While the combat may not be super engaging, and the story is a bad egg, the gorgeous world of The Falconeer on Xbox is a triumph. Paired with the spectacular music and breathtaking feeling of flight, this game provides what feels like an exceptional concept rather than a complete game.
With Watch Dogs Legion: Resistance Report, Watch Dogs fanatics can indulge in the lore of the game, as well as interesting details and concept art that a player may have missed.
The Arctis 7X for Xbox has been extremely impressive. It’s taken what I already loved in the Arctis 1 and just upped things enough to warrant the increase in price. It’s extremely comfortable to wear, delivers a sound quality to die for and provides super clear chat via the Discord-certified mic. Throw in the versatility found via that USB-C'd wireless dongle and there’s not much more you could ask for from SteelSeries.
There’s plenty to commend in PAW Patrol Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. It’s that rare example of a game that can be played by under-7s without help, and a strong co-op feature means that you can share Adventure Bay with them. Kids might not care, but it’s indefensibly slight for the price. Kids WILL care that they don’t get to play as the titular Mighty Pups for more than a few moments, though. It’s a long demo that kids will love for a time: if that’s enough for you, then go fetch.
The sokoban puzzle concept of manoeuvring boxes into specific areas has undoubtedly inspired many games, but the most recent experience for me was SokoBunny. It’s very basic in that you just kick crates around while using a bunny, trying to move them into place. And even though the latest sokoban style offering Sig.NULL isn’t reinventing the wheel, it promises a smarter version of the Japanese game. So, let’s see whether Sig.NULL pushes all the right buttons to create a rewarding puzzler, or if it’s destined for the soko-bin.
There should always be room in our lives for fun, pulpy rubbish. Sometimes you just want a Nic Cage movie, a packet of prawn cocktail crisps, or the works of Limp Bizkit. Video games can definitely be in that category too, and Vera Blanc: Full Moon could be classed as so-bad-it’s-good. In places, it’s in danger of teetering into just ‘bad’.
Ord. on Xbox One is a game that I hugely enjoyed spending some time with. The concept and execution are highly original with a great take on the 'choose your own adventure' theme. You won’t mind dying here either, because you’ll always be left with a smile on your face. With five different story arcs to play through, all very different in their themes and scope, there’s plenty to get involved in and these make up for the simple visuals.
Five Nights at Freddy’s on Xbox One is a very creepy game, but one that achieves big results with limited resources. Using nothing more than some creepy singing and things that go bump in the night to deliver jump scares if the creatures reach you, Freddy will have a profound effect on you. It’s scary, it’s atmospheric, and it will make you jump. If you are looking for a genuinely frightening game, then look no further.
The weakest of the LucasArts remasters, Grim Fandango Remastered on Xbox One has aged the most in terms of its visuals and obscure puzzling. There’s a fantastic story being told here, with Glottis, Manny, Chepito and the rest being absolute belters. But they’re stuck in a limbo of bloated sandboxes, plodding character speeds and puzzles that should have come with a pre-packaged walkthrough.
Whilst the visuals are nice, some of the writing is okay and the music is palatable, there is little else to like here with The Language of Love on Xbox One. When it isn’t relying on a romance story by numbers, it plays into very creepy tropes and strange dynamics in ways that made me feel rather uncomfortable.
In the simplest terms, Dead Dungeon is an incredibly affordable game that will provide a few hours of fun. It’s by no means perfect, but it does a good job of providing a variety of challenging levels to get through. If you’re looking for a challenging platformer that can be beaten in a weekend, then Dead Dungeon on Xbox One might be the game for you.
Sparkle 4 Tales on Xbox One is a great example of how a video game can never simply just be a piece of art, as it needs to have gameplay substance which goes beyond just superficial fodder to make players pick up a controller. There is certainly an attempt to evoke some sort of existential wonder, but it all comes across rather pretentious, especially when the game design as a whole just feels rather superficial.
Despite some good ideas, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? shows that as a full price title, there’s not enough here to justify to cost. Fans of the show will get some enjoyment here, but even they will feel short-changed by the price tag.
There’s a lot to like about Outpost Delta on Xbox One; despite the rough edges, I've had a blast playing through. The exploration keeps you guessing, with various keys needed to progress and upgrades that are required to advance. As a Metroidvania, it is firmly on the Metroid end of the scale, but as a target to aspire to Metroid isn't a bad one. It is a little glitchy, there’s no getting away from it, but it’s challenging and, above all, fun to play.
Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues is a beat ‘em up brawler that’s simultaneously looking to pack a punch and satisfy the fans of the immensely popular show. With the fantastic Streets of Rage 4 only recently bringing the genre back to the forefront of gaming, can the Cobra Kai game capitalise on it and deliver a fun-filled, side-scrolling brawler too? Well, while Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues has a lot going for it, there’s not much point having the components if they’re not put together well. And, unfortunately, the impressive depth of the gameplay is seriously undermined by poor execution.
