Mick Fraser's Reviews
A charming little sandbox adventure that you make yourself.
A solid, old-school RPG that loses its way occasionally, but still delivers a vast, engaging adventure - and a compelling reason to return to Thedas.
It's still fun and unique, but for a definitive edition, it's still lacking polished.
A new IP from Deck 13 and City Interactive that doesn't hold your hand, but won't slap it for failure either.
An unambitious party game that can't quite live up to the potential of its unusual premise
A challenging, well-designed stealth game only let down by irritating combat and a lack of visual flair.
Definitive Edition is not quite an essential purchase – especially if you already played and finished the original release – but it's definitely worth picking up if you're hankering after the kind of open world criminal action that doesn't take itself too seriously.
Dark, compelling, and occasionally unflinchingly brutal, Shadow of Mordor is Lord of the Rings for grown-ups. It's not just a good game based on an established franchise, but a fantastic game in its own right and one that deserves to be judged purely by its own merits, and not by what has come before.
Hardcore strategy RPG fans may find a decent experience here. In fact, it may simply be the case that Natural Doctrine's blend of punishing difficulty and simple presentation don't gel with everyone. One thing that is certain is that Natural Doctrine us not designed for the casual crowd, and unless you're prepared to invest time and energy into learning its systems inside out – and then are still prepared to try and try again when you do know what you're doing – you'd be advised to away from this one.
Although CastleStorm seemed right at home on the Vita, it fits the PS4 very well, too. The bright visuals pop and sing thanks to the increased power and the game runs as smooth as butter at all times. Addictive and entertaining, CastleStorm's mix of fairytale whimsy and challenging strategy – as well as its mishmash of play styles – makes it a solid and enticing prospect whatever the platform.
But it's not that game right now. Destiny is a confident, solid, sometimes stunningly beautiful shooter with RPG mechanics that add longevity and depth, and the beginnings of what could be an incredible online universe. But it feels like the tip of the glacier, and I'm not sure it's a good thing to be more excited about what a game might one day be, than what it actually is.
Even if you played the original releases, Metro Redux is still an attractive proposition. The improvements to 2033 are substantial, while the more minor tweaks to Last Light simply refine a fantastic experience. In one package, these games together offer a huge amount of gameplay and one of the most arresting game-worlds you'll ever see in a shooter. If, on the other hand, you've never delved into Glukhovsky's subterranean nightmare, Redux is more than worth the asking price.
Arguably a better fit for the Vita than the larger consoles, the cross-save function negates any need for favouritism and allows you to continue your fight against tyranny wherever you are. Humorous and well-designed, Counterspy is certainly worth investigating if you like your espionage in short, fast-paced chunks.
Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls – Ultimate Evil Edition is the game Diablo fans deserve. Granted, there are still areas to improve – Adventure Mode, for example, still feels a little like an experiment rather than the finished article – but this is as close to perfect as we've yet been. Still the undisputed King of the Action RPG lootathon, Diablo 3: RoS adds so many tiny little bonuses alongside the major changes that you can't help but admire Blizzard's dedication and perseverance.
If anyone knows how to bring a classic onto modern stage, it's Just Add Water. Not just an excellent port of a great title, but a solid game in its own right, Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty is fully able to proudly rub shoulders with any puzzle-platformer released in the last ten years.
Sniper Elite 3 is the best example of its genre, full stop. A fantastic sharpshooting experience is interspersed with more considered, more competent stealth and action, and the array of tools and tricks available to Karl Fairburne is impressive indeed. While you're not often able to go for broke and "play your own way", there are enough routes through missions and enough open ground to really use the environment to your advantage. Overall, Sniper Elite 3 is a solid shooter that improves on everything that was good about Sniper Elite V2 and ditches most – though perhaps not all – of the bad. This should go down as a genuine triumph for Rebellion.
MouseCraft is a likeable but simple puzzle game that barely touches the complexity of the two titles it claims to take inspiration from. Far too repetitive and too easy to work out, it's better suited to a handheld than a larger console and isn't likely to hold your interest for long unless you're really hankering after a rodent-based puzzle game and can't get hold of Lemmings. A little darkness and complexity would have gone a long way here, but as it stands MouseCraft just isn't involving enough to heartily recommend.
Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark isn't an awful game, but it's a long way short of the bar set by High Moon.
Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition doesn't get much wrong throughout, and the inclusion of new levels and enemies adds longevity to an already great experience. It can be a little repetitive if played for long periods, but the unique and likeable art-style and effortlessly enjoyable combat carry it through.
For all its shortcomings, Murdered remains an enjoyable romp. The lack of direct combat never becomes an issue, and the pacing of the main plot is just right. What immersion is lost through lazy NPC behaviour and limited interaction with the world is gained back by dint of the wonderfully sinister atmosphere and the likable leads. Not an instant classic but likely to do well in cult circles, Murdered: Soul Suspect is a new approach to an old genre. On the whole, there's not enough substance to make a second playthrough viable, so the value for money is questionable, yet the mystery as it stands is well worth investigating.