Jordan Campbell's Reviews
Speedrunners 2: King of Speed retains all of the qualities that the previous game mastered, but it hasn’t really evolved much either. But for serious fans, that probably won’t matter much. Replayability is there, with online multiplayer staying pretty active and the game available on Xbox Game Pass, which should boost server numbers. With cross-platform multiplayer also a feature, it should have good longevity for a good while, yet let’s just hope the developers at tinyBuild Games don’t leave it too long before the next one. If you’d like to pick up a copy for Xbox Series X/S, then you can do so HERE. If you’re on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, however, you can download and play as part of your subscription at the time of writing.
Murder on the Yangtze River reminded me a lot of Ace Attorney, but outside of the courtroom. Each case is pretty meaty in terms of the story behind it and how things progress, with plenty of dialogue and avenues of discovery. I thought the writing and how they constructed the cases were exceptional, and with six in total to work through, there’s a good slog of gameplay here. For its price point, it’s well worth around sixteen quid. If you fancy picking a copy up for Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S, then you can do so HERE.
Ground Zero Hero is a fantastically fun time that has that addictive gameplay loop that many of these games bring. It’s an experience that I wished lasted a little longer as I ticked everything off within a few sessions, but it really is quality over quantity here. If you’re after a bullet-heaven style title that offers some different synergies and aesthetics, then you’ll absolutely love it. For less than ten quid, it’s well worth the reasonable cost for the return you’ll get. With the fact its Xbox Play Anywhere as well, it’s a game that you can also have on your handheld and won’t take up too much space. If you fancy picking up a copy for yourself on Xbox Series X/S or to add to that Xbox Play Anywhere library, you can purchase HERE. Big thanks to the lads and lasses from Acclaim Inc for the review copy for Xbox Series X/S
Gallipoli is a fantastic multiplayer shooter that isn’t your traditional run-and-gun affair. The development team have done amazing work to capture the atmosphere of the Gallipoli campaign with accurate environments and WW1 bolt-action gunplay. What I love about all of the titles that Blackmill Games have pushed out is how they nail the pacing and teamwork aspect. If you’re looking for a fast-paced shooter, then this might not be your bag, but the trade-off is satisfying, realistic warfare. If you fancy picking up a copy for yourself, which is discounted for a limited time on Xbox Series X/S, then you can do so HERE. Don’t forget that the game has Xbox Play Anywhere functionality, meaning you buy once and can play across Xbox Series X/S, PC and any handheld device compatible with your Xbox library.
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam has the foundations and formula of everything that the Hell Let Loose experience strives to be. Sadly, during my twenty or so hours with the game so far, I’ve had more frustration than fun. Now, I do not doubt that over the course of a few weeks those issues will be ironed out, but at the time of writing, it plays like an early-access title. In my opinion, the game needed more time in the oven, so to speak, and despite extensive Alpha and Beta testing, there are still many issues. I do understand, though, that this year’s gaming calendar is heavily congested with big-hitting releases. This means that picking a window of opportunity without competition was paramount for Expression Games and Team 17. Computer& Video Games Despite my personal bugbears with the current state of the game, it is playable at least, and when everything works as it should, there are phenomenal moments. Once the performance and atmosphere are at the level that the original Hell Let Loose achieved, then it will be an absolute joy to play. If you’re willing to be patient and work through some potential annoyances, then there is still a cracking time to be had here. It’s fair to say, though, that the developers are working hard to fix the problems; a hotfix went live after a few days, and a patch is in the works to address over 500 bug fixes and more. If you fancy picking up a copy for Xbox Series X/S, you can grab one HERE. The game also features Xbox Play Anywhere functionality if you plan to play it on PC as well as Console.
Mistfall Hunter is a great time on Xbox Series X/S and fantastic fun as a squad of three. If you’re a fan of extraction shooters, then you may appreciate the difference in this game. It’s atmospheric and can be tense, especially when encountering other solo players or squads. Its satisfying combat and runs that have that constant risk in return for reward are what keep the gameplay loop satisfying. The developers have recently unveiled a compelling roadmap that should keep things interesting. Overall, it’s well polished and will keep you coming back for countless hours if you love the concept of diving in and extracting loot and going back for more.
