Jordan Campbell's Reviews
Gigantic: Rampage Edition is a fun time with a bit of a learning curve to climb. Whilst I find the change to a paid entry rather than free-to-play a little baffling, it isn’t a huge cost to purchase and with the promise of more content for your money then it isn’t all doom and gloom. The connection issues to servers were really frustrating and honestly offputting but then the game had only just launched when I started this review. These issues are almost always resolved so I can give them the benefit of the doubt here. If you’re a huge fan of the original game or just fancy a new shooter experience then I’d say it is worth the investment especially if this genre is your jam. If you played the last one to death or bounced off it back in 2017, then you won’t see much in the way of changes apart from a new mode and a few characters. But the gameplay loop is still the same satisfactory fast and fluid fun as it was 7 years ago.
Pacman Chomp Champs is a game I’ve found incredibly addictive and moreish. One of those experiences where you have just that one more match, which then turns into another few hours of gameplay. It is nice to see this title revive from the dead after the demise of Google Stadia. My concerns are the entry cost and whether it has staying power. I couldn’t wait for a review copy so I invested £24.99 which is very steep for the base game with some fancy exclusive cosmetics. For me, it was about getting hands-on a week earlier than the official launch which is 9th May 2024. With the base copy being £15.99, it still feels a bit much for something with all the signs of a free-to-play game. The question is replayability in the long term. If the team can keep cosmetics coming, maybe some different spins on the Battle Royale experience and trickling content into the game then we are onto a winner. If it’s left to its own devices then it may get stale pretty quickly. That said, if you’re a hardcore Pacman fan or just love the BR genre then this will be your cup of tea.
I went into Top Spin 2K25 expecting a mediocre experience since we haven’t seen a Top Spin game in so long and nothing has come close to the glory days of the previous entries. My time with the game has been a really enjoyable and whilst I found there to be a fairly steep learning curve, my 30 or so hours have been addictively moreish. There is much more skill required than just pressing buttons and returning the ball. You have to gauge positioning, response, stamina and how to outwit your opponent. Whilst the monetisation aspect of the game bugs me a little, what we do have is a solid re-entry into the Top Spin catalogue. If they can build on the foundations of the fantastic gameplay loop and work on player animations and crowd integration then we would be sitting on one of the best sports games out there. Is it worth it though? If you love Tennis games then this takes the crown as the best one out there since Top Spin 4. The Grand Slam Edition asking price of 105 English pounds is a huge ask though unless you want everything the game has to offer. Future tennis star additions are coming for free though.
Dead End City provides a few hours of fun but its basic nature and not much in the way of progression regarding weaponry or special powers. Unfortunately, it doesn’t provide the replayability or memorable moments as some of the classics from the early 90’s. Those who are well into the genre will still have a good time here especially if you are competitive. The online leaderboards and different modes may just provide enough staying power for some.
I’d never have imagined seeing this game come to fruition on the Xbox family of consoles in all of its beautiful glory. This is no watered-down and rushed version of the game, it is the fully-fledged all-singing and all-dancing edition that you’d see on PC.
Rhythm Sprout is an absolute blast and whilst it is hard as nails in the later levels, I really enjoyed airing my frustrations at my personal ability and starting a run again when I got a note wrong. Being a perfectionist when it comes to this genre is what turns into an obsession and addiction for me.
Gunfire Reborn is one of those games I’d now recommend immediately if you’re looking for a co-op title to play with your friends. Its deep levelling and skill tree system with several options of difficulty keeps me returning for more. Replayability and longevity is a key point here and I’m talking about a potential of hundreds of hours. If you can grin and bear the occasional matchmaking issues and the odd disconnect then it’s an absolute blast almost all of the time.
It’s clear that Tango Gameworks took a gamble with a whole new project after Ghostwire Tokyo and The Evil Within, and they have absolutely smashed it out of the park. Hi-Fi Rush is hand on heart one of the most memorable and special adventures I’ve had on Xbox and the surprise element of the shadow drop straight onto Xbox Game Pass has thrust 2023 into a promising year for the brand.
Startup Company Console Edition can be a little daunting at first and I think that is because it is a unique game that I have never really experienced on consoles. With the complexity of number crunching and always keeping observations on the running and operations of your business, it may put some off from a gameplay perspective.
Let’s Build A Zoo is exactly the kind of game that is required to sit amongst some others in the genre such as Two Point Hospital and Campus along with Planet Coaster. 2013’s Zoo Tycoon was lacklustre when it came to the gameplay element and became more of an interactive simulation rather than the deep and intricate running of a business. The development team have done fantastically here with ensuring the game echoes those nostalgic Theme Park vibes whilst creating a potentially never-ending addictive gameplay loop.
Raptor Boyfriend: A High School Romance honestly surprised me as romance isn’t really my jam if I am honest, my partner will confirm that most probably. But between the three people who worked on this, they honestly have done an exceptional job across the board in a genre that won’t be loved by everyone.
Divine Knockout has incredible potential if they get the marketing and audience right. With cross-platform and cross-gen multiplayer, they are already halfway there at the moment. Whilst there have been some subtle stabs at Super Smash Bros clones on Xbox with Brawlhalla and Multiversus recently, there has never been a successful 3D version that I know of.
Accident is a rather unique experience and unlike anything I’ve played before. It is enjoyable trying to piece together who to assist first and what actions to prioritise. Whilst the controls are slightly frustrating and the visuals are a little underwhelming, it isn’t all bad.
Admittedly I have an awful habit of reading a synopsis of a game and glancing at screenshots and writing a game off sometimes. With The Knight Witch, I saw Metroidvania and saw the card system and was a little bit hesitant to pick this one up for a review. After playing this for close to 20 hours, I have to say I am absolutely glad I did and I became besotted with everything about the game.
Sadly I was left a little disappointed with Hello Neighbor 2 and if you’re left wondering whether it’s moved on much from the first title, then the answer is not a great deal. Yes, it is bigger with a little bit more on the plate, but the lack of any direction or indication of where to go frustrated me.
I had my reservations before diving into Ship Of Fools, simply because part of me thought it was going to be a complex rogue-lite. I’m someone who likes a little complexity without being overbearing and this game has every element absolutely nailed. The balance between being able to play as a solo gamer or part of a co-op team is well executed. Often a lot of co-op-based titles fall short when it comes to playing alone, but here it is as deep and rich as playing amongst friends.
Animal Shelter Simulator is a game I really wanted to admire but it gets ever so stale very quickly. With the clunky and horribly ported control scheme and the lacking variation of animals and no other signs of human connections or life, it becomes a hard game to fully recommend.
I was initially excited to see if Tate Multimedia had done something drastically different with this DLC to extend its longevity. When it boils down to it though, it is five short levels tacked on to the game to extend it to twenty overall. Unfortunately, it is one of those one-and-done events though with little reason to go back through any of the levels unless you’re trading back through for extra collectables.
It is early days for Warzone 2.0 and I imagine this early phase will be all about listening to the community and engaging in their feedback. I do have some things I’d love to see changed or altered over time, but the gameplay loop is absolutely perfect for me. It feels less about players constantly rushing for loadouts and more about fighting with a mixture of what you can find on the ground.
Football Manager 2023 Console Edition is perhaps one of those games that many look at and say it’s the same every time. I can tell you that it has drastically improved year after year with controller functionality and its incredible performance on Xbox Series X.