Rock, Paper, Shotgun's Reviews
With the combat system and the way it's actually trying to make a point with its exploration of social issues, The Fractured But Whole does improve on its predecessor in some ways, but it quickly starts to coast, relying too much on familiarity to get by.
The Evil Within 2 feels like something of a departure from the first game, but also an extremely fitting follow-up.
By God, it's delicious.
Gosh it's fyn. It's ytterly ridicyloys, bombarding yoy with new items like nothing else, jyst constantly asking yoy to go have some fyn. "How aboyt trying that level with this?!" Okay! "Now this!" Syre thing! And that's enoygh.
As frustrating as that can be, it was why I found myself punching the air in jubilation after difficult bosses. And they're all bloody difficult – but I wouldn't have it any other way. If that sounds enticing rather than off-putting to you, then I can unreservedly recommend Cuphead.
Suspicious Developments have distilled that chaotic kinaesthesia into something much smaller, smarter and spacier, which is absolutely to be praised.
Hob is like a beautiful example of how to make a third-person action game.
It's an exceedingly strong beginning to this chapter of the Warhammer trilogy and is a strong contender for the best game in the series.
From its origin stories to its brief emergent narratives, few games let you take part in better tales than this one.
It's a shorter tale full of high-points, and wraps up lingering storylines while also leaving the door open for further adventures in the world of Dunwall, Karnaca and beyond.
Project Cars 2 addresses most of the flaws of its predecessor while expanding its scope, and in doing so has carved out a new niche for the series.
Rogue Islands won't be for everyone, but I thought it would be useful to explain why it's for me!
While ARK can be a lot of fun – grabbing another player off of a raptor with an Argentavis feels bloody brilliant – it's rarely worth the hours of tedium. If you can spare the 100 or so hours it takes to get your teeth into it then I'd recommend you spend them elsewhere.
A super-tricky game with a wonderfully smooth difficulty curve, and a masterclass in design when managing to offer real depth and challenge despite limiting itself to just two buttons from start to finish. You'll feel amazing when you succeed.
Thanks to the myriad possible move and combo loadouts, along with the various weapons and classes, PvP is both challenging and full of unexpected comebacks and knife-edge duels, but it just doesn't feel like a complete experience. Bugs, server issues, a small, dull open-world and the lack of modes is definitely holding it back.
It's not the deepest game, but it's smart, ridiculously pretty, and has me completely hooked.
It struggles with characterisation and motivation at times, BUT it also made me laugh out loud and furnished me with an unexpected weepy moment.
A slightly less good version of the two year old phone game. Which is still a top game, but, you know, not really something to write home about.
In terms of where this opening salvo of game leaves me, I'm interested to see how some of the characters progress and wary of others.
With Atlas Rises, it's worth returning to No Man's Sky