Expansive's Reviews
This is the rebirth for Tony Hawk Pro Skater we’ve long waited for. Just as the N-Sane Trilogy was for Crash Bandicoot and Reignited was for Spyro, this is a lovingly built, high-quality remake that will hopefully lead to newer instalments in the years to come. Welcome back, Mr Hawk, You, most definitely, have still got it.
2K have completely rejuvenated video game golf. Not just that, they’ve published a great video game that I am having so much fun with. More than I ever expected to. I can’t speak for someone who advocates for and regularly watches golf, but what I can say is PGA Tour 2K21 has done more to get me interested in the sport than I ever have been. I cannot wait to see how HB Studios and 2K keep building and growing PGA 2K for the next generation and years ahead.
While I probably won’t immediately think to jump on these on my PS4 with so many other options available to me – I still feel mobile is the best way to play – I have an appetite to unlock all the trophies and upgrades within the game. For that alone, The Alto Collection is very special set of games that are still a lot of fun to play years after they first released.
The world of Mortal Shell is usually a good one to explore. There’s not a lot of narrative explanation outside of the character prose and you’ll often find yourself creeping into every room, staying on your toes from enemies trying to jump out and claw your face off. That can get a bit tedious, at times. But as Dark Souls clones go, this is absolutely one of the best ones I’ve played in recent times, and it evolves the formula in some really smart, intelligent ways.
For Nintendo owners, the release of Bioshock is something of a dream come true. It’s a game that never made it to the Wii or Wii U and was one of those third party games that seemed as if it would never make the jump across. Like all the 2K <3 Nintendo games, this has been lovingly put together and is the furthest thing from a throwaway port you can find.
Frankly, XCOM 2 seemed like one of those ports that couldn’t be done. Just like The Witcher 3, at times, you’ll wonder how this level of sorcery is even possible. But the Switch exists to defy convention, and XCOM 2 is another fantastic example of just how this console continues to do the unthinkable in the face of the seemingly impossible.
The game has never felt as fun, freeing, and fulfilling as it does in the palm of your hands. It just works in a way it never has before and while it doesn’t look as stunning as it’s competitors, it’s hard not to spend a few minutes with Burnout Paradise on Switch and think to yourself that this is the definitive way to play.
Relicta is a great action puzzler, though, with some great head-scratchers and an intriguing story to keep you working your way through. It’s not best in class in the genre, with many other great games releasing over the course of this generation, but Relicta was plenty enjoyable all the same and a must for those who’ve worked their way through the cream of the crop.
You can still have a lot of fun with Destroy All Humans but it does come with a content warning that, unfortunately, lasts the entirety of the game and some archaic concepts that have been far surpassed since the game first launched. But Destroy All Humans can definitely present a good time whether you want to relive a classic game you grew up with or fancy something different to play.
Röki is just a well-engineered, well told and ultimately very enjoyable game that will keep you spellbound from beginning to end. It’s simply beautiful and a game that will hold a place in my heart for a long time to come. Truly, it is very special indeed.
I’m a fan of what’s been achieved with Neon Abyss. Let’s face it, there’s no shortage of incredible roguelikes on Switch now and to be honest, that goes against this game a little bit as it doesn’t compare to the Dead Cells and Binding of Isaac’s of this world. Frankly, it’s among the best of the new breed I’ve played this year, so if you are in the market for a new roguelike, this is as good as any I’ve seen in recent months even if it isn’t best in class.
F1 2020 is a landmark moment for the franchise, a great game that offers longevity, high quality, and thrilling action. An absolute must for F1 fans.
Superliminal can be a decent challenge, but once it’s over, it doesn’t feel like a game you’d revisit in a hurry. It struggles to recapture that sense of wonder and magic. Still, for a short blast puzzler, this really does offer something different, and on the strength of that alone, stays memorable and lasting
Beyond a Steel Sky is ushering in an exciting new era for adventure games. Revolution Software have gone above and beyond with this sequel and reinvigorated a classic franchise in the best possible way.
Spongebob Squarepants Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated is expertly redesigned, thoroughly enjoyable, stylish platformer that fans of the show are going to go wild over. Spongebob is the perfect pick-me-up to lift your spirits and remind you just how fulfilling, wholesome, and most of all, entertaining the platform genre can truly be.
As someone who appreciated SUPERHOT for what it offered originally, I am a much bigger fan of this much more fulfilling, well-rounded experience. The roguelike aesthetic really suits the tone of the game and makes the Mind Control Delete experience absolutely essential for SUPERHOT fans, whether you loved it in VR or not.
Edna & Harvey The Breakout Anniversary Edition is a labour of love for all involved. Another fantastic adventure game that finds itself on Switch that you simply must add to your library.
If this is the kind of quality we can expect from Konami in the years ahead, there could well be a renaissance on the cards. They have Ukuza Games to thank for crafting a compelling, stunning, and overall, very entertaining platformer that, surprisingly, you’ll be smiling through as opposed to grimacing.
The quality, fantastic score, and pulse-pounding action are the perfect throwback to one of gaming’s greatest eras. Platformers were in their prime in the 90s and Ultracore is a great example of the creativity that studios were dishing out back then. If you’ve been desperate for a slice of 16 bit quality shooters, Ultracore will absolutely scratch that itch.
The Darius Cozmic Collection Console feels like a piece of history every retro enthusiast must own, and every gamer who wants to understand the legacy of the industry has to try for themselves. At least once.