Adrian Burrows's Reviews
Cake Bash has provided my family and I the most fun we've had in front of the telly all year. It's a wonderfully enjoyable and completely hilarious party game, one that is accessible to all players. The argument can be made that it's a little light on content but then isn't that that the way with the best of cakes? Sweet, delicious, moreish and gone all too soon.
Tamarin may look like the ideal nostalgic fix - evoking fond memories of Rare's Jet Force Gemini - but this is not the game you are looking for. Tamarin's external charms hide flawed and deeply dull gameplay. What's most frustrating is the squandered potential of Tamarin, this could have been a game worth playing, but sadly you're best keeping a safe distance from this particular monkey.
Dog Duty is certainly an experience, I'll give it that, though not exactly a good one. There's a grand parade of issues here, from poor visuals to inept path finding and everything else in between. I'm not saying Dog Duty is the worst game I've ever played, but it's certainly up for contention.
If you'd have told me before I played Shing! that I would like a control scheme that see's you launch combo attacks with an analogue stick, I would have karate chopped your kidney in anger. Ultimately, you would have been right. It's a control scheme that innovates, is accessible and offers a degree of combo flexibility not seen in more traditional beat 'em ups. In a stellar year for nostalgic side-scrolling beat 'em ups, Shing! is a new IP that absolutely demands your attention.
Minoria is an exemplary Metroidvania, offering enjoyable combat, fantastic boss fights and stellar exploration all wrapped up in a narrative that is worth paying attention to and with resolute old school sensibilities. I wouldn't say it's the best Metroidvania I've ever played, but it's certainly in my top 10. In short, if you're a fan of the genre, Minoria is essential.
For content starved fans of the classic point and click adventure, it's hard not to get excited about a new entry in the genre, particularly one whose visuals inspire a feel good nostalgic hit for all things LucasArts. Dig a little deeper though and you'll find this is an underwhelming imitator of the legends of yesteryear. Too many obscure puzzles and too many unfunny jokes prevent Darkestville Castle from being the Secret of Monkey Island successor it so obsessively wants to be.
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind offers one of the most essential puzzling experiences of 2020. The masterminding may come to an end far too soon, but when it does the the sublime gameplay mash-up you've just had will make you realise that Futurlab have forged an entirely new genre: rewind time strategy. Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is so good that it compelled me to go and watch the original TV show. Now, how many games based on a franchise can say that?
At its heart, Void Terrarium is a delightful, charming and compelling Tamagotchi-inspired 'keep them alive 'em up.' Sadly these magical moments are coated in so much tedious and overly-difficult combat and exploration bloat that it is exhausting to find them. There's magic hidden deep in this game, just be prepared to grind long and hard to find it.
Lost Wing is a hugely enjoyable and exciting arcade mash-up of endless runner, roguelite, Wipeout and Tron. There's a bit too much grinding for content and the nauseating screen-rotating anomalies, but these are sufficiently offset by thrills of the rest of the game and a budget price point. It's a game that managed to make me both punch the air and slap my face in despair on a regular basis; how many video games can you say that about?
I often feel uncomfortable playing military shooters. Is it really morally acceptable for me to be having fun in a virtual playground that depicts a real life conflict in which thousands lost their lives? I don't know the answer, but thankfully Tannenberg never forces me to consider this ethical question. Tannenberg has some good ideas, but it's a slightly dull online FPS that never really gets going. As a budget multiplayer shooter there's some satisfaction to be had, but overall this is a far too limited and sluggish experience.
Forget Walking Simulators, Beyond Blue proves that Swimming Simulators is where it's at. This is a beautiful, relaxing and enchanting video game experience that acts as a soothing balm against the stresses of modern life. Sebastian was right, it really is better down where its wetter.
1971 Project Helios has an enjoyable plot to unravel, decent character development and challenging AI to defeat, but it's mired in murky and unclear visuals and repetitive gameplay. You're probably best off giving this one a miss.
Warborn is a solid and dependable Advance Wars-alike. There's nothing wrong with being an unspectacular offering, but with a few additions, alterations and improvements, Warborn could have been absolutely essential for Advance Wars fans. It's so close to being awesome, but we'll just have to settle for pretty good instead.
Huntdown is, quite simply, one of the best side-scrolling shooters I've ever played. Incredible retro pixel art, generous local co-op, a stonking frame rate and an addictive game play loop that had me coming back for more; Huntdown is the total package.
Get Packed is a party game on ketamine, it's pumped up madness with the volume knob twiddled to eleven. It's a silly, fun and often hilarious party game hampered by being a bit rough and ready in its execution and unreliable in its online performance.
There's something about Obey Me that I actually quite like. Perhaps it's in the charming way this indie duff 'em up apes many of the qualities of the Devil May Cry? Obey Me is a trier, and there's something about cheering on an underdog, even if it means overlooking some game design missteps. If not for borderline unplayable frame rate then, this would get my recommendation, but as it is I suggest you await a comprehensive patch for PS4 before splashing your cash.
Moving Out performs a seemingly impossible balancing act. It's both a challenging couch co-op physics puzzler, and yet it's completely accessible to everyone sat on that couch, regardless of their video game experience. Moving Out is fun, it's frivolous, it's joyful and it will have you laughing from beginning to end. Who could ask for more?
There's a lot to like about HyperParasite; bombastic action, smooth gunplay and literally thousands of 1980's pop culture references are all good fun. It's just a shame that its spoiled by an overly punishing roguelite structure, asking you to play thorough the same content again and again to make any noticeable progress, rendering the pacing of the game an interminable slog.
Biped is a unique co-op physics puzzler that has some wonderfully original ideas. A fascinating control scheme equally frustrates and delights, though it's absolutely essential in providing puzzle mechanics that you won't find anywhere else. It's just a shame that those ideas haven't been pushed, refined and developed a little more.
Memories of Mars was my first ever survival game and, based on this, probably my last.