I have some conflicted feelings about Maid of Sker. The giant Resident Evil-esque hotel setting provides an entertaining and exciting place to explore. But the game ended up being lacklustre in other aspects, namely its predictable story, undercooked stealth mechanics and overabundance of jump scares.
Hellpoint is a Souls-like game that is actually really close to being good. The black hole mechanic was a noble attempt at adding something unique to this subgenre of games, but it’s not enough to make up for the uninspired level design, framerate issues, boring story and dull combat.
Othercide is one of the most enjoyable games I’ve played this year so far. Despite the slightly repetitive map and mission design, the addictive core gameplay loop, harsh but impactful instances of decision making, good soundtrack and strong visual aesthetics featured in here just keep me coming back for more.
If you didn’t care much for the original Deadly Premonition game, A Blessing in Disguise won’t convince you of the contrary. The dull combat, absymal framerate, and repetitive level design are blatant issues that truly bring the experience down. However, if you are a fan of the original, the same engaging (yet stupid) story and wacky characters might make it a worthwhile endeavour.
Control’s AWE Expansion doesn’t do much to innovate, but it doesn’t need to. It continues building on the already strong combat encounters of the original game whilst adding a small twist on that. The main draw is with the brilliantly crafted story that brings Alan Wake into the Control universe.
Pathfinder Kingmaker isn’t for everyone, and that shows. The complex and deep RPG mechanics mimic those of pen and paper RPGs of old, and the lack of meaningful direction the game gives new players can be off-putting. But if you are familiar with the genre or are willing to put in the time to truly learn this game, it can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Just bear in mind that it’s hard to recommend to console players in its current state.
Thanks to its gorgeous art style and addictive combat system, Star Renegades is a wonderful game to get into. It could have been a must have for any roguelike enthusiast, but sadly, some of its mechanics and completely unfair procedural generation can occasionally result in some annoying runs that can bring the experience down a lot. If you’re still okay with some often frustrating runs every now and then, then go for it.
As a fan of the original Crysis it’s very hard to recommend this remaster. The changes to the art direction on top of the missing content and technical issues make this arguably the worst version of the game to play. Though if you have no other way to experience it, then there is some enjoyment to be had with it.
Remothered: Broken Porcelain is one of the most disappointing horror games that I’ve played in a while. Nay, one of the most disappointing games in general. I wanted to like it, I really did, but beyond the unbearably buggy gameplay lies a shallow stealth horror experience that is more of an exercise in frustration than it is in terror.
Amnesia: Rebirth is a return to Frictional Games' breakthrough franchise. It might not be as terrifying or tense as the original game and this will surely disappoint some fans. But for me, there was enough horror mixed into the top notch storytelling to provide one of the best survival horror experiences I’ve played in years.
Ghostrunner is one of the most fun games I’ve played this year. The fast and difficult one-hit-kill gameplay is constantly thrilling, whilst a surprisingly decent story and progression system help keep things interesting. Not to mention the killer soundtrack and fantastic visuals. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got my times to beat. I won’t stop playing this one for a while.
As an adaptation of a beloved classic, Grey Skies: A War of the Worlds Story won’t do anything for anyone. As a standalone game, it still won’t do anything for anyone. The incredibly slow paced stealth sections, poor level design and insane difficulty spikes makes for a broken and frustrating gameplay experience that is simply impossible to recommend.
Transient had the potential to be something great, fusing a gorgeous cyberpunk setting with a Lovecraftian-inspired story. However everything else besides the world and its visuals just falls flat. The gameplay is uninspired and tedious, managing to make a relatively short game drag on for longer than it needed to.
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered does the bare minimum a remastered should do (yet some don’t). There are small but subtle visual improvements in here and the performance is excellent. It’s a blast of a game due to how well it still holds up, as the remaster itself didn’t bring new elements to the table. It’s a touch disappointing not much has been done to this game, but at the same time, it still remains near the top of my favourite Need for Speed games.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a game that doesn’t innovate on the franchise’s formula, but instead focuses on refining it. Valhalla is a game worthy of your time and if you haven’t played an Assassin’s Creed game before or are looking at jumping back in then this is a perfect new entry point.
ScourgeBringer is a roguelike in an overly saturated genre and it does just enough to make it worth a look. Whilst it didn’t grab my attention for too long, it’s still a worthwhile game. The fast paced combat is smooth and easy to pick up, but difficult to master.
Visage isn’t just a simple a PT clone, but an evolution of that concept. Its scope is significantly bigger and it doesn’t feel like it’s just trying to copy it, as it clearly tries to implements its own ideas and become its own thing. Visage is a homage to countless survival horror games and movies that came before and it’s utterly terrifying and challenging. This is a horror game for horror fans and doesn’t hold back.
Godfall is this generation’s very own Ryse: Son of Rome. Beyond the beautiful graphics is a game that has no depth whatsover.
Haven won’t be for everyone, but I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing experience with some charming characters. The amazing soundtrack is the icing on the cake. I was not expecting this kind of release coming from the developer of the high-octane Furi, but I’m glad that we got it nevertheless.
Super Meat Boy Forever is a disappointing return to a beloved game in the ultra challenging platforming genre. Forever does manage to re-create that challenge, but the auto-run approach just feels lacklustre. You are in a lot less control over our red meaty hero and the game feels much worse for it.