Player2.net.au's Reviews
Chasm delivers in many ways, but the one thing that holds it back from the upper echelon is a world that feels as though it were built from Lego pieces.
Perhaps time will iron out many of the issues as this still feels like a living document being tweaked by the creators. But as a paid game at retail, it’s just not good enough to recommend.
To say Divinity: Original Sin 2 is an outstanding example of the CRPG genre would be underselling. With a story that feels like a best-selling fantasy novel, a combat system that is deep and intuitive and a world that is interconnected in ways the boggle the mind, Original Sin 2 should be a must buy for any RPG fan. It requires dedication and demands your attention, but any sacrifice you make to play the game is well worth it.
I’ve had a blast with Strange Brigade in single player. There’s just enough hook to keep you replaying levels for the secrets and puzzles you missed, and while the campaign tends to repeat notes across different scales, the act of killing nasty monsters never gets old. If you’ve pined for more Mercenaries modes these past few years, this will well and truly scratch that itch.
My executive summary is simple: If you like tactical squad-based games, the Cold War, or a good spy thriller, make acquiring a copy of Phantom Doctrine a priority.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is everything players have come to expect from the series – humour, heart, honour, drama and karaoke. It stands alongside the likes of Shadow of the Colossus as one of the best remakes of this console generation and should be in the library of any Yakuza fan, old or new.
Though fairly safe in many respects, the inclusion of one simple mechanic has completely reinvented the way that you play Overcooked. A single stroke of genius, coupled with improved level design and the always endearing audio/visual style guarantees that Overcooked 2 will be in high circulation through any social events to come.
Sonic Mania Plus makes me feel like I’ve played Sonic games all my life. I feel as though I’m being welcomed home with open arms despite me never having a strong connection to the series. Representing the very best that old-school platformers have to offer, Sonic Mania Plus is a wonderful experience for both newcomers and longtime fans.
The Banner Saga 3 is a dark, enthralling end to one of the best stories in gaming, a story that needs to be experienced by all.
Red Faction: Guerrilla is a game that knows its place in life and owns it. A game so confident in its gimmick that nothing else in the game world matters. It was refreshing when it was released and it is still refreshing now. No heavy stories, no deep combat systems, just a man, his hammer and a giant playground waiting to be torn apart. Bliss.
However, for those in a situation like myself who missed its initial launch and are playing indie catch-up, Inside is the type of short but gratifying experience that the Switch is perfect for delivering.
Overall, Shining Resonance Refrain is a good JRPG experience despite its incredibly slow start. If you have the patience to get into the meat of the story, it rewards you with fun gameplay and a pleasing audio-visual experience. Whilst it’s not breaking any ground in terms of character development or storyline, it’s still a solid game that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy.
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit is a moving piece that explores grief, love, abuse and the resilience of children in just over two hours. Given that it is provided completely free of charge, I would implore everyone to give it a chance, even if you didn’t enjoy Life is Strange. For gamer parents out there, it should be considered an essential experience.
If you are into these non-combat/city building types of strategy games, I highly highly highly recommend Frostpunk. The gameplay is very engaging, the sound is amazing and the game is just stunning to look at. Just so you know, expect your people to die, because they will. So, so many of them will die.
Difficulty and accessibility come together to make this a game that all can appreciate, no matter their level of expertise with the genre, and on top of this, Hollow Knight makes some small inclusions that every new game in the genre should look at implementing. Team Cherry, you’ve achieved something extraordinary and I cannot wait to see where the journey leads you next.
Unravel Two will help you feel that fragile but precious thread once again. In its initial seven levels and numerous additional challenge stages, you will appreciate that delicate little piece of yarn. There will be moments when your instincts help you progress forward, and other times where you just need to feel the weight of that truss as it plummets onto the ground while you think of how to tackle that seemingly impossible challenge.
I can’t recommend a game that plays like this despite enjoying it for the most part – when it actually works.
So with The Crew 2, I am left a little split on my feelings. There is nothing in the game I can point at and say “that’s bad” but there is undeniably something missing, something lacking. It is a game I will probably play on and off in the future, dipping in for a quick blast of boating or off-road fun, but I don’t think I will sink any more serious time into. This is a polished game that looks great and basically does what it says on the box but still is somehow less than the sum of its parts.
I enjoyed it in handheld mode, with only a few moments of tiny text marring the experience. Docked mode reportedly offers a more stable frame rate and higher resolution, but this is hardly a title where you need to worry about graphical effects. It’s just fine in handheld and, quite frankly, part of what makes gaming on the Switch so exciting in the first place.
I warn you, no implore you, do not buy this game. Publishers don’t deserve to make a cent on a game that has clearly been rushed out to exploit a hole in the market, with no thought to actually making a good, working game. Sorry Tennis fans, the wait for a good game continues.