Sammy Barker's Reviews
DmC: Devil May Cry - Definitive Edition is one of the more thoughtful remasters on the PS4, and its emphasis on modifiers means that you can more or less tailor the experience to your tastes.
Capcom already laid out its stall with the previous instalment, so Resident Evil: Revelations 2 – Episode Two: Contemplation can no longer be considered a pleasant surprise. This is another enjoyable romp, though, which sprinkles just enough new ideas into the experience to make it stand on its own. Most importantly, the action is much tenser this time around, and while it's still largely ridiculous, it will have you squirming at points.
Who needs blockbusters when your local indie theatre is rolling out releases like this? OlliOlli 2: Welcome to Olliwood doesn't re-invent the wheel, but its subtle tweaks result in a vastly improved experience; Tony Hawk's promised Pro Skater reboot will certainly have its work cut out if it wants to top Roll7's latest take on the genre. Tight controls, top-notch levels, and tons of content ensure that this sequel makes a clean landing – the only stumble being that its excellent local multiplayer mode isn't quite ready for prime time yet.
It's hardly a revelatory release thus far – but this could yet be great.
Resogun: Defenders signs Housemarque's shooter off in predictably sublime style. Protector is arguably the game's greatest mode to date, offering everything that's enjoyable about the original – just at pulsating pace. Commando's not quite as successful, but it delivers an imaginitive twist on the existing formula, all with plenty of personality and panache. This is still, in this author's opinion, the PS4's best original game – and the frightening thing for other developers is that it just got better again.
The Order: 1886 is an antique that's aged ungracefully. The presentation is sublime from the release's rousing start right the way through to its anticlimactic finish, but several shoddy design decisions detract from its otherwise exemplary gloss. The developer's crafted an incredible universe, but outside of the title's core cast, it's failed to do much of note with it. This is a property that's begging for a sequel to realise its undeniable potential – but only time will determine whether it gets that opportunity.
It's hard to describe Super Stardust Ultra as a disappointment, because the core gameplay loop – almost eight years after its original introduction – is still as enjoyable as ever. That said, this doesn't feel like the next frontier for Housemarque's revered shooter series – more like a stopgap along the way. Veterans should know that, outside of some visual enhancements and extra modes, this is pretty much Super Stardust HD. That's not necessarily a bad thing, of course; newcomers are encouraged to take aim at this right away.
Dying Light starts out disappointing, but once you allow its brand of undead action to circulate your bloodstream, it can be difficult to put down. The storytelling is expectedly lacklustre, but with some 40 hours' worth of quests to complete, this is the type of title that's made for kicking back in co-op and culling corpses to your heart's content. The best thing about it, though, is that it gets better as the time flies by.
The bleak backdrop of Franciade sums up this miserable outing, as you engage in dreary underground missions built around the most rudimentary of brazier-based puzzles. We like the addition of the Raiders and the Guillotine Gun, but they're the only jewels in this expansion's smelted crown. Forget about the French revolution – this franchise needs an uprising of its own.
New shooters need to be special to stand out in an arena of bigger brands, and Loadout doesn't quite have the quality required to back up its ideas. When you've got a good gun, the game's not a complete washout – but the free-to-play affair ultimately blows its load with a lack of variety and a lousy sense of humour. You'll find the fun faster if you cough up a bit of cash, but only diehards will stick around for more than a handful of rounds.
Framerate fluctuations render Tetris Ultimate almost unplayable, and while these issues only seem to occur when online, disconnecting tends to strip the title of much of its appeal. Assuming that it's eventually patched, there's a no-frills version of an all-time favourite here – but while the multiplayer is well integrated, the overall experience is far too ordinary to really recommend.
For a game named Tennis in the Face, this curious new indie from Finnish outfit 10tons is delightfully inoffensive. Outside of its outlandish energy drink-inspired storyline, this is a straightforward arcade game which revels in the base appeal of hitting people with balls. Lively presentation belies comatose gameplay, but its simplicity serves as a solid palette cleanser between longer gaming rallies.
With a string of new tools on offer, creator curators will have a blast exploring all of the possibilities available here – and while you'll certainly need dedication to get the best out of them, the lazy among you will more than get your fill via the output of more industrious players over time.
Those with zero existing understanding will find that Rocksmith 2014 Edition will cause their guitar to gently weep, but when used as an accompaniment to real lessons, the software really sings. With a wealth of songs to learn and excellent arcade minigames that make typically tedious practice exercises actually entertaining, anyone with the right attitude will find real value here.
Simple like a classic Swatch watch, it's Minutes' exceptional mechanics that make this indie worth your time. Clean, colourful, and effortlessly cool, this is a reminder that you don't need a million dollars to make something special.
MXGP: The Official Motocross Game hasn't found itself unseated on the PS4, but this isn't enough of an improvement to warrant a second buy. The title's scrubbed up just fine on Sony's next-gen system, but it still bears the telltale signs of a PS3 game. A straightforward campaign and surprisingly solid online mode make this an enjoyable enough ride for newcomers, but those that are a little pickier about what they play may want to wait and see what improvements next year's edition brings.
At its controller clutching best, The Evil Within evokes memories of Silent Hill's high points – but it's the Resident Evil comparisons that are most consistent throughout. Unfair difficulty spikes swap out the title's pervading sense of fear for outright frustration at times, while technical issues undo the developer's outstanding art direction. Thankfully, legendary director Shinji Mikami doesn't disappoint in the gameplay department, forcing you to get creative with your plentiful combat options due to an unending absence of resources. It's here that developer Tango Gameworks finds the breathless brilliance within.
Padding is Alien: Isolation's unfortunate undoing, as there are a few too many recycled moments throughout the course of its seemingly never-ending single player campaign. Still, when it's on form, this is a nail biting affair, as you use sound and cunningly constructed items in order outwit your incredibly intelligent enemies. Outstanding audio and impressive art work make this more than just another bug hunt – but you'll be rolling your eyes rather than flinching in fear at points during the outer-space escapade.
Poor voice acting and obnoxious back tracking let it down – but this is still on the right side of the law as far as we're concerned.
The result is a package that settles for a par score – nothing less and nothing more.