Mick Fraser's Reviews
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.
While I wouldn't call Saints Row IV: Re-elected "essential", it's absolutely worth a look if you like your fun loud and just a little bit irreverent.
Warlords of New York proves to be an enticing and rewarding addition to one of last year's best shooters, and is certainly worth a return trip to Manhattan.
Yes, Your Grace tells a decent story in an enjoyable way, and there's really nothing else like it outside of a certain fantasy TV show with a terrible ending
Doom Eternal is loud, brash, hellishly violent, and 100% entertainment. It might not be the perfect video game, but it absolutely is the perfect Doom game.
For anyone craving a test of their mettle in bite-sized chunks and lacquered over with Team Ninja's trademark combat genius, Nioh 2 is utterly essential.
Despite a nice aesthetic in the missions and a handful of interesting concepts, Conglomerate 451 just doesn't do quite enough to stand out and be noticed.
The ARPG genre is a crowded one, but when something as fun and entertaining as Wolcen wants in, I'd say we can afford to make room