Pure Pool Pro is a technical masterpiece in this genre. The moment you load up the game, you’ll see the strengths of the experience from the get-go. Exceptional presentation right across the board, deep focus on the mechanics of ball and cue movement makes for the most realistic pool simulation on the market today. The teams have taken on board lots of feedback so far and have been making fixes and tweaks consistently. Since I wrote my review for the Playstation 5 version, the game has seen the introduction of ranked mode with online leaderboards, allowing players to stay constantly competitive if they wish. Games If you’re into Pool or even Snooker, then I can highly recommend Pure Pool Pro, especially with a Snooker DLC very much in the works. You can pick up a copy on Xbox Series X/S HERE for £20.99 | $24.99 | €24.99, with a 20% launch discount in place for the first two weeks. The score has improved slightly versus my Playstation 5 review due to the addition of ranked modes and online leaderboards
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a beautiful rework which retains the legacy of the original game whilst bringing some meaningful additions and upgrades. Does it mimic the magic of the 2013 outing, however? I’d say that if you have never played Black Flag, then this will feel like a fresh game to you. If you completed it 13 years ago, then you’ll still find fun in reliving the memories with around six hours of new content. With a visual overhaul, updated combat and parkour mechanics, reworked naval combat and lots of quality-of-life improvements, this is an exceptional remake and not just a quick cash grab. For Assassin’s Creed fans out there, it is a must-buy. Alternatively, you could subscribe to Ubisoft Plus and try to smash out the campaign without investing in the game fully.
Sodaman is a fantastic entry into the genre, and the small team should be very proud of their creation. It’s one of those games where you can dip in for a quick run or keep ploughing through for hours on end, as there is plenty to do. There is lots of bang for your buck, and after over 20 hours of gameplay, I still haven’t ticked everything I want to do with this experience just yet. The spontaneity of being able to pick and choose upgrades throughout your runs, with permanent unlocks in between, brings great longevity. If you fancy picking up a copy for yourself on Xbox Series X/S, you can do so HERE.
There is no doubt about it, NBA The Run is fun, but I do believe in its current state that replayability and longevity have limited scope. If you’re someone who doesn’t like to engage in online competitive multiplayer, then this won’t be your bag. For hardcore basketball fans, though, you’ll likely love it, and the 3v3 aspect makes it so easy to jump into with friends. Short, snappy matches which are fluid, fun and fast make it a very appealing game. Time will only tell how it carries itself over time with the player base. That said, the developers are listening to feedback and no doubt there will be plenty of additions and tweaks in the future as long as there is demand
GOALS gets the gameplay aspect spot on, it’s fast, fluid and handles quite well as football games go. As you may have guessed, though, there is a big question mark of a pay-to-win element hanging over its shoulders. Yes, the game is totally free to download and play, but if you’re someone who sinks some money in early on, you may have an advantage over opponents. Think of the squad building as Ultimate Team, but with randomised players; you can buy packs of cards and potentially pull higher-rated players. Computer& Video Games If you don’t want to spend money, though, there appear to be enough players diving in and getting into the grind. Rewards are fruitful if you invest heavily in playing matches and hitting challenges. There does seem to be a potential to build a great squad without spending if you keep playing. Personally, I do feel that GOALS has some serious legs if they keep events, matches and cosmetics interesting enough to keep smashing the hours in. With more modes en route in the near future, they need to keep it fresh and not do what Rematch did and drop the ball.
007 First Light is a good Bond game, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say it is a game-of-the-year contender. Did I have fun with the experience? Absolutely, i had fun time, playing as Bond, but it could have been better in several areas. IO Interactive has done a great job with the presentation, voice acting, and the overall feel of the adventure. If you’re a James Bond fan, or even a fan of games like Uncharted and Tomb Raider, this will be right up your street. I was pleased with the length of the game, clocking it at just under 20 hours, and I did take my time, dying on multiple occasions during my playthrough. Whilst I had some gripes with the lazy AI, clunky combat and some of the repetitive nature of the game, I’d love to see IO Interactive continue with the series. From what I’ve read, additional content is likely en route, and that is fantastic news. For a studio that has mostly had its toes in the Hitman franchise, though, it’s a bloody good attempt at diving into the world of Mr Bond. If you fancy picking up a copy on Xbox Series X/S, then you can do so HERE.
