Matthew Kato
I'd struggle to recommend Skyshine's Bedlam. It does have some interesting ideas and it's a fantastic setting to play around in, but fundamentally, there's a mix of ideas here that just doesn't quite work. I like that it's a difficult game, but it needs to be a fair one as well.
Finding enjoyment is hard when even a long, dramatic rally ends in a true unforced error committed by the gameplay
Sure you can go anywhere among these virtual mountains, but it’s the “do anything” part that trips the game up
Neither the racing nor the crashes do enough to make this title standout
Other than brief moments, no part of The Crew 2 is captivating enough, including the rubberband-based gameplay, the events themselves, and the overall setup of the open world
The freestyle events play to the title's gameplay core, but the other Olympic events aren't a fundamental part of the experience. The Become a Legend mode is more of a long, drawn-out tutorial than a career mode
WRC 5 does little to distinguish itself either in the driving department or with its features
In Other Waters succeeds more as an exercise in world building than as an exciting adventure game
Developer SIE London captures the vibe of the city and its characters, even though the gameplay is standard shooting-gallery fare
The game nails a few concepts, but does not evolve beyond that
The game nails a few concepts, but does not evolve beyond that
Even if the gameplay was everything it could be, this title still has its challenges
It's a title that's fun to drive, but offers little to support it
The world is more enjoyable than the mystery therein, but the experience is intriguing overall
Gear Club's march of unlocking and upgrading is more fun than the racing itself, making for an uneven experience
I enjoyed racing spring cars on dirt ovals more than I thought I would
The pillars of gameplay, combat, and story all bear the mark of creator Hideo Kojima, but none of them stand out or carry the experience
Codemasters' skill in the genre makes Grid a competent entry, but nothing more
Including gameplay objectives before the big intersection crashes is an addition as fun as the set pieces themselves