Jonathan Leack's Reviews
Shadow Warrior 2 is in position to become Fall 2016's premier sleeper hit as not many gamers are talking about it, and there certainly isn't much in the way of a marketing campaign. Even then, its gameplay dynamics are so well executed that it could walk among this year's biggest games. If you're looking for a fun online co-op game to play with friends, this might just be the game for you. Just don't go in expecting a satisfying story.
At a time when the definition of the MMO genre has been challenged by the allure of mainstream success, Albion Online has arrived to remind us how deep and compelling massively online worlds can be. It might not have the lively gameplay of its peers, nor the visual spectacle, but it makes up for most of its shortcomings by prioritizing community and presence as vital elements of the game structure.
Boss Key Productions' first crack at making a first-person shooter has resulted in something that stands out from the competition, scratching the itch of players looking for a classic arcade shooter experience, with the benefits of modern game design.
Just when everyone counted Resident Evil out, Capcom has shown up to prove otherwise. Resident Evil is alive, and although it isn’t quite as we remember, its new perspective has brought with it a terrifying and intimate experience.
Ubisoft deserves a round of applause for addressing the industry’s severe lack of snow sport games with something bold and ambitious. Steep might suffer from play value issues, but there’s nothing comparable. For the more than 10 million skiers and snowboarders around the world, this is a moment of liberation that should go recognized.
Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour is a polished trip down memory lane of one gaming's most impactful creations. It's true to the spirit of the original while also layering in a few goodies to improve quality of life. It can be rather emotionless at times due to its age, but it serves its purpose well. Welcome back, Duke.
Rock Band Rivals has once again iterated in a way that makes it unquestionably the most attractive rhythm game so far this generation. It doesn't include the new songs or fundamental changes that fans might expect from such a package, and instead relies on the combination of its offerings and recent updates to satisfy players. Musical enthusiasts who wouldn't turn down a good reason to invest another few dozen hours into Rock Band 4 are in for something that will keep them coming back for the weeks if not months to come.
15 months out from Uncharted 4: A Thief's End's release, Naughty Dog is still king of the action adventure jungle. This new angle on the Uncharted formula, which stars Chloe in a pristine mountain range of India, is often captivating, even though it follows many of the same set of standards that were unearthed a decade ago by Uncharted: Drake's Fortune.
The Necromancer has returned with a well-composed concoction of nostalgic skills and modern design. It's a flashy addition to an already strong roster of classes in Diablo 3 that, while held back by two minor missteps, deserves the attention of Diablo veterans and new players alike.
The Consequence isn't as balanced a DLC package as one would hope for, but it serves its role as a piece that ties loosely-wound narrative pieces together. Armed with a few great gameplay sections, it is a welcome, even if not remarkable, addition to The Evil Within's offerings.
Early on in the adventure it's easy to feel captivated by the sheer scale of it all, but as its shortcomings come to light the attention that it worked so hard to capture can become lost.
If you're a Dungeons & Dragons fan you may be willing to push aside the shortcomings. For everyone else it's a great vacation spot but not the kind of place you'd want to live in.
When you walk away from Total War: Warhammer, you'll feel like you've played yet another decent Warhammer game. It has the attention to detail and adherence to lore that fans of the IP look for, but without many of the compelling qualities that are needed to substantiate AAA games in a release-heavy year like 2016.
Cyberpong VR is fun, polished, and easy to jump into and play. Most notably, its multiplayer mode showcases remarkable potential for social experiences in virtual reality. Priced at an affordable $14.99, it's one of the HTC Vive’s most recommendable launch window titles.
15 years later Morrowind is still a special place. Those who return home will be greeted by familiarity, but with a modern twist.
Fast RMX is one of the best Switch titles out right now. Given how Shin'en is supporting the game with free updates, with the first adding time trials, it's a great time to pick it up and play this game.
There's an equal amount of qualities to like and dislike, but when it comes down to it Little Nightmares succeeds at delivering on its promise of being an interesting horror game unlike anything else.
Battles are massive multi-stage affairs with thousands of enemies onscreen, and even when you're bored with fighting, there is a breadth of additional content to enjoy. Whether you're engaging in the game's encyclopedia or exploring the countryside and mini-games, there is a lot to consume for the history buffs and Musou fans out there. That's if you can get past the graphics and engine that--much like the story--are remnants of an era bygone.
The Master Trials is a story of humble beginnings. In Trial of the Sword, you battle through 45 levels after starting with nothing but your fists and survival instincts. In Master Mode, you can play through the game a second time with a far greater challenge.
Story-driven VR titles are uncommon in the current realm of VR, and that needs to change sooner rather than later. The Mage's Tale has stepped in to offer a taste of what's to come with reasonable success.