Dealspwn's Reviews
Goat Simulator serves up a tiny, but pretty dense, sandbox stuffed with slapstick goofs and anarchic, broken comedy. It isn't much of a game, particularly for £6-8, but it's one hell of a joke.
MXGP is a solid stab at recreating the muddy thrills of motocross that excels on the simulation side of things. One for the fans.
The absence of online multiplayer makes this already niche title a hard sell to anyone that doesn't have a bunch of hardcore gamer buddies dropping by often. The quest mode isn't fun when attempted alone either.
More an overhaul than a director's cut, Strike Suit Zero's console debut feels like the definitive version of Born Ready's space sim: the game we all wanted it to be. Empowering mech handling and rebalanced gameplay makes a universe of difference, turning frustration into fun and challenging action in the main.
Short yet sensationally bittersweet, A Crooked Mile puts The Wolf Among Us back on form. Expect powerful performances, perfect pacing, gutwrenching decisions and even more opportunities to define Bigby as a unique, charismatic and nuanced character. Outstanding - so here's hoping that the final two episodes can deliver.
Age Of Wonders III focuses on eXploration and eXtermination in an unpredictable and customisable fantasy world that constantly reveals new secrets. A few issues and controversial mechanics might irk some genre veterans, but following the first major patch, Triumph's triumph is easily one of the most compelling strategy hybrids we've seen in recent years, and an enjoyably stern challenge for fans of tactical turn-based combat.
The 2.5D gameplay is a success with the combat and exploration feeling almost as rewarding as the regular console games. However, the galling amount of backtracking and the forced detective mode scanning to highlight weak walls or Batclaw points took the edge off what was otherwise an enjoyable night with the Dark Knight.
Warlock II: The Exiled is a game that stands on the shoulders of its predecessor rather than blazing a trail, but that's okay. What Ino-Co have given us here is an incredibly solid, hex-based strategy title that provides a great entry point to the series (and the genre, to be honest), with enough here to keep fans engaged for several thousand turns.
You'll need to be a massive Lego game fan to get the most out of this latest tie-in, as it's one of TT's most by the numbers efforts yet. Riddled with technical glitches, samey combat and surprisingly dull replications of the movies' set pieces it's a harder sell than it should be, more so because it's missing the final third until December. As ever though, you may keep coming back to it, as the collectibles are as moreish as ever, despite the increasingly roundabout way of finding everything. Still, I'd rather play this than watch the movies again.
Trials Fusion brings the series' addictive and challenging physics-based gameplay to new platforms and the next console generation, and does so with style. Though the loose FMX tricks system underwhelms and a few features are MIA at launch, it's still a huge serving of tightly-honed thrills, humiliating spills, compelling competition and user generated content that deserves your attention.
The Last Federation lets us become the shadowy puppet master behind a simulated galaxy, which we can unify or destroy at our whim. Whether applying political pressure from behind the scenes or blasting pirate fleets with energy cannon fire, this recklessly innovative indie gem has the polish, fun factor and sticking power to match its big ambitions.
NES Remix 2 crafts addictive and wacky challenges out of a dozen legendary games, trading on nostalgia yet letting us enjoy classic Nintendo moments in totally new ways. Its fantastic library, anarchic level design, spirit of competition and surprisingly subversive bonus game provides great value for money - and never once cracks our rose-tinted specs.
I finished the episode with most of the hidden items under my belt in just over four hours, which in addition to the three hours of Episode 1, feels like a fair return for the season pass' asking price. The gameplay and AI feels stripped down, but this is all about tying up the loose ends. As we've come to expect with every Bioshock game, the final revelations are nothing short of breathtaking and every shot from last few minutes is framed so beautifully that you'll want it on your wall. Irrational Games, you will be missed.
The Elder Scrolls Online is a brave attempt at combining two seemingly polar opposites, but it ultimately fails to build a continuously compelling world, compromising too much on either side. It's an MMO that can't hold a candle to likes of Guild Wars 2 and The Secret World, and an Elder Scrolls game that can't hope to be as deep and rich in content and solo experience as Morrowind and Skyrim. The allure of an online Tamriel is strong, and when the game's disparate parts align, it really is a bit special, but those moments are too few and far between to recommend for a game with this much of an inflated price point.
This bite-sized brawler delivers addictive time attack gameplay and satisfying combat for an appropriate price. Though you'll want to engage in short doses to make the most of its limited enemy types, Croixleur Sigma is perfect for pick-up-and-play action and delivers significantly superior value for money than its predecessor.
Child of Light proves that cheap downloadable RPGs can be done right after all. Visually enchanting and featuring a clever twist on classic turn-based combat, this puts many full-sized RPGs to shame. Even with painful rhyming dialogue and generic story, you'll find yourself hooked to the end.
Titan Attacks! is a fantastic SHMUP that packs nostalgia in spades, yet feels fierce, fresh and fun in the execution. Gorgeous visuals, addictive upgrades and unpredictable enemies bring Space Invaders bang up to date in style.
Bound By Flame wears its inspirations on its sleeve, and its chest, and its legs, borrowing cues from pretty much every ARPG around. Its an earnest attempt by Spiders, as are most of their games, but the elements here feel slapdash and dishevelled. At best, Bound By Flame might offer a spot of B-movie-esque filler while you wait for Dragon Age and The Witcher III. At worst, it's a clunky, hot mess of a game with an over-inflated price and little to offer of any distinction.
Sir, You Are Being Hunted brings rock-hard stealth survival to our pleasant pastures and dark satanic mills. Though overly large maps and lengthy backtracking can replace tension with tedium, its unmistakeably British character and unique gameplay fusion wins out, at least for patient players.
There's a lack of ambition on show here with the graphics and the story, but the combat is the best seen in a Spider-Man game thanks to some snappy controls and a responsive counter-system. The web-swinging could have been better, but Spider-Man is still by far the best gaming character to get around New York with.