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F1 2018 takes the world of Formula One and faithfully recreates an all-encompassing experience in one of the best racing games.
If you’re open to a game with turn-based combat and are looking for a charming adventure, then this is a title for you. It has a great amount of depth while remaining accessible to newcomers of the genre. If you’re already a fan of JRPGs then Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is a must-own game.
Octopath Traveler is pure magic on every level and easily one of the best games of 2018 thus far.
All-Star Fruit Racing may not include everyone’s favourite platforming hero or even any memorable characters for that matter, but it’s a good attempt at a kart racer that features some unique differences to the usual formula and that makes it worth a look. You’ll also learn some interesting facts about fruit along the way.
Vampyr’s biggest issue is in its price. It’s a full RRP game at £40+ and I think it would’ve performed better had it been around £25-30. I was excited for the game as release neared but so much walking around looking for clues and what not to progress the story. This wasn’t entertaining gameplay and it slowed the plot down, and it almost felt as if Dontnod were still in the mindset of creating an episodic game. Vampyr is worth giving a go, but there’s a lot of potential untapped here.
Laser League is a game that can be picked up and enjoyed by everyone, but it’s a shame that it seems to have died on arrival. Finding a full game seems nigh impossible unless you round a group of friends together but selling them on the idea of a game that requires 4-6 of you to be on to get the most out of is difficult too. It’s a solid game by developers Roll7 that sadly hasn’t caught fire, and if more people were willing to check this out I think they’d be pleasantly surprised just by how enjoyable it can be.
Penny-Punching Princess is equally off the wall and ridiculously fun at the same time. The visuals will no doubt put a smile on the faces of regular NIS game fans, but the grind can be an annoyance. The story is a little lacking, but what there is of it is enough to keep you entertained throughout.
Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[st] is a solid addition to the previous game and just as fun to play. If you missed Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late when it came out, you really owe it to yourself to give this a try over the more extortionate fighting games.
Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time is an underwhelming experience made all the more frustrating by that feeling of how it could have been so much better. The characters and visuals are a highlight throughout and for fans of the series may be enough to see the game through. Expectations are a powerful thing and unfortunately, Chamber of Time just doesn’t live up to mine.
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is a must-play game and whilst I’d recommend playing the others, you don’t need to enjoy this entry. You’ll likely find yourself going back to them though because the series has consistently been fantastic. Buy it, support it, and love it, because it’s worth your time and money, and it’s the perfect send-off for Kazuma Kiryu.
Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet is easily the best SAO game to date. Gameplay is fun and there’s enough on offer so don’t be worried if you don’t think you’d be getting your money’s worth. Fans of the franchise will be pleased with how well the source material is being treated in video game format, where previous titles might have been a letdown.
Although Dissidia Final Fantasy NT lacks a good selection of different modes to play through, no doubt a side effect of starting life as an arcade game, there is a lot packed into the game for Final Fantasy fans to enjoy. The actual gameplay is solid and is worth checking out for anyone who likes to test their skills against other players online. Playing online with friends is probably the biggest draw as teamwork is key to success not to mention a lot of fun.
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory is a fantastic update and addition to an already great game in Cyber Sleuth. The parallel plot threads have been masterfully implemented and made the game an absolute joy to play through and experience. If you’re unfamiliar with the predecessor then worry not as Hacker’s Memory stands tall as a great game in its own right and will only leave you wanting more.
There is a game based on this same part of history that you can buy that lets you move around a big map, fighting enemies, building armies and doing everything that Dynasty Warriors 9 tries to do but better. It was called ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII’ and it came out two years ago and was made by the same company. Do yourself a favour and buy that instead.
Dragon Ball FighterZ is an outstanding fighting game, but it’s one that is showing signs of repetition in the combat because, even though there is a level of depth to the game, it’s not quite as deep as other fighters on the market. Its target market should be pleased though, and it’s nice to see a Dragon Ball game become popular in eSports – I’m sure it’ll be amazing to watch at Evo! Dragon Ball FighterZ is a brilliant game that no fans will want to miss out on, and I’m sure I’ll be returning to it throughout the year. Seriously though, please let Videl be DLC!
Romancing Saga 2 is an odd entity that has some really interesting and unique features but it’s so basic when it comes to the story, look and controls that it’s more like an RPG lite and feels very mobile freemium type game. Of course, I can’t compare this with the original having not played it but as far as this mobile port version goes I can’t recommend it at its current price point.
Through all of its faults, I’ve really enjoyed my time with Star Ocean The Last Hope a lot more so than Integrity and Faithlessness and at only £16.99 (PSN) or £15.99 (Steam), I highly recommend giving it a go if you’re looking for a game to sink some serious time into.
Yakuza Kiwami has really brought me back into loving the Yakuza series again by remaking the very game that made me drop it. Now that is exactly what a remake should do. Now I’m really looking forward to the sixth game and the remake of the second. In the meantime, I shall catch up on all that I have missed.
.hack//G.U. Last Recode brings a beloved franchise into a new generation with improved graphics, polished gameplay, and extra content. Fans of the franchise will definitely want to dive back into this deeply intriguing story and European players will no doubt be excited at the chance to finally play the GU trilogy for the first time.
Cyberdimension Neptunia: 4 Goddesses Online is another enjoyable entry in the Neptunia franchise, but I found it to be underwhelming compared to both other Neptunia games and the similar faux-MMORPG Sword Art Online Hollow Fragment. The number of dungeons is minimal, the majority of the boss fights are simple, and the quests boring. I still had fun playing the game, as the characters, their interactions, and the voice work behind them more than makes up for the game’s let-downs. If you’re a Neptunia fan, it’s well worth picking up on launch to see the latest adventures of the CPUs, but if you’re looking for an entry-point into the franchise, there are better games to choose from.