Jordan Campbell's Reviews
Glitch Hero is a great concept and has an interesting enough storyline to keep you engaged. The execution could be better in terms of how the combat feels and plays out. The puzzles are fun and it can actually serve to teach younger players about coding which is amazing if this interests them. Nothing is ever too much of a challenge and the game is suitable for all ages and abilities of player. If you’re looking for a child friendly game because there isn’t huge amounts of them on console, then this one may be worth a punt.
Whilst I did find the visuals of Farming Simulator 25 not much further ahead from what I played ten years ago, I did appreciate that the scope of the game has changed massively. Other games in the genre try and simulate farming environments but with the work of Giant’s Software, you won’t get any better than this one. The maps are vast in size and there is an unlimited amount of hours within this game with three huge areas to choose from, longevity is there. Bring with this the massive array of authentic farming equipment you can invest in, it is a paradise for farming enthusiasts.
Spellagis is 100% worth less than the price of a pint for the return in hours you get from this. All achievements on this one are obtainable simply by putting the hours in and the scope for replayability is there as no two runs ever feel the same. I’d liken this one to the excellent Brotato and whilst it doesn’t quite have the same shine and polish, it really does come close and gets its hooks into you immediately. If you like the genre of twin-stick shooters and fighting off waves of enemies then I would highly recommend this one, it is a hidden gem.
Let’s face it Undisputed doesn’t have any direct competition right now so it’s hard not to call it the best boxing game on the market. But hopefully what this ambitious project will do is spark some rival studios to create and make boxing games great again. As for Undisputed though, what we have is a fantastic stab at an engaging in-ring experience with plenty of content to dive into. Sure it isn’t perfect, but from a brand-spanking new studio and its first outing into the gaming world, this is a sterling effort into a genre no one has risked for a long time. If you’re after that fix of scrappy fights on the sofa in front of a screen with your mates or you want to dodge and weave your way to success on the online leaderboards, then Undisputed does it all. It does it well enough to bring replayability and longevity to your personal gameplay experience and if you love boxing then I assure you that you’ll find enjoyment here.
I had a great time with Shadows Of Doubt and it is a truly unique game that has never been done before. If you’re into games where you’re attempting to solve crime, murder mystery or piecing evidence together to bring a result, then you’ll love this one. As I’ve said it does have some bugs and glitches sporadically from time to time which can result in some frustration but this doesn’t hamper the adventures you’ll have all that much. At a reasonable price point of £19.99, it is well worth that for the amount of hours you can get in return which can ultimately be an unlimited timesink if you enjoy it enough.
Monarchy is a fun game for quick casual sessions or seeing everything possible in a couple of longer waves of gameplay. It is a relaxing time that never becomes difficult to understand or overbearing which makes it perfect for all abilities of gamers. My six-year-old son enjoyed watching me play and kept coming up with suggestions on what to do next and he had his little planning brain on. It may be a little too simplistic for the hardcore strategy fans out there like myself and I did feel myself pining for more during several segments of the game. But the experience stands on its own two feet with a lovely cute vibe to its art style and great foundations if the developers want to add more in future.
Amanda The Adventurer presents a unique challenge offering some dark, creepy yet chuckle-worthy moments throughout its playthrough. It isn’t a massive game by any means and the gameplay loop is pretty short, but there are multiple endings if you want to try and find them out for yourself. It is a very well-designed puzzler ultimately with cleverly plotted and subtle hints through the brilliantly animated and petrifying cartoon. The price-point weighs in at a reasonable £7.49 which doesn’t break the bank for a couple of casual hours of fun. Will you brave it in the dark though like I did? If you’re impressed with this title then you’ll be pleased to hear the sequel has dropped onto Steam recently, so I’d imagine a console release is imminent for AtA2.
I won't lie, I become invested for countless hours in creative games like Planet Coaster 2 and it retains the qualities from 2016 and then some. As someone who pretended to be ill in my school days so I could stay at home and plough extra hours into adventures like Theme Park and Rollercoaster Tycoon in the 90s, this sends me back to that headspace. What we have here is a joyful, addictive and rich park builder which will no doubt become more fruitful with updates over time. The real draw though is how reasonably priced the game is. At just £39.99 for the base edition and £49.99 for the deluxe version, it is well worth the money and your time investment if you adore this genre like I do.
