Shaan Joshi's Reviews
Spider-Man 2 is a tour de force, elevating an already great franchise into a fantastic one. Most, if not all, of the bumps and wrinkles have been ironed out, and what we're left with is one of the best superhero games ever made.
There are plenty of reasons to love Shovel Knight, and I'm sure more seasoned gamers than I will relish its mechanics, tight controls, or obsessiveness with all things retro. But more importantly, it's easy to fall in love with a game that manages to breathe new life into old mechanics, without feeling like a retro-throwback that is content with playing the same hand we were dealt all those years ago. It's the perfect example of a passion project done right, one that realises that it is important to look back, in order to move forward.
In the end, this makes New 'n' Tasty less difficult than the original, but more enjoyable and easier to access this time around. While there are plenty of platformers around, few of them place such a heavy emphasis on stealth and puzzle solving.
Machine Games has taken an aged franchise and brought it into the current world of gaming, yet they've done so without compromising the core tenets that are at the heart of Wolfenstein's identity. As competent as it is a shooter, The New Order elevates itself from your standard run-and-gun action game by crafting a world that is actually worth caring about, and it's done so with a level of confidence that is worthy of commendation.
Still, even if you don't subscribe to that particular analogy; that Octodad is code for anyone a little different that needs to figure out how to act in mainstream society, there's still a lot of fun to be had here. Even when the overall challenge of living a day in Octodad's shoes bears too much weight, the game is amusing enough to quell most of the frustration.
I used to think that the joy of exploration and unbridled sense of discovery was lost to the games of consoles past, but Fez has not only proven me completely wrong, but it has given me hope for the future.
If anything, the release of Captain Toad goes to show just how confident Nintendo is, and more so with how much it understands its audience. In a blockbuster season filled with plenty of firearms and fistfights, Captain Toad shows us more creativity and style than many new IPs out there.
BattleBlock Theater feels like it was designed for the child that still lives inside me. It's juvenile, colourful, and silly. But more importantly, it achieves everything it set out to do, with a near masterful level of execution. The addictive multiplayer and excellent level creation tools are just the icing on the cake.
Despite a few disappointing technical shortcomings, Project CARS stands out as a best-in-class sim, both alluring to genre veterans and accessible enough for racing newcomers.
A few design decisions aside, Splatoon stands not only as an excellent addition to the Wii U library, but one of the best online experiences in recent memory.
Its fast-paced action might take a little while to come to grips with, but once you do, Not A Hero is a non-stop action ride, filled with all the pixel violence and dry humor you can handle.
With few stealth games on the market, République makes a strong impression, thanks to its carefully crafted narrative and world.
While some might complain that N++ is more of the same, the truth of the matter is it's one of the most carefully crafted games out there. It's pure platforming paradise, not to mention insanely addicting.
Fans, rejoice! Star Wars Battlefront might not be the most in-depth shooter, but its certainly the best Star Wars game in years.
While it's not the best point of entry for newcomers, Attack on Titan is the video game adaptation that series fans have been waiting for.
While the inclusion of permadeath and the lack of handholding might be a deterrent for some, the beautifully crafted world of The Deer God is more than enough to warrant a look, especially for those with a penchant for exploration.
While some of the games may have got lost or muddled in transition, the Jackbox Party Pack 2 is just as fun as ever. Just make sure you have some friends to play with.
As clever as it is charming, Human Resource Machine is a must-have for anyone interested in puzzles and programming.
Assuming you have the hardware to back it up, Rise of the Tomb Raider on PC is hands down the version to own.
Yo-Kai watch might seem like another Pokemon clone, but it's anything but. Don't be fooled by its kid-friendly nature; it's chamring, endearing, and one of the best 3DS games of the year.