Nexus Hub's Reviews
For all my complaints about the mission structure and repetitive semi-randomised maps, I never once stopped playing thanks to excellent gunplay, and fun upgrade system, and just enough narrative to keep me interested. It is always difficult for developers to create decent narrative in these games and the story in Shadow Warrior 2 seems more ambitious than the game can effectively convey.
I kept going back to it this time and found myself getting swept up in cathartic violence and juvenile insults for hours at a time.
All in all, Amplitude have taken care to craft a massive 4X game, building on their experience to deliver a fantastic experience.
Injustice 2 offers a constantly changing Multiverse, strong fighting mechanics, accessible gameplay and a well written story mode. With a variety of online and single player modes along with the guild feature to team up with friends to combine your stats, Injustice 2 offers something for fighting fans of all calibers.
If you’re new to the platformer genre then this may be a good place to start, and if you’re looking for something akin to Super Meat Boy there will be something to be had here for you as well. Super Rude Bear Resurrection is a largely solid game, but at times it appears the developers tried too hard to usurp the Meat Boy throne and lost out on an opportunity to create something more unique and fulfilling in the process.
Fast-paced combat, limb-specific attacks, easy to understand crafting, and flexible levelling is what sets The Surge apart from its peers and, at times, puts it ahead of the Souls series. The bulk of the gameplay, and indeed much of the narrative pacing, is lifted straight from Lords of the Fallen and should be familiar to fans of the genre.
The love that the developers have for Disney’s franchises shines through in the animation and the voice acting. Watching Goofy’s ears waggle as he walks, or the way Donald pretty much overreacts to situations is something that just never gets old. It’s been awhile since I booted up my PS3 collection of the game, but I’m inclined to say this collection looks even better. Even the CG cutscenes seem to have been re-rendered.
At the end of it all, Dawn of War 3 feels like a hybrid of the first two games in the series but between the wrong mix of mechanics and the lack of real graphical progress between iterations it hasn’t managed to live up to the standards set by the previous games.
Prey is aesthetically pleasing as its stylised art deco design, very much Bioshock in space, keeps the game running at a great pace while giving you just enough visual fidelity and variety to enjoy the architecture.
Dragon Quest Heroes 2, overall, is a fantastic experience. A game that has caught me by surprise as I did not believe I would enjoy it quite as much as I have. With its wonderfully vibrant characters, enrapturing music, effervescent world and the amount of content included there is just so much to love about the game.
The Lego formula is starting to wear a little thin, and this game’s dated presentation, both visually and in the sound department, are not up to the standard that Traveller’s Tales themselves have already exceeded in other titles.
Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 is not a bad game, but it does feel like a big budget, B-tier game that has unfortunately been released a bit too early. With an ambitious open-world combined with rewarding sniping, it’s easy to pick up and play. But for those seeking a deeper, more refined experience you may need to look further afield as Sniper Ghost Warrior 3's lackluster combat and bland world often leave you wanting something just a little bit more.
Played back-to-back, the Outlast Trinity collection begins to feel a little stale as the basic gameplay loop barely changes. That said, each title features its own slowly unravelling narrative, intimidating foes, terrifying locations and slowly builds up in intensity towards the conclusion.
The Sexy Brutale is a small game, set in a limited space, with big ideas. The plot is merely the container for a very clever puzzle game, and what a container it is. It is a very creepy game, standing in contrast to the bright cartoon-like art style. The sense of dread and foreboding as I raced against the clock to prevent each death literally gave me nightmares.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is about getting the most out of an already stellar game. Whether it be faster loading times, more convenient online lobby and gameplay, or a handful of new characters. The Souped Up Battle Mode is now far more compelling and content driven than before.
The fantastic tale of Six and her surreal adventure through the uncanny valley is one that will not be forgotten, especially after the startling character development of Six and the haunting ending. The artwork of this game is assuredly one of my all-time favourites, challenging the horror genre to step away from excessive gore and lazy jumpscares.
Full Throttle Remastered is a wonderful love letter to a genre past its prime and a very good game for those wanting to experience classic gaming at its finest.
MLB The Show 17 is easily the series' strongest and most involved entry to date. Even now, I continue to find subtle and notable changes that further bolster my impression of this magnificent title.
Mr. Shifty often feels like a low-violence, puzzle-oriented, super-powered version of Hotline Miami. At its very best, it captures the stop-start flow of the original Hotline Miami — observe, plan, and then engage in a glorious display of speed, skill, and violence.
Average execution across the board makes for an experience that, while not terrible in moment-to-moment gameplay, leaves no lasting impression.