Mick Fraser's Reviews
If you already own these games, I wouldn't necessarily recommend the XCOM 2 Collection, but otherwise it's worth it despite the concessions
Saints Row the Third Remastered is a massive slab of fun and depravity that will remind you why this series became GTA's most successful rival
Total Tank Simulator is a great example of a game not taking itself too seriously, and it's never less than a total blast.
Maneater is knowingly imperfect , but presents a very competent open world checklist RPG where you happen to play a shark instead of the usual cop or criminal
Minecraft Dungeons has heaps of potential, and in a year's time it may be a very different beast. But right now I can't shake the notion that this is a squandered opportunity.
Embr is a great concept tied to deliberately off-the-wall and fun mechanics. Like Stretchers and Overcooked, it delights in turning something more serious into something silly.
If you're able to ignore the hokey storyline and amateurish writing, Obey Me is a decent action game.
Gears Tactics is big and brash at times, but it's also deep, intelligent and balanced, with all the heart and passion we've come to expect from a Gears game.
Fort Triumph is a solid, colourful entry into an increasingly crowded genre and one that dares to do things a little differently
More than anything, Firaxis appear to be testing the waters with XCOM: Chimera Squad, and as a field test it's mostly successful. However, it ditches far too much of what makes XCOM so fantastic in the first place.
Niffelheim is a decent 2D survival game that plays it all just a little too seriously to be called enjoyable. It looks pretty good, but the simple combat and finicky systems hold it back.
112 Operator may not look particularly exciting to an observer, but to put yourself in the hot-seat and actually play is exhilarating.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is simply stunning, and a breath-taking masterclass in recreating something beloved for a new – and old – audience.
The Curious Expedition is an enjoyable roguelike with a likeable 19th Century setting, humorous writing and lots of content to explore and discover
Ultimately, The Foundation is more of the same, but in the best ways, and if Remedy can maintain this level of quality I'm in for whatever comes next
Designed entirely for younger gamers, Outright have created something genuinely pleasant and likeable in Gigantosaurus: The Game.
Operencia: The Stolden Sun is a decent slice of adventuring fun that feels like a bit of a weird fit for the Switch but functions well on Nintendo's console nevertheless, and often feels unique, though rarely essential.
Ritual: Crown of Horns is an enjoyable experience, but one that seems determined to frustrate through its unforgiving difficulty and repetitive nature. Its soul is saved, though, by an grimly pretty art style and satisfying, punchy gunplay.
Fans of the original Talisman board game may find the Digital Edition enjoyable, but the fact that so many characters are locked behind microtransactions, and the overall experience often amounts to a high-speed gankfest, I find it hard to recommend Talisman to anyone but the hardcore fanbase.
Iron Danger as an experience relies so heavily on the time-travel combat mechanic that it doesn't really present you with much besides that. Everything else is a little bit bare bones.