Expansive's Reviews
Planet of Lana is the rare combination of potential and quality. With a soundtrack that will surely win awards, an unforgettable cinematic style that constantly impresses, mechanics and gameplay that evolve smartly, giving you just the right amount of challenge, and a friendship that warms the cockles of the heart. This is a wonderful adventure that, bar a few minor misgivings, has a bit of everything and will stick with you long after the credits roll.
Puzzle Bobble: Everybubble! does what the series does very well, smartly adding new ways to play, keeping the campaign fresh, but also providing enough content away from that to keep you invested and engaged. Accuracy is a little bit off using the aim at times but this is as close to a definitive Puzzle Bobble experience as you’ll find, with an exciting looking global ranking mode and a multiplayer inclusion which, when it works, it does surprisingly well.
Zool Redimensioned is a smart reinterpretation of a classic platformer, modernised for today’s gamer while still staying authentic, maintaining what made it the game it was. Added party modes, accessibility options, filters, and modes to suit retro enthusiasts, it successfully brings everything you may have loved (or never heard of) in a release that belongs and successfully succeeds in 2023.
Tin Hearts is a joyful puzzler with heart and style. It creates a soothing, engaging atmosphere with charming music, encourages discovery of your surroundings with mechanics that are gradually, smartly implemented and introduced. As a VR first title, playing in flat can be a bit jarring with controls and interactivity feeling a bit on the clunky side, but regardless of how or where you play, this is an adventure you should experience.
LEGO 2K Drive takes the best bits of Mario Kart and Forza Horizon then fuses them together in a distinct, everything is awesome kinda way. Whether you’re looking for a fun party game you can play with your mates across formats, an exciting creative tool to exercise your imagination or something to keep you busy for weeks and months ahead, this surprise package is an absolute delight. Slight balance and terrain issues aside, the potential for this is massive and might just be the best ever use of the LEGO license in a video game to date.
Star Wars Jedi Survivor had a rough start at launch but the content was always strong enough to shine through past its technical issues. Now most of those are resolved or are in the process of being fixed, the game is an easy recommendation and may just be my favourite game this year. Everything is bigger, better, more elaborate and enjoyable and it makes for the best Star Wars gaming experience I’ve had since Knights of the Old Republic. Respawn have built something very special that has connected wonderfully with the current goings on in the Star Wars universe, while creating a product that is able to expand our understanding of this universe in new and interesting ways through great writing, direction, and gameplay.
Dredge is that rare breed of video game that successfully blends a mixture of great titles and creates something quite different and special. From its stunning atmosphere, complete with an ominous soundtrack, to its rich, well-developed mechanics, varied quests, and compelling core loop. To date, it’s one of the best indie games of the year, both because it’s incredibly difficult to put down and forget about
Advance Wars 1+2 Re:Boot Camp might just find a permanent home on your Switch between its epic, lengthy campaigns, multiplayer variety, and custom maps. Nintendo and Wayforward have set up a release that is incredibly generous, highly enjoyable, while reinvigorating a franchise many thought they may never see again. Brutal difficulty curve aside, there’s no first party game on Nintendo’s lineup more suited for Switch than Advance Wars and if you’re willing to put the time in, you’ll be heavily, heartily rewarded.
Ravenlok is a game full of surprises and felt incredibly satisfying to play, tapping into a genre I actually need a whole lot more of. Its lack of real combat strategy, button mashing and frustrating camera, as well as the speed you can blaze through with no returning hook do, unfortunately, limit the game’s potential. But what’s here with story, characters, setting, and style will, ultimately, make sure you have an enjoyable time while you’re playing.
A tricky followup that doesn’t massively stand out in this collection, even though it has tons of historical significance and experiments with mechanics in some unexpected ways.
Teslagrad 2 is a short, mostly well engineered puzzler that never really emerges from its predecessor’s shadow. It looks great, mostly handles decently with some platforming frustrations and interesting sections that mix things up just enough, but that also has a lot to do with a rapid run time.
Wildfrost takes two of the most popular genres in gaming and mashes them into something quite different and mostly enjoyable. There’s a tough difficulty curve here, plus accessibility doesn’t appear to have been the game’s highest priority and there’s a few control issues on Switch, but what you have is a fast-paced, progress-centered battler that you’ll come to appreciate, maybe even love, the more time you spend with it.
Burning Shores is one of the best DLCs I’ve ever played and is up there with Left Behind in a way it develops its character, progresses its story in a smart way but equally raises the bar for everything to follow. A fitting send off for Forbidden West and a tantalising taster for the future of the Horizon franchise.
Dead Island 2 brings blood, brutality and bloody good fun. It is a thrill-ride from the opening credits with its use of hard-hitting weapons, good characterisation and stunning backdrops. A limited plot and constraining development options aside, this is the Dead Island you remember and one we’ll likely never forget again.
Entertainment in education, Final Fantasy still holds up well, despite its dated mechanics, and benefits magnificently from the upgrades Pixel Remaster offers.
Minecraft Legends is a welcome introduction to the world of real-time strategy but equally adds its own distinct spin on things with its iconic style of building and creating. While the game’s campaign is dynamic, robust and generous, and there is a long-term setup for regular content additions, this is a game that lives, breathes, and thrives on multiplayer. Thankfully, with its inclusion in GamePass, brand recognition and synchronization across all formats, community is something it will never have to worry about and will encourage for years to come.
Sherlock Holmes The Awakened is an enjoyable re-imagining of one of Frogwares best takes on the great detective. Stunningly recreated with Unreal Engine, this story has new puzzles, a wealth of side missions, quirky mechanics, and an intriguing plot that keeps itself interesting throughout. A remarkable accomplishment considering the horrendous circumstances the studio has had to overcome.
Resident Evil 4 is more brutal, intimidating, unsettling and intriguing than ever. By far, the best of the Resident Evil remakes in a way that it honors the foundations of the source material, logically expands upon them in interesting ways, and manages to make everything look, feel and play better. Regardless of where Capcom go from here, this is peak Resident Evil – it just does not get much better than this.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is one of the most unexpected, unusual releases of all time. It completely goes at odds against the original source material, it has no obvious audience base as a result, but it remains an enjoyable, creative, bold take on a character we felt we knew inside and out. A stagnating second half and a steep price tag let this one down from an outright recommendation, but there’s still enough in here that deserves your attention, embossed with a trademark signature style and quality that could only come from the Umbran Witch herself.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is further proof that no one treats their back catalogue with the same love and care as Nintendo. It’s the same classic platformer you fell in love with on Wii, but with better graphics, a smoother feel, and an absolute ton of new content and mechanics to make this near thirteen year old game feel fresher than a daisy. The pink puff cloud at its absolute best.