Matthew Codd


130 games reviewed
79.3 average score
85 median score
63.8% of games recommended
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7 / 10.0 - Neverwinter
Jul 3, 2013

[I]f you're a dedicated Dungeons and Dragons fan or budding content developer, you might just find what you're looking for here. Neverwinter also has a lot of potential; once it has had some time to find its feet (and maybe install a server farm in Australia, but that's wishful thinking) this could be a game worth taking another look at.

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7.3 / 10.0 - Just Dance 2014
Oct 9, 2013

Nonetheless, Just Dance 2014 is still a whole lot of fun, particularly if you bring a few friends around to join in. Just make sure you keep a towel handy, as all that dancing can be sweaty work.

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7.5 / 10.0 - Killer Instinct
Nov 18, 2013

For now, our recommendation would be that if you're looking for a fighting game that skimps on story and has just a handful of options, but still delivers tournament-ready credentials, look no further. Killer Instinct is making a brash play at the top table and, as far as we can tell, it's got the goods.

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9.5 / 10.0 - Tearaway
Nov 20, 2013

And then, of course, there’s the fact that puzzle platformers and arty games like this aren’t for everyone. If you’re not into this type of game, Tearaway probably isn’t going to change your mind. In spite of that, I’d still say this is a must-buy for anyone with a Vita. At worst, it’ll make you rethink the value of some of the system’s more “gimmicky” user input mechanisms; at best you’ll get to have your heart set aflame by one of the most adorable, charming, and genuinely moving game experiences to date.

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6.5 / 10.0 - Ryse: Son of Rome
Nov 21, 2013

Still, beautiful visuals can only do so much to redeem a game, and as beautiful as Ryse is to look at, it's still more than a bit underwhelming to play. Which is sad, because, with a bit more thought put into the game design side of things, this could have been the Xbox One's standout launch title.

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7.9 / 10.0 - Zoo Tycoon
Nov 24, 2013

A simulation game fan looking for a hardcore micromanaging experience might want to look elsewhere, but for anyone else, Zoo Tycoon offers a whole lot of fun - with an important and oft neglected side dish of education and awareness raising.

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5.5 / 10.0 - Crimson Dragon
Nov 25, 2013

Given how poorly designed some parts of the game are, its hard to recommend it to anyone. And yet, like I said, I had some good fun with it, despite everything else. As long as you go in not expecting a life changing experience, there's an afternoon or two of enjoyment to be had here.

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8.2 / 10.0 - Madden NFL 25
Dec 2, 2013

For the average fan, Madden 25 on Xbox One offers little in the way of upgrades, making it hard to justify dropping another $120 for the game. On the other hand, for the hardcore Madden player (and I know there are a lot of you in New Zealand), the improved realism offered by some of the mechanical changes under the hood make this a hard game to pass up.

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Dec 9, 2013

Overall, Need for Speed Rivals is a great game, but one held back by some disappointing, avoidable flaws.

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7.9 / 10.0 - Bravely Default
Dec 23, 2013

90% brilliant, 10% excruciatingly tiresome.

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8.5 / 10.0 - Nihilumbra
Jan 7, 2014

Nihilumbra is a fantastic example of what can happen when developers are willing to try new things, and focus on just what it is that makes videogames a unique medium. Life may have no intrinsic meaning, but the team at BeautiFun Games seem to have found meaning in making games, and for that, I am grateful.

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How long do I have to wait for Episode 2?

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Feb 4, 2014

Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, is certainly not a misnomer - if you're picking up the game for the first time, this is absolutely the one to go for. It's the same brilliant game that came out last year, all polished up and looking its finest. For returning adventurers, on the other hand, there's so little in the way of new content that there's not much point buying the new version unless you had an urge to replay it anyway.

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The first episode of The Walking Dead: Season Two was undoubtedly great, but definitely had its flaws - partially due to being a pilot episode, and partially due to the writing being, though damn good, not quite up to the par of sheer excellence that Telltale have set themselves. The same can't be said of Episode Two: A House Divided - this is some of the studio's finest work.

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6.5 / 10.0 - Yoshi's New Island
Mar 24, 2014

Yoshi’s New Island places almost all of its eggs in the nostalgia basket. It's a bold decision, but one that ultimately holds back the game by bringing with it some retro-inspired design best left to the 90s. Series fans will enjoy a trip back to this oft-forgotten Mario spin-off, and some of the newly introduced mechanics are good, if used too sparsely. Ultimately, though, Yoshi’s New Island is an enjoyable, but underwhelming, romp.

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Apr 8, 2014

Overall, Hearthstone is a well-executed and fun card game, one which lives the "easy to learn, hard to master" mantra to the utmost. If you like either card games or Warcraft, this is definitely worth checking out. And if you - like me - are a fan of both, you owe it to yourself to at least give it a try.

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Apr 8, 2014

[I]t doesn't seem to quite live up what we've been led to expect from the new Kinect sensor, resulting in a lot of frustration the ultimately gets in the way of the experience. It'll make a great rental for when you have friends over, but it's hard to recommend for anything beyond that.

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8.9 / 10.0 - Fez
Apr 8, 2014

All that for $18.95? You'd have to be a Square not to.

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5.5 / 10.0 - King Oddball
Apr 13, 2014

Now with that out of the way, it's time to go see what all this fuss is about these "Wills" and "Kate" characters, whoever they might be.

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A Realm Reborn was already a great game when it launched, though it admittedly ran out of steam after a few months. Thanks to a bunch of content upgrades and a new level of sheen afforded by the PS4 hardware however, the game is easily one of the best on the market right now.

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