Chris Brown's Reviews
Crossing Souls is heavy on nostalgia, but somewhat shallow when it comes to gameplay. The result is a lovingly crafted ode to an era that's neither bodacious nor bogus.
A mechanically strong stealth title with some of the most eye-rollingly awful dialogue I have ever been subjected to. Styx as a character is obnoxious, unlikable, and immersion breaking, but he does wield some of the most impressive and well-designed infiltration abilities in the genre. I just wish he would shut the hell up.
Assassins Creed Chronicles: China sees a massive departure from the core gameplay of the franchise, and while it is refreshing to see the game take some risks it never really finds its own identity.
Ultimately Greedfall is an OK game. It is neither good nor bad. It is however the best game Spiders have made to date, and that gives me hope that they do have a great game in them. I just hope they stop trying to emulate and instead try to innovate.
When played with a group of friends The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan is an undeniably fun experience. However, the main story and core game feel rather skeletal when not being filled out by the real-world flesh and blood of your nearest and dearest. Bugs and performance issues constantly nag, but the real disappointment is that as a horror story Man of Medan is not even close to being as smart or fun as its predecessor. I hope the next entry in The Dark Pictures anthology can recapture the gore and glory from Until Dawn.
When Soma is able to stretch its legs and be the horror game fans have been waiting for these past five years, it delivers in giant terror-inducing waves. Sadly, some inconsistent pacing and clunky mechanics weigh it down, leaving us with a good game rather than a great one.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York is a hell of a mouthful, but one that you should at least take a nibble at. The streamlined gameplay and engrossing story make it an approachable title that artfully embraces The World of Darkness. While its relative lack of role-playing depth, linearity, and brevity may be off putting to some, when taken for what it is there is a lot to enjoy here.
Blood Money and Absolution are great games but even with the enhancements they are showing their age, not only when compared to the most recent entries but also to each other.
Semblance is fun game that nails the fundamentals, but the limited scope and brevity don't allow it the opportunity to really shine. Puzzle-platform fans will enjoy what is on offer here but will be left wanting for more.
A pocket-sized noir adventure filled with genuine charm and challenge that doesn't really feel all that comfortable on console.
Hand of Fate 2 improves on its solid predecessor, but it's a couple of cards from a royal flush.
Get Even is a strange game. It's almost schizophrenic in its execution, but The Farm 51 should be applauded for trying something different. It represents what I love about independent game development: it maybe a little rough around the edges, but it takes risks and provides a truly unique experience. For that I applaud it, even if I cannot unreservedly recommend it.
Final Fantasy XII – The Zodiac Age is far from the perfect game, but it is one of the few in the series I bothered to complete. From its lofty melodrama and rewarding combat and character systems to its missed story beats and sloggy late-game, it's an adventure I will not soon forget. More importantly, it's one I do not want to forget, which is more than I can say for almost every entry in the series released since this game first saw light 11 years ago.
ReCore is an interesting robotic Frankenstein of various game parts. They don't always work well together, but when they do the collective whole is a rather wonderful creation. However as not all parts were created equal expect some frustration and the occasional fumble.
Judged purely on its own merits, Mass Effect: Andromeda is a good game. But this is BioWare, and Mass Effect being merely good feels like a failure. It's a little clumsy in places, and daft in others, but I found it mostly endearing despite these quirks.
The focus on action for the first half of the episode takes away from what makes this series great, but the exceptional tone, and excellent storytelling still deliver. Clementine promises to be a unique and compelling protagonist, and Telltale has the potential here to make the most important game in the zombie sub-genre. [THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS]
The Witcher Adventure Game is a truly stunning digital version of the board game, that sadly only highlights how much more fun you and your friends could be having playing the physical version.
To the player willing to take the game at a slower pace, with a focus on pure stealth and without the artifice of in game assistance Thief will deliver the goods. For everyone else the reward may not be worth the effort.
Hand of Fate is a fresh take on the rogue-lite genre that starts off flush with unique ideas, but by the final few hands it's out of trump cards.
Final Fantasy VII REMAKE is a spectacular game that soars and falls in equal measure. There is a lot to love here, but frustrations and disappointments mar the experience. A solid central story is undermined by needless padding. Exceptional combat loses its edge at times due to unfortunate design choices, and gorgeous visuals are muddied with some appalling technical shortcomings.