Assassin's Creed Origins blew my expectations away in so many areas, but there's still something missing that made the likes of Assassin's Creed II and Brotherhood so special. However, this is most definitely the best title since then, and one that I'll be jumping back into very soon. The new combat system makes for some incredibly satisfying moments, while the design of the world is only matched by the likes of The Witcher III. Ubisoft Montreal can be proud knowing that they've delivered a level of AAA-production that likely won't be seen again until Cyberpunk 2077 rolls around, but there's just that last leap of faith that needs to be made to once again deliver a generation defining game.
The focus on sport and competition is the game's most impressive asset
There's a lot of fun to be had in ELEX at higher levels, but the game opens far too slowly and spreads itself out too thin to make any sort of impact. It's a game that begs to be smaller in scope, and richer in depth. And while its animations and visuals are mostly uninspiring, there are some real moments of beauty that are found in its caves and crevasses if you choose to explore the land of Edan.
But even with all its flaws, major and minor, the game is filled with moments of hilarity and high tension. Playing alone or with friends, the simplistic mission design that always has you sneaking about or sprinting for your life is a blast to take part in. There's a deluge of customization options that is only matched by the Payday games and the humor is surprisingly consistent. RAID: World War II can be frustrating at times, but there's a lot of fun to be had with friends.
Evil Genome is a metroidvania that gets the most important part right, and left me wanting in every other category.
PES 2018's gameplay feels incredibly random when playing against the AI, and it's incredibly frustrating to have to deal with.
Death of the Outsider is just more Dishonored in about every way, but it could have been a unique experience with a few additions like the aforementioned inclusion of mini-bosses and some co-operative missions with Daud. But I enjoyed my time slinking through its world and saying goodbye to an underappreciated franchise that opens the door for an all new direction if the story is to be continued.
Side missions are thrown on top for good measure, but their implementation is just as simple as every other aspect of the game. There's nothing to see and not much but more chunks to gain. Morphite is exhausting in its meandering loop of planet-hopping, and it doesn't work hard enough to keep the players' interest. Even with its hodgepodge of tiny planets, the game may have done better to shrink its size to an even greater degree and focus on that which makes up the majority of the experience, away from the silly jokes and entertaining banter of Myrah and Kitcat.
Players can simply ignore the walking dead and focus on killing as many foes as possible, but that strategy is a sure way to lose a game.
While Absolver is up and down in a lot of places, the game just doesn't come together well. There's something about the underlying design that makes it feel disjointed. Most of this comes from the quasi-open world aspect, but the ridiculous level of grinding involved and the disconnected PvP mode makes Absolver feel like a game that's at war with itself. It certainly has the potential to be great though, with more of a focus on interweaving the PvE and PvP content as well as some expansions to the tight and narrow world of Adal and a very much needed mini-map system.
Observer is brilliant in dozens of ways, yet deeply flawed in just as many. The quality of its story ranges from a confusing mess to some of the best written characters of this generation. The game's biggest issue is its inconsistency on when and where to deliver its moments of horror. There was little to keep me going besides the next opportunity to speak to a troubled citizen of futuristic Krakow's most interesting building block.
Ninja Theory has delivered a game that is equally good and important for the industry in terms of serious storytelling and the ability to create AAA experiences at a low cost.
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is an immense stealth game that features dozens of satisfying mechanics and an undying focus on the art of tactical warfare. Even on normal difficulty, the game will force the player to use every iota of their tactical nuance as they assassinate their way through an emotional story-line that takes them to all manner of settings across the island nation. The game's camera system is the only misstep in an otherwise superb port to console, which hopefully spurs more games of its type on PC to go down the same route.
Sign of the Times is a short, boring escapade that is filled with brilliant moments.
Players are quickly thrown into the gauntlet in an almost ‘trial by fire' type of approach wherein new mechanics are introduced at a rapid pace.
If you're looking for a quick distraction with fast rounds and short game times, Ancient Amulator is worth a pickup.
Get Even is almost afraid of what it could have been, settling for a more traditional horror experience instead of becoming what it really wants to be. The genre has been healthy in recent months, but a wildly different approach is always welcome and Get Even only accomplishes that in fleeting moments.
Almost all of Perception's issues could be fixed with slight tweaks to the game's systems and narrative moments. Instead, it's a false mirage of an excellent game that vanishes almost immediately, turning into more of what we've already seen in the horror genre.
Stones Unturned is one of the best experiences I've had all generation and it would have made Mafia III a serious game of the year contender had the rest of the game met these standards.
Reservoir Dogs: Bloody Days is a game with sky high potential that is crushed by its lazy execution.