Tag: review
Planet Zoo review – a really wild time
ad_1 Our Verdict Frontier delivers a richly detailed and visually glorious zoo creation sim for genre fans, newbies, and animal lovers alike, bloated only a little by a few clumsy interfacing points. In a recent look at Frontier’s furry new game in beta, I was left with the impression that Planet Zoo is a beast of …...
Ark: Survival Evolved PC review
ad_1 We stand before each other in our underpants, each holding a Primitive Axe and eyeing each other’s beards. I inch a step forward, as does he. I inch backwards again, distancing myself from his thatched hut; he mirrors me. Then a third player in Chitin armour turns up from behind him, cheerily says “hello” …...
Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition review – reverent treatment
ad_1 Our Verdict With new official DLC, a glorious audiovisual overhaul and a touch of modern quality-of-life polish, this is now the best way to play Age 2 – though it’ll take a while to match the HD edition’s user content. Ahhhhhh, Age of Empires. Is there any early millenium gaming nostalgia stronger than the...
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey review: an ancient adventure of epic proportions
ad_1 Our Verdict Odyssey is a better, and certainly bigger, Assassin’s Creed game than any before it. The sheer number of moving parts can be intimidating but this is a special adventure that must be savoured. In the Odyssey – Homer’s, not Ubisoft’s – Odysseus is given an ox-skin bag containing all the winds of …...
Just Cause 4 PC review – a sequel that struggles to break new ground
ad_1 Our Verdict Avalanche Studios’ sandbox refines everything that made its predecessor great. It’s still one of the most generous and bombastic open world games, but its new systems don’t progress the sandbox as much as they should. The sky darkens and the air browns as the sandstorm comes in. I struggle to run to …...
Spelunky 2 PC review – more of a good thing
ad_1 Our Verdict A teasing blend of punishment and reward that will delight roguelike fans whether they played the first or not, Mossmouth’s great achievement is in adding so much depth and scope without overcomplicating the formula. A girl is looking for her parents on the moon. Her father – who is the protagonist from …...
Slay the Spire PC review – the best solo deck-builder yet
ad_1 Our Verdict An intricate and highly replayable game that shines across both of its genres, MegaCrit’s debut combines a simple premise with near-flawless mechanical execution. The journey up the spire is often gruelling – a single tricky fight can send you crawling desperately for the next rest site, while an unfortunate draw can...
Hades review – a roguelike to remember
ad_1 Our Verdict Few other roguelikes build around the genre’s cyclical nature, both mechanically and narratively, as successfully as Hades. A punchy and fresh presentation of Greek myth is another touch that ensures its appeal will go well beyond genre fans. Roguelikes aren’t exactly known for their linearity. Their procedurally...
Against the Storm review – a near-perfect roguelike strategy game
ad_1 Our Verdict Against the Storm is a prime example of what can happen when a small team has clear inspiration, passion, and a willingness to collaborate with its players. It’s a brilliant mix of roguelike, strategy, and small-scale city building that will hook you from the jump. Releasing in early access to critical acclaim...
Ghostrunner review: Titanfall meets Hotline Miami
ad_1 Our Verdict Unrivalled parkour mechanics and tough-as-nails combat more than make up for a bland cyberpunk setting. Ghostrunner is definitely a gameplay-first proposition. If you’re hoping to be whisked away to a dystopian cyberpunk setting then you may be disappointed, as Ghostrunner is only really interested in ticking boxes:...
