both my kids (they’re the reason this review is so far after release, hogging the Switch to play this) and I have had a tonne of fun with this game, inspiring bemused, furrowed brows and face splitting smiles a plenty.
PC Building Simulator on PS4 is an enchanting game, channelling creativity and problem solving through the medium of making and fixing computers that even a PC newcomer like I can get to grips with and wholeheartedly enjoy. I do wish the game had spent a little more time explaining 3DMark scoring and overclocking as these are areas that it skips over too quickly for my liking but otherwise, this is a game that's easy to access, even easier to lose an afternoon too and is a great translation of the PC version.
God’s Trigger is a smorgasbord of twin stick goodness. It takes the challenge of Hotline Miami, the genre innovations of Mr Shifty, blends it with a fun, pulpy if shallow narrative and then blends it with as much blood splatter as humanly possible. It doesn’t do anything particularly new but it does provide a twitchy, immensely gratifying 9 hours of action with the occasional satisfying set piece.
A few niggles aside, Headliner: NoviNews is a smart and impactful game with a tonne of replayability. While it’s set in a fictional land featuring fictional characters and fictional news, it’s easy to draw parallels with the news agencies of our own countries, holding up a mirror to the way news is reported and the spin that is applied to facts. Exploring the ramifications of your decisions and what information you disseminate to the public, whether that’s becoming a state sponsored outlet or sticking to your responsibilities to provide impartial news, is fascinating. Headliner: NoviNews is an easy recommendation to anyone who fancies something a little bit different.
Even for someone who’s a casual observer of Supercross, Monster Energy Supercross 3 is quite a joy ride. It’s feature full, fun to play and deeply gratifying when things come together. There’s a steep learning curve, somewhat hampered by a tutorial that expects you to know the ins and outs of a Supercross track from the get go but once you’ve got the hang of it, you can get a lot out of it.
Megaquarium is a tycoon/management game for those that like to take things slowly. There’s no running around or avoiding disasters. The most you’ll have to deal with is is some malfunctioning equipment and that’s more of an inconvenience than a stressor. Instead, this is a chill game about a chill topic that lets you get as creative as you can within its constraints and has done some admirably in its journey from PC to PS4. It won’t be for everyone – if you prefer your tycoon games with an element of danger then this one isn’t for you – but if you’re looking to kick back, look at some fish and make sure everything is ticking over while some cool tunes play in the background, this is one to put on your radar.
Gigantosaurus is a game that gives children what they want - a game that's got as much complexity and depth as those that the adults get, that's polished and not a buggy mess and doesn't just tear up the source material. It contains all the classic 3D platforming tropes and manages to cater to players of all skill levels while it does so.
MotoGP 20 is a game developed for its existing fans and the lack of any kind of tutorial is testament to that. This game isn’t trying to win over anyone new (or, if it is, isn’t going to do a good job with it). Instead, this is a cracking racing sim that’s a celebration of the MotoGP heroes through the Historic Mode and a gaze into a bizzaro alternative universe where the GP’s actually went ahead this year. It looks great, handles even better and once you’ve got used to its particular idiosyncrasies, it’s a whole lot of fun to play.
The Inner Friend is a short but sweet experience that will give back as much as you put into it. You’ve got to read between the lines with this game and if you like your narratives to have a clear structure, you’ll likely bounce right off this. If you like a game to challenge you, to make you think and maybe, just maybe, make you feel something, then The Inner Friend is certainly worth a look. Some sticky platforming sections aside, it’s a thrilling and occasionally chilling game that’s truly artistic in its vision.