Alex Donaldson's Reviews
Street Fighter 5 is easily one of the best fighting games of this generation
Pokemon Sword & Shield is all too often a bit disappointing, and in some places actually feels a little unfinished, but it also fully provides that warm, fuzzy feeling that one expects from the series. Crucially, even through frustration, never once did I think about putting it down, which is to its credit. It comes recommended almost for the Galar setting and new Pokemon alone, but with a long list of caveats indeed.
This has quietly arrived as one of the most original games of the year – and better yet, is one of my favorites.
Dragon Quest 11 has its flaws, and it may ultimately function as a breezy trip down memory lane for the experienced and a fabulous gateway experience for the uninitiated, but that is exactly what it sets out to be. At that, it is perfect.
Flawed though it may be, sometimes a distinctly B-tier game is exactly what the doctor ordered – especially at this time of year, in a sea of mega-hyped triple-A.
With a gorgeous presentation and smart and minimalist tweaks, it’s as charming and enjoyable now as it was in the nineties.
This is absolutely a worthy successor to Nier Automata – and like that game, Astral Chain is definitely a contender for one of my favourite games of the year.
Whatever path you choose, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is an absolute blast. It’s the best Fire Emblem title since Awakening, and it goes straight onto my list of must-play Switch games.
It probably comes as no surprise to learn that Super Mario Maker 2 is good. Just how good it is exceeds expectations, however.
Nostalgia might well have carried this one through, but in truth it doesn’t need it: this is a great game that has for the most part aged remarkably well, with the visual upgrade and other tweaks serving to make absolutely certain it’s worth the price of admission
An extraordinarily competent racer
Nintendo Labo VR is basic, but it’s immediately more fun than its expensive peers
Hopefully this is just the start, with similar quality releases of the latter three games and hopefully a further sequel yet to come following this. Rest assured – these are a fantastic way to revisit familiar adventures for existing fans and a must-play in the genre for everybody else. At last, they’ve got a current release definitively worth bothering with.
It’s a confident game that plays it safe, offering simple iterations and smart tweaks to the already well-trodden and successful styling of the series to offer up an entry that, at the very least, is superior to its direct predecessor.
This is a game that’s elevated by that choice of art and the way that design interlaces and works to create new play opportunities within the sweet sandbox of each level.
By taking its grim post-apocalyptic world above ground into wide, open areas, Metro Exodus adds a smart and engaging twist while retaining the series’ identity.
Parkitect is the management sim I’ve been wanting for years
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate does indeed live up to its name. It’s a brilliant game today, as it launches, but tellingly it also leaves me incredibly excited about the future.
What’s surprised me most about reviewing it is that I hadn’t fully made peace with that fact and yet I loved this game anyway – something that’s arguably a testament to how well it executes on its vision.
Get some friends, some beers, some button mashing and some toe-curlingly tight encounters and you'll find the spirit of the original alive and well – and that's all that matters in the end.