Nexus Hub's Reviews
F1 2019 does an amazing job, once again, at making you feel like an actual Formula 1 driver, and the attention to detail is what has always set this franchise apart. The inclusion of F2 into the F1 campaign is fantastic, but it would be great to see it extended.
Draugen is a stunning, emotionally resonant experience, and one of the best games I've played in 2019. For those unfamiliar with titles like Gone Home and Dear Esther (with a hint of BioShock), from which the game heavily lifts its inspirations, this might not be your cup of tea.
Conan Unconquered is a welcome addition to the RTS genre as it looks to change things up with a more defensive focus. The flaws in the game are not enough of a problem to stop me from recommending it to fans and newcomers to the genre. In fact, I would heartily agree to any invites for a co-op multiplayer session if you've picked it up.
Void Bastards is great fun in short bursts but is, unfortunately, let down by the limited scope of its environments, with no unique ships or even distinct "boss" encounters.
Warhammer: Chaosbane is a solid ARPG, of that there is little doubt. The combat, character classes, variety of enemies, and fun boss battles makes for an enjoyable experience. There are some issues with the game - bad voice acting, movement hinderances, and some graphical hiccups.
Hue is a wonderfully crafted puzzle platformer with an innovative take on how to make the puzzles of the games it is inspired by more interesting.
MotoGP 19 expands on its offering as the greatest motorcycle racing experience out there - short of actually getting on a bike - and the improvements to the physics engines, the addition of the historical riders, the helmet customisation, and potential great online modes, makes MotoGP 19 another smash hit for Milestone.
Team Sonic Racing is a decent mascot racer, that chose to focus too much on the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. The game sorely lacks in variety and can lose its charm once you try to dig more than skin deep. Sonic fans are sure to get a kick out of SEGA’s latest racer, but may feel there is a lot to be desired.
Rage 2 is a great twitch-shooter, an okay driving game, and a boring open-world game. The story doesn’t serve the game in a manner that makes it compelling, or lift it above your generic shooter, and that is a pity as the idea behind this world could be interesting and engaging.
If someone asked me how would I explain One Finger Death Punch 2, I'd reference the iconic monologue from John Wick, where the mafia boss explains what John Wick did with a pencil and a room full of people. This game is that pencil.
Fade to Silence still needs work. It has a solid foundation of survival and crafting mechanics, coupled with great visuals, but is let down by an incoherent story, awful combat, and the glitches that go with it.
Mortal Kombat 11 is an incredible fighting game and one that is well worth playing. The character roster is varied with a few new faces, stages are the best they have ever been, the music and atmosphere is great, and the story mode further expands on the universe we all love. The game is only hampered by the unlock requirements and the grind many players will find themselves in.
Overall, Days Gone is an absolutely brutal, rewarding, and phenomenal narrative experience, mixed with great action, and fun gameplay. It's the perfect combination of survival mechanics to make the title more intense, with natural characters, a rewarding storyline, and addictive gameplay.
World War Z lays a solid foundation for future content, gameplay expansions, and DLC (free or not). The gameplay loop is fun, although repetitive, it delivers a frantic moment to moment shooting experience.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice easily stands as one of the best games of this generation, and a testament to From Software's continuing ability to surprise us, as well as reinvigorate their own style.
Yoshi’s Crafted World doesn’t revolutionise the Yoshi franchise quite like Yoshi’s Woolly World did, but this doesn’t take away any aspect to this game. The new flip-side levels and ability to project your Yoshi Eggs anywhere throughout a 2.5D environment are clever dynamics that alone make the game worthwhile. Add to this the extensive replayability and family friendly co-op gameplay and you have a solid entry to the series that makes it a great entry to the Switch library.
The Division 2 offers a fantastic loot-and-shoot experience, and one that doesn't actually make it feel like a grind to get to the Endgame, where all the good loot is. The story is serious enough to make tasks memorable, and the side content is fulfilling and contributes to the game's progression.
Crackdown 3 is boring, lifeless, and generic. How this game survived and Scalebound didn't is a mystery to me.
Capcom are back on top and Devil May Cry 5 further cements their status as one of the best developers in the industry.
More than anything, Trials Rising does something that, ultimately, needs to be at the core of every game; it’s fun. It's zany, yet challenging, leaving it as a phenomenal follow-on for the Trails franchise.