428: Shibuya Scramble is, by far, the best narrative based visual novel you’ll ever experience. Sure, there is no voice-overs and the text is presented as a ‘wall of text’ from the point of a narrator, as you would see within a book, but the whole presentation, delivery, emotion and overall narrative is simply amazing. You’ll laugh, cry, shout, become emotionally attached, and pray for each and every character throughout their ten-hour adventure. However, even though it’s ten hours for them, expect many more hours on your side as you work your way through over five separate stories which are all connected in some form to one another, even if our protagonists aren’t 100% aware of this.
Strange Brigade is one of the best action-adventure co-op shooter games I’ve played in a long time + it has lots of puzzles. When you’re not burning a mummy to a crisp with a flamethrower, you’ll be solving puzzles on the wall or stomping on a downed zombies head in order to crush what little life it has left within it. Personally, I felt the lack of unique character stats and the small number of weaponry a little disappointing, but overall there is a tonne of fun to have as you take on hordes of horrendous beings who will stop at nothing until you’ve been ripped apart. Strange Brigade is just as much fun and accessible in single player as it is in multiplayer with friends and strangers alike – however you chose to play it, you’re in for one of the best mindless arcade-style games you’ll play this year!
We Happy Few is a perfect example of a game with a great premise and setting yet it fails at the last hurdle. Technically, the game feels like it could have done with a few more months of polish here and there. It would have been better if the developers had ironed out some of the more serious memory issues which cause the framerate drops and occasional crashing the further into the Acts you get. That being said, if you can look past the issues then you’re left with a really interesting and unique game which perfectly represents an alternative 1960’s British City.
Candleman: The Complete Journey is a beautiful game in both its visuals and its story it tells. The music may be subtle in most places but the amazing quality of the ambient sound effects more than makes up for it as it creates an atmosphere so thick you could cut it with a knife! The level design combined with the lighting, the contrast between light and dark, and all the various hazards, create a truly original and enchanting experience you won’t find anywhere else. Literally, no other game holds a candle to Candleman in the puzzle-platformer genre.
Shenmue I & II is a fan service to those who have been asking SEGA to re-release the game for the last few years. They would regularly say “We don’t need a remaster, just re-release it” and SEGA heard you and gave you your wish. Aside from a boost in resolution and a few graphical touch-ups like bloom, you’re looking at the same textures, controls and voice acting used in the original games, games which haven’t aged well both visually and mechanically.
Phantom Doctrine is the best tactical RPG I've played this generation so far. It takes heavy influences from the rebooted XCOM series yet adds it's own spin and design onto the whole game in order to make it it's own with new mechanics and possibilities. Focused more on the realistic over the fantastical, Phantom Doctrine delivers three similar yet different storylines which will keep you engaged for over 40 hours per faction as you delve into their respective perspectives of the same events and beyond. There is very little not to like with this game, the Investigation Board can get a bit monotonous after a while but every combat section is as engaging and exciting as the last one.
TETRA’s Escape is a really fun puzzle platformer which anyone can enjoy. As you traverse through its 64 levels, you’ll unlock new abilities and meet new Tetra’s which can transform into new Tetrominos in order to add more variety and strategy into each stage. If you’re a trophy hunter then you only have to complete around 70% of the game in order to get the platinum, if you’re a casual gamer then expect to get around seven hours of gameplay out of this cheap (£) game as long as you’re not working through a guide!
Road to Ballhalla is a surprisingly great puzzle game. At first glance, it may not seem like much, but the game is hilariously narrated and the levels get more and more challenging the further you get. Maybe not one for those who get frustrated easily, but for the rest of us, this brilliant little ball-based rhythmic puzzle game is very enjoyable and bound to keep you entertained for hours upon hours. Can you cautiously work your way through all of the obstacles blocking you from getting to your final resting place?
Word Search by POWGI is yet another great casual puzzle game from Lightwood Games. Unlike their previous games, this one is easily accessible to everyone of all ages due to its fun aspect over logical thinking. The multiplayer aspect is a great addition and works really well for up to four players as they battle it out to find the most words in the same grid before their opposition. With a catalogue of 324 puzzles to work your way through, twice if you’re going for the platinum on both systems, you’ll certainly get many hours worth of enjoyment out of the title.
Overcooked 2 vs Overcooked is like comparing an executive chef to their sous chef – they are both amazing at what they do but the executive is clearly more advanced and built on experience. As such, Overcooked 2 has taken on board all of the feedback from the original game and improved on every aspect to the point where going back to the amazing Overcooked feels like a downgrade! There are tonnes of fun and frustration to be had in solo-play, couch co-op, and even online multiplayer modes – although it’s a much better experience to play with friends or people you know the majority of the time.