WILL: Follow The Light isn’t the most memorable game I’ve played, and I found parts of the game pretty tedious. But there are plenty of great factors to be found here, both in atmosphere and presentation, in the eight hours or so you’ll have with the game. For those on Xbox, you’ll be pleased to hear that the Xbox Play Anywhere functionality is available for this one. So if you’d like to play it on the fly, you can do so on console, handheld and PC. It’s a great first outing from Tomorrowhead Studios, and if you’d like to pick up a copy for Xbox Series X/S, you can do so HERE
Sudden Strike 5 is a mammoth package that certainly delivers a well polished real-time strategy experience to console. I’m happy to say that it handles really well with a controller and whilst the mechanics do take a little getting used to, it does click pretty quickly. We don’t see many RTS games set in the World War II era, so to see a polished one with enough content to keep you going for a steady chunk of hours is fantastic. Replayability and longevity extends through the online multiplayer modes on offer. For enthuisasts it could keep you coming back time and time again. If you fancy a copy on Xbox Series X/S, you can bag the game HERE.
TerraTech Legion is fantastic fun, and whilst I found it a tad difficult to start with, it’s one of those that become more enjoyable the more you play. What I adored with this experience is that each run can feel hugely different depending on how you build your vehicle. There is a decent sense of progression in building up your character’s skill trees and then hitting another run to come back stronger when you fall. Having played this for in excess of twenty hours or so across Xbox Series X, Lenovo Legion Go and a gaming laptop, I have to say it handled well across all of them. It’s well worth a buy if you love the survivors-esque genre, and you can pick up a copy HERE for Xbox Series X/S. For less than a tenner, you’re getting your money’s worth for sure. If you have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, though, grab it right now and try it for yourself.
There is a lot of fun to be had with Pragmata and I really enjoyed my twelve or so hours in the campaign. Completionists may exceed this playtime if you want to run through and find all the hidden collectibles. The blend of hacking and gunplay is extremely satisfying and when you stack that alongside Hugh and Diana’s intriguing partnership, it becomes a unique experience. Capcom continues to fire on all cylinders when it comes to their roster of games. This is one you won’t want to miss if you enjoy third-person action adventure shooters. Whilst it does seem on the short side, I felt it was just about right and it really is quality over quantity here. If you fancy purchasing a copy on Xbox Series X/S for yourself, you can do so HERE.
Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss was an enjoyable experience that will click with some but won’t be for everyone. The atmosphere of the game and the puzzle-solving really clicked with me. Parts of the game require some brainpower to get around, but that is the most engaging part. From a horror perspective, it’s quite tame, so if you’re looking for jump scare action, this might not be your jam. If you’re looking for tense, eerie and an uneasy time with great dialogue, clever puzzles and decent storytelling, then it’s worth a buy. You can pick up a copy for Xbox Series X/S HERE.
I just want to put out there that I’m not just scoring this exceptionally well because I love the creators of the game, but because it’s genuinely a bloody great game. Anyone who knows me understands that I am obsessed with roguelike games in any form. Beyond Words is a game that has endless hours of replayability and is one of those games where hours genuinely feel like minutes. The only downside for me personally is that the game does not have Xbox Play Anywhere functionality. So instead, I went and purchased a copy on Steam as well; that’s how much I loved this one. Don’t sleep on this game if you’re into word-puzzlers and rougelikes. If you’d like to pick up the game on Xbox Series X/S for the absolute steal price of £12.99, you can do so HERE. For a limited time, though, you can pick it up for 20% discount, so pounce on that deal quickly.
Super Meat Boy 3D does a great job of capturing the moments that made the original game so memorable. The same ingredients are very much here and cleverly designed in 3D. Attempting to wade through each level as quickly as possible is where the addictive gameplay seeps in. There are, however, the same levels of frustration as the original, and your enjoyment will very much depend on your personal patience levels. My eight-year-old son adored the aesthetics and the fact that it was ‘a bit like Astrobot’, but ultimately the difficulty turned him off almost immediately. That said, I don’t think this game is suited to the younger crowd, so you may want to try before you buy on Xbox Game Pass. If you do want to bag a copy for Xbox Series X/S with that lovely Xbox Play Anywhere functionality, then you can do so HERE.
Royal Revolt Survivors is a surprisingly deep and addictive roguelite that blends in well with the rest of the catalogue of similar games. If you’re into the gameplay loop of surviving as long as you can and building stronger after each run, then you’ll easily get your moneys worth out of this one. The added bonus here though is the local and online multiplayer co-op options which are quite rare in the survivors-style roster. If you fancy picking up a copy for yourself for Xbox you can do so HERE.