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Where the Heart Leads offers a supremely compelling and fascinating overall narrative, one that is filled with genuinely meaningful choices – surely a rarity in video games? Unfortunately, its tall tale is also bogged down with numerous presentation issues that result in dull characterisation. Overall an uneven experience that's both brilliant and boring – sometimes at the same time.
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance fails to live up to both the potential of its placement in the D&D canon and the legacy of the Dark Alliance name. As a mediocre-to-good game, depending on whether you're alone or with friends, the whole experience is sluggish and dull in execution, and sails close to the average tabletop D&D session where you play for four hours and somehow only walk down a single corridor, but without the enjoyment that comes with that experience.
Out of Line is a good little puzzle platformer that will last you approximately 2-3 hours. It flows nicely but some may find the puzzles a touch too easy to solve. The artwork and music are great but the story remains unclear, with the ending just leaving you with more questions.
As we wait for the inevitable Sniper Elite 5, this is one virtual reality shooter you won't want to miss. Sniper Elite VR hits its mark with immensely fun sniping gameplay, delivered in perfectly portioned bursts of action.
Elite Dangerous: Odyssey is an ambitious addition to the Elite formula that doesn't quite hit the highs it should. It instead serves as a preview of what the game may be like in 6 or 12 months from now, and is hard to recommend as it currently is. Personally? I'd wait and see how Frontier Developments improves the game. Let's face it, there's still plenty to explore in Horizons.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is a great JRPG that blends the spirit of Monster Hunter with turn-based combat and exploration. The central story is good, but it's the loot loop and party building that really draws you in. It may not represent a huge leap forward from the original game, but this is a fantastic title for fans of either the main Monster Hunter series or JRPGs in general.
Watch Dogs Legion: Bloodline tries to be a love letter to fans of the series by bringing back two iconic characters as the protagonists, but in doing so, it removes the one gameplay mechanic that made Watch Dogs: Legion so memorable. Without characters to study, befriend, and recruit, Bloodline is a more watered-down open-world experience than the base game it's tied to. Worse is the fact that it doesn't expand on the base game at all. With no new regions to explore, activities to engage in, or gear to unlock, it's a pretty barebones package overall.
Chicory lived up to my expectations and more. The traversal is a joy throughout, the puzzles brilliantly judged and the whole experience is a joy to play from start to finish. If this were not enough, the admirable approach to accessibility should be celebrated and congratulated. What really stood out after finishing the game, though, was how effectively it treated difficult issues of depression and feelings of low self-worth whilst never feeling too earnest or preachy. The final result is one of the best indie games I've played in years. Chicory: A Colourful Tale is a true masterpiece that deserves to be played by all.
Despotism3K is full of humour that had me laughing a lot, but the high degree of difficulty and randomisation and arbitrary choices that can end a run in a moment had me swearing at it a lot, too. You end up replaying gameplay that doesn't change all that much between runs. Still, it's a good distraction if you don't want to play a huge adventure game, and instead want to throw some puny humans into a bioreactor.
The final new addition is a fresh new timed challenge scenario, tasking you with turning a hidden oasis bazaar into a thriving tourist trap while updating its power grid and amenities. It’s a stiffer challenge than some of the previous packs, but there’s every chance that you’re a Planet Zoo master by this point so that’ll probably be welcome. At this stage, Planet Zoo’s ability to transport you across the planet is the escapism we all need, and few games do so with the joy and vibrancy that Frontier have created here.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is an impressive Switch port that make graphical cuts in just the right places. Those cuts ensure a smooth and consistent gameplay experience that sets a new standard for Tony Hawk games on the go.
I like playing Curved Space, but I found it most enjoyable when played in fairly short bursts. The ideas and the gameplay are both good, but the level design runs counter to the fast-paced gameplay when you simply can't find an enemy. The music slaps though, so that's a nice touch if you do find yourself enamoured with the strange mix of impossible spaces and bug shooting.
An ambitious RTS/Twin Stick hybrid with a lot of potential and some great moments, let down by technical issues, inconsistent flow, and a lack of tutorials. One to keep an eye on if the premise appeals, but not worth diving into straight away.
Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 is a particularly good sniping game. The set up is a hammy take on how superpower interventions only occur when there is a financial motivation, and comes off as a little bit awkward, but the game's regions are unique and fun to explore, enemies are tough to handle, and the challenges are fun to master. Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 should be a go to for sniper game fans.
Alex Kidd In Miracle World DX is a game only a diehard fan could love. It is frustrating, repetitive, and plagued with the issues of a bygone era. Despite the lovely graphical update, there is very little here for any newcomers, and seems a waste of potential in favour of appeasing old fans.
Mighty Goose is the game I never knew I always wanted. It's a silly 90's cartoon homage to Metal Slug. Yet it also does enough that is new to be recognised on its own terms. Big, bold and bonkers, this is a game that is definitely worth a gander if you, like me, love your classic run 'n guns. It's just a shame about the pants local co-op.
It's great to see Mario Golf: Speed Rush reviving another Mario sports franchise for Nintendo Switch, but it's a game that feels that restrained in some places and muddled in others. The Adventure mode loses its focus half way through, and it lacks course variety, but underneath it all, this is still a fun, accessible and often frantic golf game that is easy to enjoy.
Stonefly is bristling with creative ideas, but doesn't quite manage to deliver them properly. The world is beautiful, but its design damages gameplay, combat is unique but make it very difficult to manage the amount of enemies required at once, and traversal is interesting but manages to feel unreliable due to its mechanical design. It's a game of missed opportunities, but there's still a number of reasons why you should experience this uniquely designed action RPG.
From its compelling story, to its wild enemy designs and combat, I'm kind of in awe of Scarlet Nexus. Where Bandai Namco games often have a niche appeal, I've got no reservations about recommending Scarlet Nexus. I'd definitely suggest skipping a lot of the side stories, but everything else here is the kind of anime-infused greatness that will appeal to nearly everyone.
Super Magbot is a highlight in the puzzle platformer genre. It sports unique gameplay that I haven't seen anywhere else, and it's definitely the most fun I've had with magnets in years. The rest of the package isn't as groundbreaking as the gameplay, but it's still totally solid. Some bland writing and so-so music aside, this is a killer addition to any sidescrolling platforming fans collection.