Although notable as the first game to use Unreal Engine 4, the graphics are perfunctory and drab. If only more effort had gone into crafting an interesting environment rather than relying on the game to conjure its own random shocks.
The co-op PvE shooter has entered something of a renaissance recently, particularly thanks to the success of Back 4 Blood, although whether or not Extraction has the staying power to sustain an active community remains to be seen. Exploiting the popularity of the Siege universe is a canny move, but for every Left 4 Dead (still going strong) there's an Evolve (now long defunct). Extraction's high difficulty, even on the easiest setting, walks a fine line between alienating casual players and giving hardcore survival fans something to chew on. But the enduring familiarity of its specialists gives it a fighting chance.
Call Of Duty: Vanguard is less enticing than its recent forebears and that's a real problem when it's facing its own competition with free-to-play battle royale CoD: Warzone riding high (not to mention rival Battlefield 2042 out later this month). But with a solid multiplayer mode on offer, there's enough here to keep fans occupied over Christmas at least.
While Left 4 Dead is a clear influence, Fireteam Elite really hasn't grasped the notion that players need some room to breathe and collect their thoughts. Nowhere is safe, and the constant onslaught quickly becomes tiring. While missions only last about 20 minutes, they're unwaveringly stressful, and there's so much to take in that the motion tracker – annoyingly located on the far right of the screen – is practically redundant. If it's just you and the Working Joes on a squad then Aliens: Fireteam Elite can feel like hard work; it's very much at its best when played with friends, basking in the nostalgia of this resilient series.
As its unwieldy title suggests, unlike 2016's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered there are no multiplayer modes included which does make this an incomplete experience, although when its predecessor was resurrected its multiplayer lobbies were frustratingly sparse. Despite its testing difficulty spikes, Modern Warfare 2 is still an exciting, globe-trotting adventure which looks great on modern hardware.
Player customisation (historically a really big deal in this series) is laughably limited, the menus are buggy, there’s terrible lag when taking shots, and there’s no proper tutorial to explain how all the complex systems work. And yet it is the best-looking golf simulation around thanks to the heft of EA’s vast resources. Knowing the importance (and price) of the PGA licence, it’s hard to imagine the various issues won’t be fixed. But it was obviously released way too soon and currently sits in the rough.
Thankfully, its sequel is a calmer affair. Set aboard an ocean liner, it relies on a more subtle creepiness and is much less reliant on clichéd tropes such as thunderstorms, dolls and toy clowns. Away from the constraints of the first game’s mansion, it presents a more imaginative mise en scène and the path forward is mercifully clearer. Overall, this is a good package with plenty of scares, although at times it can feel a bit much, like being bludgeoned by a haunted fairground ride.
It certainly looks the part: lush, dynamic backgrounds are detailed with cascading waterfalls, impossibly huge machines and enormous mythical beasts. And this is just as well given that players will become very acquainted with the map. When new abilities are unlocked, it’s necessary to return to previous locations that can then be explored further. And in order to keep track of awkward sections, it’s possible to pin screenshots to the map, a neat feature we’ll hopefully see taken up by other games. The Lost Crown is a bold new entry for this series and a great entry point for players new to the genre.
New theatrical set-pieces have been captured using ‘volumetric video’ which means that it’s possible to walk around the ghostly actors as they perform; it’s not quite as spooky as it sounds but it’s technically impressive. While the performances are a big improvement on the original’s famously hammy sequences, they’re knowingly arch and fit right into the setting. And although the mansion design has been slightly tweaked, fans of the first game will feel right at home; the house starts off in a ruinous state but progression helps to bring it back to life by dusting cobwebs and fixing its disrepair. There remains much love for this franchise and it’s great to see new technology and artistry being used to bring it bang up to date for a modern audience.
But, as is always the case with Assassin’s Creed, the setting really makes it stand out. A built-in codex features a treasure trove of historical research, all of which has fed into this version’s immaculate creation and, while its various systemic changes will annoy some, there’s no denying that its representation of historical Baghdad is a joy to explore.
Elsewhere, a revamped tutorial is a genuine attempt to boost the skills of amateur players, making this otherwise neglected mode well worth checking out. While the enormous popularity of FUT continues to dominate the playlist, all other modes tag along as expected. Volta Football has had a little TLC but career modes continue to languish at the bottom of the table. Perhaps one day they’ll get the love they need.
Titanfall breathed fresh air into online shooters before repetition quickly wore off the sheen. And unless Evolve is properly supported after release, it will likely suffer the same fate. But, as it stands, this is a brave new take on the genre. Its varied mechanics are quick to learn and hard to master, and it's worthy of attention from anyone tired of the endless cycle of military shooters.
Since its first reveal, the game’s graphical prowess has been toned down and, despite the delays, it’s still a buggy release. However, Watch Dogs is an ambitious open world shooter. It may lack GTA V’s detail and polish, but its hacking mechanic is likely to inspire many more games to come.
With so many games sticking to the template, it’s refreshing to see innovation in the shooter market. While it lacks a compelling narrative and the content feels rather slight, Titanfall is a supremely confident, energetic and thrilling game which has the potential to shake up this stagnant genre.
Motorfest is a real looker, at least when cruising between races when it’s possible to safely look at the surroundings. While it lacks some of Forza Horizon’s presentational flair, it at least reins in some of that game’s irritating excesses, such as showering you with cars and prizes at the end of every encounter as if you’ve won the lottery. The game’s ‘playlists’ neatly change up the environment, such as a series of Japanese events featuring night-time races bathed in a delicious blue neon glow. Its negatives are also the sins of Forza Horizon: excruciating banter from AI opponents, a vexatious AI sat-nav, and a pervading sense of automotive fetishisation that will test all but the most ardent petrolhead. But right now, these issues are baked into this relatively nascent genre, and The Crew Motorfest is a strong contender for the lead.
Battlefield's USP has always been its large-scale battles, and 2042 delivers these bigger than ever before. After some serious teething problems it's now in a much better place. The (slightly) futuristic arsenal is punchy, there are many more gadgets than we're used to, and its vehicles will always be a great test of teamwork and patience. It does feel a little sparse at present but much more is promised, and based on the support given to previous entries in the series, its future is in safe hands.
Back 4 Blood is exciting, terrifying and often seriously stressful. Like its esteemed predecessors, there's plenty here to encourage repeat play. Here's hoping they reinstate Versus mode to complete the package.
House Of Ashes is the grandest yet of the Dark Pictures Anthology. It's technically audacious, with big storytelling and compelling character design. And while it's a relatively short game, there's plenty of fun to be had by trying to engineer different outcomes.
And so to the finale. If you're new to the trilogy then just ignore the naysayers and enjoy the ride. Long since Mass Effect 3 sent fans into a rage they've had Game of Thrones and The Rise of Skywalker to focus their ire, but this game's ending deserves no such hostility. The failure of 2017's Mass Effect: Andromeda thwarted Bioware's plans to expand the universe (exploring a different galaxy) but a sequel to the original trilogy was announced in December. In the meantime, this is audacious, epic storytelling filled with wonderful characters and spectacular locations, the likes of which we've not seen since and we're unlikely to see for some time.
Although the plot can't quite live up to its predecessor's superb twist, it's compelling enough to drive the story over 10 hours to a satisfying conclusion. While Resident Evil Village doesn't add anything transformative to the genre, it liberally pays homage to some of the very best bits from a series that's – incredibly – endured for more than a quarter of a century. If only it had better capitalised on its most striking character. Still, she's a vampire, so maybe next time?