This is Milestone's best MXGP title to date, improving the graphics, improving the physics, the handling, and the realism, all whilst keeping the title accessible to players of all levels.
Other than a few minor bumps and quirks aside, there remains little to complain about in the latest installment in the Ride franchise. Milestone has used its vast knowledge of motorcycling titles to build one of its best titles yet.
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown brings the franchise hurtling onto Xbox One with all guns blazing. For genre fans, it's a great time thanks to intuitive and compelling combat, an interesting variety of missions, a wealth of content, planes, weaponry and technology, all backed up with stunning graphics and a thumping soundtrack.
MotoGP 15 manages to delight and disappoint this year. The racing itself is better than ever due to the improvements in the physics and handling of the bikes. However, with the game making its first appearance on the Xbox One you feel that Milestone had the chance to impress and perhaps bring new fans into the fold, but with the lacklustre presentation and more severe bugs, it feels like a missed opportunity and that's a shame. To be fair, the title has always focussed on the racing - it just wants the player to race and race some more, and with this Milestone have continued to deliver an unrivalled two-wheel experience that is a thrilling and intense as the sport it represents. It is genuinely hard to find fault in the actual racing within the game.
In summary, it's a brilliant simulation, but it comes at the price of even being called a game.
Armored Warfare is a welcome addition to the tank battle genre.
Dead by Daylight has the potential to become a cult classic among asymmetric games.
Earth's Dawn is a solid little title with a few minor niggles that hold it back from being a great title. On the surface, the game appears quite simple and yet the combat, skills and crafting make for quite a deep and intriguing game with many gameplay and combat possibilities.
Whilst it's not quite the next Rocket League it's still a rather good arena-based team game that's easy to drop into and play for short periods.
MotoGP 18 is a clear step forward from its predecessor with the previously used proprietary engine already looking dated.
Racing in circles or triangles shouldn't be all that much fun and yet Monster Games have managed to make the sport just that. Building on last year's title, the team has added great new features that go deeper with the sport than ever before.
Clearly, this is not a sports title for everyone, just like its real-life counterpart, but Dovetail Games have made a solid and enjoyable simulation of angling, and if you're a fan of the sport that can't get out to the water as often as you'd like, then Fishing Sim World makes for a fine replacement.
Mighty No. 9 fails to fill the shiny blue, metallic, oversized boots of its predecessor. The game manages to capture the essentials of the previous titles without capturing the essence. Remaining true to the original design ethos from a decade ago has perhaps been too restrictive and it feels more like a HD remake or re-imagining of the Mega Man games than an attempt to breathe new life into an aged franchise, advancing it and introducing it to a new generation of players.
Tiny Troopers Joint Ops is an easy to pick up, fun little twin stick shooter and it's hard to criticize the title or find any particular fault with the game. It's a faithful reproduction of the two mobile games and offers plenty of levels to play. In small doses, it is indeed very playable and, as a distraction and diversion, it's great fun and the closest that you'll get to the classic Cannon Fodder on any modern console. For that alone it has to be commended. However, there is a feeling that by sticking so closely to the mobile roots of the game, the developers have somewhat confined and restricted the title in some way. It's good to have the franchise finally on the Xbox One and I'm quietly hoping for more in the future.
FlatOut 4 starts fast, furious, and certainly makes for plenty of early fun. However, after that initial adrenaline boost has passed, there comes a question about the longevity of the title.
Whilst there are moments when the arcade racing feels like fun, there is an omnipresent sense of Déjà Vu, that you've played this all before.
For those looking for more diverse disciplines in their racing, other titles will be better suited, but for NASCAR fans it's a great title that pays homage to the sport.
When it worked, it was good fun. Casual players might enjoy picking up the relatively quick achievements that are available, but this is mainly a title for those fans of the aerial combat genre.
Monster Energy Supercross - The Official Videogame certainly captures the atmosphere and the essence of the high-adrenaline sport.
Milestone has created something that's been missing in the genre, and though imperfect, it's a good start to what may be a new recurring franchise.