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The Huntsman: Winter's Curse's relatively short campaign is a slog, with little variation in the types of enemies presenting themselves. Moreover, the plot is so basic that it offers little in the way of distraction from the terrible mechanics of the game. The only saving grace is that this is an attractive game with its storybook stylisation.
Hue is a puzzle game rarity. It manages to be both fun and challenging, meaning it confidently accommodates the hardcore puzzle fans as well as those that are usually completely hopeless. The colour wheel mechanic gives the game a unique angle, while the level and puzzle design is incredibly clever with puzzles never becoming stale or repetitive. Fiddlesticks' charming puzzle platformer has coloured us impressed.
Once again, Madden NFL 17 has maintained the classic Madden gameplay while also evolving it and making games feel more open and exciting. The new kick meter and ability to block kicks and punts makes comebacks and upsets feel possible, while the presentation is as excellent as ever thanks to the new commentary team. Franchise mode is the standout star here, though, with new trading features and the Play the Moments mode ensuring that the game doesn't chew the clock.
It's an accomplishment in itself that Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom is a robust, sensible game that does the beloved show justice, and it should be the groundwork guiding potential sequels. Commandeering any character is an absolute joy with the excellent control scheme and host of activities that fight for your attention on the battlefield, but this initial depth gives way as the title runs low on gas several hours in, failing to refuel and catch up with your sustained interest. Initially, fans will eat this one up – the story and visual presentation acting as delectable dressing – but even the best of meals lose their allure over time if that's all there is to swallow.
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva X is definitively the finest music game on PlayStation 4. It boasts a ton of replay value, and the mechanics are in a league of their own. Trying to better your own high scores can become incredibly addictive, and you could sink hours into the game without even realising it. If you know that you hate J-pop then this game won't be for you any more than a great football game like FIFA 15 would be for someone that hates sports. But if you're willing to take a chance on Hatsune Miku and her sugary sweet brand of pop, then you'll find an incredibly well-crafted rhythm game that is welcoming to new players while providing just enough of a challenge for veterans of the genre.
Valley's heart is most definitely in the right place, and for the most part it succeeds in the execution of its gameplay mechanics. Unfortunately, the game's technical faults can't be ignored. The sloppy framerate in particular damages the experience far too much, and has held back what would otherwise be a great game.
Prominence Poker's free-to-play approach certainly has its benefits. By restricting the flow of money at your disposal it manages to make you feel each triumph and failure a little more keenly, while also keeping those hopelessly erratic players, with a penchant for going all-in, all the time, from over-running the tables. This makes it an enjoyable way to play poker for anyone who doesn't particularly want to risk their bank balance playing for real money, though the lack of a compelling progression system and underwhelming single player scenarios will more than likely stop you from going all-in.
Like massaging salt into a mouth ulcer, AdVenture Capitalist doles out a different kind of entertainment – the kind that you know that you probably shouldn't enjoy. Cynical and simplistic, psychologists would probably have a field day analysing people playing this. We're lovin' it.
Grow Up is a sturdy expansion of everything that made Grow Home unique. The vast open world is complemented by new abilities that greatly expand BUD's capacity to travel far and wide. It's a gleeful game that is always aiming to make you smile, and though technical problems persist, it's hard to care when you're jetting aimlessly about, playing with the physics and climbing ever higher. Perhaps it could've afforded to change things up a little more, but at the end of the day, this is a neat little platformer that may well supplant your expectations.
Assetto Corsa is a frustrating drive with a punishing learning curve that never truly pays you back for your time investment. It fails to provide an effective way to learn its complicated intricacies and lacks features that a game of its ilk requires. It's also simultaneously the best and worst presented racing game of the past few years, with superbly detailed cars and tracks hampered by awful long-distance scenery and ugly roadside textures. Ultimately, this is a disappointment that lacks the heart required to truly celebrate the cars it has so lovingly recreated.
Metrico+ is one of the smarter puzzle games we've touched in a while. Its brainteasers will force you to think outside the box with a steady flow of fresh challenges, which illustrate the clever creativity that powers it through and through. Its spick-and-span art style and appealing soundscape also manage to divide and conquer, with small yet noticeable improvements across the board that round it out well.