On the surface Tiebreak: Official Game of the ATP & WTA is a well constructed and playable Tennis title, but often its mechanics had me feeling a bit frustrated. It felt more simplistic to get to grips with than Top Spin 2K25, but the mechanics and AI become infuriating to deal with at times. If you’re looking for a Tennis title though that has the largest roster available with accurate atmosphere and feel of the real sport though, this one might be for you. But in my opinion it does fall short in terms of gameplay and modes despite its excellent presentation. I do hope Big Ant Studios return next year though with some refreshed mechanics to compliment its sterling work everywhere else.
Squirrel With A Gun never takes itself seriously and it doesn’t need to. Me and my little lad loved playing this one together and at various points, he did have to hand me the controller for a helping hand with some of the trickier platforming moments throughout. The game doesn’t focus on just mindlessly gunning everything down in sight, it has some puzzle elements and areas for you to explore and discover along the way. But if you ever fancied taking a tree rat into moments akin to The Matrix and Max Payne, then this is a real treat. For the price point, it offers several hours of enjoyment and whilst it is a little clunky and frustrating in particular moments, it never stops being fun. For those with youngsters who are out for a laugh, or just want some casual fun its worth a punt.
Call Of Duty Black Ops 6 stays true to the previous titles and carries the torch into this interesting period for Call Of Duty. For Xbox players with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, it is fantastic that it is available to players on launch. Not only will this reign in veterans, but the casual crowd can dip their toes in if they choose. From the multiplayer perspective, it is a welcome change from Modern Warfare and bears similarities to Cold War in how it feels to play. A classic prestige system being re-introduced allows players to digest the game at their own pace and not feel left behind by seasonal updates. This year feels like Call Of Duty has gone back to basics. It still angers me that Xbox still doesn’t allow players to switch off the crossplay options within the internal menu system and skill-based matchmaking appears to be ever-present. These issues aside though, we have a nice refreshing return to Black Ops that not only looks great but also feels satisfying to play for hours on end. For now, time to level up those guns for Warzone on November 14th!
Well, I am glad I listened to all the great feedback about this game and picked it up for a review. If you’re into RPG titles with simplistic turn-based combat that doesn’t have you diving into millions of skill trees and classes, then you’ll love the experience. This will go down as one of the most memorable indie titles I have played not just in 2024, but probably ever. Every year I collate a pot of indie titles that are bordering on masterpiece status, games like Cuphead, Cult Of The Lamb, Deaths Door and Balataro. This belongs in that pot and stays there for sure, and is worth every single penny of the £14.99 asking price. As indie titles go, this is a must-buy, don’t even hesitate just go and play it.
If you missed the boat with Dead Rising in 2006, I highly recommend picking up the Deluxe Remaster. It has been wonderfully reworked across the board to bring a refreshed experience that is more aesthetically pleasing and satisfying to play. Even though I had completed this one back in the day, I would say it is also worth a replay if you’re on the fence. Capcom has done a fantastic job not only giving the visuals an entire overhaul but also some great adjustments to other elements of the experience. The auto-save is a much-welcome addition and NPC’s appear to behave a little less erratically this time. I have to say though, I enjoyed the game just as much today as I did 18 years ago and in this congested schedule of games, I kept going back for more. It retains all the qualities and story from the original game and the wackiness and spontaneous nature of smashing zombies in with a variance of weapons doesn’t seem to tire. Sometimes I do roll my eyes at the amount of remasters and remakes that seem to surface lately, but I guarantee you, this is one of the great ones and Dead Rising deserves some new eyes to the franchise. That said, Capcom we need a Dead Rising 5.
After around 20-25 hours with Starship Troopers Extermination, I wish I could recommend it for purchase. But in its current launch status, it is a bit of a mess. During my playtime, almost every single match crashed and threw me to the Xbox dashboard. During gameplay, there were endless frame drops, and textures loaded slowly, and overall, the performance is frankly terrible at present on Xbox Series X. With this said, I’m almost certain the team will be working on bugs (excuse the pun) and other issues. When the game plays well it is an absolute blast to experience and whilst content seems lacking, there is a roadmap with more on the way. I’m rooting for this game to be something special because it is ambitious, but perhaps it should have had some rigorous beta testing on consoles before launch. I’d advise waiting for confirmation of fixes before taking the plunge.
