GameGrin's Reviews
Ascension is certainly the best Space Hulk video game to date - by a long way. The troublesome UI and difficulty may put some off, but these problems certainly don’t detract so much from the game as to make it not enjoyable. If you fancy a slow paced, strategic challenge with almost 100 hours of gameplay, then you will love Ascension. While it’s so close to the spirit of the original tabletop game that fans should add another point to the score. Well done to Full Control for making the Space Hulk game I had envisioned all those years ago, now get started on doing a version of Necromunda, please.
Randal's Monday is a novel attempt at comedy videogaming, but in messing up the crucial element of a game - that being the interactive experience - it will leave most players frustrated and gagging to play something sensible.
A large improvement over the first title that is impeded only by a few fringe issues and puzzles.
Fortunately, Pre-Sequel is largely more of the same with a few new extras. With the return of the True Vault Hunter Mode from previous games, the first thing you'll want to do after sitting (or skipping) through the credits will be to do it all over again - the biggest sign I can give you that Pre-Sequel is more than just a cut-and-paste copy of past games.
It's funny, there's a lot about Beyond Earth that I'm not too sure about and a fair number of mechanics that could be better. Yet it's incredibly playable and just as addictive as every other Civilization game. It's incredibly easy to lose a lot of time while playing, which is a testament to how the game can really get the player involved. It's ever-present that the game has a tendency to force the player down a certain path, lacking the overall freedom of something like Europa Universalis IV. Yet when the path is as beautiful, thoughtful and fun as Beyond Earth, it's not exactly a challenge to walk that path over and over again. It does indeed feel like a reskin of Civilization V, but it's a skin that the game wears quite well.
The flaws in Bayonetta 2 are in no way an excuse to miss out on this damn near perfect action fighting game. It seems like a privilege to play such a gorgeous exciting game and gamers without Wii U consoles should start reevaluating their life choices at this point.
The final boss fight was one of the funniest battles I've had in a long time. I haven't felt so rewarded and happy to finish a game since Kingdom Hearts 2. I hundred percent recommend this game for anyone with a Wii U. There are some minor things that bother me but these issues could be patched up in future. Zelda fans will enjoy this and Dynasty fans should give it a try with caution. If RPG hack n' slash games are your thing you're going to have a lot of fun with this, just one big tip: Never hit the Chickens.
For a group of friends who regularly play together in the same room, this would be an ideal addition to the rotation. It's an ironically fitting tribute to the days of Goldeneye, and one that will have your group in stitches by the end of your first session. Of course, you'll be at it tooth and nail by the second session, and by the third you'll probably be sick of it. While the idea and execution are both excellent, the game just isn't substantial enough to warrant extended play sessions.
Metro: Redux is a hauntingly beautiful game that will test your nerves as well as your trigger finger. If you want a definitive post-apocalyptic survival horror experience, I would definitely recommend the game. Also, in the winter, the game will turn your computer into a makeshift heater. What's not to love?
Poltergeist: A Pixelated Horror is a functional and at times enjoyable puzzler with an interesting twist if you can look past its flaws. Those looking for more action to their ghost simulators, though, might be better off waiting for something else.
At the end of the day, The Evil Within is a good Resident Evil game from 2005, but a below average third-person action adventure game in 2014. Silly design choices and just plain awful decisions manage to hold back what could be a fantastic experience.
While not being as much of a leap forward for the tower defense genre as the first game, Defense Grid 2 oozes quality and will provide both DG veterans and newcomers alike with hours and hours of enjoyment.
FIFA is a game about making you feel like a superstar. The game excels at creating moments that induce feelings of immense pleasure from periods of extended play. While the game is essentially the same old FIFA you know and love, it's a testament to the formula that it never seems to get old. With every feature you can imagine still here and improved, and more added for this year's iteration, you're left with a solid football game that gives you all the tools to enjoy playing for another year.
You will notice some cut corners but if you are looking for good pure stealth game this is it.
Time trials, speed potting and high score challenges all sit alongside the game's main career mode, and while they're all perfectly serviceable game types, it's Pure Pool's multiplayer that really stops the repetitive nature of the game from sticking its claws in.
Don't let its strange premise fool you, Hatoful Boyfriend delivers a masterful satire on the dating sim genre and a thoroughly enjoyable experience all the way through. Underneath its absurd setting, Hatoful boasts a well thought out world, enjoyable characters and clever writing that give the game its quirky feel. Plus, birds in maid outfits.
Every aspect of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor feels like it was designed to be the ultimate power trip. At the same time, thanks to nemesis, your actions have very direct and visible consequences on the world you inhabit. It's this combination that makes Shadow of Mordor not only an excellent game, but one which sets the standard for all open-world titles to come.
It took me a while to get into Alien: Isolation and, I can't imagine that everyone will enjoy it but, if you're a fan of either the Alien series or scaring yourself into next Tuesday, I'd suggest giving it a try. The story itself isn't particularly inspired, but it's more about the parts in between the story that work for Isolation.
The core elements of the game are all very good: story, visuals and gameplay are top notch, but they don't combine particularly well. The lofty ideas of player independence are held back by the need to tell a convincing story and the narrative can conversely be held back by the degree of player agency that does exist. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is an enjoyable short game by all accounts, the sum just isn't quite as good as the parts.
As gamers, we've certainly become a lot more demanding for original and varied content across the stretch of a game, and while repetition and score-beating held up well 30 years ago, it's not the case anymore. For series fans looking for a temporary time machine this'll do the trick, for most other gamers, it's a simple reminder of gaming's brilliant, but dated, past.