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Broken Age works. Its story is compelling and captivating, giving you questions and clues all the way, and the absolutely stunning ending will leave you desperate to continue. The worlds created are fascinating and diverse, tied together perfectly with incredible artwork and music.
[D]espite all its strengths, it somehow falls slightly short in simply being fun to play. Due to the bleak landscapes, the depressing situations your characters find themselves in and the challenging tactical combat, this is a game for those who will find the challenge rewarding rather than those looking for lighter entertainment.
Don't Starve is wonderfully unforgiving, proudly unhelpful and sometimes ("How bad could something called the Deerclops be...?") just downright mean. And it's all the better for it. From the first rabbit you trap through to the last reeds run you need to make, it's an exhilarating journey of risk versus reward - even the later game appearance of various methods of resurrection don't take away the feeling of panic as you realise, once again too late, that you have bitten off more than you can chew. It's always far too easy to give yourself one more little goal, to promise yourself that you'll make it through just one more night before bed, and then before you know it you're coming up to Day 100 and you have a stash of items to rival the Pig King. Oh, and one last thing. A top tip, if you will. The game is amazingly hands off, and as said all the better for it, but trust me on this one, this is one pointer you'll love - hit the DS4 touchpad to bring up the in-game map. You can thank me later.
Tomb Raider is one of the games of the last generation and now it's that little bit prettier, and better for it. More realistic, more visceral as a result and an absolute delight to play through one more time. If you missed it first time around buy it now, if you loved it originally it's better the second time around and if you are still on the fence, trust us when we say you really should pick up the definitive version as soon as your wallet allows for it. A great release to fill the void before some decent games come out on both next gen platforms.
Regardless of the above quibbles OlliOlli is a game that's going to live on your Vita for a long, long time. It's a great example of the kind of game that works perfectly on the move, but just couldn't be achieved on a mobile platform. It's twitch gaming of the finest quality, with the simplicity of the controls obfuscating the true depth of the combo system that overlays them. Give OlliOlli a chance and you'll be hooked, more so than with any other Vita game that's appeared for a while. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to dream about hardflips and salad grinds, impossibles and laserflips down at the South Bank. Potentially while wearing a silly hat.
As it stands, this first part passes the time, promises more but ultimately devolves into a third-person shooter peppered with fetch quests. Like the combination weapons it proudly (and rightly) brandishes, Operation Broken Eagle seems hastily constructed but not half as entertaining.
Smoke and Mirrors is a short but engaging chapter but it is hindered by some odd decisions around the choice mechanics and ongoing engine issues. More importantly, the length of time between instalments risks damaging the IP.
For those who've played the original version, the update has nothing new to offer except for a slight spit-and-polish and a few extra lacklustre missions. The multiplayer has been removed completely but to be honest, it'll probably not be missed. Strapping yourself back into the Animus for Assassin's Creed: Liberation HD feels like you're taking one step forward and two steps back, particularly so soon after the release of the brilliant Black Flag. However, you can't escape the feeling that Aveline de Grandpre is just getting warmed up and that by introducing her to a new audience, Ubisoft are giving fans clues on which direction this never-ending saga through time could be going. As the mystery of the Assassin's Creed universe grows, so does our anticipation, which is why we can't help but keep coming back for more.
So what we have here is a future-classic, old-school indie title for individuals and like-minded folk alike. The visuals are retro but work, the soundtrack by Daedelus is dynamic and ever-changing in tune with the onscreen action. The code is so precise the fighting is always balanced and true to your inputs - whether that is a disarm, throw of your knife and preference for fisticuffs, or a straight thrust to the chest (with a little wiggle up and down for that achievement) - that the result is always joy, whether you win or lose. Some might question the idea of paying for a game that's been available free in one form or another for a few years. The riposte to that is that the game is worth it. The developer deserves to be rewarded and this is the best version of the game you could ask for - tournament mode on the living room TV with joypads is, well, quite exquisite.
There is certainly potential beneath the many unrefined and unpolished layers, but Blackguards does not feel worth playing in its current state. Outside of the combat the game fails to impress in any way and often frustration at the user interface, the loading times or the embarrassingly jerky cutscenes drive the player away.
