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Extinction had the potential to be something special, but a few too many flaws and frustrations hold it back from true greatness. Despite that, we still think this adventure of epic proportions is very much worth a purchase if the grand scale even slightly grabs your interest.
Time Carnage fails to do anything interesting with its gimmick, and thus this is nothing but just another shooting gallery. There's a certain amount of fun to be found in the arcade and challenge modes, but slogging through the campaign to unlock the levels and perks contained within them is a complete borefest.
Regalia doesn't reinvent the wheel and it probably won't come close to blowing you away, but it's a pleasantly entertaining RPG that just about anyone can enjoy.
The Witch and The Hundred Knight 2 is a colourful, funny, and interesting game, but it's greatly hindered by a drawn-out, convoluted battle system. Hardcore JRPG fans will get more out of this game than the casual player, but as a whole it just feels far too inaccessible for its own good.
Dan & Gary Games has given the Metroidvania-RPG genre a fair crack of the whip with Super Daryl Deluxe, but its needless amount of monotonous side quests and its floaty, button-mashing combat negates the occasional humorous highlights. There is a good game in here somewhere, but plenty of fat trimming is in order before you can get to it.
All told, Owlboy is a delightful game full to bursting with character. Otus' bittersweet tale is engrossing, the supporting cast is consistently charming, and there's an admirable level of polish across the board. From its stunning visuals and soundtrack to its fun, responsive gameplay, Owlboy is rock solid from top to bottom. It took them 10 years, but D-Pad Studio has created one of the best 2D adventure titles in recent memory.
Island Time VR's best attributes – the visuals and the voice acting – are unfortunately overshadowed by some very major flaws in repetitive gameplay, a very short running-time, and game-breaking bugs. If you are looking for a new friend, Carl the Crab will certainly suffice, but if you're looking for a top-notch VR survival title, we'd suggest you swimming the other way.
Minit is a lighthearted and cleverly designed adventure that successfully builds a game around a peculiar premise. Playing in 60-second bursts can initially be frustrating, but once you wrap your head around the game's structure, it becomes an addictive and memorable little title that doesn't outstay its welcome. The abundance of secrets makes the game much deeper than it may seem, too.
MLB The Show 18 is, for our money, the best sports game on console right now. Whether you love baseball or not, this is a flexible simulation that can appeal to both beginners and veterans alike, with some of the best presentation you'll find on the PS4. On paper this may not sound like a substantial step forward for the series, but the under-the-hood improvements mean that it's the best playing, best looking version yet. We're not sure where Sony San Diego goes next with this series, but we say that every year, and it continues to smash our expectations out of the park.
There's little to get here that you can't get from a mobile game, except you wouldn't sit in front of a 55-inch screen to play something like Temple Run. Assault Gunners HD Edition doesn't benefit from being on PS4 at all; if anything, it's worse off. With little to no depth or nuance, Assault Gunners HD Edition is a mindless action game that offers very little in return for your dedicated time in front of the TV.
For a series that's defined by its tardiness, Pure Farming 2018 leans a little too heavily on the slow side for our liking. This is a perfect first choice for newcomers, though, as its campaign walks you through every single element of agricultural “action” – and there's a helluva lot to wrap your head around. The various environments could do with a little more visual identity, but they offer unique challenges that make them worth playing. And while the quick-fix challenge mode won't keep purists occupied for long, we certainly appreciate the attempt at distilling the title's gameplay into short session bursts.
Atelier Lydie & Suelle isn't as innovative as its predecessors, but that doesn't mean you should write it off entirely - it tells a charming and captivating story that ends up being the best tale in the whole Mysterious trilogy. There are plenty of enchanting areas to explore as well, and as always, there's a deep alchemy system for you to master.
A strong finale to another quality series, we've really enjoyed getting up close and personal with Gotham's goons.
The best thing we can say about Far Cry 5 is that it's competent, and the worst that it's far too safe. Ubisoft is clearly more interested in making an experience that appeals to everyone to satisfy the bottom line. That's a real shame, because there's the makings of a highly entertaining sandbox survival adventure here. Sadly, you won't see any of it, because there's no encouragement to experiment when running and gunning is as effective as it is.
A Way Out is a successful experiment in co-operative play with some excellent presentation and varied gameplay. The story may be predictable, but you'll be surprised how attached you become to Leo and Vincent, and you'll be compelled to see their journey through to the end regardless.
R.B.I. Baseball 18 doesn't really need to exist on the PS4, which is an issue. While it's competent enough to register a clean hit, The Show runs laps around the title in virtually every department. Yes, it's cheaper and more accessible than Sony's vastly superior alternative – but we still wouldn't recommend pinch hitting San Diego's effort for this.
John Doe's unpredictability continues to be the highlight in a season that's seen Bruce Wayne's role become ever more important than the titular Dark Knight. While short, this is a solid episode that puts plenty of interesting plot threads into play, but with the finale around the corner, there's very little resolution – merely setup for that all-important fifth episode.
Floor Plan is a short but adequate puzzle game for PSVR, with an interesting elevator-based premise. That said, it's rather forgettable, has some irritating bugs, and a few of the puzzles don't make any logical sense. If you're looking for a game with lots of ups and downs, then Floor Plan certainly has you covered – however we'd recommend you wait for a sale before hopping in.
Between being a relatively traditional Japanese RPG, a kingdom management sim, and an advocate of real-time strategy, Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom could have easily stretched itself too thin, but developer Level-5 somehow manages to pull everything together and make it all seem worthwhile. This is a robust but accessible adventure that's stuffed with charm and character. A really fun combat system and gorgeous visuals top things off, making the sequel a joy to play. In a word, Ni no Kuni II is delightful.
Assassin's Creed Rogue Remastered sits in a bit of an odd place. It's a good game on its own, but after the release of Assassin's Creed Origins and the major improvements it brought to the series, Shay Patrick Cormac's trek across the ocean feels outdated only four years after its original release. If you can stomach a return to the franchise's original formula, then the experience will be worth your while thanks to a compelling plot and excellent naval mechanics. But if you've grown tired of that recipe, Assassin's Creed Rogue Remastered won't do anything to draw you back in.