John-Paul Jones's Reviews
Stairs is an odd beast then. A veritable love-letter to psychological horror, it's clear that the developer commands an impressive grasp of the visceral nature of the genre. Frequently terrifying and constantly unsettling, Stairs excellent atmospherics serve not only to deftly stimulate the senses with aplomb, but unfortunately also highlight that the game upon which these expertly fashioned frights exist doesn't boast a similarly formidable calibre.
A charming and well-constructed take on the twin stick shooter, Flame Over endears itself greatly with easy to play, yet difficult to master mechanics which neatly avoid the frustration usually associated with roguelike titles.
Extreme Exorcism invigorates the arena battler with its brilliant ghost mimicking mechanics, proving to be a highly entertaining proposition for either a group of friends or the lone player to stuck into.
Ultimately, Skyhill brings to mind 11-bit Studios seminal survivalist opus This War of Mine, though in doing so it invites comparisons it can't possibly survive as the former feels much more reduced in scope and flair than the latter. While entertaining for the most part then, Skyhill's ease of play and encouragingly gentle roguelike mechanics are not quite enough to allow the game to reach the ambitious heights of the structure that it takes as its namesake.
A great improvement over its humble origins, Deathwatch's engaging tactical systems and great progression elements also serve to highlight the odd fact that the next essential Warhammer 40K strategy title isn't a homegrown PC effort at all but rather, one born in the often reviled realm of ultra-casual games and microtransaction misery. If you have any prejudices about mobile games, look past them and get stuck in – Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch Enhanced Edition is the real deal.
A wonderfully eclectic collection of local multiplayer curiosities, the second coming of the Jackbox Party Pack is somewhat uneven when it comes to quality but remains a strong choice for gamer and non-gamer folks alike looking for a multiplayer party fix.
A simplistic yet visually attractive take on anime that's been around longer than most of the people reading this, Saint Seiya Soldiers' Soul is a decent prospect for newcomers to the fighting genre but ultimately holds far less appeal for long-time scrapping veterans who want a little more depth from their digital brawlers.
Even though it stands as more of a refinement over its immediate predecessor than a genuine leap, this latest entry in the BlazBlue series stays true to form by overwhelming players with a deliciously deep combat system, brilliant cast of characters and a veritable avalanche of content.
A train-wreck spin off of a series that deserved so much better, Fellowship of Evil is an unholy combination of so many undercooked elements that it's any wonder the game made it to release. While Overlord certainly deserves better there is someone else who does too – you. Avoid.
An interesting if conceptually unambitious effort, One Upon Light is an easily accessible puzzler that provides a decent amount of challenge – it's just a shame that the game isn't longer with a better handled narrative.
With Tales from the Borderlands, Telltale Games has struck gold. Easily its best effort since the first season of The Walking Dead, Tales marries the series cheeky humour and laugh-out laughs with some properly touching and poignant moments. This is as essential as it gets.
A wonderfully fresh take on the apocalypse with some stunning pixel-art visuals and pixel-perfect platforming, a handful of bugs and glitches occasionally infuriate but aren't enough to significantly compromise what is an otherwise tremendously enjoyable experience.
In many ways, Prison Architect feels like the 'Theme Prison' game from Bullfrog's golden years that we never actually got. Certainly, if Prison Architect's extended stint in Early Access was any indication, developer Introversion, much like the aforementioned legendary British developer, had no shortage of ambition and this is certainly something that has translated into the final product because minor niggles aside, Prison Architect is a one-of-a-kind prison building experience rife with emergent stories the caliber of which we haven't seen in some time.
Still, a handful of flaws aside and in light of its highly modest price tag, Circuit Breakers still reliably offers a lot of entertainment. It's clearly not perfect, but in a world increasingly dominated by time-consuming, social-life ruining games, it can sometimes be a lot of fun to hop back in time with a tight, ultra-responsive twin-stick shooter whose humble charms magnify in the presence of friends.
A deft remastering of what was arguably the PS3's technical swansong, Beyond: Two Souls finds new life and an attractive home on PS4, with some extra features thrown in to sweeten the deal.
Multi-layered in its sophistication while being drenched in aesthetic bombast and effortlessly entertaining, Nuclear Throne isn't just Vlambeer's finest work to date, it also happens to be the best twin-stick shooter since Helldivers; even in light of its relatively minor transgressions.
A riotous, non-linear RPG with great turn-based battles and a delectable 1980's style cartoon veneer, The Banner Saga is the first truly essential strategy title on PS4.
Although perceptibly divisive in execution and theme, it becomes difficult to imagine an individual that would experience That Dragon, Cancer and not feel richer and better off for having been immersed in its bittersweet storytelling as the end credits roll. While some might be understandably put off by the slim pickings of traditional genre fare on offer here, That Dragon, Cancer staunchly remains as an experience that everybody should let into their lives regardless.
A relentlessly savage take on survival that puts players in control of the fleshy collateral damage that other war games merely gloss over, This War of Mine is a bleak, grim and ruthlessly entertaining affair quite unlike any other.
An utterly superlative remastering effort turns one of PS Vita's crown jewels into one of PS4's most engaging and compelling titles. As fresh today as it was on its original release nearly four years ago, Gravity Rush Remastered is absolutely unmissable.