SquareXO's Reviews
The Star Wars Battlefront series has always been credible for it’s ability to somewhat ease the insatiable Star Wars void that sits inside fans of the iconic, sci-fi franchise. Come on fans, you have to admit that no matter how much you indulge in the series over a multitude of mediums, you always want more. This is where the Battlefront series shines. With it’s spectacular portrayal of Star Wars settings and events combined with trademark sounds of blaster rifles and Wookie cries, the Battlefront series definitely takes pride in it’s ability to moderate that galaxy sized void that sits inside you, regardless of who’s hands the game series sits in. It goes without saying that EA DICE’s sequel to Battlefront (2015), Battlefront 2 upholds that very same vibe the series is renowned for maintaining.
The Call Of Duty franchise has found it’s way back to earth in the renowned war-based shooter series latest release. Yes, boots are back firmly on the ground as Sledgehammer Games take the reins of the series in Call Of Duty: WWII. As the title states we become reacquainted with the WWII roots that once saw the series prosper and packed into the game we see a heartfelt campaign, the forever popular zombies mode and COD’s famed multiplayer. The developers have ditched the exo-suits, boost jumps and laser weapons for this particular installment and it’s unquestionably done the series a favour in doing so.
Shadow of the Colossus has proven to be a timeless classic and one which deserves to be played by nostalgic fans and first-time players alike. Although the concept appears to be repetitive, the story is powered forward by the player's desire to slay the sixteen colossi and bring back Wander's sleeping love. The final moral twist and the emotional conclusion to the end of the game is powerful, and memorable and it helps elevate Shadow of the Colossus to the highest standard of storytelling.
In the first extensive DLC release of Sledgehammer Game’s Call Of Duty: WWII, the developers spoil us with three new multiplayer maps (including a remake of a classic map from a previous successful COD instalment), a new class division to utilise in said maps, a brand new chapter in the Nazi Zombies mode and a new War Mode map for players to enjoy the more narrative-driven game mode on.
As you progress through the game, there are so many twists and turns in Past Cure that you never really know what’s going to happen next. It’s also fair to say some of these twists and the settings they are based within, are a lot better than others. Past Cure has some fantastic ideas, although it’s almost as if developer Phantom 8 Studio is trying to settle on a genre it feels most comfortable with so has used Past Cure as a way to throw a whole load of them into one game and see which it likes best.
At the start of this review, I said “Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a game which flew well under my radar,” well skip forward to now and I can tell you Kingdom Come: Deliverance is my game of the Year so far. Sure it’s not perfect, with many glitches and an odd lock-picking and pickpocketing mechanic, but it’s the sum of the parts, rather than some of the parts, which makes Kingdom Come: Deliverance a great game.
Fe isn’t spurred on by an easy to follow narrative but instead by a moving soundtrack that orchestrates your journey through a quaint world with the help of some pleasant platforming elements that are carefully weaved into this all-round lovely game. Zoink have conceived a setting which can only be compared to a mood ring in both colour and emotion alike, full of mystery and a delight to explore. They want you to halt your journey, look around, truly indulge in their handiwork and let out a satisfied sigh. As you interact with nature within the game, you gradually ignite a fire of need within you to protect it. Moreover, subliminal eco-friendly morals resonate whilst you play, leading you to care and truly become emerged in this ingenious world and the creatures that roam within it. Similar to likes of Journey and Abzu, Fe achieves a moving and memorable gaming experience by generating a magical, highly immersive environment that accounts for each and every emotional arc within the game. A touching tale and completely captivating title.
Awakening in the Lady’s private residence what seems like moments after The Hideaway ended, the Runaway kid is confronted with a Resident Evil-esque mansion filled with secret passages, trick rooms and ingenious puzzles intended to keep prying eyes away. Bathed in eerie shadows, the Lady’s library comes complete with tumbling piles of books, towering marble statues and shattered mirrors.
Bridge Constructor Portal is a wonderful puzzle game. It’s challenging, well designed and it looks fantastic. The Portal elements are integrated as well as can be and the levels benefit greatly from this. It’s hard to find fault. Sure you will get frustrated at times, but that’s all part of the learning curve and so when you eventually do solve the level you’ll be jumping for joy, just like I was when solving those Portal 2 puzzles. I can’t recommend Bridge Constructor Portal highly enough, whether you’re a Portal fan, puzzler fan or just someone looking for something new, it shouldn’t be missed.
Some games are terrible. Bravo Team is one of them, unfortunately. That's not my favourite way to start a review, but there's no getting away from the fact that SuperMassive's latest VR effort is just bad.
Life is Strange ‘Farewell’ is quite clearly a bonus episode in every sense. It’s short and lacking in a way which previous episodes have not, however it does do a good job of bringing the series so far to a close, therefore I would say it’s well worth checking out if you get the opportunity to do so.
Frantics is a fun set of mini-games which are easy to pick up and play without worrying if you have enough controllers since anyone can play using their mobile phone. It really is a party style title, so don't go expecting any depth here, but at such a low cost you can't really go wrong, especially if you are looking for something to keep the family entertained for an hour or two now and again.
Burnout Paradise really is one of the greatest driving games ever made and apart from the few issues here and there, it is hard to know how the gameplay could be better. Sure there could have been more effort put into the remaster to really make it shine on PS4 Pro and have it feel like something completely new, but under the hood, it's still the classic racer it was when it was released back in 2008 and that's good enough for me.
| Review Archaeologist Amelia Cross awakens stranded in a strange alien world. Her whereabouts unknown, the only familiarity is a fellow survivor also lost within the expanse. Fitted with a power suit which enables the manipulation of the environment via creation of ‘cubes’ Amelia must use this technology to unravel the secrets of this vast alien world and find her way back home.
The American Dream is a VR experience worth playing through. It’ll make you laugh and occasionally, a little embarrassed too. It’s a strange game but one that no VR owner should miss. There are many reasons to own a PlayStation VR and The American Dream is yet another one.
Every level has been given the kind of pixel-perfect love that the genre’s greatest have received, every jump inch perfect and every puzzle a challenge without becoming frustrating at any point. In fact, the game’s difficulty ramps up so steadily and doles out new concepts at such an ideal pace that no death feels cheap and yet no victory feels unearned.
For a franchise built on such a novel concept to drop everything it’s known for in it’s transition to a multiplayer setting is disappointing. Scribblenauts Showdown is fun for a night in with friends, but that said, I can’t see them asking to play it again after the first time.
Bridge Constructor Stunts is a mobile game ported to console and it shows. There is a lack of polish and it's all over fairly quickly. If you love the series you'll still get a lot out of this game though, as it's challenging, fun and there's plenty of opportunities to crash and set your vehicles alight, which is always good for a laugh.
Island Time VR might have been a fun pick up and play game had it cost £3.99 or something similar, however, there is no way I could possibly recommend you pay £16.99 for what essentially feels like a demo. There are so many better games out there which you should spend your hard earned cash and time on. It disappoints me to say this, but spend your money on something else.
Hope County is a recipe for riot. With thousands of angry cultists to eliminate, a variety of weapons to use against them and wildlife as temperamental as the enemy, Far Cry 5 is one of the most enjoyable instalments of the franchise yet. Only a slightly sparse story slows things down, but it's not enough to detract from a fantastic open world experience.