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From an outsider looking in this is a heck of a good sports game. Full featured with heaps to do and gorgeous to look at. I can only imagine how fantastic NBA 2K17 is for true fans of the sport, but even for a newbie like me it's an entertaining and comprehensive package that contains heaps to do.
DLC is a funny thing, really. It's lambasted as a cynical money-grab in many cases, but I feel confident in saying that you'll get your money's worth out of Nuka World. For me, it was the prod I needed to get back into the world of Fallout 4, and wonder why I'd ever really left.
Virginia is a sharp thinking, plot driven single-player adventure like few out there. It borrows heavily from other games of its ilk, yet twists it into its own strange beast. Unlike plenty of others, such as Firewatch, Virginia also manages to actually live up to its premise and deliver a satisfying, thought provoking conclusion. I'd love to go deeper on this because Virginia is a game all about its story and it's delivered, but a mystery such as this best served piping hot with a cup of joe on the side.
In terms of narrative-driven first person adventure games, Dear Esther: Landmark Edition is about as pure as it gets.
Redout is an impressive, gorgeous throwback to futuristic racing games of yesterday that comes so, so close to nailing it. Some bizarre decisions relating to vehicle upgrades and difficulty make you question whether 34BigThings understood what made those classics tick in the first place, but it's just about salvaged by some great track design and slick performance.
With tougher, longer puzzles and a proper storyline (or no story at all, for that matter), Hue could perhaps have clawed itself a couple more marks. As it is, it's a passable puzzler that is priced according to its length and may serve as a light snack for puzzle and platform fans, but nothing more.
I know we're only eight months in but Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is certainly a strong contender for game of the year. For those who enjoyed Deus Ex: Human Revolution this is the same but sharper, more focused, and gorgeous to look at. Surprises may be few and far between, but few can craft a world as comprehensively believable as this one.
That’s a game which absolute nails this style of episodic, choice-driven gaming and the new bar for Telltale to meet. For now, I can only hope this season of Batman can elevate itself to a far greater level than the first two episodes let on.
I will get DLC as it piques my interest and the price is right for me. And that is why those tempting people at Games Workshop are the masters at this. There will always be something a Total War Warhammer player will want, it's only a matter of time.
What's here is an absolute joy to play. It's hugely immersive and the sort of game which can make hours fly by in the blink of an eye. I can't wait to get playing some more this weekend!
I guess the strongest thing I can say is: I’m struggling to want to play No Man’s Sky again, let alone contemplating getting to the centre of its universe. Its saving grace could well be post-launch support, however.
While the experience was enjoyable, I have to say I was sort of waiting for a big reveal that just never really arrived. I suppose I was in love with the idea of Bohemian Killing more than I was really in love with the game itself. That said, originality and the bravery to walk off the beaten path of game design are laudable characteristics, and I did enjoy getting into the mystery, with all of its weird Promethean themes and bizarre scenes.
As for whether this Telltale game in particular is worth your time; considering the glut of Telltale games now, it’s really only worthwhile playing the ones based on IPs you’re most fond of. If you’re a fan of a the Caped Crusader then step right up. If you're not, there's not much here to raise Batman above some of Telltale's other, stronger, efforts.
10 Second Ninja X is glorious, fast-paced fun. It’s frenetic action might make it ill-suited to long sessions, but for pick up and play goodness it’s hard to beat. It also really comes into its own when playing with a mate, letting each other take turns in an effort to take down a particularly brutal level. Of which there are a 100 by the way, so there’s plenty here to sink your teeth into despite theoretically being beatable in under 17 minutes
It's remarkable how effective a game Playdead have created from a few static backgrounds and a bunch of playforms and ladders. I suppose it goes to show that games as art are as good as the emotional investment of the designers. Good for you, Playdead. I'll be interested to see where you go next.
All in all The Technomancer is a fun little adventure which will definitely grow on you. It’s from the school of RPGs which are engrossing despite their laundry list of flaws. There’s much to be said for a small team like Spiders chipping away at a hideously involving and expensive genre, and for that they should be congratulated. It doesn’t have the polish of a Mass Effect 3 or Deus Ex: Human Revolution, but The Technomancer sure has a lot of heart.
Shadwen indeed sets the bar fairly high for stealth based games with its unique approach on real-time/turn-based gameplay. It lacks content and deserves more well thought out alternative gameplay moments, but overall we are talking about a fine game here which wears its heart on its sleeve. If you're looking for a stealth based adventure to keep you hooked for a few evenings entertainment then go grab Shadwen, you’ll (probably) not be disappointed.
Those looking for a Mirror's Edge 2 would do well to ignore every scrap of side content and smash straight through the story. I know reading back that it seems as if I'm down on this game, but it's only because of the potential I know Mirror's Edge has. Deep down lies the very same core that made Mirror's Edge so fantastic. DICE might have done its best to hide a quality game, but it's still there beneath the piles of filler.
It really is incredible what CDPR has achieved here, and I wouldn’t be totally averse to playing something of this size and quality each and every year. This is without doubt the greatest piece of DLC I have ever played, and I think plenty of other developers and publishers should rightly be embarrassed by their efforts after seeing this. Expansion of the year? Almost surely. Game of the year? A real possibility.
Where other Total War games were a battle of who-cares-which-type-of-men versus another bunch of men, Total War Warhammer makes you want to see the fight unfold. To witness how the trolls spit acid at dwarves or undead crumble to dust as you charge them with your knights.