It is nice for Predator: Hunting Grounds to finally see the light of day on the Xbox platform. Illfonic has been wise and opted for the low entry cost of just over £16 for the bog standard edition of the game. The team hasn’t just ported the game across in the hope of a quick buck, either. Overall, the presentation has had a good polish and gloss-over for this new lease of life on the green side of the fence. It was fantastic to see the early crashing issues promptly resolved within a matter of days of launch, I can now report that the game runs like clockwork. Bearing in mind that the game is four and a half years old at this stage, you have to forgive that it will look a little dated. However, what we essentially have for Xbox is a brand-new FPS for the console, and we always need more. What I adored about Predator: Hunting Grounds is the ability to have fun whether playing alone or with friends online, you can succeed in both scenarios. The intensity of being stalked by whoever is playing as Predator always has you on edge and brings the atmosphere of the movies into the game. For its low-cost entry and an absolute ton to unlock and level up, it is well worth a punt!
Alchemist: The Potion Monger is a unique experience that can be enjoyable for certain players. It is an accessible title for the most casual gamers or a nice break from the online world of competitive multiplayer games. It is family-friendly, and those with a love of animals may love its cutesy, colourful aesthetics. Don’t let the simplistic-looking screenshots sway you from giving this one a try, because there is a surprisingly deep 8-10 hours of gameplay here if you want it.
House Of Golf 2 is a well-crafted title which I had a great time with and whilst I did find it immensely challenging in parts, this drove me to like it even more. If you’re like me and get frustrated at your talents but are determined to succeed, then it is one of those experiences where practice makes perfect. There is a plethora of courses that are wonderfully designed to get hands-on with over 100 holes to attempt. If you’re the type of gamer who is constantly looking for titles to play that you can pass the controller around the room and involve friends and family from the comfort of your home, then this is absolutely for you. For the lone players out there though, there is plenty of room for addictive gameplay with chasing those all-important leaderboard scores and gaining all the cosmetic unlockables throughout. As Golf games go, this is easily up there with some of the best.
There are many adjustments in this year’s instalment of EA Sports FC, plenty of them minor and some of them a bit more obvious. I always come back to the fact though that it must be incredibly difficult to change a football game year on year without changing the gameplay loop. The stand-out addition for me is the addition of Rush in both Pro Clubs and Ultimate Team, allowing you to play five a side without those silly Volta power-ups from years gone by. If you’re on the fence about whether you want to spend your hard-earned on a game that may not differ much if you invest time in a particular mode, then I recommend playing the ten-hour trial.
Looney Tunes: Wacky World Of Sports is one of those games you’ll want to perhaps explore if you’re looking for options to play with your family with same-screen fun. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t feature any online multiplayer which I found a bit odd as this would have easily increased the longevity and replayability. Whilst the overall presentation of the game is very charming with characters I’ve grown up watching as a kid, the game does get stale very quickly. Playing alone allowed me to discover everything in just under an hour of gameplay which isn’t great for a game that is £39.99/£49.99 to purchase. That said, I did have a couple of hours of fun and laughs with my six-year-old. So whilst I recommend this as a game to factor in for time with younger ones, it doesn’t justify its high price tag in return for its content.
Train Sim World 5 builds on the previous games and just keeps getting better. You won’t find a more true-to-life simulation of train driving. The beauty of the yearly releases means that you can pull across any previous routes you’ve purchased and have them all accessible at any given time. The introduction of conductor mode brings a new aspect of working a train from the perspective of the exterior of the driving cab. If you’re an Xbox Game Pass subscriber then there has never been a better time to give it a go if you haven’t tried it. If you’re a fan of previous games or just into your traction, then you will find hundreds of hours of gameplay here if you want to divulge in the hundreds of timetable scenarios both in the driving seat or dispatching trains from stations. The creator club will allow you to customise and curtail your experience alongside creating your very own scenarios. Train Sim World 5 is the best in the genre and the greatest it’s ever been.