Might & Magic X - Legacy has the potential to be a fantastic and challenging party-based RPG in the style of old games from the genre. It is more focused on exploration and combat than it is on story. There are some weak presentation issues that hold it back a little and unfortunately, intolerable performance issues that are a fatal blow. Based upon the first part of the game, which saw thorough testing via the Early Access beta, Might & Magic X - Legacy was on track to score much higher but the poor performance in the later game compromises it significantly. If and when Ubisoft address these issues in a patch, the game will be easy to recommend to any gamer of a certain age looking for a nostalgia trip. Until then it should be avoided by all but the most patient players with high end gaming systems.
Many times when reviewing a visual novel it feels more like coming up with a book report than trying to objectively frame your views on why pressing buttons this time was different from pressing buttons last time. With the purer gameplay elements perhaps not providing the full quality experience their potential may have promised it's left to the writing found with the daily and deadly life sections. Thankfully the writing (and, by extension, the translation work) here is second to none, and just like a good book you'll find it difficult to put the Vita down when you have Danganronpa up and running. It's Japanese, it's crazy, it's fantastic and there's the best bear character you'll ever see in a game ever (sorry P4G Teddy!) ' just be sure to enjoy the time you spend locked into Hope's Peak. Oh, and don't do anything too drastic to get out'
Although a greatest hits in a sense ' what with chocobos, Moogles and more ' Lightning Returns can't shake the feeling of a track on repeat. Time is of the essence in real terms as well; time to move on, perhaps.
If a few new weapons are enough to part you with your cash then Fallen Angel is an expensive addition worth a look. If it's content you seek, look elsewhere - this expansion is so lacking in thought that even Dead Rising's brain-craving zombies would pass it by.
The best compliment I can give Strider is that it is a game that will succeed on its own merits and not by comparison to the original. There has been a lot of love thrown into this game by the developers, but more importantly they have also infused their vision of what the original game could always have been. It's exemplary work and while not perfect you really couldn't ask for a better Strider game. If you hear a strange rhythmic noise, don't worry, it's just me at the back of the room starting a slow clap.
The fresh take on the series in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow seemed to introduce enough fresh blood to resurrect what seemed to be a dying brand. The sequel unfortunately pollutes that bloodstream with an infection caused by too many ideas and too many cut corners. As far as single-player experiences go, there's plenty of meat on the bone thanks to exciting combat and some interesting boss designs. However, any sense of resolution or redemption in Lords of Shadow 2 becomes lost amidst poor storytelling and unsurprising plot twists. If this Dracula seeks eternal rest then as much as we'd love to see him stay alive for one more adventure, perhaps it's about time a stake was put through his heart.
You'll not leave this episode happy, but the very nature of this series is to challenge and provoke; Telltale continue to refine and polish their craft to such an extent that even the misery of the narrative can't hold us back from wanting more - this second episode is a triumph.
Underwhelming is probably the best way to describe The Lego Movie Game; sticking too closely to the movie, lacking in the fun factor, having little character of its own as a result, feeling padded and most certainly rushed to coincide with the movie launch
You can't help but think Eidos Montreal have been caught between reverence to the original but the need to incorporate everything good in modern-day AAA titles. They setup some wonderful moments in the game then take control away as it's not really a Thief moment at that point. They do include some boss-type battles - with feedback from Deus Ex understood - still when it's just not needed. They give you half of what's good about Dishonored and forget the rest and they model their storytelling on Lara's latest or Drake's series of adventures but forget to actually write the story to tell. It all adds up to the most frustrating of games. It looks great and plays smoothly. It encourages you to play in a certain way and sets up some wonderful moments only to drop you into a world of frustration, failure and insouciance nigh-on immediately. There are glimpses of wonder but this is the top layer of gold only. The bulk of the game is a frustrating, irritating, random mess. In itself this is frustrating, as what could have been great struggles to be merely average.
The beauty of Year Walk is in its discovery, and it's heartening to see a crossover of a more niche mobile title onto the PC platform, especially one which brings such atmosphere and creativity to the fore.