GameSpew's Reviews
Despite its minor camera and screen tearing issues though, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is great for those looking for a challenge. Its mix of stealth, strategy and action is a highly enjoyable one, and with its wealth of missions and bonus objectives there's plenty to go at.
Seven hours or so after starting your adventure the main quest will be over, but it speaks volumes that you'll probably still want to go and explore the world and grow stronger still. It's not because Cat Quest is deep or meaningful, it's because it's just fun, and that's all a game needs to be.
There are a few moments of frustration, but there are also times where it – dare I say it – surpasses Dark Souls in my mind. At the very least, it's a colourful, compelling, sci-fi Souls-like, and a great way to pass the time while waiting for FromSoftware's next announcement.
When I sat down to play Batman: The Enemy Within – Episode 1: The Enigma, I was glued to my seat until its thrilling conclusion. While lengthier than most Telltale episodes, the time still went by in a flash. In the end I was left on tenterhooks, shocked and eager to get stuck into the second part of the story.
Stripped of the need to generate moolah, or injected with a heavier dose of strategy, Vostok Inc could be a stellar venture. But the bottom line is that this game's pockets of excellence are stifled by an awkward mechanic that turns your interstellar journey into an unappealing, pan-galactic grind.
Despite the unusual source material for a VR, CastleStorm VR is up there with my favourite PSVR games. It may not be a huge title from a huge developer, but the whole package is almost perfectly formed.
For fans of the long-running series, buying King of Fighters '99 on the Nintendo Switch should be a no-brainer. It's a great game given new life on a new platform – what isn't there to love?
DeadCore doesn't quite knock Portal off its podium but it offers a wild, well-paced, otherworldly ride that is well worth taking.
For a genre that is continuing to grow thanks to the monumental success of Overwatch, Gigantic is a bigger splash than I expected.
Tacoma is a beautifully told story filled with real characters and real emotion that you won't be able to put down until you've experienced it in full.
Those hankering for a wildly robust and addictive competitive experience should absolutely take a dip into the neon-drenched waters of Splatoon 2. More so than Mario Kart 8, it offers a level of customisation, depth, and sheer fun that is rarely found anywhere else.
The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker is a fantastically compelling, suspenseful slow burn that shows just what can be done with a medium that, for years, has been misused and misunderstood. Look past its clunky parser and you'll be in for one hell of a head trip.
Although Marooners is fun, it's limited. Once you've played it a few times, the novel concept of spontaneously switching between mini-games becomes familiar and quite frankly, a little bit dull. It's a great choice if you have a spare few minutes with your mates, but its lack of content can't really compete with some of the bigger party games on the market.
Initially, I was really taken with Redeemer. The violent action, slick controls and impressive visuals made a great first impression. After three hours of play, however, it became a slog to work through.
Fate/EXTELLA: The Umbral Star makes for an entertaining hack and slash experience which feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch. It's admittedly a little pricey at £49.99, but for those looking for some Dynasty Warriors style action, it fits the bill quite nicely.
Cladun Returns: This is Sengoku! has awesome gameplay, great character creation, a catchy, old fashioned soundtrack and a thriving world full of surprises to find.
In a world plagued by stripped-back indie experiences grasping to evoke an element of nostalgia, I can at least praise I and Me for attempting something wholly original for the puzzle/platforming genre. But what could have been a mighty stride forward disappointingly feels more like a half step.
All of the components – the humour, the horror, the puzzles, and the characters – of The Darkside Detective add up to create one of the most entertaining and rewarding point and click games I've ever played.
Theseus is a story brimming with excitement and wonder, thrown into an experience ripe for improvement. Developer Forge Reply picked a great myth to tackle, and one that works astoundingly well in VR. The shortcomings are too numerous, however, to be overlooked.
With a well chosen soundtrack, uniquely delivered dialogue, and strong visual styling, you don't need to compete with AAAs to make something worthwhile.