Pixel Dynamo
HomepageAn explosive, if somewhat stretched, send off for gaming's most charismatic rogue.
The 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.
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.