Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is an excellent addition to the franchise that does what any budding Ghostbuster would hope: make you feel part of the team. With quick, frantic matches, it’s a pick-up that players will constantly return to and take pleasure in. Well worthy of the uniform.
For what it is, AEW: Fight Forever is a simple, fun brawler. If you like simplicity and prefer your wrestling without the bells and whistles, pick this up. What lets it down is the lack of presentation and features. WWE does not own the monopoly on these things, and it’s a shame that after such a long wait, a lot is missing. The dedication to additions is commendable and bodes well for the future. Until then, this reviewer isn’t quite "All Out", but is definitely holding onto the turnbuckle.
It is a pleasure to experience Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1, with every single entry holding up as well as it did when first released. For a pure gaming experience, this would be pushing perfection. What keeps it in a category below is the question of purchase for long-term fans. New content? Certainly. Best way to play? Possibly. Enough to warrant the price point? Potentially not until every Metal Gear is given the collection treatment.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants is absolutely fine. If there is any nostalgia for the original cabinet this is a port that will ensure that love will be rekindled. For those not holding that sentiment, though, this will seem a barebones, standard hack-and-slash. With its price tag, unless a Turtles completionist, you'd be better off picking up many of the other related titles for now.
Saviorless is an enjoyable enough platformer with a premise that sets itself apart from the many other options available in the Switch eShop. There will certainly be a large player base who will miss the idea of combat, but for those looking for a more low-key experience, this will not only pass the time, but also leave them thinking long after completion. The perfect accompaniment as the nights draw in.
With the majority of first-person games being rubbish, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an incredible surprise. With the team behind Wolfenstein, it really shouldn't have been. An incredibly fun experience from start to finish with a fantastic story, beautiful environments, taxing puzzles and a fantastic score Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is the definitive Indy experience in gaming and, dare I say, all media? (no).
For fans of this type of game and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles themselves, Splintered Fate does the job admirably and doesn't skimp on development of the characters, providing a faithful love letter to the franchise. Stay calm, take it step by step, and have a quick bash whenever the mood takes you to ensure a fun and long-lasting experience. Bossa Nova!
One again WWE2K24 is a positive move in the right direction. With fun gameplay mechanics and new match types that leave the door wide open for hilarity, this remains a no-doubt purchase for fans not only enjoying what is being put out weekly by WWE, but also thanks to the focus of Showcase mode this year, those who love a bit of history too. Just about Aweeee-ssssome.
And to think how many ridiculed the comment that Gotham Knights was enjoyable. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League doesn't quite tarnish an excellent track record for Rocksteady in comic-book tie-ins, but it tries its hardest to. With a bland repetitive genre choice nobody wanted and a barely passable gameplay mechanic, the best advice to give is to wait for the cutscenes to be bundled together and watch a mildly enjoyable story without the hassle of a game ruining it.
With its predecessor hitting the dizzy heights of a 9/10, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth was going one of two ways, either resting on its laurels and delivering another great experience, or going above and beyond to provide new and innovative opportunities for mayhem. With a solid story and fantastic cast of characters supplemented by hours of side content, this is again, not only a game of the year contender, but one that is contending for best RPG ever made (Yes I said it, I mean it too).
Tekken 8 delivers a fantastically fun package worthy of the price tag. Stylish, narrative driven and not bogged down by the fluff of other recent games in the fighting genre. Offline modes have not been forgotten and time has been taken to ensure that this is not only the best in the series to date, but currently the only real option for any players looking to experience fighting games emphasising fun over funding.
Unfortunately, you can only work with what the era of Pogs and Blockbusters gave you and the Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection is a collection of titles mostly for novelty and nostalgia value. There is fun to be had if you are the type of person with a hankering for some raptor spankering, but likely, this will leave most newcomers feeling a little lost and underwhelmed by the difficulty and lack of features to make all on offer here more accessible.
For the most part, Affogato melds the multiple genres it includes well, delivering an enjoyable and unique experience. Unique does come at a cost for appealing to a mass market, however, with some potentially struggling with its concepts and aims. Much like coffee itself, it's not for everyone, but those who do try it will rave about what the rest are missing.
When it comes down to brass tacks, what you put in here is what you get out. Going in with a pessimistic attitude is most likely going to breed hatred for the bright bold presentation and what Nintendo perceives to be fun activities. Take everything with a pinch of salt and plan a night around making a fool out of yourself and others, however, and you might find yourself discussing 'the night we played Everybody 1-2-Switch!' for years to come. Unfortunately, with limited replay appeal, a night may just be all you get before the diminishing returns.
Street Fighter 6 in it's simplest form remains a fantastic, fun experience, retaining the same gameplay that has been tweaked and improved throughout the years to ensure it remains top of the pile.
Fight'N Rage has really done its research in ensuring it presents itself as a warm love letter to an adored genre. It also takes the time to give gameplay and combat mechanics real depth.
WWE 2K23 is yet again a positive move in the right direction after last year's entry.
Tormented Souls is a great nostalgia trip taking full advantage of updated graphics and controls to bring a tense, uncomfortable trip for all willing to risk it. Worth taking the time on by both fans of the genre and newcomers wondering what all the fuss is about. Turn those lights on full, open the curtains and prepare to have nightmares.
For such a cult franchise, it's a real shame there is so little to offer outside of the base titles included in this package, especially when full price is being asked. In other titles and remakes, some real love has gone into providing a nostalgic piece of history in one cart. If, however, this is your first time round, Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series will provide a good chunk of great platforming fun, but just that. Nothing else. At all.
Although it's easy to miss the dizzy heights of the Cybersleuth series, it's to be applauded in what has been attempted here - and with an easily accessible series, will convert even the most hardened hater of visual novels.