John Whitehouse
With an amazing amount of possibilities open to you, most of which I have not mentioned here, no two play throughs are the same. Yes you will get frustrated and yes, your road will be a long and bizarre one, but ultimately it will be a journey of exploration, wonder and the more than occasional scare.
With all the money and development time thrown at this game, is this really all they could come up with for their DLC – three maps and no new modes? Even with a cheaper price point, it's hard to recommend this pack.
Velocibox walks that fine line between incredibly frustrating and frustratingly replayable. It is unforgiving and brutal in its design; but at the same time induces that 'One more go' feeling. This game is not for the faint of heart, or those that have slower than lightening fast reactions. But if you crave a simple, fast paced and demanding challenge, then this game may be right up your alley.
I don't think this game is for those new to the genre, but if you're a fan of rogue-likes and crave something super challenging, then you may just want to take a swipe at The Swindle.
Nova-111 is a nice departure from the usual sci-fi side scrolling games that we are used to. By making it a turn based puzzle game, Funktronic Labs have made something that stands out a little. With its simple design and helpful tutorials, Nova-111 is easy to get in to, but don't be too surprised if the game doesn't hold your attention for too long.
I Am Bread seems to have been developed for crazy people, or for those that hate themselves. Sure, there is a challenge to be found here, but the rewards don't justify the means. It simply doesn't compare to its peers. It has none of Octodad's humour and none of Surgeon Simulator's irony. It's just a joke that seems to have gone stale.
Surprisingly fun, both in single player and co-op mode, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a gem. The great co-op mechanic really encourages the players to work together and communicate, but never hinders a lone player. For those that want to grab a friend and take on a challenging experience, filled with gorgeous visuals and thoughtful gameplay, then Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is the perfect game.
FIFA 16 has a few nice additions, but failure to fix some of the franchise's ongoing problems, along with a massive focus on FUT leaves it feeling stale; especially seeing as PES seems to be scoring highly in reviews.
Crimsonland is now up there with Super Stardust HD as one of my favourite twin-stick shooters. It may not blow you away with the visuals, but looks certainly don't matter when it's packing this much content. Added to the fact that the Xbox One version includes new content, this is a must buy for fans of the genre and for those looking for a fun co-op experience.
Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival could have been really fun. But the lack of things to do during the main game hinder it so badly. The reason why Mario Party is so beloved is because of the crazy variety of action available on offer as you're running around the board. It's the thing that lets this game down the most. Everything else has been crafted to the standard you would expect of a game bearing the Animal Crossing name, it is a shame that the core gameplay couldn't hold up its end of the bargain. It's the perfect example of 'So close, but yet so far."
SteamWorld Heist is another gem. The universe and its inhabitants are joyful to play with and kept me coming back for more. Image & Form took a bold step by not opting for the easy route, instead choosing to expand on an already interesting theme. Heist is as good as any full priced 3DS game out there; and in most cases, even better. With hours and hours of gameplay, it's a steal at just $16.99.
Get Together will no doubt be an essential purchase to those who are fully invested in The Sims 4. But if you are looking for something to add some deep meaningful content, then save your cash.
[H]aving played many dual-stick shooters in the past, there is nothing really here that stands out as excellent. Just average.
Level 22: Gary's Misadventure is a pleasant and refreshing stealth focused game. Not once did it take itself too seriously, or try too hard. Its light-hearted approach to the genre felt like light relief when compared to games like Volume or Metal Gear Solid. Go Gary, go!
It’s been a few years since Joe Danger graced our consoles, and while we all know what Hello Games have been working on since then, there hasn’t really been a game that comes close to achieving the great mix of level design, gameplay and colorful characters that Joe left in his wake. Action Henk intends to remedy that.
Everything about Assault Android Cactus feels perfect. From the controls and gameplay to sound and design. All lovingly crafted by Witchbeam, a development team of just three guys. It may have taken a while to get to the PS4, but I can now see why. Slick menu design, challenging gameplay and genuinely funny characters all add up to a create one of the best games I've played in a while. Whether it's for a full on playing session, or just to kill time for 20 minutes, Assault Android Cactus has you covered.
Avoid this game like a well used litter tray; it’s more of a dog than a cat!
Koi isn’t a bad game. It just lacks content and a level of polish found in even the smallest of indie games these days.
Rocketbirds 2: Evolution was a fantastic surprise for me. Having never touched the first game (even though I owned it through PS+), I had no idea what to expect. In the end what I got was a mostly solid single player campaign, with a co-op mode that could have me coming back for ages.
Despite having one of the most generic titles I’ve heard in a while, Neon Chrome has a lot going for it – a solid rogue-like, with plenty of upgrade options and exciting action. It’s such a shame that the HUD issue put a dampener on things. As it stands, I would have to recommend waiting on this until a patch it released to address the semi game breaking bug.