Mick Fraser's Reviews
For fans of the genre, ScourgeBringer is an absolute must-play though, if only because it offers such a steep challenge to accompany those lovely, lovely visuals. It may not be the most original concept, but what it does it does very well.
Aquanox: Deep Descent is an enjoyable blaster that will keep you engaged for the time it takes to get through the story. The multiplayer modes feel a bit bolted-on, but the deep-sea environments are top-notch, the story is functional if not thrilling, and the shooting feels satisfying throughout.
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is a great remake, packing in loads of new content and addressing some issues that other developers might simply have swept under the rug.
Partisans 1941 is a very good game in its own right, though it comes a little too close to imitating its inspiration. But if you can look past that, tactics fans will have a blast.
Star Wars: Squadrons is an excellent aerial combat game and a pleasing return to the franchise roots. No gimmicks, no cons, no messing around: anyone who ever dreamed of being a fighter pilot in the Star Wars universe needs to check this out, asap.
Full of colour, humour, and challenge, Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is a storming return and a great follow up to the original trilogy.
Crysis Remastered is a very pretty game when it runs smoothly, which sadly isn't often. That said, it's still a satisfying shooter, even if the AI needed more of an overhaul than the graphics
The Sims 4 Journey to Batuu is a great addition to the library, but it's reaching a point where I'd like to see how far Maxis can push the Sims concept with a new iteration
Serious Sam 4 does what Serious Sam has always done: deliver short-lived cathartic thrills that manage to be fun despite its creaky engine and dated mechanics – but you have to wonder how long they can keep flogging the same horse.
Despite some graphical concessions, The Long Dark on Nintendo Switch is an excellent port of a very good survival game
Hades is a fantastic experience regardless of platform. An addictive, accessible, and charming roguelike adventure.
Spellbreak is a unique, fast-paced Battle Royalke that takes a few risks which mostly pay off. It needs some work in fringe areas like cosmetics and levelling, but the gameplay is solid.
BPM: Bullets Per Minute is an addictive, innovative, and punishingly hard roguelite shooter-slash-rhythm game - and it's great
Fustercluck doesn't add anything that feels super new, it at least offers up an incredibly Borderlands-y expansion filled with meat chunks and silly weapons - and it's the only game this year that'll let you shoot down the actual moon, go on a mini quest to retrieve it, load it into a catapult and use it to batter down the walls of a meat castle. So, y'know, there's that.
If you really enjoyed The Outer Worlds and need a reason to play again, or have been hankering for more, then Peril on Gorgon is worth checking out.
The campaign is brilliant, and despite its flaws I've had a great time with Marvel's Avengers - and I'm not done yet
Star Renegades has some great ideas; the characters are solid, likeable and believable, and the world is intriguing, but it may be too punishing for some.
It may not be the most important remake of the year, but Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is a gorgeous, dense, and charming adventure.
Smaller and more focused than The Foundation, Control: AWE is sold entirely on the return and crossover with a certain Mr. Wake.
Surgeon Simulator 2 is intended to be silly, irreverent fun that keeps you coming back for more and more surgical shenanigans, and in that regard it's a total success.