Flipping Death is a flipping great spiritual successor to Stick it to the Man. There are plenty of undead characters to help crossover, a load of challenges for the possessed living to participate in, and countless laughs to have whilst listening to the hilariously twisted humour the game throws at you. Zoink Games have improved on every aspect of the game which was present in SittM in order to bring us yet another awesome adventure-puzzle platformer. The physics are a bit wobbly but everything else in the puzzle platforming adventure game is as solid as a rock.
Dead Cells is one of the best roguelike games you can pick up on consoles to date. Not only does it look and run great, but it’s also incredibly addictive and impossible to put down and stop playing. Sure, the first few playthroughs will leave you frustrated and annoyed as the permadeath kicks in and you lose all of your hard work harvesting the cells, but over time you’ll “Git Gud” and breezy through the first few areas. I seriously can’t think of anything negative or bad to say about the game – you’ll easily pour many hours of your life into Dead Cells as you try and reach the end and even more if you’re aiming for the platinum.
Super Destronaut DX is a nice modern take on the 80’s classic Space Invaders. The game focuses on quick, fast-paced scenes as you slaughter the enemy ships with your standard gun or one of the various upgrades which drop when you defeat a boss ship. The challenges will keep you entertained the longest, with their ever-increasing difficulty and challenge. The other modes will also offer you a decent amount of enjoyment as well, unless if you’re simply looking at trophy hunting.
Detached is a full 360 degrees rotational VR game set in deep space. The comfort levels (blinders) can be adjusted in order to make the game more accessible for VR players but I feel those who are new to VR should probably stay away from this one until they gain their VR stomach! The game looks great with the lighting effects as the suns emit God-rays over the floating derelicts and meteorites, with a matching soundtrack which creates a fully immersive atmosphere and experience.
Castaway Paradise is a great alternative to Animal crossing which can be played on rival platforms. Mechanics and processes have bled through from the original mobile version into the console port and while most of them have adapted well, there are some which have been heavily balanced in favour of the player. Usually, that wouldn't be a bad thing, but I feel this game should be time-consuming and more involved rather than handing you everything on a plate like certain things do at the moment.
Hotel Transylvania 3: Monsters Overboard is a fun family-friendly game based loosely on the latest film in the franchise. Command four types of magical beings known as Ipmas as you set out to solve environmental puzzles and rescue your crew in a Pikmin-style game which will keep you and your kids entertained for hours. The game does have a few issues and missing features in regards to the camera controls and the overall navigation aspect, but overall I had a fun time playing through the game and I’m probably going to pick it up on the PS4 at some point as well.
Anamorphine is a visual focused non-narrative story in which you must delve into the mind of a man haunted by guilt and anger over his own inabilities to help his wife. The game has you travelling from memory to memory as you reconstruct what actually happened and how you feel via fantastical environments and a spectacular soundtrack. Unfortunately, the PS4 version has a few issues such as frame rate drops and stuttering. However, I imagine these issues should be resolved within a few patches.
Aces of the Luftwaffe – Squadron is a great example of a modernised, old school plane-based shmup. It’s pure bullet-hell combined with perfect controls and a pleasing aesthetic. From it’s multitudes of oncoming smaller enemy bogies to its gigantic bosses, there is never a dull moment within the game. Its premise is simple – kill everything on screen before they can kill you, but as you progress throughout the game, this simple task becomes much trickier. One thing which will keep you on your toes is the handicaps of each squad member as they all play through their own episodes of terror and sicknesses. With its additional support for up to four players, I can’t help but recommend this to all fans of the shmup genre!
I Hate Running Backwards is a fine example of a developer taking on board criticism and using that to make a better game. Day one, the game was really hard, very inconsistent, a bit too brutal, and very unforgiving. A few patches later and we have a great take on the shoot ’em up genre with roguelike elements thrown into the mix. Personally, I would say single player is a better experience than the co-op mode due to the way it works, but both modes are a lot of fun to play and very entertaining. The sheer amount of destruction, pickups, enemies and character unlocks are very welcome and really help make this game stand out in a market of ‘similar’ titles.
Salary Man Escape is a fun puzzle game with a very catchy soundtrack. The game does have its flaws with its controls and the physics, but once you’ve got used to them and you know how the game works, there are many hours of entertainment to have here as you aim to save all 60 employees. Every time you successfully complete the later levels you get an immense feeling of satisfaction and joy, especially if it’s a level which has had you stuck for quite a while.