Expansive's Reviews
Operencia The Stolen Sun just works on so many different levels. I was really taken aback by just how well put together, presented and enjoyable it all is, honestly, you will find no better dungeon crawler on your Switch. Operencia needs a hero and it should definitely be you.
There is a spark and ferocity in Resident Evil 3 that we haven't felt from the previous remakes. We loved every inch of RE3.
The Foundation has some exciting revelations which make it an essential play for Control fans and it really does get us in the mood for the game’s second DLC – AWE – which will hopefully see some form of crossover with Alan Wake. Sadly, though, it’s not all plain sailing, occasionally drawing attention to the worst of Control rather than the best of it.
Exit the Gungeon was a uniquely suited mobile game, finding a perfect home on Apple Arcade. It’s translated nicely to PC and Switch, though it lacks some of the spark which made Enter such a cult classic. Random weapon changes, lengthy reloading of guns, and some overly harsh boss battles which lack the sense of strategy the original game made famous spoil things a little bit.
Put in plain terms, if Beat Saber put VR on the map, then Half Life Alyx is the reason you chart a course. It's everything VR has needed and the return to a classic franchise we've been waiting for.
Just thinking about the game’s rip-roaring heavy metal soundtrack, hordes of enemies, killer arsenal set, and speedy action is making my heart pump. DOOM Eternal takes what you loved about the 2016 reboot, and makes it louder, faster, more graphic, intense and involving.
Persona 5 was already a magnificent RPG, one of the best this generation, but The Royal content has just made it even more essential. All of the additions feel important and necessary and contribute positively to an already fulfilling game. If you haven’t dived into Persona 5 before, you’re in for an incredible treat. It’s the perfect way to fill hours in the day and right now, that sounds just perfect.
There are glitches, technical holdups, and frame rate drops, so it’s by no means perfect, but Ori and the Will of the Whisps is an incredible swansong for this generation of Xbox and reminds you of the type of first-party quality Microsoft has for the generation ahead.
I’m so glad that this game has been given a new lease of life on Switch. It’s not always perfect and it may not be what you expect, but it’s still another great RPG that definitely feels more at home in a portable world than on the big screen. If allowed, this one can be a real crowd-pleaser.
I enjoyed Dry Drowning very much. My hope is that we get to see more of this world and Mordred Foley in the future. With an established cast, clearer direction, and a grasp of how to make compelling fiction, Studio V are onto something big. Fingers crossed they get some of the issues ironed out before the game hits Xbox next year.
As a game, Catherine Full Body plays very well and the flow between interactive fiction and puzzle solving is surprisingly seamless, offering a great hook. In that sense, the game has aged well and holds up as a great visual novel. But in terms of the story the game tells across it’s vast, branching narrative, there are question marks around some of the content in the game. Both in the way it defines the relationships we share as human beings and how it normalises some individual behaviour in those relationships.
Torchlight 2 is a must-have on Switch if you’re a budding adventurer with a desire for action. It does, of course, lack the mod opportunities PC owners have enjoyed for years, and therefore misses a massive chunk of what makes the game special. But the content Runic Games have here is excellent and Panic Button have done a remarkable job of making it run as it should. Buy, buy, then buy again!
Switch tax is a bit of a kick in the teeth for this one considering prices elsewhere and the lack of Labo VR support is a little disappointing, but this might just be the best place to play Superhot where a VR headset isn’t involved.
It’s a busy week and this seemed to come out of nowhere, but don’t sleep on Bulletstorm: Duke of Switch. It’s an absolute cracker on the handheld’s ever-growing library.
As horror games go, it’s definitely one of the most well put together this year. Frankly, Blair Witch fans couldn’t ask for a better 20 Year Anniversary Gift. If you have GamePass, you absolutely must check this out. Even though it can be finished in a few hours, unlike other horror games, this one will actually give you something to think about.
One of the best games I’ve played this year. Control might just be Remedy’s best work yet. It’s a confident game with plenty of things to keep you interested and invested. You’ll want to peel back and explore every corner of Control’s world. You’ll be desperate to learn what secrets Jesse is keeping, how her relationships evolve with the subcast and acquire each new ability which opens up the game in an even more exciting way. If Control is giving us a glimpse into storytelling for the next generation, we have every reason to be excited.
Wolfenstein: Youngblood is a smartly designed, well polished, and – most importantly – an entertaining shooter that you can play online with your friend with only one copy of the game. It’s more than just your average spin-off and Buddy Pass works just great. In fact, it might just be a landmark moment for the industry as we transition to a bigger, bolder, new generation. We know how much Bethesda like to trial and tinker with new things. Wolfenstein: Youngblood is definitely one of their better experiments.
It's a fun thrill ride while it lasts. Redeemer Enhanced Edition is kind of a one and done game and it’s not a very long one. Having said that, what you get in that one playthrough is some gripping action, solid gameplay, and a chance to team up with a buddy. There’s potentially the makings of an exciting new IP here and I just hope, if they ever do a Redeemer 2, it benefits from some of that potential.
Dragon Quest Builders 2 just feels like a more well-rounded, better polished, much-improved game in every sense of the word. I am completely hooked and am in absolute awe at what’s been achieved here.
As a game, it’s by far the best Stranger Things experience out there. True, that’s not saying a lot – which, in itself, is a crime – but I suppose it could serve as a new way to relive cool moments without having to watch the show again. If you’re looking for an interactive experience that really pushes the possibilities of the Upside Down to its limits, though, this really isn’t it.