Reviews: Gaming

Despite everything 2020 has thrown at us, the next generation of gaming is finally here. First with the...

Sackboy: A Big Adventure serves as a wonderful solo debut title for this iconic and unforgettable PlayStation mascot.

Astro's Playroom is a wonderful first romp into everything seemingly possible with the PlayStation 5. Serving as both a technological showcase of the system as well as a beautiful and nostalgic trip down memory lane for the PlayStation brand; it is clear the game was created with passion. Although it might completely skimp on narrative, it more than makes up for it in the sheer amount of unique gameplay to show-off the Dual Sense and the wondrous sense of luring players to discover and explore the vivid and delightful worlds on offer. In many ways, it feels like a product of a bygone era. A piece of software specifically built to showcase new hardware. However, this beautiful bundling of software and hardware to offer an experience unavailable on any other platform is ultimately what makes the game so incredible good, and why it will be remembered as a 'must play' title for years to come.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla takes inspiration from every single one of the franchise greats. From Assassin’s Creed II’s exceptional writing and Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag’s unlikely hero, Valhalla is both expertly written and has an unusual hero destined for greatness - one who has no real interest in the Hidden Ones, at least to start. From Assassin’s Creed Origins’ superb and intimate narrative and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s full-fledged role-playing game (RPG) mechanics, Valhalla doubles down on all facets to deliver one of the best gameplay experiences featured in any Assassin’s Creed title to date. Evior truly is a loveable protagonist that players fall in love with quickly. Their struggle is the player’s struggle, and that is the best compliment a game can ask for. However, there are so many additional aspects that make the game an even better experience: the exceptional soundtrack and sound design; World Events that do not repeat; settlement building, and so much more! Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is immensely fun and satisfying to play, and offers constant surprises that do not seem to stop or disappoint. It is, undoubtedly, the best Ubisoft has to offer at this stage in time, and will forever be regarded as one of the greats in the Assassin's Creed franchise.

Microsoft's Xbox Series X is incredibly quiet, well built, wonderfully unassuming, incredibly fast and filled with untold potential. For a new console, the Xbox Series X currently offers one of the best places to invest in Microsoft's maturing ecosystem.

Dirt 5 is genuinely a pretty game. From its incredibly smooth 120fps mode, through to its detailed and intense 4K60 mode; complemented by bright beautiful colours and a simple approach to racing and vehicles; all makes Dirt 5 truly feels like a game coming to the latest and greatest hardware. The game looks way better in person than it does on YouTube too, and plays incredibly well. In time, the game can be upgraded with a whole bunch of new customisable options, and eventually, patched to enhance performance even more. It is honestly a great and fun game that encourages quick plug-and-play gaming more so than most single players titles, and is well worth it for any fan of arcade racing or the Dirt franchise.

Watch Dogs: Legion is proof of just how invested Ubisoft is in this incredibly interesting and evolving franchise. The title is ultimately incredibly unique and not overly complicated. It does not take itself too seriously, and allows for gamers to both enjoy and become engrossed in the world it builds. Although some weird issues do detract from the overall experience, such as the weird masks and unnecessary memes, these are all an integral part of the premise. So much so, that the game would feel empty and void without them and, weirdly, when thrown into the mix pot that is Watch Dogs: Legion, everything works together beautifully. Although the game may not be the sequel fans of Watch Dogs 2 have asked for, it certainly showcases what Ubisoft is capable of when allowed to have a bit of creative fun with an established franchise.

