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WTAE is a prime example of the latter. With its phoned-in stealth, mediocre combat, poor storytelling and rough presentation, calling it a missed opportunity is an understatement, especially on a new generation console. Even die-hard fans of the tabletop game will likely struggle to enjoy this take on the franchise. There's a blueprint here for an interesting concept, but sadly nothing more. Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood is out now for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series S|X, Xbox One and PC (via the Epic Games Store), priced £34.99 - £44.99
Bowser's Fury offers some great new ideas and is much more than a simple DLC. It's a great Mario game in its own right, with enough to entice those who played 3D World before with a wholly new and compelling experience, as well as offering one of the most epic showdowns in Nintendo history. Bowser's Fury is a great take on 3D Mario and finally makes Bowser the menacing villain he deserves to be. The game's only flaw is that it left me wishing there was more of it.
A Nintendo Switch copy of this game was provided for review purposes. Little Nightmares II is out February 11 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC for £29.99.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy is a great early entry for 2021 and an unmissable gem for JRPG fans.
It leans hard into its comic book and video game influences but also has some clever tricks up its sleeve, which is why it's aged so well and still feels fresh to play. The game can be frustrating and chaotic at times, and difficulty can be all over the place but grab some friends and you'll fall in lesbians all over again with this brilliant, resurrected classic all over again.
Sephiroth does play like other swordsmen in the game, but his long-range and explosive projectiles will make him stand out. He does have a few drawbacks that can make him less desirable like his charged attacks that can leave him wide open or his uninspiring grabs that lack range. Saying that Sephiroth's shortcomings are meagre compared to what makes him great. The One-Winged Angel is a great addition to the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster with enough depth to become a deadly force.
Overall the game was an enjoyable experience with a few glitches along the way. The iconic Warhammer 40k universe made it a fun and enjoyable experience for a veteran fan who has always had to imagine the vision of these battlefields. With a few patches and perhaps the addition of some other game modes or difficulties, this could be a great VR game for anyone to play, not just Warhammer fans.
Monster Sanctuary is a delight to play, with levels and monsters radiating such depth and creativity. The complexity of each monster's skill tree is a feature fully welcomed and would be a great addition in other monster games. Monster Sanctuary is a late gem to 2020 that gamers should pay attention to.
The game may not be perfect but given CD project Red's reputation for fixing and updating games Cyberpunk has a bright neon-lit future. It can proudly sit among its influences of Ghost in the Shell, Blade Runner and Neuromancer (as well as games like Deus Ex, System Shock) with its augmented head held high. It's been a long wait, but the end result is a massive sprawling RPG with an incredible story, heart-pounding action, solid mechanics and customisation, offering you unparalleled player choice in a deep, atmospheric world that I can't wait to plug myself back into.
However, Immortals does borrow a lot from other games which slightly diminishes its originality and fails to offer a completely new experience. There are a few performance problems, especially with the Switch version. Saying that, Immortals Fenyx Rising is still a great game and a good start for a potential gaming series, with the DLC already looking very promising.
Overall, if you like FIFA 21 current gen, you'll love FIFA 21 next gen. The graphics are incredible, the load times are rapid and the gameplay is smoother. But, don't expect the gameplay to feel completely different, because it's very similar to current gen, with significant gameplay changes expected for FIFA 22 and beyond.
Sam & Max Save the World Remastered is a great revival for the franchise and Skunkape Games have done an amazing job on implementing the much-needed updates without losing any of the original charm. Die-hard fans will welcome all the obvious and subtle changes that have been made and releasing a new version on the Switch, was definitely a great choice to attract a new generation of fans. Some people may find the humour is slightly dated and inappropriate, however I feel Steve Purcell's stellar writing still makes me chuckle after all these years.
The game also suffers like any open-world game with slight repetitiveness but the combat and the aspect of building up Ravensthorpe kept me invested in the story and side missions. Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a huge and ambitious game, with a great story and characters and it also feels much more like an RPG than previous entries adding even more depth to the beloved series.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure isn't a particularly revolutionary platformer, replicating a structure seen many times in the likes of the latter Rayman titles and so on. But what it does, it does with panache and bags of charm that will appeal to kids and the parents who'll end up joining them for co-op. The woolly protagonist's latest outing is something that fans of the franchise - or just platformer lovers in general - will have a great time with.
If you can reduce the narrative to background noise and brute force your way through some of the shortcomings, there are worse ways to spend your time than with this middling adventure, although given the PS5 version's whopping £70 price point (just for the standard edition), you may want to wait for a sale. Godfall is out now for PlayStation 5 for £69.99 and on PC (via the Epic Game Store ) for £49.99
Easily the best looking launch title for the machine, it sets a new bar for all the remasters and remakes that are now part of the annual release schedules. The groundbreaking core of the game remains as engaging as ever, tweaked to feel more up-to-date with modern sensibilities. Whether you missed the original, played it to death or simply want to see where all the Souls fuss started, this is worth your time.
Having most of the content locked behind a subscription is a slight killjoy even though prices aren't ridiculous, the constant upsell of the service could also be toned down. But lovers of dancing will feel right at home here as there isn't a better dancing simulator out there and despite a few niggling issues Just Dance 2021 is great fun.
However if you haven't played this series before I recommend you go pick it up. There's no gaming series like it and I doubt there ever will be. No More Heroes and No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle are out now on the Nintendo Switch
Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a more focused and concise outing than its predecessor. It lands somewhat in the Uncharted: Lost Legacy mould of a shorter experience that does away with filler, and meaningful moments interspersed with less gumpf. While there's not a huge amount of reinvention, Miles Morales is a fantastic superhero experience that does enough to feel like a worthy follow-up. Spider-Man: Miles Morales is available now on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 (version tested) for £49.99
Overall Dirt 5 is a real blast play. With the gameplay not being too strict, it gives you that feeling of being an arcade racing king without having to leave the comfort of your own home. There are some area's like online that need some fine-tuning but these are all issues that could be solved with a future update.