If Resident Evil 7 was the game that put the legs back under Capcom’s iconic zombie franchise, Resident Evil 2 is the game that sees it clear the way back atop its bloodied throne. From the beautiful visuals to the nail-biting scares and frantic combat, this is a horror-experience that not only scares the life out of you, it makes you think as well.
The Long Dark is by no means perfect, but what it lacks in finesse it makes up for in attention to detail. The survival is tough but addictive, coming with a vast array of supplies to find and stats to manage, while the challenge mode and story accommodate players with different levels of experience and ability. It’s got a lot of ground to cover in patches and updates, but there’s still a mighty fine game underneath its shortcomings.
There’s no denying Desert Child is a stylish and unique RPG, but beneath its striking facade, it’s simply too hollow to make a mark. The racing is repetitive, the side-activities lack variety and the lack of technical fidelity is too noticeable to avoid, overall, making this bland racer an underwhelming disappointment.
Mutant Year Zero: Road To Eden is an engaging, fun and fresh turn-based strategy game that plays with the genre’s conventions in unexpected ways. It could do with some fine tuning, but the interesting world, brilliant combat and challenging stealth mechanics mean this journey through the apocalypse is one that never wears out its welcome.
Fire Pro Wrestling World is a hardcore wrestling game made for hardcore wrestling fans. While it’s simply a tonne of fun, it also welcomes creativity and strategy, its rich gameplay making it a wrestling toy box that feels brimming with limitless potential. There’s a lack of variation and an intimidating learning curve, but it’s easy to look over these missteps when Fire Pro Wrestling World ticks so many boxes.
Life Is Strange 2 is everything a good sequel should be: It builds on what makes the first game great, establishes a thrilling new storyline and, ultimately, is far more comfortable taking risks. It still retains the first game’s issues, but this is ultimately a bold new step for Dontnod’s beloved franchise.
The Garden Between may not be a puzzle game that challenges you, but it is one that makes you think. It’s enchanting, creative, introspective and entertaining, and whilst it’s let down by its simplistic gameplay, it’s got enough nostalgic charm to stay afloat.
Spider-Man is the best of the web-slinger’s video game debuts to date; the visuals are striking, its story engaging, and its gameplay is some of the most fluid anywhere on a modern console. Whilst it does occasionally get tangled in its own ambitious web, it makes up for its minor shortcomings with a large helping of heart and an even larger dose of pure fun.