The most pressing issue with the entire Super Mario 3D All-Stars bundle is the fact that Nintendo did very little to bring the games into the modern age. Both Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy ported over nicely, with Sunshine getting the most love from Nintendo in terms of functionality. The 16:9 aspect ratio is appreciated in Sunshine, which makes the older, almost-square aspect ratio for Super Mario 64 even more glaring. Fortunately, the Super Mario 3D All-Stars bundle nevertheless feels like modern games thanks to how well Nintendo has implemented platforming from the start. Super Mario 64 might be the most jarring inclusion in the bundle, but its iconic status warrants it being there. Super Mario Sunshine is a neat addition and its reworked aspect ratio makes the world of a difference. Super Mario Galaxy is by far the best game in the bundle, and also translates over to the Switch controls beautifully. All three games, however, load exceptionally fast and play well. There are no frame losses or weird glitches anywhere. Visually, they are all set apart, but some of the titles have aged better than others. Regardless of how they look, this is the best bundle any Super Mario fan can get.

Pokemon Sword & Shield is a true generational leap from previous offerings, complete with stunning graphical fedility and addictive gameplay.

Beyond the horrible repetition and seemingly tacked-on multiplayer, Marvel’s Avengers genuinely features a golden single-player narrative. Kamala Khan is one of the best and most surprising additions to the game. Her highly relatable personality is exceptionally geeky, and pushes the campaign in wonderful, albeit cliched, directions. Character progression can be a bit tedious outside of single player, with a handful of missions, bosses, and enemies that tick the necessary boxes at first. Sadly, the very same aspects that work exceptionally well in single-player serve as nothing more than unnecessary effort and filler in multiplayer. At its core, Marvel’s Avengers has a serious identity crisis. It absolutely is worth picking up for any comic book fan to enjoy the super narrative, but ultimately has very little replay value for anyone who dislikes monotonous grinding.

WWE 2K Battlegrounds is, ultimately, one of the worst games this side of the current console generation. While it has some cool-looking comic book cutscenes and a decent story, the campaign quickly devolves into a repetitive grind with no real end. The grind is so boring that players actively feel encouraged to spend real-world money just to get anywhere in the game. This is astonishing, to say the least, and extremely unacceptable. Multiplayer would make sense if played with friends, but after a little while, there is no feasible reason to continue playing. Wrestlers feel generic and unoriginal, except for the five overarching classes. Frankly, the game is not worth recommending, not even for the most hardcore of wrestling fans.

Mafia Definitive Edition is an all-round great package. It looks and sounds phenomenal. From expert motion capture and stellar performances by all cast involved, down to outstanding writing, it has the makings of an A-class title. Gameplay may be a bit wonky, but there is so much else that brings the game up to the standards of the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V - but perhaps not as broad in scope. Hangar 13 have done a fantastic job and made Mafia Definitive Edition a must-have for any fan of the period, setting or mobster plot.

WRC 9 is similar in many ways to WRC 8, but features just enough improvments to feel fresh and new, making it one of the better rally sims.

Paper Mario: The Origami King brings the wonderful folded paper versions of beloved characters back from the grave for another adventure.

Project Cars 3 acts as the sequel to one of the world's most highly regarded vehicle racing simulators with baffling ignorance.

Ghost Recon Breapoint: Red Patriot brings the legendary Scott Mitchel back as he pits the new Ghosts against Trey Stone.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 brings back the two-decade old originals and completely overhauls the titles for the new generation.

As 11Bit Studios moves on to greener pastures, fans of Frostpunk will have the cold of Frostpunk: On the Edge to deal with.

Beyond a weird bug or two, Parkasaurus is a genuine treat to play. From a genuinely surprising number of management systems through to one of the silliest cartoon aesthetics ever seen in a park simulator, the game holds a wonderful amount of unexpected surprises belying its cutesy storefront presentation. In more ways than one, the game hearkens back to 90s classic cartoons like Dink, The Little Dinosaur. Overall, it is an amazing title with a lot of promise, and has the ability to eventually become one of the best park simulators available.

Burnout Paradise Remastered for Nintendo Switch is a good port of a decade old game. Alas, the dated gameplay can serve to frustrate over long periods of play, and the inclusion of readily available DLC removes the necessity of "needing" to play. The end result is a port of a once great game that lives to see another day by serving as the best, albeit overpriced, 'pick up and play' arcade styled racer currently available on the Switch.