Jacob Stokes

With Milo’s Quest on Xbox One we have a game that is pretty good for what it is: a laid-back introduction to adventure games. The story is whimsical and sets the stage well. There are some solid elements included like keys, chests and collectible items. The puzzles and enemies are simple enough for the difficulty level that Milo’s Quest is aiming for. And its presentation is charming, vibrant and well done. This is certainly a game that the kids will enjoy. Unfortunately, there’s no real challenge for anyone else.

It should become rather boring, rather quickly. But it really doesn’t. Because what Music Racer lacks in substance, it more than makes up for with style. This is a beautiful game. Period.

Seven out of ten testers couldn’t get past level 15. A bold claim, by any account. But it’s one that Mushroom Quest, a game where you control a giant walking mushroom who spends his time pushing blocks and collecting crystals, is willing to make.

2019 is officially in the books and 2020 is upon us. And what better way to celebrate the New Year (and decade) than by giving your Gamerscore a real kick in the backside. So I’ve compiled a list of five of the easiest completions from 2019 that you may have missed the first time around. Each one offers something different and they are all worth a look, even if you aren’t after the easy Gamerscore. Without further ado, let’s dive right in.

I imagine Mad Games Tycoon on Xbox One to be a rather polarising game. The issues are numerous and will likely put some people off. Still, these don’t spoil the game entirely. And after getting to grips with Mad Games Tycoon I can say it’s actually a rather fun and addictive game.

This is a game that you can pour hundreds of hours into, and still find rewarding gameplay and new strategies. Not to mention, it’s dangerously addictive. Clear your schedule for this one. Multi-hour gaming sessions have never gone by so fast.

Shoddy writing and convoluted plot points spoil what is an initially interesting premise. And there is a complete lack of atmosphere, which calls into question Just Ignore Them’s status as a horror game to begin with. Unless you’re looking for some easy Gamerscore, just ignore it.

Far Cry 3 was brilliant. It’s one of my favourite games of the past ten years. But when Far Cry 4 came out two years after it, I didn’t feel the same way. Like many people, I felt it to be pretty much Far Cry 3 but set in the Himalayas, and not done nearly as well. It’s been five years since the release of Far Cry 4, so let’s trek back to 2014, and into the small Himalayan nation of Kyrat to see what this game is all about. Is it better than I originally gave it credit for?

Was Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 as ground-breaking as the original Modern Warfare? No. Is it silly, over-the-top and fundamentally un-balanced? Yes, but that’s what makes MW2 an absolutely brilliant game. It enraptured and entertained, and left us all with lasting memories. Games are meant to be fun and MW2 was exactly that.

What do you get when you take the best parts of Mega Man and mix them with the best parts of Metroid? The answer: Rex Rocket, which has finally come to Xbox One, five years after its original release on Steam. And after playing it, I can say that that’s five years too late. The game is brilliant, and absolutely nails just about every aspect of a successful 8-bit platformer.

If Axis Games can use their Franchise mode as a foundation and build on it moving forward, then we might have something on our hands that could be classed as a valid alternative (but not a competitor) to Madden.

What’s the most important part of any Call of Duty multiplayer? Is it the guns, the killstreaks or the game modes? Well, they’re pretty important, but the real answer is the maps. They can make or break a Call of Duty. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is here, and what better way to celebrate its release than by looking back at some of the maps that made Infinity Ward’s original trilogy so great. Here are ten of the greatest.

Restless Hero on Xbox One is a strong outing; a remarkable effort by a tiny development team. There are improvements that could be made, but they do not detract from the fact that the game is a really enjoyable 2D platforming adventure.

Twinsanity’s legacy is a conflicted one. The game maintains a cult following and has relatively high standing among many Crash fans. Some rate it as the best game outside of the Naughty Dog originals. Some even want it remastered, an intriguing possibility considering all that cut content. But many hate it.

Legend of the Skyfish does have a lot going for it: an intriguing story, a cool gimmick, a beautiful Zelda-like aesthetic, and easy achievements. Unfortunately, the execution is rather fishy.