Richard Walker's Reviews
While we'd hoped for better things from Aspyr's remastered Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection, this is nonetheless an adequate way to revisit a couple of shooter greats from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. I mean the mid 2000s. No doubt further patches (there's already been a significant one) will improve things somewhat.
WWE 2K24 builds upon the robust foundations of WWE 2K22 and 2K23 with another massively entertaining and accomplished wrestling game, and a wonderful 2K Showcase celebrating forty years of WrestleMania.
As remakes go, Alone in the Dark has a hard time measuring up to horror stablemates like Resident Evil. All of the requisite ingredients might be here, but they're poorly realised and implemented, resulting in a game that has its moments, but is hamstrung by shoddy combat, half-baked visuals, and more than its fair share of bugs.
A cracking return for Konami's iconic run 'n' gun series, Contra: Operation Galuga is both nostalgic and new – an unfettered shot of adrenaline-fuelled arcade action, and an unbridled joy.
The Outlast Trials is almost entirely devoid of fun as a solo experience. Add friends or other random players, however, and there's ample enjoyment to be had fighting through the unrelenting horror together. As long as you have the stomach for all that blood, guts, mutilation, death, and unsettling imagery, of course.
Reminiscent of vintage arcade-era SEGA, New Star GP is a racing game that also happens to be a fantastic homage to five decades of Formula One. If it's a fun, retro-style racing game you seek, then this'll do just fine.
As difficult as it might be to go back and discover those games you once loved haven't dated as well as you might have hoped, Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is a wonderfully faithful and reverential collection of three classics, and nigh-on essential for new players and misty-eyed nostalgics alike.
A fine AA open world action RPG with a compelling story and decent combat, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden might be one of the bests games you've never heard of. It deserves more than a ghost of a chance.
Not nearly as irredeemable as you might think, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League actually has a lot of nice ideas and some nice, crunchy shooter mechanics. The endgame might fail to hold your attention, but the story is quite a ride while it lasts.
More than the sum of its parts and some really quite magnificent visuals, Tekken 8 is a truly terrific fighting game, which, in the midst of a resurgence for the genre, is quite something. After thirty years, Tekken 8 proves there's a lot of life left in the series yet.
After a bit of a difficult start, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth soon manages to hit the gas, its story proving an engaging affair amid an ocean of mini-games and other distractions. This is a massive game, but one you'll want to dive headfirst into.
Like Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy before it, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy brings together three Nintendo DS and 3DS cult classics, but with a slew of bonus material. Beautifully scaled up to pop on your big TV display rather than the dinky handheld screen, all three games look stunning - gruesome murder mysteries have never been so inviting.
A triumphant combination of SimCity and Dungeon Keeper-style gameplay makes SteamWorld Build not only an excellent game, but a comfortable and immediately gratifying experience that should be savoured.
While Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection is a lovely bit of games preservation, the lack of behind the scenes material or any other extras make for a fairly perfunctory package. Not quite one big pile of, y'know, but evidently, some expense has been spared here.
After the brilliance of OlliOlli World, Roll7 has outdone itself with Rollerdrome, delivering one of the most mechanically accomplished, beautifully executed, and unique arcade-style experiences around.
A nice tip of the hat to the Naruto series after more than twenty years, Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is an accomplished celebratory package, albeit one that's unfortunately deficient in a few key areas.
A good solid slab of real-time strategy, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin will please ardent fans of the Games Workshop fantasy universe, while keeping those well-versed in the genre well occupied. If you love goblins and all that other stuff, you'll be loving this.
A disappointing campaign and a Zombies mode lacking in focus makes this a hackneyed Call of Duty entry that those thirsting for more multiplayer action will still enjoy. For anyone who plays for the campaign or loves to blast hordes of undead, however, Modern Warfare 3 is hard to recommend.
A relatively short side-story it may be, but Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a blistering chapter in Kiryu's journey, a Yakuza 6 epilogue that brilliantly tees up what's next, while delivering on the unadulterated fun and weirdness the series is celebrated for.
Going all-in on realism, with the high level of difficulty that entails, Codemasters has outdone itself with EA Sports WRC, delivering a stern rally racing challenge that pulls absolutely no punches. If you've got the minerals, then this is the rally game for you.