Rebecca Stow's Reviews
Planet Alpha is an enjoyable sci-fi indie, one that is undeniably stunning and engaging thanks to a unique day-night dynamic and interesting puzzles. Its major downfall is the glaring predictability of the story, but most players will be over the moon with what this game has to offer.
The Blackout Club is a strong addition to the co-op horror genre. Enemies and gameplay are really well handled, and playing with friends is a brilliant experience. If the story was a little more in-depth and better paced, this might be considered unmissable. As it is, The Blackout Club is a worthwhile game if not an essential one.
Paper Mario: The Origami King is a vibrant, detailed, and exciting adventure filled with bustling hubs and lots of hidden treasure. Sadly, whilst the battle system looks good on paper, it isn’t the enjoyable or in-depth RPG system long term fans were hoping for. The writing is consistently laugh-out-loud funny though, and that’s the most important thing in any Paper Mario game.
With its charming 2D style, exceptional voice acting and hilarious moments, Afterparty ultimately ticks all the right boxes. Bottoms up!
The soundtrack is also beautifully composed, and different sounds match the tone and vibe of different levels and constellations perfectly. It's another strong element that adds to the superb achievement that is Gravity Ghost.
Along with Kay, the player is subject to a rollercoaster of emotions, each of which is elevated due to the poignant soundtrack composed by Guy Jackson; a soring orchestral onset that isn't afraid to quietly hide in the background when it needs to.
Overall, New Dawn is a well thought out and enjoyable first-person shooter. Its singular let down is a fairly mundane story that leaves the game feeling like a decent extension to Far Cry 5 rather than its own post-apocalyptic adventure.
The core game is still a marvel to behold even after six years post release, the dangerous Rook Islands are beautiful yet deadly with sandy beaches, looming mountains and sweltering jungles. The story has also stood the test of time meaning that even seasoned players can enjoy Far Cry 3’s tale of violence and cultism as it quickly unravels before them.
Overall the new dynamic of cooperative puzzle solving is something that slots nicely into the gameplay of Little Nightmares. The hour-long DLC explores the lives and origins of the Nomes whilst still incorporating the eerie and unsettling feel of the Little Nightmares game.
Knowledge is Power is a great addition to the PlayLink library. It’s unique, fun and intuitive enough for all the family to enjoy. If you fancy moving your annual Trivial Pursuit game onto a modern platform, then Knowledge is Power is a must-have addition to your PS4 library.
There’s an awful lot of depth to Runic Games’ action adventure indie game, Hob. Exploration of the huge steampunk-inspired world is exceptionally rewarding: secret rooms can be discovered, shortcuts can be accessed and mysterious green orbs hide in machines and tiny crevices which allow you to level up.
Since gracing the screens of the 3DS way back in 2012, Resident Evil Revelations has been one of the most anticipated Resident Evil games to receive a HD Remaster for PS4 this year. Following in the footsteps of the other Resident Evil games, Revelations follows series regulars and fan favourites Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield as they explore a terrorist hideaway and the biological organic weaponry (B.O.W) that has been created on an abandoned cruise ship, The Queen Zenobia.
True to the success of recent emotional indie games, Last Day of June is a bit like a playable version of Disney’s heart-wrenching film UP. A puzzle adventure game which incorporates the ability to rewind time and fix your mistakes, Last Day of June is certainty an experience.
A storytelling masterpiece
A 2D puzzle adventure with a colourful environment, Planet of the Eyes ignites your curiosity and you’ll soon find yourself invested in unravelling the mysteries and solving the puzzles that are (mostly) your only companions on this strange planet.
Considering there was a time not long ago where it seemed we would never see a proper conclusion to The Walking Dead, the finale we do get is wonderful. There are a few end outcomes based on your path through the story, each as strong as the one before. But, most importantly, there is real closure here, and a sense that this was a journey worth taking.
Filled with twists and turns, the penultimate episode delivers one explosive finale and, with only one instalment left to tie up Clementine's story, it still feels like anything could happen.
Everything aside from the story is simplistic, but it doesn't matter if the puzzles are non-existent or that the graphics are basic, because The First Tree packs an emotional narrative and is a game that every indie fan should play as a result.
With challenging racing and a diverse car management system, F1 2018 is filled with endless opportunity. Although undeniably similar to last season's effort, small changes have improved the overall experience enough to merit a revisit. And, ultimately, F1 2018 takes the chequered flag as the best F1 instalment to date.
An eerie open world filled with deadly AI enemies elevates The Forest above a good number of survival horror experiences out there. Don't let the lack of story and minor repetition turn you off this atmospheric title.