Paws and Soul may not be some triple-A action spectacle, but it is a beautiful and colourful display of what it may be like to explore and reflect on memories of a life long lived. It does so with aplomb as well, as it showcases wonderful and easy puzzle segments that never hurt the brain. The music helps to immerse you while the gameplay lets you embody the game's literal spirit. Paws and Soul successfully accomplishes what it is set out to be, a beautiful tale with ethereal ideologies to make it an experience worth enjoying.
Resident Evil 3 Remake is a great game. It looks phenomenal, has incredible real-time puzzles, and spectacularly creates an eerie feel to every traversed hallway. Jill is also real badass and very much a worthy competitor for Nemesis. The game may be short and feature only a few memorable moments when compared to the previous remake, but it remains an incredibly fun romp into the everyday struggles of Racoon City.
Having an isometric viewpoint automatically makes the game look surprisingly like some Diablo wannabe. The assumption that it would be similar to Diablo was compounded even further by the pre-release marketing material -- gameplay videos that most definitely gave off the feeling the developers copied directly from Activision Blizzard’s homework. In short: the game is nothing like Diablo… yet it manages to be one of the best Diablo-type games I have played in years.
Mafia Definitive Edition is an all-round great package. It looks and sounds phenomenal. From expert motion capture and stellar performances by all cast involved, down to outstanding writing, it has the makings of an A-class title. Gameplay may be a bit wonky, but there is so much else that brings the game up to the standards of the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V – but perhaps not as broad in scope. Hangar 13 have done a fantastic job and made Mafia Definitive Edition a must-have for any fan of the period, setting or mobster plot.
Paper Mario: The Origami King is a delight. It is clear Intelligent System has put a lot of love and care into the game. While it is not the greatest Mario game of recent memory, it certainly stands on its own merit as a unique take on the Mario franchise. In a way, Paper Mario: The Origami King redefines this beloved spin-off series, and is an excellent addition to Mario's portfolio. It features unique folded paper characters with colourful and bold stages reflecting all walks of life. The new characters are memorable and cute, while all the favourites have returned to feature in some form or another. It is a definite must-have for fans, and will assuredly serve as a nice entry point for players looking for an entry point into the iconic plumbers lively escapades.
Watch Dogs: Legion is proof of just how invested Ubisoft is in this incredibly interesting and evolving franchise. The title is ultimately incredibly unique and not overly complicated. It does not take itself too seriously, and allows for gamers to both enjoy and become engrossed in the world it builds. Although some weird issues do detract from the overall experience, such as the weird masks and unnecessary memes, these are all an integral part of the premise. So much so, that the game would feel empty and void without them and, weirdly, when thrown into the mix pot that is Watch Dogs: Legion, everything works together beautifully. Although the game may not be the sequel fans of Watch Dogs 2 have asked for, it certainly showcases what Ubisoft is capable of when allowed to have a bit of creative fun with an established franchise.
Dirt 5 is genuinely a pretty game. From its incredibly smooth framerates, through to its detailed and intense 4K visuals; complemented by bright beautiful colours and a simple approach to racing and vehicles; all makes Dirt 5 truly feels like a game coming to the latest and greatest hardware. The game looks way better in person than it does on YouTube too, and plays incredibly well. In time, the game can be upgraded with a whole bunch of new customisable options, and eventually, patched to enhance performance even more. It is honestly a great and fun game that encourages quick plug-and-play gaming more so than most single players titles, and is well worth it for any fan of arcade racing or the Dirt franchise.
From Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s extremely flashy, yet ultimately shallow, campaign; through to its back-to-basics multiplayer offerings and reimagined Zombie modes, the game is great. While multiplayer is very subjective it is easy to see Cold War’s multiplayer becoming the next benchmark for frantic battles and firefights among friends and online communities. The game also looks incredible and loads like a breeze. For the first time in a long time, there is a Call of Duty game worthy of the attention it has received in the weeks leading up to its release. It may not be a profound title challenging personal philosophies, but it is most definitely worth playing even if just for its single-player narrative.
While it feels less polished than the 2018 base game, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is still a must-play for any Spider-Man fan. It is also clear how the theme with Miles Morales is “short” or “quick”. There are motifs of shorter and more condensed experiences strewn throughout the entire game: from its skill trees, and Miles’ suits, gadgets, and modifications, through to the short but sweet six-hour campaign, and around four extra hours of side content and collectables. It does feel like Miles Morales was meant as a proper expansion to release alongside Marvel’s Spider-Man, but got cut halfway into development and was subsequently repurposed as a PlayStation 5 launch title instead. Nevertheless, the game offers a solid single-player experience and serves as a wonderful cutting of the ribbon for all future PlayStation 5 titles.
While Iron Man VR is not the most spectacular or ground breaking VR title available, it does a great job of making you think and feel like you are Tony Stark. The world is big and beautiful and you can get lost in it so easily, that it is astonishing how limited the actual campaign actually is by comparison. It is also nice to see all of the classic characters make their warranted appearances throughout the experience - particularly the banter between two of Tony’s virtual assistants, Gunsmith and Friday. Naturally, it also helps how great everything looks, despite the massive lack of anti-aliasing. Overall, the game is great fun. While there is little reason to return to the game after completing the campaign, it is possible the title could become a household go-to for children and big fans of the character. Iron Man VR does an incredible job of driving home the fact that you can be Iron Man, and that is the only thing that counts in this PlayStation VR experience.
Two Point Hospital is admittedly a great game. From an intriguing focus always managing to stir a chuckle, to gameplay that always keeps you on your toes the game has a lot going for it. It is just a bummer that it will only reach a very niche audience.
