Charm is perhaps the biggest thing Scott Pilgrim Vs The World: The Game - Complete Edition on Xbox has going for it. Unfortunately, the fighting isn’t quite as tight as it could be and occasionally lets down the wonderful music and great visuals.
The tutorial-focused hands of Summer in Mara on Xbox are where things stumble, offering a game that is unwilling to let you go outside of the strict parameters set before you.
The alpha of a game is always an interesting thing to see. It’s sort of like looking at a painting from far away. You can vaguely make out what it’s supposed to be but those small details haven’t come into frame yet. You assume they mean very little for the overall perception of the painting but - sometimes - they entirely skew it into something unrecognisable. A good alpha gives you something to look forward to, something to watch change over the coming year. A great alpha shows you exactly what you’re in for. Back 4 Blood does both.
In a way, the soundtrack for Katamari Damacy REROLL on Xbox is a pretty good interpretation of the game itself. It’s eclectic, fun, weird and charming but perhaps a little antiquated when looking at it now. With better technology, this could lead us to a great sequel, but for now it’s just a short, pleasant experience
The first few minutes of Heroes of Hammerwatch give a surprisingly accurate representation of the entire experience. As you look through the multitude of classes, multiple customization options and somewhat overwhelming overworld, it instils both a sense of dread and intrigue. Heroes of Hammerwatch - Ultimate Edition can be a little daunting, but there is just so much to love here.
Destroy All Humans! is an easy game to recommend for fans of the original. It feels faithful almost to a fault as it carries the story, jokes, and somewhat antiquated game design with it. While there are some nice additions and decent visuals, it probably won’t do much to convince those who didn’t play it back in 2005 to give it a go.
Tannenberg on Xbox One is stuck in a rather awkward place. It is so very ambitious that it is certainly worth looking at, but it is this same ambition which seems to hold the game back. The visuals are outdated and the gameplay sometimes feels rather clunky. This being said, the attention to detail is phenomenal with gun choices, uniform design and map layouts that all astound.
Despite the fact that it's very short, rather bare and occasionally doesn't respond naturally to your decisions, We should talk on Xbox One is an interesting experience that's easy to recommend.
It's not every day a revolutionary little indie title comes along but Edmund McMillen seems to do it with almost every release. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth released near the start of the current generation and has been improved, adapted and mimicked ever since.
The original Knight Squad from way back in 2015 (Xbox One) is something I look very fondly on when reminiscing about the early days of the current generation. It offered an addicting gameplay loop, diverse characters and plenty of ways to slaughter your friends. Knight Squad 2 appears to grab this base formula and push it into new heights. It doesn't touch the core gameplay but offers new modes, items and arenas to cause havoc. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance to give it a go.
From the get-go, Neon Abyss might not wow you with its uniqueness but it does do some nice things to change up the usual formula. Grab a little Binding of Isaac, a little Rogue Legacy, and a pinch of Cyberpunk and you have Neon Abyss. If this sounds up your alley, you're in for a nice treat.
The Otterman Empire attempts to offer a Splatoon-like experience for Xbox One, and that in itself is an exciting prospect. But does it live up to this or is that promise just too fishy?
Colt Canyon on Xbox One is a great little randomly generated roguelike. Taking inspiration from the likes of Enter The Gungeon and Hotline Miami, the gameplay is smooth, fun and brutal. As well as this, the addition of a co-op mode adds a great deal to the overall experience.
No Straight Roads starts very impressively. After making your way through the J Rock-inspired title menu, you are greeted to the story in a very cinematic opening. “The biggest change can come from the most unexpected individual” is both the opening line and a great expression of what No Straight Roads will offer later this year. It has instant appeal, working as a cool mix of anime, Psychonauts, and Crypt of the Necrodancer.
The original Diablo released way back in 1997 to critical acclaim and its legacy has been clear from the not-so-subtle clones to the inspiration it has had on all facets of gaming. Needless to say, its follow up, Diablo II, had a lot to live up to.
From the second we heard of Eternal Hope from Doublehit Games, we just wanted to know more. A puzzle-platformer that has been inspired by the artistic stylings of Studio Ghibli, the appeal was immediate. And so we reached out to the team at Doublehit to request a little chat, all in hope of finding out more about the game. Gabriel Oliveira, the Audio Director and Sound Designer on the game, was more than happy to divulge more.
Mafia III: Definitive Edition on Xbox One has distinct charm in its narrative, world-building and conceptualised understanding of socio-politics and the military-industrial complex but, ironically enough, it fails in its combat and general movement. Whilst it is clear a great deal of care has gone into its writing, I wish I could say the same for its gameplay.
The final week of the Horizon Race Off dawns in Forza Horizon 5, yet as we prepare to bid farewell, there is a last hoorah in the shape of the Festival Playlist Weekly Challenges for Series 32 Spring.
For those of you who have been living under a rock or deep in the jungle for the last ten years, the Devil May Cry games feature a protagonist called Dante. And this is Dante when he was just effortlessly cool...
