TheSixthAxis
HomepageTheSixthAxis's Reviews
If you don't like ‘walking sims' then Observer isn't going to change your mind, even if it does include some rudimentary detective work. However, if you like to be swept away by a story and pulled in to a world where every door has a new experience behind it, then close the curtains, turn off the lights, crank up the surround sound and immerse yourself in this great cyberpunk horror tale.
F1 2017 is more than just a steady continuation of Codemasters' racing series, it's a major step forward that isn't content to simply rely on this year's new cars and regulations. From adding more R&D options to the career to having classic cars and invitational events help break up the long racing calendar, there's a lot to keep you engaged here. Not only that, but you can see that Codemasters have plenty of ways to continue to grow the series over the next few years.
Comet Crash 2 is a uniquely well designed game. It stirs just enough resource gathering and unit management to add depth without taking anything away from the tower defense, creating a gameplay with two parts that complement each other strongly. It's an easy recommendation to fans of either genre.
If Uber had stretched Dino Frontier just that little bit further, adding some kind of longevity beyond its ten-hour playtime, it would be a must-have for PlayStation VR. Still, there are few games using Sony's tech that can boast the same balance of immersion and fun. Where I've often felt exhaustion or relief as I take the VR visor from my head, playing Dino Frontier always left me with a smile on my face.
Halcyon 6: Lightspeed Edition is a decent update to a game that always had promise, but it's still not for everyone. Rebuilding the Federation, making allies, making enemies, and all the choices I had to make were all compelling, but honestly the combat didn't thrill me and happened just that little bit too often. If you don't mind this as much, then the Lightspeed Edition is a good time, just not quite an essential purchase.
Forget Nathan Drake and Chloe Fraser, if you managed to bag The Lost Legacy as part of Uncharted 4's season pass then you're the real thief here. There's a staggering wealth of content to explore, the quality of which is easily on par with A Thief's End. The stakes may not be as high, but it's impossible not build a connection with Chloe and Nadine or revel in the set piece action and story surprises. As far as standalone expansions go, they don't get more epic than this.
Constructor HD was actually delayed multiple times, so System 3 presumably encountered some difficulties in development. Whether that is the explanation for the result, which just barely toes the line of average but gets pulled back down by its price and its launch day DLC, or if it was a bit of a cash grab is anyone's guess. As it is, this is not worth purchasing.
Infinite Minigolf lacks the gameplay variety and polish to take it to the top of the party tower. It's mostly solid and dependable fun, but it only really comes to life in local multiplayer, so just don't buy this game if you haven't got any friends who like to visit.
Agents of Mayhem is a step back for Volition after the success of the Saints Row series. While the characters are good and fun, they don't feel larger than life when compared to The Boss and their crew. There aren't as many memorable moments either, and the city of Seoul is wasted. The game is less Agents of Mayhem and more Agents of Mehhem.
Matterfall is a great shooter and will give you many hours of entertainment if you like chasing high scores and challenging gameplay. However, it does feel like a slight let down after Nex Machina and is the least essential of all the Housemarque games on PlayStation 4. That said, the least essential Housemarque game is still better than most games you will find on the console, so it's still recommended.
Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth sets a fantastic tone, and does an admirable job of capturing the era, setting and the characters of this iconic piece of fiction. It's a shame that at various points the game puts you off, whether through multiple loading screens, obtuse exploration, or a few other technical distractions. That being said, I can't wait to see how Book Two unfolds, and can only hope Daedalic find a way for the gameplay to match the presentation.
The most important thing I can say about this game is that it is fun. Very, very fun. When I open the game, join a match and start playing, I have an amazing time. The raw energy behind the movement, the weight behind the weapons, the satisfaction of landing hits and bouncing off walls. It all comes together to create a unique, memorable FPS experience, and I look forward to seeing what Boss Key Productions does to expand it in the future.
Sonic Mania surpasses the Mega Drive/Genesis originals. It not only incorporates what made Sonic great, but has the inventiveness to shatter what was possible in a 2D platformer. As a nostalgia trip, it sets the bar for what comes next for the modding community. For those unexposed to what made 2D Sonic great, this is still a solid game in its own right and may create new fans in the process. If being this good took ages, it's about damn time.
Iron Crypticle is a fantastic rogue-lite update of some of the seminal arcade experiences of my youth, and provides a rewarding challenge even at its easiest setting.
I really, really, wanted to love The Long Dark, but a myriad of poor design choices and bugs teamed with a complete lack of instruction made it one of the most frustrating games I have ever played. You can pick some objects up, but not others, you can smash a crate to bits for firewood, but not a table, and none of this makes any sense. If you were freezing death, you'd burn the frigging table! Survival mode is by far the best way to experience the game offering some gorgeous views and real sense of achievement when you make things nice and cosy, it's just a shame that Story mode is so poorly thought out.
Tough, expansive, and boasting a surprisingly mature narrative, Sine Mora EX is a remaster done right. Offering native 4K visuals – if you've got the right kit – tons of content and rock-solid gameplay, side-scrolling shooters simply don't get much better than this.
I did like going back through the four games on offer with Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 overall. The features included are exactly the same as the first Legacy Collection and the way saving works now makes for a fairer challenge that doesn't make things too easy. It's just a shame the enhanced version of Mega Man 8 wasn't used and Mega Man & Bass was not included, as it gives the impression Capcom's heart wasn't quite in it. It's a decent collection, but plays things far too safe.
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a profound sensual experience that's unmissable. The way it highlights psychosis and incorporates it isn't just a part of the aesthetic, but it also makes for fascinating gameplay. This is a phenomenal achievement for the discussion of mental health that we'll be talking about for years to come.
Batman: The Enemy Within opens with a fantastic episode, turning the world of Batman on its head once more with new foes and new allies that you'll have to work with. It drags Bruce and Batman further down into the murky grey area that he inhabits, keeping players constantly guessing as to whether or not they're doing the right thing and bringing relationships new and old into the foreground.
While there's nothing particularly poor about Songs and Shadows' story or battle system, the way they come together leaves an unwelcome void in between. When playing, it's hard not to compare it to bigger, better games like Baldur's Gate or more recent RPGs like Pillars of Eternity and Divinity. Masquerada just doesn't have the same level of rewarding complexity or seamlessness, bogged down by constant stopping and starting.