Pixel Dynamo
HomepageThe exhilarating rush of running along walls, leaping across rooftops and hanging to the ledges of buildings are perfectly captured in Mirror's Edge Catalyst. Just don't expect too much from its non-existent plot.
Total War's mechanics and the Warhammer setting complement one another beautifully, and Creative Assembly has mostly nailed the execution. Total War: Warhammer is the best representation of the Warhammer universe there has ever been in a video game, and the best entry in the Total War series for some time.
An explosive, if somewhat stretched, send off for gaming's most charismatic rogue.
Beautiful to look at, thrilling to play and infused with the gleefully anarchic spirit of the original, *Doom* offers the best and most refreshing shooter campaign in years. This alone would justify the price tag, but abundant secrets and potentially endless content via SnapMap add further longevity. *Doom* is back.
Star Fox Zero could be a great game if it could decide what game it wanted to be, and unnecessarily touchy controls, confused pace, underwhelming branching paths, and a serious shift away from its rail shooter roots are what it has to show for trying to be all of them at once.
I can wholeheartedly recommend playing this game to anyone remotely interested in space or first person exploration games that are more focused on letting the player do what the player will. P.O.L.L.E.N stands up to Gone Home as a gaming experience, but early adopters of the Rift would be remiss to pass on experiencing this game in virtual reality.
The second episode in The Banner Saga retains the gorgeous artwork, strong characters and agonising choices that made the original a success, while adding depth, variety and clarity to the combat.
DiRT Rally delivers on its promise of full simulation and then some, with an unrelenting, unforgiving rally experience and all the glory of eventual victory to go with it. The trinkets around rallying could do with some maintenance, but this is a game that can only get better - and it's already leaving many competitors in its smoke.
Give No Shelter uses its strong narrative to focus on what makes The Walking Dead more than a horror story: the human condition. The external struggles between Michonne and Monroe are secondary to the internal struggles Michonne faces herself.
Hyper Light Drifter is an exceptional game. With a beautifully mature pixel art aesthetic, seamless sound design, highly refined, often punishing gameplay, and a unique world full of secrets, it's a fine example of what can be achieved by an indie studio - or any studio, period. The oblique presentation and certain aspects of the gameplay might well drive some gamers away, however.
Enter the Gungeon not only refines the mechanics of the roguelike shooter, but also introduces an eclectic mix of gameplay features from other genres with skillful execution. With brilliant pixel art, incredible attention to detail, Devolver Digital-esque humour, a wealth of content, and a high level of replayability, this is a brilliant game.
Every element of Dark Souls III reinforces the others, from the broad, contiguous sweep of its stunning yet desolate world to the tiniest, menacing croak of a waiting basilisk. This triumphant summation of the series to date sets a new standard for action-RPG gameplay, and is a landmark achievement in game design.
Quantum Break combines masterful storytelling with fast-paced combat and great acting to prove that linear games are still a force to be reckoned with. You'll want to play through this game more than once to catch all of the nuances it has to offer.
A refreshing change of pace in an era of serious gaming and consistent across all five episodes, Story Mode offers a laid-back adventure that’s accessible to any type of gamer. Order Up kicks off a new journey for the Order of the Stone with another solid, enjoyable effort, with more than enough humour and direction to keep you interested in what’s to come from the next three episodes.
Samorost 3 is an enthralling trip that fuels your wanderlust. Just like visiting an old friend, it’s tempting to pop by again after you’re done - if only to relive your memories.
There's a charm that sits just under the surface, and sometimes you have to scratch away the filler to get to the good stuff, but when you do, The Division shines in the most beautiful way.
It's clear that a great deal of effort has gone into making the Paris map a living, breathing world for you to play around in. The mission itself feels absolutely brimming with nuance and possibility, although it's a shame the same cannot be said for the extra modes being offered to as a distraction until episode two comes out.
A well-polished entry into a genre quickly increasing in popularity, Far Cry Primal is one of the best games of 2016 so far. With enough beauty to keep you exploring and enough danger to make you nervous whilst doing it, Primal implores you to play on.
Will you enjoy In Too Deep if you liked Telltale's other The Walking Dead series? Absolutely. Does it stand up to our expectations based on the previous series? Not really. A Walking Dead game in shape and form, Michonne just lacks the tension in atmosphere and decision making.
Garden Warfare 2 looks great, boasts a huge roster of inventive characters and contributes much to the social shooter genre. Single-player and PvE content is lacking, however, and this exacerbates the already glacial pace of progression.