Dominic Sheard's Reviews
It's goodbye to Irrational Games, but at least the studio got the chance to finish off the series with a standing ovation, a satisfying conclusion that will help fans remember it for years to come.
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes may be short, but it sure is sweet. There is a technical achievement in Ground Zeroes that some mainstream games could only wish they could accomplish such freedom in their design. The cost of entry might be high, but what you get to witness is a game by Kojima that is tailored towards a pure gameplay experience, rather than a mash of movie meets video game.
If you've never played Resident Evil 4, then you really need to experience this title, from both a gameplay and a design viewpoint, and understand the exhaustive craftsmanship that went into creating a video game masterpiece.
Signs of greatness lie hidden in Strider that could grow if Capcom decide to offer someone the chance to evolve the reboot. For now, if you don't mind a world that's full of rather bland environments, feeling contradictory to the game's intense, blistering action, then jumping into the ninja boots of Strider is sure to supply a fun afternoon or two.
It's a shame that you need some tolerance to stick with the game to get past its faults and slow start to get to the chunk where the game is gratifying, peaking close to what made the first Lords of Shadow a great game.
It's a dumb and silly game, and sure, it's not what you would call a good video game, but deep down there is some sort of hidden charm that makes me have a guilty pleasure when the game's doing its best. The rest of the time – prepared to be frustrated and bored. But it's Rambo, so ignore it at your own discretion.
The Banner Saga's first chapter opens a window to the potential this series has, but now Stoic need to work on solving the issues for the sequel so that this series can become a truly great strategy RPG.
I can imagine some Metal Gear fans might not enjoy this style of gameplay, but if any are willing to give it a shot or if you are a fan of high paced action, then you owe yourself to jump into Revengeance's stylish and exceptional top class gameplay and have a slash of a time
For people who just want to be a pirate, there really is nothing else for you out there, so indulge in the only real great pirate game on the market. That is until Ubisoft makes a full-on pirate spinoff from this mainline entry in Assassin's Creed – well I can hope.
First episodes are always going to be hard to evaluate to see where the season is going to go, but as an opening episode for Season Two of The Walking Dead, I feel that it gives a strong first impression.
If you're looking for a single player shooter, then this isn't the one to get, but if you're looking for a solid multiplayer, in which you can have some serious fun shooting dudes with an arsenal of weaponry, then Killzone: Shadow Fall might be a justified purchase at £50 in this rather limited and safe launch line-up for the PlayStation 4.
At the end of the day, it was the gameplay that made last year's XCOM: Enemy Unknown a standout title and that remains intact, but XCOM: Enemy Within is the dessert package to go with the main course you just ate, adding that sweet delight on top of an already pleasing and tasty meal.
Just as you are feeling this amazingly bizarre city, you're tugged away into some typical BioShock Infinite gunplay before being splashed with loads of reveals at the end. People are here for the story, that's fine, but the price seems high for the admission, especially after the bargain that was Minerva's Den, and the short length makes the story feel handicapped compared to fuller experiences we've had in the BioShock universe.
Tearaway is a showcase in what the Vita can do, as it’s a game that can only work on that system, merging the hardware with gameplay into a wonderful package that makes for a truly unique experience that is also a fantastic one.
Contrast is a curious, fair attempt at a puzzle platformer with some neat ideas that make it somewhat enjoyable, but is a slightly frustrating experience that in the end won't be remembered for its gameplay, but more for its world, visuals and sound.
There's nothing much else to say about Rayman Legends. It's a fantastic platformer that anyone of all ages can get into.
It may not be the Castlevania as fans know it, but MercurySteam has taken successful mechanics from combat-focused, character action games and blended it with Castlevania's lore.
I can't see many people who grew up only knowing what a virtual gun is accepting the shortness and difficulty curve of DuckTales Remastered. Modern gaming is different, so I feel that this is for fans that loved Scrooge McDuck's worldwide adventure.
Let me make this clear: The Night of the Rabbit isn't going to be the best adventure game you have ever played.