It’s pretty to look at, but is such a jumbled mess and we couldn’t get our heads around it…a bit like their furniture, then.
The SNK 40th Anniversary Collection is by no means a bad bevy of retro delights. It’s just such a niche collection from a company that’s always going to play second fiddle to the likes of Capcom and Konami, that unless you’re a hipster of classic gaming, and is unlikely to attract your attention.
It’s a very solid and responsive racer, reminiscent of its earlier iterations that kept the racing tight and less over-the-top lunacy. It’s got its hooks back in to me, pushing me to keep getting those top times and not bogging us down with eight minute long spectacle tracks. That being said, it’s hard to ignore the incessant use of microtransactions and what it brings with it, the in your face constant reminders about loot crates and such. It taints the experience that it’s saving grace is really in the gameplay, that all the bumf just spoils it somewhat.
If you’re really into your XCOM’s and Space Hulk, but find the steep curve of the former and the seriousness of the latter too much, then this is a welcome change. It brings the brightness and colour back to mass-murdering aliens, alongside the wacky, irreverant humour and self-deprecation that the British are so delightful wonderful at.
But, get past those gripes and there is a competent, strongly put together first-person sneaker in there. Realised in some of the most beautiful locations to date, alongside a constant in game narrative with a ragtag team that is as adaptive to the change as you are, there is depth to Exodus.
It’s a shame, as we complain we never get anything new to play. But something as too abstract as this chaotic affair doesn’t hit any specific mark to make it fun. I’d recommend if you want to try something a bit out there, or perhaps enjoy your interactive history lessons.
It deserves to the be held in as much esteem as the original. Cast any doubts aside, and pick up what is unquestionably one of the best third-person survival horror games to hit the market.
As an action/arena combat game, it’s nothing special. Flashy moves and aerial combat add a fun element to keeping a combo string going. As far as story goes, it’s your standard hyper-anime affair of wacky female ninjas and opposing schools. As far as rudeness and explicit content, you either know what you’re paying for or you’re going to chance it on some mild titillation.
o, this is a recommendation, with a warning. It takes a while to get used to, and is unforgiving as you start, but dig deep and Ride 3 becomes a faithful recreation of the thrills of motorbike racing.
A shame, then, that Road Redemption falls a bit flat for this generation. Boasting graphics that wouldn’t challenge Motorcross Madness in any beauty pageants, combined with some flaky controls and handling, it becomes more of a challenge than enjoyment.
I can only recommend this if you feel like something different, or you’ve got some company around to enjoy trying to figure it out with. It’s not groundbreaking, it’s not a fast paced roller-coaster of suspense. But it is a delightful, self-aware romp that plays more like Clue! and less like Identity, so have a laugh with it.
If you want something with a fresh take on the Alien Isolation/Condemned/Outlast style of first person experience, this will suit you. It’s got some hammy dialogue, graphics aren’t going to be on par with some upcoming cowboy game you might have heard about, but it’s a rich story driven game that will keep your noodle thoroughly scratched.
The whole team weigh in on Insomniac's mighty Marvel triumph, Spider-Man.
I’d heartily recommend Space Hulk Tactics if you’re a fan of Warhammer, or you’ve looking for something to fill that XCOM void, or maybe even both. Or perhaps you’ve not heard of the franchise, in which case you could do far worse than this. Campaign replayability, online play and map creation will make this a worthwhile investment.
I’d say play SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy if you’re a die hard SNK fan, or you fancy something new for your pugilist palette, or just in the market for a random weekend game to play with friends. Just don’t expect anything revolutionary. Or tell your mother what you’ve spent your money on.
It would be easy to dismiss this as a Fargo knockoff, instead of a game that’s trying to find its out story niche. It may be a bit disjointed in its pacing, but its core story is an engaging one, enough to keep me wanting to play through.
Taking both the tricky gameplay and playful tone in its stride, Razed stands out with its fresh take on the platform runner, and will keep you playing for a long enough to smash the targets and hit the S ranks on each level.
There was potential here. All the developer had to do was take a piece of paper, write “Why do people love Golden Axe?” in the middle and go from there. They even gave us couch co-op, three different character class and even some RPG-esque attribute/skill progression system. It’s just a shame that the end product is [literally] flat and uninspired. I can’t even say, “Yeah but the combat’s fun” or “The story is a masterpiece”.
Strange Brigade is a formulaic action co-op that doesn’t break new ground as much as furrow a new groove in an already abundant genre. Does that make it boring though? No. Certainly not, and it’s actually quite brilliant. I haven’t really elaborated on the story, but not out of laziness or lack of understanding. There’s a dashing tale of adventure to be had, involving mummy queens and raided tombs. I just don’t want to spoil it for you. You may work out some tropes for yourself, especially if you’ve seen Brendan Fraser do his thing. It’s got some neat little jump scares in there, too.
There’s an absolutely brilliant side quest that’s so tongue in cheek, it’s in danger of bursting through it. It’s hilarious in its deadpan, fourth wall breaking delivery that makes up for its usage of the word “dank”. I won’t spoil anymore, but it’s a testament to Drinkbox that they can take this all in stride and poke fun at themselves, the fans, the toxic community and the power of internet opinions and leave the player grinning throughout.