Richard Walker's Reviews
Stunning to behold and hugely enjoyable to play, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 can sometimes prove frustrating, but once you get to grips with it and master its combat, enjoying the blistering battles that ensue is a joy. Close to Six Paths Perfection, you might say.
Where last year's LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham proved that there's still life in the LEGO series, LEGO Marvel's Avengers is proof positive that cracks are beginning to show in TT Games' once bulletproof franchise. A severe lack of variety lets the side down, indicating that it's high time the LEGO series receive a much-needed shot in the arm.
Capcom proves once again that it's quite good at this remastering lark. Resident Evil Zero HD is a brilliant update of another classic GameCube Resident Evil game for a modern audience that demands to be revisited once more or discovered for the first time. It's scary good.
Get beyond the complicated controls and mechanics, and Starpoint Gemini 2 turns out to be a mostly enjoyable voyage across the far reaches of space. The price tag is a little steep given the dated style and presentation of the game, but there's no shortage of content if you're in the market for a steadily-paced and involving space sim.
Predictably enjoyable, Just Cause 3 is as big and ballsy as its forebear, but doesn't push the envelope quite enough. Yet, if it's action and explosions you seek, then look no further. Just Cause 3 is still the most fun you can have with a gun, a grapple and infinite parachutes. Boom.
A slightly disappointing return for EA's racing franchise, Need for Speed doesn't do anything to push things forward. You'd think that a hiatus might have given Ghost Games time to inject a little extra vigour into Need for Speed, but the overall result is falls woefully short of expectations. Still, the racing part remains good, clean fun, which is what really matters.
A worthwhile follow-up to Tomb Raider, Rise of the Tomb Raider is also an incremental improvement over its predecessor, with more spectacular sites to explore and sights to behold. And tombs! More tombs!
WWE 2K16 is a better game than last 2K15, largely thanks to the expansive range of options and features that have been reinstated. The 2K Showcase is fantastic, but the core gameplay hasn't changed enough to warrant a hearty recommendation.
Another year, another Call of Duty, Black Ops 3 is nonetheless a generous package that hits all of the right marks. Campaign is decent enough and Zombies is good fun, but it's the multiplayer that will keep you hooked.
The Jackbox Party Pack 2 is pretty much essential if you have family or friends to entertain. It's one of very few games in which everyone can join in, providing hours of fun and laughter. One to dig out for social gatherings then.
Something of a return to form for the series, Assassin's Creed Syndicate is the perfect marriage of time, place and characters with an entertaining story and fun gameplay to match. London has never seemed so appealing.
A decent rally title, WRC 5 has its issues, but none of them are game-breaking. The online mode might be severely lacking, but the single-player experience is fully-formed, with Career Mode, Quick Rally and Quick Stage modes offering plenty of solo enjoyment. If you're after a good rally racer, look no further.
Don't be fooled by its simplistic, retro visual stylings. Crimsonland is enormous fun, and the perfect game to dip in and out of on occasion. Will you keep coming back for more though? Probably not.
Like a robot in disguise, Transformers: Devastation is a really good game that could have been potentially great. Sadly, there isn't more than meets the eye to Platinum's effort, but what is included is superb. It's just too bad there isn't a little bit more of it.
A game in which Batman rubs shoulders with the Stay Puft marshmallow man, where Gandalf solves puzzles at Aperture Sciences and Wyldstyle punches orcs, LEGO Dimensions is a smile-inducing mash-up that revels in everything that makes LEGO such a joy.
Not exactly a massive Air Jordan-style leap over NBA 2K15, this year's game is nonetheless a substantial enough evolution to warrant a closer look. MyCareer's Spike Lee Joint isn't as groundbreaking as it thinks it is, but proves engaging enough for a few hours. As ever though, NBA 2K16's vast number of modes and options, as well as its unparalleled and authentic on-court experience makes it a basketball game that continues to stand tall.
Simply a better game than Forza 5 and with a lot more content to boot, Forza Motorsport 6 is an endlessly playable racer that deserves a spot in your Xbox One collection. Go get it.
1337 & Senri's game is a great indie platformer that's a bit on the short side, but for $7, it's a steal. Challenging and enjoyable while it lasts, Leo's Fortune is well worth a punt. It's the best game starring a furry green testicle with a moustache that you're ever likely to play.
Mad Max is a solid, if slightly unremarkable open-world game that does a good job in replicating the atmosphere and tone of the movies, and the character's essence, but fails to provide any real excitement beyond its vehicle-based combat. Exploring the Wasteland can be a boring affair at times, but if exploring Max's relentlessly bleak world sounds like your cup of tea, you'll probably love Mad Max. Still, it's hard to shake the sense that this could have been better.
An improvement over the previous Infinity games, Disney Infinity 3.0 is the most definitive instalment in the series to date, putting Disney Originals, Marvel and Star Wars under one roof. Factor in the power and possibilities presented by the Toy Box, and Disney Infinity 3.0 would be almost impossible to resist if a little more attention had been lavished upon the core gameplay. As it is, it's a worthwhile upgrade and excellent entry into the 'toys to life' market. And the figures are still awesome too.