Whilst the graphics are packed with charm, the story feels as empty as my farm on the day I arrived. Farming sims owe a lot to this series, but other games perfected it. But for newcomers to the genre, or for those who are looking for a simple life on a plot of land, Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town certainly isn’t one to miss.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury certainly feels like a worthy celebration of the world’s most loved plumber’s 35th birthday. For Nintendo to take the next step into the next generation of game design is a huge thing for the industry. I’m excited by the prospect of what open-world Nintendo games have to offer us. Breath of the Wild is one of my favourite games of all time, and I’m beyond excited for a game like Pokemon Legends: Arceus. But exactly how viable repeating this idea would be for the King of linear platforming has me worried.
Eternal Hope is a fascinating game that favours style over substance. Whilst the narrative is lofty and ambitious, the short playtime and repetitive puzzles dock it marks for me. However, that’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy my time with Ti’Bi. The heartwarming story and the bold design are more than enough to make me swoon. If you love puzzle platformers and striking aesthetics, this wonderful indie title will stay in your mind for days.
If you loved Persona 5 and wanted to spend more time with Joker and the Phantom Thieves, Persona 5 Strikers is almost everything you could wish for. It’s a fun, zany and heartfelt waltz through the Persona Universe.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is by far the best Dynasty Warriors game on the market. It perfectly plucks on the heartstrings of Breath of the Wild fans, fleshing out fan-favourite characters with unique combat styles that keep the game feeling fresh. Unfortunately, as with many Koei Tecmo games, the camera controls, combat and performance are choppy and, at times, overly simplistic. But if you’re looking for a fun game to play with someone else, with tons of post-game content, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a great way to spend some time before Breath of the Wild 2 releases. If you’re not sold, try the free demo!
Hitman 3 feels like a love letter to the ‘World of Assassination’ and I can’t think of a better way to conclude the series. With its delightfully witty dialogue and the fact that all existing Hitman content (as long as you’ve bought Hitman and Hitman 2) has progression carry over into Hitman 3, this game is a joy to play and the best Hitman has ever been. It takes all the best parts of the series we’ve come to love and leaves us with a bittersweet, Agent 47-sized gap in our hearts.
Whilst some of the minigames may drag the pace down, the incredibly stylish visuals, next-level voice acting and brave narrative stand out. Chicken Police: Paint It RED! is one of those indie gems that deserve to be at the top of the pecking order.
Young Horses specialises in combining the weird and the wonderful. Octodad was a great example of this, and the last 6 years of Bugsnax development have paid off. The rumours were not baloney – everybody is talking about Bugsnax, and for good reason. Sadly, the performance issues knock it down a peg, but it’s still absolutely worth adding to your games library!
Overall, Minecraft Steve is a love letter. Not only to Minecraft, but to the Smash Bros community in general.
The most frustrating part of the whole experience was that it proves Pokémon Sword & Shield could’ve been so much better than they were. Despite its short length and graphical limitation, The Crown Tundra gives a further glimpse into how magical Galar could’ve been.It’s a steep price point for an Expansion Pass where only half of it is enjoyable. Combine that with the full price of the base game, which is necessary to play The Crown Tundra, and you’re looking at a hefty price tag for very little joy. However, if you’ve already finished the base game or completed the Isle of Armour, The Crown Tundra is a very enjoyable way to spend a few hours.