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I found my time with Lost Orbit to be enjoyable, and I wish there was more to it outside of the three hour campaign and time trial mode. The fact that I want more speaks highly of Lost Orbit and how it managed to hold my attention all the way through. The levels are well crafted, the voice acting well done, and the environmental art looks fantastic. There's also an enticing level of challenge, especially if you go for the platinum medals or look to climb the world leaderboards. If you like dodge 'em ups then this is one of the best available, and if you're new to the genre it's a great starting point.
Project CARS is an ambitious take on the racing simulator that brings a lot of fresh ideas and improvements to the genre. A number of patchable flaws hold it back, but with an innovative career structure and the challenging but rewarding car handling and racing, this is almost essential for racing fans.
Project Root is a frustrating game because there is a genuinely good shooter hidden under a number of poor design choices. It is rather like a Michael Bay movie in that when it works, it works really well, with explosions going off left, right and centre, hundreds of bullets and a genuine sense of excitement. However, it also shares the same problems and the levels are far too sprawling, the plot is terrible and sometimes you have no idea what is going on. I really hope there will be a sequel and the team do some serious play-testing and refine the game.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse doesn't feel quite as refined as Nintendo's other output in terms of gameplay, but that graphical style is what we'll keep coming back to. It's simply a beautiful looking game, which offers several hours in the main mode and even more in the challenge mode. As a budget release, there's enough content here to justify it, though perhaps not quite enough difficulty for platforming aficionados.
Despite having a perfect soundtrack and wonderfully creepy voice-over, Brawl's single-player misses the mark thanks to its insane difficulty. Over-powered characters also make the local versus multiplayer hit and miss, and add in the steep price point and Brawl fails to light the fuse. It's particularly disappointing as Brawl is almost a second attempt of Basement Crawl, but Bloober Team simply haven't learnt from their past mistakes.
Considering Guns, Gore & Cannoli costs £6.99, it packs quite a punch for the price. There's a lot of fun to be had in the time the game lasts, and it looks great to boot. The exaggerated voice acting fits perfectly with the tone of the title and the story is surprisingly entertaining too. There's never a dull moment in Guns, Gore & Cannoli, and it ends just at the right time too. Vinnie may not be the most likeable protagonist in a game but he knows how to get the job done.
The game's Japanese release carries the subtitle Lincoln Vs Aliens, and in many ways the game benefits from the schlocky extra tag. The historical and literary figures, married with the silver-age comic book visuals make for an engaging world which begs for you to be a part of it. The downside is that the tactical gameplay simply isn't in the same league as the developer's other work, rewarding drawn-out, cautious play above any more meaningful tactics. Though there is fun to be had here, Codename S.T.E.A.M. disappointingly lacks the purity that made Intelligent Systems' earlier work so essential.
Ultimately, this second act makes Broken Age whole, and it's more than worth your time to play and enjoy Tim Schafer's return to the genre in full. Yet, after such a long wait, it's a shame to see that Broken Age's second act, while continually beautiful and charming and with much more challenging puzzles, doesn't quite manage to live up to the promise from the end of the first.
Space Colony: Steam Edition brings a classic game to the present with a great deal of polish applied. In a way it is surprising just how well the gameplay has held up after twelve years. Every character brings their own quirks and needs which have to be managed, though some characters are more prominent than others. The strangeness of seeing some things interact properly while others ignore it can take you out of the zone for a moment, but, as far as sim management games go, Space Colony is one that is worth checking out.
Amidst the recent spate of so-called simulators, I Am Bread manages to stand out as one of the more ludicrous creations. The controls are relatively easy to grasp and once you're done with the main missions, the extra modes put a different twist on proceedings, but as always with these games, it's really at its best when you can share the nonsense with others.
Affordable Space Adventures is a rare beast – a Wii U title that makes integral and natural use of the Gamepad, whilst also offering a careful and considered local co-op option alongside a hugely enjoyable single player mode. It's a game that you can become truly involved in – I laughed, I cheered, I shouted at the screen in frustration – all within this remarkable world. It's a game that Wii U owners simply need to experience, and one which other developers need to take note of when creating software for Nintendo's unique console.
Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China is a decent change of pace for the franchise. The goals are more focused and deliver some great stealth gameplay across the approximately five hours it takes to complete. With all the open world distractions stripped away I felt like I was playing a proper assassin-based title, with the only focus being to take out the target. The issues with the combat, as well as a story that feels shallow, combined with lackluster delivery, detract from the overall experience.
Infinity Runner is a really good addition to the runner genre, and at a price of £4.99 offers decent value for money due to the re-playability factor. You can try and beat your own scores to ascend the leaderboards, as well as tackle the game challenges such as completing the story without dying on hard. Infinity Runner is a good looking game with solid sound work, and it is fun to play. The motion controls aren't the best and I wouldn't recommend using them, while the stuttering on the loading screens also needs addressing. If you're looking for a small game to play though, and like first person runners, then Infinity Runner could well be for you.
I really enjoyed the time I spent with We Are Doomed but I cannot overlook the price and length of the game. At a lower price point it would make a great Vita game, but on PS4 there a number of other titles that you could buy for the same amount of money and get many more hours of gameplay. Sadly I have to dock a few points from the score for that which is a real shame.
Mortal Kombat X is an excellent fighting game, with a wide and varied roster, that'll please series fans and newcomers alike. The combat is rock-solid, and offers a technicality that may surprise those with a low opinion of the series. Netherealms has crafted something that is enjoyable on a number of levels, and whilst the squeamish need not apply, anyone with an interest in fighting games should check it out, despite some questionable practices over downloadable content.
Dead Synchronicity: Tomorrow Comes Today is a game that is quite hard to judge. On the one hand the art style, atmosphere, and interesting story premise are things that are worth experiencing. However the pacing of the puzzles can be frustrating, especially when what would appear to be the obvious solutions don't work in a world where regular logic usually applies. It is a very well crafted title and the effort of the team can be seen. At the same time the puzzles are as infuriating as the atmosphere is brilliant.
One hit point, one arrow and one target; Titan Souls is an exercise in simplicity. It evokes memories of classic games, as you seek the satisfaction of striking that killing blow to a Titan. Except they are waiting for you, and though I feel there are a few bosses that are particularly difficult, this is a game that deliberately provides the kind of unforgiving challenge, and trial and error gameplay, that people will either love or hate.
Super Mega Baseball is one of the best baseball games out at the moment. Sure it may not be a licensed game like The Show, but the gameplay is as good as the official MLB game. There's a surprising amount of depth within this game, allowing players to build a team how they wish be it focusing on being strong in bat, or having a strong fielding selection. The game's Ego system makes it approachable for all players, and the visual style itself is really appealing. The lack of online is a mark against an otherwise fantastic baseball game.
Krinkle Krusher is a game best played in short bursts, otherwise it feels repetitive very quickly. Despite the distracting voice acting and the early difficulty spikes, if you stick with it you can find that there is a solid game underneath, and plenty of fun to be had if you like the tower defence genre.
If you're pining for a Monster Hunter style game on console or simply waiting for Dragon's Dogma Online or Deep Down to come along, Toukiden Kiwami offers more than just a stopgap. Although still in its infancy, the IP is certainly going places. It will be interesting to see what Omega Force will do next when, hopefully, it decides to launch a sequel.