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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.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a breath of fresh air that shouldn't be overlooked. It's hard to believe that a game with this much detail and depth is from just two developers. The team at Edelweiss have created such a unique game with amazing production and polished gameplay. There are a few little features like enemy repetition and lacklustre level layouts at times that could be improved. However I think Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is definitely one of 2020's exceptional releases.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon has definitely made some drastic changes to the series but without losing its original charm. The fast pace turn base system has so much added depth while still feeling like a Yakuza game. The graphics are the best the series has seen to date, players will fall for the ridiculous Ichiban who is a well-worked new hero to the series. Other than the lag between different sections of the games and slightly clunky animations it's really hard to fault this reimagining of the legendary series.
It's great to see such a different game that revels in its weirdness ported to the Switch, but disappointing that is still full price despite being a game from 2013. Pikmin 3 is a breath of fresh air, offering simple yet addictive gameplay as you explore a massive, magical world full of surprises. Despite the age of the game, this is defiantly an adventure not to be missed.
Pumpkin Jack is a pleasant surprise just in time for Halloween, the overall design is amazing considering it comes from a single developer. The six levels offer enough variety and challenge as to not get repetitive and as this will take about 5-6 hours to complete on the first run players will come back to get all the hidden items for extra skins. However, the gameplay feels slightly dated, visually the quality really drops in handheld mode if playing on the Switch and the camera needs to be a bit more reactive especially as the platforming requires precision at a fast pace.
It's one of the best applications of AR I've got my hands on and features some impressive tech. The kart is a joy to drive and responds as closely to the game as physically possible, with multiplayer adding even more fun into the mix. Mario Kart Live Home Circuit is a fantastic blend of mad Mario Kart action in your own home. It's awesome seeing your home from the shifted perspective while you are zag zagging through your coffee table and under the sofa while dishing out red shell revenge.
Steve and Alex are amazing characters that have so much depth to them, I think they may prove hard to master for some people. They definitely aren’t pick up and play characters, with so much to think about during the fast paced combat. There will be a steep learning curve for players as the pair don’t excel in all areas as much as they do in others.
Zoids Wild: Blast Unleashed has done a great job in creating a faith anime fighter for the fans, with the in-depth story mode and inclusion of DLC characters adding lot of value. Saying that, seasoned gamers will probably get a couple of matches out of this before finding it massively repetitive, but fans will keep picking this up to complete all the modes.
FIFA 21 is an evolution of FIFA 20, rather than a revolution. With next-gen consoles being released in November, it's probably fair to say that FIFA fans will probably first see a true next-gen FIFA gaming title next year. But we'll wait and see what FIFA 21 feels like on next-gen consoles before rushing to conclusions. FIFA 21 brings more goals, more attacking options, more features and most importantly, more fun.
These are some of Mario's best outings and all three titles hold up remarkably well. The package favours authentic recreations rather than adding new content or updating them too much, which will please most fans.
If you have even a passing fondness for these legendary Marvel characters, you'll likely have a blast with Avengers' campaign, but the relentless enticements for virtual wares might put you off hanging around afterwards.
Jump Force Deluxe is definitely an anime fans dream come true, being able to pick from one of over 50 characters with more on the way is epic. Fans will gain countless hours from mixing and matching various teams of their favourite Shonen Jump heroes. However, other than the fan service, players may find it hard to return to Jump Force Deluxe after a few sessions due the lack of depth in gameplay, shallow story mode and severe lag when playing online.