AusGamers's Reviews
In this way, familiarity and the sense of game-universe expansion is a draw I can see tugging at the sleeve of only the most ardent of uniformed Fire Emblem devotees, but so much so they will be rewarded for going all in here.
Though it has to be said, the somewhat janky real-time cinematics, not to mention seeing so many others running around as you're trying to trigger an important event, hinder the dramatic impact of the story being told.
The mid-to-late 1990s. And it's here where we bring up the obligatory <b>StarCraft</b> comparison, mainly because the iconic RTS from 1998 drew inspiration from a number of classic sci-fi properties including Starship Troopers.
A summer camp teen horror inspired by movies from the 1980s, the setting and set-pieces are at times cliché or familiar, but with a cast of engaging characters and great story you're left with something wholly memorable.
It remains to be seen how exactly the online create-a-club stuff pans out in terms of competition, but as a same-room couch jam Mario Strikers: Battle League Football gets better and better the more you play. A surprisingly deep, chaotic bit of Mario Sports action.
The flip-side to this is a positive, in that Rogue Legacy’s intricate progression and many, many secrets to discover is enough to warrant on and off play for weeks and months. If you’re after a pure rogue-lite experience and something that has the combat depth and platforming challenge to keep you hooked on its loop for an extended period, then Rogue Legacy 2 is a resounding success. Visually, it's a huge leap forward over the original too - with some fantastic animation and responsive 2D action.
) The studio has even gone to length to include not just a film grain overlay, but things like audio crackling, film burn and scratches as well as oddities in editing and the like.
Nintendo Switch Sports lives up to its namesake in that the sports are both the star of the show, and the entirety of the experience.
In gaming, it's often touted at specific genres, such as the <i>Metroidvanias</i> or <i>Roguelikes</i> of the space; pixel-powered knockoffs or homages to our favourites of yesteryear dotting the proverbial Indie landscape, servicing a wistful bit of throwback while also cashing in on its powerful pull.
In the end it’s hard to look at this as anything but a missed opportunity, where the mix of old and new doesn’t quite come together. The horror aspirations amount to little more than set dressing. Fast-paced shooting is where Forgive Me Father settles, a place where enemies move in predefined patterns and strafing is just about all you need to do to survive. As fun as that can be in doses, there’s little incentive to keep going once you realise that’s all there is.
Narratively there's a lot of nuance to be found in the conversations between Vincent and his robo-pal MAC, his family, and other humanoids, which in turn leads to several branching paths and even different overall conclusions.
And each space has been generously designed from both a LEGO and franchise perspective, serving up some of the prettiest Star Wars locales in gaming to date.
Plus, you can equip a book that fires Palpatine-style lightning bolts.
It's a place where you can help a fellow in need, or bury him deep beneath snakes -- the choice is yours.
This isn't entirely surprising, given the amount of leeway (and subsequent lack of punishment) given when entering a corner hard under brakes, or applying full throttle at the apex of said corner.
It’s too easy. And it’s not like dialling up the AI or bolstering their numbers would help, it’s just been designed as an ultra-accessible game. And that’s fine. But for mine it’s detrimental to some of the clever ideas that do rear their head throughout, though these are more often flash-in-the-pan in terms of cadence and delivery
In the end, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is a confident and very welcome step forward for the Borderlands series.
Ghostwire: Tokyo is an experience where immersion and originality is born from the technical and artistic brilliance on display, and the care and attention to detail Tango has put into every building and alley-way you discover.
Frustratingly this doesn't let up nearly enough as it should though, because the meat and potatoes of the experience; the exhilaration of just riding, is lost a bit to its gimmicky content-creator-driven lean and goalset.
And thus begins your <strike>journey</strike> saga.