SA Gamer's Reviews
A nostalgic blast from the past that pays homage to a classic, Pokémon Yellow, and adds to the experience of becoming a Pokémon trainer for the first time once again.
Fallout 76 added survival and multiplayer elements to the game at the cost of pretty much everything that drew players to Fallout in the first place. No NPCs or dialogue trees leaves the game feeling empty and sterile, with exploration eventually feeling pointless as your tiny inventory and stash hit maximum weight.
Starlink: Battle for Atlas is an open world space shooter that is aimed at the younger market by combining toys with gameplay in an interesting way. Actual gameplay is not groundbreaking and gets repetitive after a while, but the way the game integrates with the toys at your disposal is quite innovative and fun, provided you have enough options available.
Capcom kept to the traditional strengths of the series and with that you're left with a highly addictive action-platformer that is perfect for both newcomers and veterans alike.
Turf Wars is the awkward middle child of the City That Never Sleeps story DLC. It doesn't have the initial excitement of The Heist and is more or less just a set up for the final DLC, but it's still a load of fun considering we get to jump back into the world of Spider-Man.
An aesthetically beautiful and deeply personal look at a very significant yet, troubling time in human history. Delving into the lives of the two men on opposing sides who enter the war for very human reasons and whose lives are deeply affected by each other and the war itself, is taxing, moving and as a narrative experience, poignant and worthwhile.
Hitman 2 isn't a revolution, it's a refinement of what worked and an irresistible package of worthwhile and replayable content. Creativity and audacious planning is rewarded and options are given for any potential playstyle from the casual murderer to the gilded assassin. With even more content planned for the future and the plethora of challenges and modes to take part in, this is one game that satisfies all your assassination needs and more. Some slight performance problems and a throwaway story does hobble it a bit, but make no mistake, this is the definitive Hitman experience in one convenient and polished package.
Battlefield V is a level playing field, with no gadgets in boxes to buy to be better, no map packs to fracture the player base. Great gunplay, fun maps and enough guns for everyone to find a favourite will keep players coming back for more, especially if they have a squad that can take advantage of all the new features.
The Colonists is cute and with a stronger campaign, it could have been so much better. Sadly repetitive tasks and some finicky management means that some levels feel more like a chore than a challenge as your robots fumble over themselves.
It's not easy to improve a game that's just about perfect and Tetris Effect is proof that the formula doesn't need much tweaking. It looks and sounds incredible, but don't expect this euphoria to last you a long time. Unless you love playing for a high score via leaderboards, the effect will wear off before you know it.
Like a popular pop beat, Just Dance continues to be a lot of fun, especially in groups. If you have a previous edition, there isn't too much new or groundbreaking to force you to get Just Dance 2019. However, if not, the 2019 edition is the most complete version to date and will be a great addition to your multiplayer/party gaming library.
Call of Cthulhu is an example of a game that could have been but is tragically brought down by extremely basic gameplay elements and a total disregard for story characters. Minor bugs aside, I can't see many enjoying this game, but perhaps, just like anything negative, it'll become a cult classic two years down the line.
"Triumph" is a word often lazily used by reviewers to describe games that receive high scores, but it's the only word I can come up with to describe Red Dead Redemption 2. A technical marvel, a narrative powerhouse and a game that will enter the halls of gaming history as a new high standard that many games would only dream to reach. Its slow and methodical nature may deter some, but if you can give the necessary patience, the reward is better than a train robbery going off without a hitch. You owe it to yourself to get this game.
Diablo III on the Switch creates a whole new way to play the game that makes it work in tiny sessions all the way up to marathon runs. Great for newcomers and old salts, you will find yourself competing in the next season before you know it.
LEGO DC Super-Villains is a lighthearted romp with those interesting villains that we love to hate. Sprinkle in some chaos, fun abilities and characters that gets far too powerful for their own good and you get to explore the DC universe a little differently.
If you've ever wanted to murder your neighbours when they exceed a comfortable decibel limit, then this is the perfect game for you. You'll find satisfaction in the game's many clever puzzles that deliver pure murderous fun and the almost contemplative nature as you avoid getting caught. Coupled with a great art style, this is a fun little romp that your secretly psychotic heart can indulge in.
Dark Souls Remastered finally brings the series to a Nintendo console with a very competent and solid port. It's ported from the older generation consoles, but it still looks and plays pretty well. There are a few minor control issues, but it's mainly due to not getting dedicated button mapping for the Nintendo platform. If you're a fan of the series or a newcomer, the game is still worth a look.
In a market full of fighting games that deliver nuanced single-player and multiplayer modes, having a solid fighter just isn't enough to rely on. While the fighting is fun, fast and full of varied technical layers, SoulCalibur VI doesn't offer enough beyond the core vs aspect to set it apart as something special.
Clever, beautiful and more intricate and expansive than I expected a card game to be, you will scratch your noggin for some devilish puzzles, while following on a story of one of the biggest threats the Northern Kingdoms ever faced: the armies of Nilfgaard.
While innovation wasn't a focus, the sheer value for money that you get with this game is more than enough to offset any doubts that this game isn't worth it.