Luke Mitchell
Normally when a game is this tough it can be off-putting, but the combination of intense difficulty and the skill required to learn each pattern is incredibly satisfying. It’s a fine balance that Cuphead is able to achieve with every single boss you’ll encounter, and even when you’re feeling frustrated, the brilliant soundtrack and completely unique art direction will keep you smiling with every new attempt. The standard for combining style and substance in this genre has well and truly been set.
For those who like to create and just want to wrestle without all of the extra noise, WWE 2K18 is still a decent romp – just don’t expect it to change the universe
The Evil Within 2 left me exhausted by the time the credits rolled; like I’d survived an ordeal – and I have. It cleverly provides you with just enough motivation to keep pushing forward, even when the odds seem to be stacked against you. Some of the narrative beats fall a little flat but the mind-bending style is mesmerizing and its open world sections with memorable short stories make it one of the more distinctive survival horror games you can get your hands on
Taking something so familiar and comforting and enhancing it in such a creative and fun way makes this not only the best Mario game I’ve ever experienced, but one of the best games I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing, period.
Assassin’s Creed Origins is the breath of fresh air that the franchise so desperately needed. It genuinely feels like Ubisoft took the time to really think about where the franchise was going and address the concerns that we’ve had over the last couple of versions. The combat is wonderful, the effort put into making Egypt feel authentic and interesting is everywhere you look and Bayek is a strong, emotional and sometimes flawed character that you truly root for.
Trials Rising has some missteps when it comes to its progression and unlocking of content, but still has an addictive, enjoyable gameplay loop that will keep you coming back time and time again.
With a deep, interesting city full of content to explore and an endgame that seems very fleshed out, The Division 2 is incredible value, and will likely go down as one of the most successful sequels of all time.
Yoshi's Crafted World combines solid gameplay with enough new ideas and a vibrant, creative visual twist that makes it more than worthwhile for platforming fans.
A solid collection of a beloved series of games, with nothing new added into the mix.
While it has some flaws and can get repetitive during long sessions, it's still fun to try and survive in a violent world that is truly out to get you.
...doesn't really bring anything new to the table. It's enjoyable enough, but is mostly uninspired.
I’m not entirely sure Man of Medan is the absolute strongest example they could have put forward to launch what they hope to be an ongoing successful series.
With some adult themes and an intriguing story mixed with addictive puzzling gameplay, Catherine: Full Body is a great remaster despite some questionable writing.
Across the board, Gears 5 really is the whole bloody package… and it’s bloody excellent.
...further refines what was already an excellent premise and makes it tighter, more varied and more addictive.
AO Tennis 2 is quite an upgrade and a marked improvement from the previous game, with more features, a surprisingly deep career mode and refined gameplay that feels dynamic and engaging from point to point, especially once you’ve gotten used to the timing and flow. There are still some issues when it comes to the overall polish of the experience and the lack of licensed content overall that hold it back from being a total ace, but with minimal competition in this genre, AO Tennis 2 is an entertaining and fun tennis game that is easily the best of this generation.
While newcomers may certainly find it intimidating, Nioh 2 is a confident sequel that, in a year full of exciting game releases, commands your attention and won’t let it go easily.
"Resident Evil 3 is, unsurprisingly, a high-quality remake that is still a must-play for horror fans everywhere."
Well done, Naughty Dog, and thank you for finally proving that you can always be inclusive, even when the stakes are this high.
While the combat and controls are a little bit clunky at times and the “second screen” can take up a bit too much real estate, especially in portable mode, that doesn’t stop The Wonderful 101 Remastered from being fast-paced superhero fun that anybody looking for a challenge would enjoy.