The Skinny's Reviews
With its ‘no fail’ gameplay, your titular goat is pretty much invulnerable to all Goat Simulator has to throw at it; huge falls, car wrecks, massive explosions, Billy will pretty much pick himself up again and again. Ironic really as someone needs to put Goat Simulator out of its own misery.
All these flaws add up, and while the serious bugs are likely to get fixed (the developers have patched a number of issues since launch), Heaven's Hope remains a bit of a disappointment given its promise. Once the remaining bugs are fixed, it’s a worthwhile game for fans of this genre, who will doubtless appreciate its quirky characters, original story and convoluted item puzzles. Newcomers to the genre would be better off trying the classics first.
Pulse's greatest sin is its failure to deliver on its grandiose promise. This could be a serviceable adventure but there isn't a section of the game that goes by without provoking the thought "this could have been something much more" and that pervasive feeling of disappointment is hugely damaging to the overall experience.
Fans of stealth games will definitely find plenty to enjoy here but others may find themselves left cold by a game that seemingly refuses to acknowledge that less can be more.
While drawing inspiration from what has gone before is to be expected in any creative endeavour, failing to put your own mark on your source material can leave the finished product feeling like little more than nostalgic indulgence. It's a trap that Act of Aggression has thrown itself into willingly.
As much as the comparisons to XCOM don't tell the whole story of Hard West, it's probably fair to say that if you enjoy that brand of cautious run and gun, turn-based action, you'll probably be able to forgive Hard West its sins.
Arkham Origins Blackgate seems to have borrowed too heavily from its predecessors and whilst imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, it can also leave you looking pretty undistinguished.
You can see how good #IDARB could be, and almost certainly is right now for a select few, but the higher-end fun remains locked-off to the majority of players, at least for now.
If you can endure the game's sense of humour, there is fun to be had here with a few friends, for a while at least, but it's hard to shake the feeling that Sacred 3 is ultimately a derivative and tedious experience.
It's perhaps unfair to compare and lambast Thief against games that the series itself has spawned. Yet ten years in obsolesence is a long time in the gaming world, especially one bustling with the likes of Splinter Cell, Deus Ex and even Assassin's Creed. Long-term fans may gain more enjoyment from this revival, but in the main, Thief seems unlikely to steal many hearts.
Titan Attacks! is pure service to Space Invaders fans but feels lacking when put up against other reimagined retro titles such as Space Invaders Infinity. For everyone else though, if you strip away the minor gameplay tweaks and admittedly beautiful HD pixel visuals, you're left with a game which ultimately appears a little too antiquated once the nostalgia has worn away.
Gat out of Hell is a fun distraction but not one that we'd recommend buying on its own. However, if you never got chance to play the fantastic Saints Row IV first time around then this Re-elected/Gat out of Hell bundle is the best option available right now. It's just a pity that such a great game has received such a poor remaster.
Ultimate Chicken Horse is a great concept and what is presented here is well executed. Solo players may want to wait for online play – which wasn’t available at the time of writing – but if you have the potential to snag a few mates and their joypads over then it’s definitely worth investigating.
The Walking Dead: Michonne – Episode 1: In Too Deep is an effective opener, as long as you aren't expecting dramatic changes in Telltale's modus operandi. It feels like there could be something special here in further episodes but success is very much dependent on where they'll let this character go.
Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse has some excellent voice acting, peerless artwork and some thoroughly enjoyable puzzles, that just about compensates for a story that occasionally feels rushed or unfocused.
It's also unfortunate that there isn't a stronger story arc or antagonist to further improve the experience. Regardless, Xeodrifter is a clever title that'll feel right at home on a PlayStation Vita with its short bursts of gameplay and inspired mechanics, providing a formidable challenge to boot.
For the kid who saw lego as a means of expression, Space Engineers has a lot to offer and its initial unwieldiness is unlikely to hinder their enthusiasm to create. But for this scribe, who was happy just building Hogwarts over and over as a child, Space Engineers' pedantic (though admirably ambitious) level of complexity was able to sustain interest for only so long.
Mad Max feels like a polished title, one that tries to be a comprehensive sandbox game that, like its titular character, is able to hold its own. However, as fans of the films will know, in such a crowded world, not all can survive.
Whilst it has made some key improvements, Mario Party 10 still doesn't feel like that much of a significant step up from its predecessors, notably because of its inconsistent GamePad support. Nevertheless, it's still a fantastic title, which will no doubt provide a pleasant alternative to the stuffy board games that it draws inspiration from. If you're in the mood for an enjoyable party game then Mario Party 10 is definitely worth a roll of the dice.
Hatoful Boyfriend is a colourful title that utilizes a blend of photography and anime caricatures to tell its story. Animations are few and far between, with its style being more reminiscent of an elaborately crafted picture book than a conventional videogame title. This may disappoint some who will prefer a more thrilling experience, but it does well to set the game apart.