Bradley Marsh
Rogue Legacy is not a casual game, it is one that requires you to put a lot of time and effort in to get the most from it, accept that you will make little progress early on and need to learn how best to approach certain scenarios, but those who are willing to put the time in, you will be handsomely rewarded.
If you have played Abe's Oddyssey and loved it, then you'll love what has been achieved here, it is a game you loved and then so much more. If you are going to be experiencing the game for the very first time, then boy, are you in for a treat.
The Swapper is a wonderful example of what a puzzle platformer should be and has set a very high bar for others that will follow. It is available across all three Sony platforms and that is welcome too, as it is a game that is very hard to put down once you get into it.
Diablo III was always decent with the basic mechanics, but it did have many issues that veterans of the series didn't like, but the Ultimate Evil Edition has ironed those issues out and produced one of the best co-operative games you can ever hope to play.
Pure Pool isn't perfect, there are a few minor niggles, such as a lack of a replay option for when you hit that perfect shot, or get extremely fluky. It would also be nice to see some of the other pool variation included, because as it is, it feels very bare in that regard. However, as an actual simulation of pool, VooFoo studios can be very proud of what they have created. They are the current kings of the pool hall.
Road Not Taken is a game that deserves a place in your collection as despite taking cues from two popular genres, there is nothing like it on consoles. It is a game that will take over your time, but one that you can also just pick up and play between other games. Spry Fox have a spectacular hit on their hands.
Surgeon Simulator is far from being a must own, it isn't going to appeal to everyone, but for those who fancy something that doesn't take itself seriously and just wants you to have a laugh, then this is an ideal pick up.
The Last Tinker: City of Colors isn't a game that will immediately grab your attention and is unlikely to change any opinions on the genre, but what you do have is a well put together middle of the road game that can be enjoyed by anyone with even a passing interest in platformers. Especially welcoming for those introducing children into gaming.
This is a SRPG that isn’t for everyone and whilst it isn’t totally inaccessible for newcomers, it is clearly a game designed for fans of the genre and more specifically the series itself. But that’s no bad thing as for anyone willing to put in the time and effort there is a very rewarding experience on offer.
Futurlab made a bold claim that Velocity 2X is the game of the year 2014… They are not wrong.
That being said, for fans of the genre, it is a game well worth getting stuck in to. The positives just about outweigh the issues that the game suffers and it does offer a fun challenge overall. Hopefully we see a sequel that irons out the frustrating aspects.
Overall The Golf Club isn't for everyone and does have a few faults, with many finding it difficult to get to grips with, as it does do away with hand holding. But for those will to put the time and effort in, you have a fantastic golf simulator that does away with bells and whistles to offer up a pure golfing experience.
That's not to say Natural Doctrine is great, because it doesn't naturally move you forward and at times it can be frustrating, with some areas being a bit too much trial and error with some poor check-pointing, making retries annoying. But at the same time those who become good enough to avoid death on a regular basis, will have a cracking time.
Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor isn't an earth shattering, game changing title. But it does do enough to move the genre on a bit.
There is a lot to discover with Alien: Isolation and for fans of both the franchise and the genre you cannot go far wrong with this title. The story if well written and the game oozes atmosphere whilst wrapping it all up with game mechanics that work exceptionally well.
If you are a fan of the likes of Thief and Hitman then Styx: Master of Shadows is well deserving of a play. Goblins may be foul, disgusting creatures, but you won't help but like this one.
Race The Sun is a cross-buy and cross-save title for PS4, PS3 and PS Vita and the cross-save works flawlessly. You won't be able to help just picking this up for a quick go, whether at home or on the road, then losing way too much time to its charms. The Indie revolution is still going strong and this is yet another wonderful example of that.
You almost don't want to describe Lords of the Fallen as a Souls Lite, but that is what it is. It follows the formula, but doesn't quite reach the heights set by From Software's titles. However that isn't to say this is a bad knockoff, it is still a damned fine game and does a lot of nice things. If you are a fan of the genre, than it will entertain you and is certainly worthy of your time.
What you have here is a game that isn't big, nor is it clever, but it really is absolutely a joy to play. It looks good visually and just plays really well. Humour is well placed and doesn't really ever start to get too much. Shadow Warrior is a game that you simply must own, because it represents a by gone era where videogames didn't take themselves at all seriously. And we all need a bit of fun in our lives.
If everything was working, DRIVECLUB would easily get an 8/10 as a game that doesn't raise the bar, but is more than competent and very enjoyable, but in it's current state, where the experience you get is based on something you draw out of a hat, then it is a bit of a let down and that is after giving it nearly a month before trying to write this review.