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F1 2016 gives you even better racing than last year's version, then makes it the centre of a brilliant career mode. The handling, AI and sense of speed have never been better, while the changes to starting and the new practice goals have a major impact on the race weekend. This is an F1 game for F1 fans, but exciting enough to pull in those who'd never normally sit through qualifying. You can't really ask for more than that.
Although there are moments of warm loveliness in Grow Up's story, beauty in its world and some brand new abilities, there's no getting away from the fact that this feels like B.U.D's difficult second album.
In many ways Abzu looks and feels like a successor to Journey, but while there's mystery and beauty in its underwater world, it's rarely quite as engaging. The simple, predictable gameplay is one barrier, the abstract nature of the story another, creating an experience that's big on audio-visual power and artistry but short on the stuff that made Journey truly magical. However, it's worth playing for its epic high points, its unique atmosphere and the chill-out meditation, but don't expect to find perfection or a game of vast scale and depth.
There's precious little sign of excitement, imagination or progression, the weapons are weedy and the storytelling poor. Given that there are plenty of other twin-stick shooters with better gameplay and graphics out there, you'd be mad to buy it were it a fiver. At [its launch price], however? That's the biggest joke of all.
Beautiful, plays well – but could have been better.
The realism has really been ramped up this year, making every pass, tackle and goal attempt feel accurate and worthwhile. The goalkeepers and graphics have vastly improved too, even if the more realistic referees might frustrate you at first – just as they do in the real game.
As it is, the new combat and puzzle mechanics keep things fresh, while the lure of new stories set around The Force Awakens is hard to resist. Love the Lego games and The Force Awakens? You know what to do.
Play it. Question it. Fall in love with it. Tell everyone about it.
From New Super Mario Bros. to Rayman Legends to Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds to the recent Doom reboot, we've seen games that mix twenty-year-old styles with modern visuals and new ideas and the results have been great. Mighty No. 9 isn't in the same league. Instead, it looks and feels like an amateurish homage to Mega Man with bargain-basement production values and a ridiculous difficulty level. While fans will find something to love in its hardcore gameplay and old-school character design, non-fans should steer well clear.
This isn't just a worthy sequel to Titanfall, but one that improves upon the original while adding a superb single-player campaign. The latter combines fast-paced action, pilot acrobatics, heavyweight Titan warfare and a surprising amount of heart in one of the most enjoyable solo storylines of the year.
Overwatch is ready to join the likes of Quake and Team Fortress 2 in the pantheon of greats.
A tactical triumph for the 3DS.
A tactical triumph for the 3DS.
Homefront: The Revolution has plenty of ambition and a handful of good ideas, but it's spoilt by the clumsy execution. Much as we love the mix of gameplay styles and those classy customisable guns, we can't get over the lifeless gunplay, clumsy movement and woeful AI.
Buy it for the brilliant single-player, then stick around for the multiplayer and community content. You won't regret that you did.
We just wonder whether it'll appeal to new fans at all when there are better brawlers out there already.
Most of its problems are fixable, but Gearbox really needs to fix them and serve up some more content if it wants to turn Battleborn into an ongoing hit concern.
It's the most appetising game smorgasbord we've ever had the good fortune to sample, with just the right blend of impactful storyline, cinematic cutscenes, explosive set pieces, exploration, discovery, puzzle solving and good old shootouts.
Mirror's Edge Catalyst makes some major missteps in the story and character department, but hey, that's what the mute button is for. More important is that when the action is go and Faith is in full stride, Mirror's Edge Catalyst is as thrilling and sure-footed as they come.
You'll fall for Alienation's great twitch gameplay, but it's with its RPG-like elements that the hooks really sink in. Alienation has created something that's part twin-stick blaster, part sci-fi dungeon crawler, with all the looting, levelling and upgrading that implies. Limited locations and the repetitive shoot 'em up gameplay might make it a less enticing prospect a few weeks in, but right now it's impossible to resist.