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Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Overdrive has all the components of an addictive, satisfying beat-'em-up, but it just doesn't harmonise them as well as it should. Its overly complex battle system clashes with its bustling moment-to-moment gameplay, and the result is an often frustrating fighter with a deceivingly steep learning curve. That said, there's no denying that there's still fun to be had with this great looking brawler, especially if you join forces with a couple of capable players.
It's not often that you can say a previous iteration in a sports franchise is significantly better than the newest and prettiest, but for EA Sports Rory McIlroy PGA Tour that is very much the case. The graphical upgrades and gameplay tweaks don't make up for the massive lack of depth and sacked features, meaning that this outing is very much below the property's usual par.
Episode four of DONTNOD's Life Is Strange continues the exceptional level of quality that episode three delivered. It even goes so far as to surpass what came before in a variety of ways.
Velocibox is simple and addictive, but it's just too darn difficult most of the time. This release demands such precision that we weren't able to see as much of it as we'd have liked – despite our absolute best efforts. With a fairer difficulty curve this could have been a decent timewaster; instead, we'd recommend it to masochists only.
The culmination of a decade's worth of iteration, Metanet's latest is a success in every sense. It's super stylish, feels excellent to play, and has that tough-but-fair balance just right. There may only be a few modes, but within them lie a vast number of levels, and when you're done, you can browse for even more created by players. This certainly won't be a game for everyone, as some people may find it too difficult and possibly a little obtuse. However, for those who like a hard-as-nails platformer and want a fresh compelling experience, you can't do much better than N++.
Q.U.B.E Director's Cut does very, very well for a game in a genre perfected by Portal, and while it's not quite at that calibre, it's a polished, complex, and enjoyable puzzler that has replayability, too. The story is deep, the mechanics are well thought out, and the graphics are simple – the ending is the only real downer in this game of many high points. A must for any indie or puzzle game fan.
The Swindle is a solid game, but it's a swag bag short of our full recommendation. As a title to play over a weekend – or between other games with more substance – it can't really be knocked, but don't expect to be feeling light fingered forever. This is a cunning con, a solid swizz – but it's been robbed of crime of the century status.
Onechanbara Z2: Chaos is essentially Devil May Cry on what feels like a budget of about £20, which is funny, since you can buy the far superior Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition on the PS4 for that same amount of money. To be fair, though, Z2 Chaos does have its fun moments, and it's kept afloat by a decent combat system that has a lot to offer once you've got a handle on the controls. It's not a totally brain dead release, but it's hard to recommend when it's launching on a console that already boasts several better action games.
In simple terms, Hatoful Boyfriend is an infectiously bizarre dating simulator about choosing a partner from a particularly fanciful flock of pigeons. But when all the birds come home to roost, your enjoyment of this comical curio is almost entirely dependent on your ability to truck with its utterly insane premise. Indeed, if you don't take umbrage with a bit of pigeon-on-human romance, you're likely to be taken on a riotous and remarkable romp.
The penultimate episode of Game of Thrones is a bit of a mess. While there's a lot of meat in this instalment, it still ends up tasting a bit bland. Between oddly behaving characters, technical issues, and poor plotting, this feels like Telltale's least inspired release in some time.
Journey remains one of the most cohesive titles to grace PlayStation. A sumptuous art style and a stunning soundtrack fuse to create an experience that's flawless from start to finish. Its story never utters a word, yet it has more to say than most scripts, and its handling of social interaction eschews tradition in favour of eye-opening anonymous bonding. Enhanced visuals and a silky smooth framerate made possible courtesy of the PS4's power make this the definitive edition of the release, and put simply, Journey is still one of the greatest games ever made.
Tembo the Badass Elephant is made even more frustrating by the fact that it doesn't flat out suck. There's a solid sidescroller in here, but Game Freak's taken it in the wrong direction. This should have been an adventure all about momentum, but it does everything within its power to pump the brakes. Give this wide load a wide berth – it's made itself irrelephant.
PlanetSide 2 is a staggering achievement that feels right at home on the PS4. For a fun, engaging battle-'em-up that doesn't cost a penny, it delivers potentially unlimited hours of adrenaline pumping excitement – there's nothing out there quite like it. Now if you'll excuse us, we have some Terrans to shoot.
[W]hile this remains an exceptional example of Sony Santa Monica's slick character action series, you should only really consider ripping open your wallet for this re-release if you've never experienced it before.
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter was already great when it released on the PC in late 2014, and the PS4 version succeeds in re-purposing that same experience for a new audience. While reworking the title in Unreal Engine 4 hasn't brought about a drastic number of changes, it performs adequately barring some framerate hiccups. For the most part, though, this game delivers an intriguing and thought-provoking detective experience that – in its own words – doesn't hold your hand.
This is a Godzilla game that's struggled to evolve beyond the basics of what's expected of it – it's the iconic roar without any of the menace to back it up.
If epic stories are your thing, then you probably won't get much enjoyment out of Deception IV: The Nightmare Princess. But the point of the game is its murderous sandbox, and things have only improved in that regard since the original outing was released. Go mad – that's kind of the point – and slash up some do-good knights and confused Satan worshippers. After all, it's what Daddy would want.
Ar nosurge Plus is a surprisingly unique experience that's bolstered by an interesting art style and a great soundtrack. An overbearing amount of dialogue can sometimes cause proceedings to drag, but an endearing cast of characters make the story worth sticking with – especially once you wrap your head around the game's strange world. And, while the title's RPG mechanics leave something to be desired, the satisfyingly pacey battle system is usually on hand to restore your faith. Although it doesn't quite reach the heights of a surging opera, this Vita re-release is still worth singing along to if you're a fan of Japanese RPGs.
Astebreed is great fun, and its download price makes it very easy to recommend – it just seems a shame that the game's six stages can be whizzed through in the best part of an afternoon. Without the Score Attack mode, the game would actually feel pretty hollow, but the blast-'em-up's still sure to stir emotions in anyone who had the pleasure of growing up with some of the fantastic titles that inspired it. Just be thankful that this game exists, saving us all a walk to the arcade and countless pockets of change.
Despite its sometimes obvious flaws, The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited provides a shocking amount of content for the asking price – even if the deciding factor is the fact that it's had its subscription fee scrubbed away. Accessible systems make it a brilliant MMO entry point for console owners who perhaps haven't dabbled in the genre before, while its fast-paced combat and addictive character development should keep most RPG fans happy.