NZGamer's Reviews
Overall, it's a tepid entrance into the ring for EA Sports and their new UFC title. The game looks, and even sounds like the real thing, but a slightly awkward grappling engine and a lacklustre approach to the energy and thrill of an actual fight is disappointing. Let's just hope that the franchise builds on this foundation for 2015, because there is technical promise here.
If you enjoy twin-stick shooters like Geometry Wars, then maybe you can give this a try. It's definitely a competent game for the genre and will scratch that itch, if you've got it. For me though, the whole time I was playing I just kept thinking about how much better Geometry Wars was, and that I'd rather be playing an HD release of that instead.
So in the end, Valiant Hearts is something of a flawed masterpiece. But it's a masterpiece nonetheless. This is a game that definitely won't be for everyone, but it's something that the videogame industry has been in dire of need of. Being a steel-balled, Nazi-killing war hero is all well and good, but Valiant Hearts reminds us that there's more than one way to tell a war story.
Overall though, it's a fun new game mode. And for Killzone - it's an interesting experience working as a squad, rather than a group of individuals. There is no question that you'll need to work together to win the game.
On the other hand, Mario Kart 8 is easy to pick-up, easy to enjoy, and no matter how good you are, there will be moments that make you smile. You don't have to spend hours perfecting your driving style, and memorising complex tracks; it's almost a 'Sonic Transformed lite'.
The only thing being scared away by the Wayward Manor's ghost is this reviewer's patience.
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty is currently retailing on PSN for $33.95 (NZ) and is a 4.5GB download.
What was one of the best games for the PlayStation 3 is now one of the best games you can buy for the PlayStation 4. You owe it to yourself to experience this masterpiece first hand.
The Swapper is a beautiful, haunting thing. It's rare for a game to leave you feeling emotionally numb, but also satisfied by the journey. All of The Swapper's parts operate in concert, creating a masterful puzzle platformer that deserves to be remembered.
Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition is as good as it could possibly get. The only problem it has is the obvious one; if you have the original release on PC, or on the last-gen consoles, it's up to you if you want to spend money on an expansion pack.
The crisp visuals render beautifully on the smaller [VITA] screen and the slick, fairly basic controls are well polished. However it is harder to recommend on the bigger sibling consoles due to short depth of gameplay and irritating AI.
But therein lies the rub: Season Two is good, and great at times, but it never reaches the lofty heights of its predecessor. To be fair, the first season was a masterpiece that would be difficult even for its own creators to emulate, and while the second season doesn't quite hit that benchmark, it's still a tale worth telling.
[T]hose who got their fill with Deslin's earlier adventures, you probably won't find much new on offer here - apart from an interesting new character to get to know.
It's Madden season, and this is the best Madden yet.
All things considered, at fourteen or so hours to complete the campaign, I quite enjoyed my time with Halfway. It's not a ground-breaking title, and those last few levels almost had me rage-quitting, but the traits allow for some fun strategies and if you're wanting an enjoyable sci-fi story with your TBS/RPG elements, then Halfway is more than worth the miniscule price being asked for it. I look forward to the sequel (please).
The PC port of Dead Rising 3 manages to bring the core experience over well. The combat is still visceral, insane, and funny. The sheer quantity on offer here is impressive, but don't come to this version if you're looking for something new. Also, make sure to bring a controller.
Despite what's been left out, The Sims 4 feels like it's heading in the right direction.
Steamworld Dig on the Wii U is the fifth release, and they're covering every platform for a reason. The game is addictive and a lot of fun. What the Wii U offers over and above the others is that you can play it both on the TV or solely on the gamepad.
Destiny isn't a bad game, by any means. If you like sci-fi shooters, you'll get a good 20 hours of enjoyment out of this. But that's really all it is; a fun, forgettable shooter that plays it safe and sticks to what's been proven, with nothing to really set it apart from its peers.
For console owners, Metro Redux is a chance to experience a top-quality, story-heavy, immersive shooter with the kind of visuals that high-end PC users have had the privilege of playing. It's also great value for money when you consider the two full-story campaigns and additional DLC content included within.