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Tales of Hearts R starts strong, and only gets better as it progresses. The cast may not be the best in the series, and the random encounters do feel a bit dated, but this is an overall top-notch production, which we’re thrilled has found its way overseas at last. If your Vita’s barely murmured over the past few weeks, then this is the blood that’ll bring your system back to life – and it’s a release that no self-respecting JRPG fan should bypass.
With Assassin's Creed Unity, there's a great game buried somewhere beneath an unforgivable amount of technical issues, from annoying glitches to frustrating crashes. It's a perfect example of how Ubisoft's insistence to annualise the series has backfired, as it's clearly an unfinished product.
#killallzombies feels like an unfinished product, and it's a shame because there's an enjoyable and moreish foundation to be found here. The gameplay is addictive despite its lack of variety, and the streaming features are a neat trick – even if you won't ever be guaranteed an audience to play with. There are better twin-stick shooters already available on the PS4, but if you happen to like the genre, this may be worth a look once Beatshapers adds in its extra modes.
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a fast-paced and fun twin-stick shooter. Its strengths lie in its tight gameplay, and the almost infinite replayability created by its endlessly inventive special abilities. Similarly, its darkly humorous story and visuals are nothing if not memorable. However, if you aren't prepared to truck with this deranged premise, then you probably won't enjoy your time in the basement.
The Wolf Among Us is an exceptionally well written and paced title from Telltale Games. . . . This is still a great game, but it's not the polished up final product that you may have been hoping for.
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.
Escape Goat 2 is a great puzzle platformer that never sign posts the way. It believes that you're smart enough to work things out for yourself, and thanks to some really clever level design, continually trains you so that you're ready for the challenges ahead. While many will lack the patience for the trials within, those willing to butt heads with its puzzles will get a lot from this challenging but fun title.
Someone considerably more famous and intelligent than us once said that simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication, and Race the Sun is the interactive embodiment of that idea. This is an incredibly humble game, both in gameplay and presentation, but one that is tense, satisfying, and totally hypnotic.
Natural Doctrine's combat system is ingenious, but it's obstructed by its complexity, while the remaining aspects of the release just about fulfil their roles to the point of adequacy. Although the game's intricacies will instantly cut itself out of most of the market, it's certainly a fantastic strategy title in its own right, which will challenge even the most adept players. This is a must buy for genre fans, then – and a cautionary tale for newcomers.
Punchy, futuristic weapons, even faster gameplay, and additional agility make Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare a joy to play, both offline and online. With a campaign that features several spectacular scenarios and a brilliantly robust and incredibly moreish multiplayer offering, Sledgehammer Games has succeeded in crafting a title that feels fresh but familiar, and does just enough to put the franchise back on track after the disappointing Call of Duty: Ghosts.
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.
Costume Quest 2 is a pretty bog standard RPG, but it's outfitted with charm by the bucket load, and that's its real appeal. Sure, the gameplay doesn't exactly elevate a well-established genre, but it's strong enough to suck you into the game's light, carefree fiction, and that happens to be enough. In a world where games are getting darker and darker, this is like a welcome breath of fresh air, and, if nothing else, it's nice to feel like a kid again – even if the experience won't necessarily last that long.
Despite the dull plot, basic character design, and occasional buggy boss fights, the overall mood of Lords of the Fallen is fantastic – even if you're forced to play it alone. The punishing difficulty may not please everyone, but fans of the Souls series should definitely consider taking a swing at the Rhogar. Those looking for a quick and easy adventure should duck and roll elsewhere, though, as this game will test your patience, skills, and dedication.
Pix the Cat is a fiendishly addictive arcade experience. Featuring a bevy of different modes, rock solid core mechanics, and a ludicrous level of polish, it has the potential to devour gaping chunks of your time. Unfortunately, slightly shonky controls let the title down, but if you can look past this misstep, you'll find hours of leaderboard climbing action.
Shadow Warrior is more than just puerile jokes and demons – there are some quite interesting technical faults in there as well. The personality of the game is enough to recommend to those that enjoy old-school shooters, but it comes with a warning: Wang should probably be taken in small doses.
Overall, Just Dance 2015 is much like its predecessors, but in the struggle to do something 'new' with the game, Ubisoft has added a lot of features that are not really worth bothering with. Luckily, these don't interfere with your enjoyment of the very entertaining main game, and as long as you've got some good friends and enough self-confidence, this title could well give you the licence to be the dancing buffoon that you've always wanted to be.
While The Legend of Korra can be an entertaining game, camera issues and often frustrating difficulty spikes mean that the release never reaches the potential of its brilliant source material. For fans of the series, the four to six hour completion time coupled with good replay value will make the cheaper price tag worth a shot. For everyone else, though, this is a sometimes enjoyable but largely forgettable action romp.
Peggle 2 is a good little game that's worth a go if you're new to the property or are a big fan of its predecessor. While addictive, though, the core gameplay can get repetitive at times, and this isn't helped by some samey level design and a general lack of fresh ideas. Indeed, the experience here is largely comparable to the original, but it does at least manage to mix things up with new characters and special abilities. These, sadly, aren't enough to make the title feel brand new – but it's at least working with some strong existing blueprints.
If you're already hooked on Telltale's post-apocalyptic plot, then this sophomore series is most definitely a must play – even if it never quite hits the highs of the inaugural escapade.
Disney Infinity 2.0 is very light on pre-made content – its bundled Playset being far from impressive – but it's the enhancements to the other areas of the package that make the sequel worthwhile. Indeed, the Toy Box is a fantastic tool, and it's brimming with potential for those with a strong imagination. As with its competitor Skylanders, it'll cost you a fortune to get the most out of the game – but if you've already invested in this franchise, there's no reason to hesitate over assembling those Avengers.