Anno 1800 Seat of Power is a lot of fun. It may come with a few caveats (like needing to be a long-term player with good standing amongst the populace), but the tradeoff works in your favour once the Palace has been built. Overall, the Anno 1800 Seat of Power expansion is a wonderful addition to an already spectacular title.
Despite the platforming elements possibly being the worst addition to Doom Eternal and personally feeling that codex entries and the story should be more obvious to players, I will say I adore how much effort has been put into the game to make it a wonderful standalone experience. From excellent level design where arenas grow larger, taller and deeper; all the way down to the brevity of weapon acquisitions and constant arsenal updates, it is clear the developers want fans to feel like the Doom Slayers their characters are made out to be. Doom Eternal is excellent in this regard, and is easily one of the fastest, best and most entertaining first person shooters on the market today.
Battle for Neighborville is one of the quirkiest multiplayer shooters I have played in a long time. While the game is not really up my alley (I do prefer the nitty-gritty of Call of Duty over this), I appreciate its appeal and its unrelenting focus on being as silly as it can be. I also see how it appeals to a larger audience than all of the Call of Duty games. Ultimately, the game is an enjoyable romp that can be played in short bursts. It may not be entirely my thing, but I will admit that I found the whole experience oddly satisfying. It is a game I would return to, time and time again.
Overall, Deadly Premonition 2 is a wondrous game. It successfully follows on from a masterpiece of a game with a wonderful new cast of characters, improved graphical fidelity, and mature narrative that does not take away from the wacky charm fans of the first game have come to expect. It is a wonderful sequel with an equally as wonderful narrative hearkening back to the best of what the first game offered, and then some. Alas, it is let down by some truly atrocious optimisation. While it does not live up to the standards of the first, this sequel will undoubtedly go down as the perfect companion piece to the immortalised classic. In a way, it is very much stuck in time - almost like it released in the same year as the previous game, and never really managed to dig itself out of the decade old pit of classic action-adventure titles. It is a game frozen in time, meant to be consumed in no other way, and offers one of the most memorable and enjoyable detective experiences this side of York.
Frostpunk: On the Edge is a simple (yet nerve-wracking) end-game scenario that offers a tiny glimpse into the future of New London, and the regime they impose on all of their offshoot settlements. Whatever 11Bit decides to do now that Frostpunk is done with, I am certain it will play into the ending On the Edge sets up. This War of Mine set in the Frostpunk universe, perhaps? Whatever the case may be, it is genuinely a sad day, knowing this is the end for one of the best city builders this side of the video game generation.
While it is still unknown whether Breakpoint: Red Patriot features as the final DLC content in the Year One pass; it is without a doubt a great addition to the game. With ten brand-new story missions, Red Patriot follows directly on from Deep State while also acting as a standalone narrative – pushing Nomad’s story further into one of greatness. Much like how Scott Mitchel is the legendary Ghost Recon operative from past and present titles, Anthony “Nomad” Perryman is being set up to be the next generation legendary Ghost Recon operative. The missions are exciting and hearken back to Wildlands while also teasing how Breakpoint is linked to other Ghost Recon titles, whereas the cosmetic and gameplay additions serve as the extra cherries on the top of a good piece of DLC. Red Patriot is only the next step in what will undoubtedly be a massive multi-year journey for Nomad, whose journey began with Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands. Whether you decide to get Ghost Recon Breakpoint: Red Patriot as a standalone addition, or as part of the Year One Pass, there is no denying it will be well worth the cost. It may not be exceptionally robust, but it offers enough content to tide over the wait for other post-game additions.
Repetition can be both a crux and a boon. If done right, video games — and practically any form of media — can feel unique in their execution, regardless of how much repetition is featured. WRC 9 ticks all the correct boxes and then some. While the game largely feels exactly like WRC 8, it is clear Kylotonn Racing’s tweaks and changes were precise and immaculate. The changes may have been small, but their impact is significant in the grand scheme. Furthermore, KT Racing’s valuable additions to multiplayer serve as adequate methods to improve upon previous misgivings - particularly that of WRC 8. It is not a perfect game in any stretch and falls just short of what Dirt Rally 2.0 manages to do right. Even so, it is a part of the upper echelon of simulators and stands above many others in the rally genre. At the end of the day, WRC 9 serves as an excellent addition to any rally fan’s video game library; thanks to its attention to detail, excellent sound production and incredible new physics.
Given the original title is over 15 years old, the remaster may be forgiven for some of its strange quirks. Although a much longer and deeper narrative or a more streamlined and involved gameplay loop would be preferred, it is a product of its time. This knowledge helps to ease any discontent the title may exude from dated gameplay and narrative elements. In addition, developers Black Forest Games have made some wonderful improvements to the older title, including the addition of the long lost Area 42 Mission - originally cut from the game due to time constraints. Overall, the enhanced visuals, slightly updated gameplay, and old fashioned call-it-as-it-is humour; helps to elevate Destroy All Humans! as one of the better action games of 2020. Granted, it may not be a grade-A contender by modern standards, but it is a faithful and wonderful remake of a classic, and is far better than anyone could have hoped for.
As far as these ports go, they are pretty solid. The entire Borderlands Legendary Collection runs at a locked 30 frames per second and comes with the added benefit of very quick loading times. The stuttering issues can always be patched out with future updates and the bad texture loading can likewise be solved by optimising future builds of the games. Unlike the Handsome Jack Collection, the Borderlands Legendary Collection includes the first game, as well as the second and their prequel/sequel. For ten or twenty bucks more, it would have been nice to have included Borderlands 3. Nevertheless, the package is great for anyone who has yet to play the franchise or for gamers who desperately need it on the go.