There is so much squandered potential in Armikrog it hurts. The voice acting is great, but there's not enough of it; the visuals and animations are superb, but let down by repeated puzzles. Pencil Test Studios has created a fantastic claymation setting and fun characters, but in terms of gameplay it sticks too closely to the old-school point and click formula for its own good. Fans of the genre may get a kick out of the old fashioned style, but beyond a well-realised stop motion aesthetic, there's little here for anyone else.
As far as puzzle platformers go, Inside is the new benchmark. This is a game that manages to spin a compelling yarn without uttering a single word, and one that is designed so meticulously that the puzzles it contains never once become rote or frustrating. It's beautiful to look at, and the minimalist sound design complements the almost greyscale aesthetic perfectly. But beyond the technical proficiency on display, the true genius of Inside is in the feeling that it left us with once it was all over. This is a game that will probably stay in your thoughts for days once you've finished it.
It's perhaps disingenuous to claim that King of Fighters XIV marks a glorious return to form akin to that of Street Fighter IV, because the more recent 2D instalments in SNK's franchise have been excellent examples of technical fighting brilliance. What the fourteenth entry in this esteemed franchise does is lay down the foundations for future sequels which will – thanks to the relentless march of technology – use 3D models instead of handdrawn sprites. While King of Fighters XIV looks positively shabby when placed alongside Street Fighter V, it arguably offers more depth and variety. The three-person mechanic encourages players to master more than one fighter, and the cast – while perhaps not as instantly-recognisable as the likes of Ryu, Chun-Li, and Blanka – has something for every type of player.Ironically, the biggest sticking point with King of Fighters XIV is the one aspect designed to make it more appealing to outsiders; the new "Rush" mode allows even complete newbies to look like combo-crunching experts, but it's likely to divide opinion with serious players who prefer to rely on their own skill and knowledge when it comes to unlocking the game's most potent moves. Even so, this single concession to a mainstream audience is easy to forgive when taken as part of a package which rewards methodical, technical play in a way that no other fighting game does.
Worms W.M.D brings back the classic 2D joy of Worms Armageddon, yet mixes it with new and interesting ideas that keep you on your worm tail. Though some may wince at the price, it's hard not to love the chaotic multiplayer and extensive customisation, and the addition of crafting adds a new lease of life to an already timeless formula. Forget the series going stale – this is one of the freshest cans of Worms to date.
Hitman: Episode 4 - Bangkok may be weaker than Sapienza, but by no means is it a bad addition. While the setting does feel a missed opportunity, the Himmapan Hotel is ripe with plenty of different kills, and the clandestine nature and harder difficulty makes it all the more interesting. The humour and comedy is excellent as always, and while it's not the strongest level, everything feels organic, and there are plenty of hidden kills. All in all, Bangkok puts Hitman one step closer to gaming Nirvana.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is an intricate, intelligent journey through a well crafted cyberpunk world. Eidos Montreal's creation tries its hand at many things, offering an impressive amount of player choice, but it struggles to excel in any one particular area. As a result, we're left with a game that's solid when taken as a whole, but flawed when analysed piece by piece. Still, a great art style, a compelling plot, and a rewarding sense of progression do a lot to bolster the experience, ultimately contributing to a successful sequel.
F1 2016 is a Formula One nerd's dream come true, but not without a few small caveats in the presentation department. On the track, though, where it really matters, it's a joy to play with plenty of depth and complexity, and a career mode that's made all the more engrossing by making what happens outside of the race both relevant and meaningful to your career as a Formula One driver.
Bound is beautifully presented and will make you think, but its basic platforming doesn't have the legs that developer Plastic thinks it has. Fans of emotionally charged titles like Gone Home will be satisfied with what's on offer here – but those looking for a quality platformer may want to dance with something a little more competent in that department.
No Man's Sky is full of potential, and Hello Games has laid strong foundations on which to build. Its main gameplay is simplistic but becomes totally engrossing, and the technical achievement is impressive. The atmosphere created by the graphics and sound is second to none, and there's an amazing sense of place. Some may struggle to find the fun with the lack of direction, and there are some technical issues that need addressing, but if you're able to create your own fun with the tools that you're given, you'll be playing this for a long time.