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For what it is, Tales of The Shire puts together a cozy game that almost requires you to play a certain way to enjoy it. At the same time, the game makes it known what it wants from you from the very beginning. There's charm here to be had with the right mindset. However, putting all of this together makes for a rather fixed and repetitive experience. For what it's worth, Tales of The Shire stands as a solid formula for people who don't often play these types of games. It replaces coordination and planning with hard work. By the time you're done with this game, you'll be ready to try some of the more renowned titles the genre has to offer.
Mafia: The Old Country is all killer and no filler, featuring a lean campaign with engaging characters, cinematic set pieces, impressive visuals and a solid mob story that can be guilty of being a touch too predictable at times.
Time Flies is a clever and enjoyable experience that delivers a profound message amongst its hectic speed running adventures. Savour the moments, as time flies when you're having fun!
This might not be the biggest Killing Floor launch ever, but it might be the best-built one - at least once the performance issues are patched up. You get fewer weapons and perks, but they're better designed, more interesting, and full of potential thanks to the new mod system. The side objectives and movement upgrades push things forward just enough without losing what made the series fun in the first place. I have so much faith that this will build upon itself to be as much of a titan as Killing Floor 2 eventually was. As a fan from the start, I feel compelled to credit it for that.
The best point and click adventure effort to come along since Thimbleweed Park, Lucy Dreaming is a relentlessly entertaining genre effort that deftly blends well structured puzzle design with the sort of delightfully irreverent and offbeat humour that will have you grinning and quietly chuckling like a loon throughout its duration. A great point and click offering that you can enjoy with a nice cup of PG Tips, I suspect that a cuppa of Yorkshire Tea would be more in line with what the creators intended.
Gorn 2 doesn't reinvent the series, and it doesn't need to. It refines the original in smart, deliberate ways: tighter progression, sharper visuals, and more variety through new weapons and absurd traps. The core loop remains that gleeful, physics-fuelled violence, now smoother, better paced, and more reliably fun. For fans of the first entry, Gorn 2 delivers a more polished and engaging experience - a true sequel that earns its place in the arena.
Strangely, while Shadow Labyrinth is a solid Metroidvania that carries inspiration from various sources, it doesn't feel inspired because it leans too heavily on the nostalgia of Puck's Pac-Man sensibilities. Serviceable is the best way to describe Shadow Labyrinth because it's a competent experience and it might be satisfying if all you're looking for is a general Metroidvania experience.
With how much has changed in Destiny, it's hard to see the forest through the trees. Everything I thought I knew, from what was good to what to focus on, has been overhauled. This was initially jarring, but the longer I spend with it, the more I come to like it. Much like the start of a new show, you can tell there is something more; however, you're only left with more questions. While this explanation is small, the universe it opens is vast.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers isn't perfect, but it doesn't need to be to stand among the best in the Soulsborne genre. It doesn't just mimic what makes these games fun but expands on the formula that few others could. Challenging gameplay, riveting exploration, and unique control mechanics help to elevate Wuchang well above the run-of-the-mill Soulsborne clone. Wuchang more than deserves its own franchise.
While I would have liked to see a bit more done to update these games for modern platforms beyond just a bump to resolution, Patapon 1+2 are still landmark titles that deserve a look from anyone who has an appreciation for PlayStation's back catalogue. This is the definitive way to experience two core PSP games.
Ultimately, if you can forgive the crusty aesthetics (and I would encourage you to do so - even if there is a lot of forgiveness to be dished out), Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition will still absolutely decimate your social calendar as it thoroughly draws you into its Dungeons & Dragons setting. It's just a shame that some more care and attention wasn't lavished to give this re-release the proper love it deserves.
RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business sets out its stall just by virtue of its title and has enough in the tank to provide for a worthwhile outing, particularly at its lower price point. For those who found a lot to love in the preceding Rogue City, you'll find something very similar here, which is not nearly as much to its detriment as it is to its good.
Tough, tactical, and totally uncompromising, Ready or Not delivers a standout experience for those after something smarter than your average shooter. Every encounter demands precision and patience, with real consequences for poor decisions. Ready or Not is a must-play for fans of methodical, high-stakes gunplay.
Some disappointing soundtrack modifications didn't hamper my time with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, as its truly timeless and nostalgic gameplay experience ultimately reigns supreme.
While Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream won't win any awards in terms of its challenge or implementation of stealth mechanics, I absolutely fell in love with its opulent setting, excellently heartfelt performances, gripping story and linear stealth adventure goodness that did just enough to satisfy my stealth hunger. Though some may rightly decry its lack of challenge relative to other entries in the stealth genre, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is nonetheless a stunning debut for Swedish based studio River End Games and I can't wait to see what comes next.
So, EA Sports College Football 26 is better than last year albeit demonstrating its superiority in a measurement of inches rather than miles. That said, the raft of incremental improvements, massive amount of content to stuck into which when married with EA's reliably all-star, blockbuster presentation which succeeds in emulating the audiovisual sensation of the real-life spectacle mean that EA Sports College Football 26 remains an essential purchase for those looking to hit digital college gridiron. All in all, EA College Football 26 is the best football game to come along for a good while and once again supplants the Madden NFL franchise as the premier gaming series for America's most passionate sporting pastime.
If you're looking for a spicy action game with an unashamed bravado and an excitably challenging gameplay loop, then Anger Foot is an absolute treat you won't hesitate to lap up in all its colourfully weird glory. The thin character interactions as well as the repetitive and overwhelming enemy compositions can grate, though when you're in the midst of the action you won't care. Anger Foot aptly puts its best foot forward as it capably produces a reverberating destructive impact, one you owe it to yourself not to miss out on despite its flaws.
System Shock 2 25th Anniversary Remaster contains a complete package of the source material, lovingly maintained in its original form, alongside tons of assets and history that most preservation efforts can't compare to.
Strange Scaffold has crafted another memorable shooter that knows how to get under your skin and pull you back in for just one more run. For players who love to push their skills to the limit, this one's an easy recommendation.
If you're in the mood for some solid multiplayer football, REMATCH is certainly a good effort that you'll be happy to attempt to master thanks to intricate controls, and the bite-sized sessions that throw the rule book away for the sake of fluidity and fun.