It could well be overwhelming for some, but on the whole, if you give it time, the visuals, the soundtrack, the concept and the gameplay of Manifold Garden will more than deliver.
By ditching much of the hardcore sim superstructure, what is left is is a fun, accessible racing game that can easily be mentioned in the same breath as Forza Motorsport. It’s fast, good-looking and, with the exception of some dim-witted AI, super fun to play. If you are in the market for a racing game, you can do a lot worse than Project CARS 3.
Ultimately, Hexagroove: Tactical DJ on Xbox One doesn’t feel fully contained in what it is. It tries to offer engaging gameplay and adaptive songs, but never really delivers either. When given the choice between the big bang ending or fade out, Hexagroove quietly fizzles away on the sidelines.
It would have been difficult to make a case for this lightweight, unfinished game at a budget price point, but £14.99 for a game that’s a painful fart in the wind makes it a hard ‘no’. Find a copy of Bloodstained, Dead Cells, Hollow Knight or anything else, really, and you will have dodged an hour-long headache with Gleamlight on Xbox One.
I think the most important thing to keep in mind when playing Windbound on Xbox One is that there is a bit of an adjustment period to picking up the game. I didn’t boot it up and immediately fall in love with it; the visuals and premise drew me in, while the mechanics took some adjustment. But after a while everything begins to feel pretty good.
There is a lot of football to be had in Madden NFL 21 on the Xbox One, and when you are on the field, the football is good. EA have created a game that if you have 15 minutes or a couple of hours, they want you tossing their digital pigskin. From modes like The Yard and MUT that offer quicker challenges to a full simulation in either Franchise mode, you will be spoilt for choice. Sadly though, they’re not all good choices. MUT is the big money earner, so receives the most TLC, but this comes at a cost to all other modes. Face of the Franchise runs along a very by-the-numbers storyline, and even Superstar KO and The Yard feel quite shallow at launch.
Approach Cinders on Xbox One with caution. If you like a bit of melodrama in your life, and the prospect of a well-crafted, alternate take on Cinderella sounds appealing, this glass slipper may well fit.
We’ve seen plenty of simulation games lately, providing gamers the opportunity to embark on roles as bus drivers, train operators and even a deadly hunter; but now it’s time to head into the kitchen to rustle up some food with Cooking Simulator. Having always been fond of the culinary arts, merely hearing about the sheer concept of Cooking Simulator is music to my ears. As such, it’s arrival on Xbox One has tickled those taste buds and I’m ready to cook up a storm. Is Cooking Simulator a Michelin star style experience though, or will it turn out as something more akin to Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares?
New Super Lucky’s Tale on the Xbox One aims to be a love letter to 3D platformers of old, and it absolutely is. For older gamers it feels instantly familiar, yet fresh, and littler ones will have a blast playing as Lucky.
I have been thoroughly impressed by the quality of the work on offer with Through the Darkest of Times on Xbox One. It takes you on an unforgettable journey through the eyes of those Berliners who didn't like what was happening to their country, desperate for change and the world to see the truth. It may not be for all but it's important that games like this are made.
With a time-bending approach to the twin-stick shooter, it looked like The Ambassador: Fractured Timelines on Xbox One would be really spoiling us. Instead, we get a slow-paced example of the genre, whose best ideas never quite develop beyond its first hour.
Mortal Shell on Xbox One has delivered a hugely enjoyable and frustratingly, pad bitingly, hard experience. I love the gameplay, the lore and the general ambience, though the difficulty could be a little toned down if I'm honest. But then it is that which acts as a spur to keep you pushing on.
If you're after something truly original and unique with a great concept and fascinating take on a Kafka story, then take a trip into the unknown with Metamorphosis on Xbox One.
Hyper Scape on Xbox One feels like it tries new ideas but fails to implement them in any effective way, and frankly even if they were well-optimized, it's still not enough to make it stand out from the rest of the pack. This is a perfectly serviceable battle royale, but it is just that - serviceable.
