Luke Hemming


86 games reviewed
73.3 average score
70 median score
79.1% of games recommended
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Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty! is a faithful recreation of the PS1 gem that is going to welcome back fans of the original. With some worthwhile future proofing in the form of quicksaves and screen panning, the trip is that little more accessible. For new players however, there is a chance that the awkward controls marring the precision timing needed might alienate and frustrate. Give Abe a chance however and even with the wealth of platformers available on the Switch, this stands tall as a title worthy of the purchase. A delicious remake.

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Sep 25, 2020

At the end of the day, you know exactly what you are going to get from a F2P title like World of Tanks: Blitz. Micro-transactions are never welcome, but a necessary evil in this market, and graphics are of a mobile standard, with everything other than the pretty accurate recreations of the vehicles themselves, and all operate with as much heft and weight as expected. Great if you are a tank enthusiast, but for everyone else moving a sluggish brick around a low textured map can get tiresome quickly. This is countered by the length of matches being short enough that a quick tactical battle can be done while waiting for the kettle to boil, and dived into if something a bit more spectacular is installing. Newcomers are going to enjoy the pick-and-play factor. Stalwarts are going to make the most of cross-save and cross play to add a few more layers and months to their experience. It'll stay on the system, but only likely revisited when frustration kicks in from major titles and taking it out on any poor soul that dared to challenge a Switch owner with a Pro Controller.

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Sep 16, 2020

Well, it was never in doubt really, was it? Super Mario 3D All-Stars represents the pinnacle of platforming goodness and with perfect ports, as well as top notch optimisation for the console, it's a must-buy.

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Overall, there really is nothing fundamentally wrong here, but with its reliance on deriving humour from treating RPG standards as dated and ripe for mockery, Snack World: The Dungeon Crawl - Gold pretty much shoots itself in the foot.

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Having Ulala back is a welcome return and, Space Channel 5 VR manages to capture the world perfectly, and tug at all the correct nostalgia related heartstrings. It would be great to get lost in the cosy bosom of that feeling... if there was just more to offer. The promise of new characters, songs, and DLC, should rectify some of these issues, but with the already high price tag it's hard to imagine anyone outside the already committed fanbase to take a punt. As nice as it is to see a return to the news desk, hold out for a possible GOTY edition.

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Players with a passing interest aren't going to put the hours in to get past the initial chapter, and in doing so, are going to miss out on an enjoyable experience with a lot to offer for both casual players and hardcore fans. Stick with it.

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Jun 10, 2020

Spuds Unearthed ultimately fails in all respects.

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7 / 10 - Guard Duty
May 28, 2020

Picking up Guard Duty is going to be massively dependent on whether you were around in the heyday of classic point-and-click adventures, or holding onto some morbid fascination for this type of puzzle-filled journey. This a really enjoyable experience that does require that certain way of '90s thinking to complete. What would look like a pocketful of junk, quickly becomes a series of intricate contraptions in the mind of a seasoned adventurer. Length-wise this is short and sweet, if you know what you are doing, but could easily become much longer without proper guidance. Savour it, get lost in the humour and characterisation of each of the common folk, and enjoy a great, nostalgic experience... then petition for another Discworld when you complete it.

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May 12, 2020

AVORE has done the impossible here, and has taken one of the best VR experiences on the PSVR, and managed to make it even better in almost every respect. Full to the bring with nostalgia, and not resting on that simple premise to sell, Pixel Ripped 1995 races through the finishing line with tight gameplay, excellent use of the VR system, and fully developed characters framing the era perfectly with their dialogues and observations. Get it, finish it, and then wait patiently for the next jump in technology to be turned into a title as fantastic as this one. Pixel Ripped 2000 anyone?

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May 7, 2020

Fun as a solo adventure, and a riot with a hat wearing friend, settle in with a chocolate covered pretzel, and tell them and as many others to check this one out.

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The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets sticks the landing.

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Apr 23, 2020

If an experienced fan of rogue-likes, there is a lot to enjoy in this package.

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For the quality included in Double Dragon & Kunio-kun: Retro Brawler Bundle, it feels as if Arc System Works isn't onto a winner here. In fact, when giving it a little thought, it's hard to understand why this collection is needed at all.

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7 / 10 - Dandy Dungeon
Mar 10, 2020

With a plot that is equally interesting and hilarious, as well as the rewarding nature of items and new options being thrown in at a rapid pace, invest in this and everything is sure to be fine and dandy.

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Mar 3, 2020

It's fair to say that Zombie Army 4: Dead War won't be winning an award for originality any time soon, but it's hard to deny the simplistic joys of placing a well aimed explosive bullet into the crusty cranium of a distant, slow-moving cannibal corpse.

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7 / 10 - Coffee Talk
Feb 22, 2020

A charming and relaxing experience from start to finish, milk it for all its worth.

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Feb 8, 2020

The decision of picking up Harcore Mecha is going to rest purely on if this type of platformer, and its over-the-top anime tropes' appeal.

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7 / 10 - Touring Karts
Feb 4, 2020

There is no denying that Touring Karts VR is rough around the edges.

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7 / 10 - Run The Fan
Jan 18, 2020

A unique concept allows Run the Fan to stand out among a lot of the indie puzzlers out there.

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Dec 2, 2019

Those used to the genre will be thrilled by the challenge presented here, yet newcomers will easily become frustrated at the difficulty spikes, and the feeling that no real progression is being made. Thankfully, the great narration and story-driven sections between the gameplay will hold the interest of even the most uninitiated dungeon crawlers.

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