Ben Sledge's Reviews
But Pokemon Legends: Arceus is proof that Pokemon can evolve. It's taken 25 years but this feels like the first true evolution of the series; a far bigger change than moving from 2D to 3D. It feels like the awkward middle evolution though, as graphics, voice acting, and boss fights all need serious work. If this is the path that the series is headed down, then I can’t wait for it to evolve again because let’s face it, nobody remembers Quilava.
Hitman 3 builds on the successes of previous entries in the series to create a blockbuster finale to the World of Assassination series. Io Interactive is the best level designer in the business, and next-gen graphics and a twisting story lift Agent 47 to new heights.
The game holds itself well and is great fun, even if it lacks any real innovation. The unique weapon combinations can make each run different and interesting, but the repetitive nature of each level means that Kunai's replayability could be in doubt.
Aviary Attorney is well worth picking up, just so you can take your legal cases on the move and continue your cross-examination in handheld mode.
There's an interesting and fun game buried somewhere deep beneath the surface of Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf, but you'll need to crack the tough, unintuitive armour that protects the core mechanics before you can find it. Unfortunately, you don't have the privilege of a Thunder Hammer at your disposal – all you have is time, and you'll need a lot of it to get any real enjoyment out of this rather disappointing title.
Construction Simulator 2 is a celebration of the mundane; a relaxing game that reassures you with every repeated action as you patiently build your construction empire. And it achieves that with brilliance. It would be harsh to say the unpredictable driving ruins the reassuring regularity, but when every other nail has been hammered with such precision, this slight misstep sticks out like the sore thumb that the hammer hit instead. Still, this is a highly recommended way to spend a few weeks, despite that rather odd issue.
Monaco offers a solid solo experience which benefits from some excellent storytelling and multiple perspectives, as well as brilliantly-constructed heist-based gameplay focused on putting each criminal's skills to the best use. However, it truly shines in multiplayer, whether couch co-op or online. As the servers are pretty quiet, grabbing a group of friends and forming your own motley crew is your best route into this explosive heist thriller.