GameSpew's Reviews
If you’ve enjoyed games in the past such as Abzu or Dear Esther, you’ll find something to love here. And the fact that Mythic Ocean has been created by such a small team makes it even more impressive.
All things considered, Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training for Nintendo Switch certainly isn’t as good as its predecessors.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is for devout hunters seeking yet more challenging encounters, and for those it is a must-have. Bolstering the game’s repertoire of monsters and tweaking the gameplay in small but meaningful ways, it’s more of the same – but in the best possible way.
Dinosaur Island VR is merely serviceable. It has moments of fun which means it’s probably worth dipping in if you’re a hardcore dino-fan, but there’s little here to make it stand out. And given the potential of the game’s scaly antagonists, that’s a Jurassic disappointment.
If you’re a fan of point-and-click adventure games and have a penchant for gritty murder mysteries, there’s a lot to like in Blacksad: Under the Skin.
Wattam isn’t without its flaws; in particular, the more characters you gather, the harder it is to quickly switch between them. But even when your journey’s done, there’s more than enough here to draw you back in, whether you’re tackling the game in co-op mode, hunting for those few elusive characters you’ve missed or just diving into this daft and wonderfully charming world.
Playing MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, I couldn’t help but feel like it’s an old game given a fresh lick of paint.
Once you’ve figured out what you’re supposed to be doing, Tools Up! is good for a few laughs with a friend or two. But don’t expect to take the game seriously; if you’re aiming for three-star success you’re likely to find it more frustrating than fun.
I’ve had a lot to complain about, but SuperEpic is still quite fun to play, and I never found it difficult to keep coming back to fight and explore the twisting halls of RegnantCorp.
If you’ve ever enjoyed one of AVICII’s songs even just a little bit, AVICII Invector makes for one of the best music rhythm games this generation.
If you have friends to play it with and really love Shovel Knight, you probably will eke some entertainment out of Shovel Knight Showdown. There’s plenty of content to unlock, too. It really needed to have online multiplayer to make an impact though, as it’s only really enjoyable when played with others.
It’s my least favourite of the Shovel Knight entries, but with the bar raised so high, that doesn’t mean that King of Cards isn’t worth your time.
Airship Syndicate has created a game that both fans and those new to the series can jump into and have a great deal of fun. And thanks to co-op, it no longer has to be a solitary affair.
Despite its issues, Simulacra still kept me hooked for the duration of my playthrough.
Phoenix Point’s blend of combat, research management and global exploration is thoroughly compelling, even if the factions can be a little trying. Whether you’ve got fond memories of Julian Gollop’s original game or not, he and his team have taken old school strategy and dragged it kicking, screaming and gurgling into the modern day.
Unfortunately, because Deemo Reborn is a rhythm game first and foremost, it falls short if you’re playing it on the plain old DualShock 4 controller.
Ultimately, while Arise: A Simple Story has some wonderful ideas, it’s let down by unenjoyable gameplay.
With a lovely art style and an entirely intriguing concept, Where the Water Tastes Like Wine is unlike anything you’ll have played before. Its uniqueness makes it worthwhile, but some slow-moving elements, inconsequential mechanics and a few lacklustre stories mean it doesn’t stand out quite as much as it should.
There’s no reason to go back to the original now, and its generously low price (£15/$20) makes Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition an easy must-buy.
Death Stranding is an ambitious game, but it’s also one that’s self-indulgent and overwrought. With better pacing and the excising of some of its less flattering content and features, Death Stranding could have been something special