Dominic Leighton's Reviews
Mario Party: Island Tour is ultimately disappointing. It looks and sounds like a first-party Nintendo product but a great deal of the fun has been stripped out of it by tedium. The best way to experience the game also requires each participant to own a 3/2DS which makes it one of the most expensive multiplayer experiences out there (but cheaper for it being download play enabled).
The ability to play across all of your systems, and transfer effortlessly between them, cannot be overstated, and the fact that you only have to pay once for it is an ideal that some companies are sadly still avoiding. Whilst there isn't necessarily much of a traditional challenge to the game, working your way through the different worlds is so enjoyable that you'll barely notice.
One key element of the game which is solely available to PS4 owners is the ability to remote play the game via their PS Vita. I thought that this would be a huge boon, and realistically given the nature of the game a good opportunity to hack my way through a horde or two via the work wifi. The truth is that the game simply hasn't been optimised enough for the smaller screen, and you're left squinting at miniscule letters and icons trying to decipher what has been said, whilst attacking creatures that make the Borrowers look like giants. The controls on the Vita just don't hold up that well either, with the rear touchpad continuing to be a poor imitation of digital buttons. It's a shame really as one of the key differentiators for people who've already played Diablo 3 would be the chance to play it on the go. I just can't recommend that you do.
Madden 15 is easily the most complete release in the series so far, with all of the improvements tying together to create an enjoyable and enthralling game of American Football. Even if you're not that knowledgeable about play-types or the difference between a half-back and a full-back, Madden 15 will have you playing like a pro and feeling like one as well.
Castlestorm: Definitive Edition is exactly that – a remastered edition of an enjoyable game. Bar some issues with the controls the game offers an enjoyable mix of tower defense, RTS and action all wrapped up in a fun exterior. There's probably little here to convince owners of the original game to double-dip, but for newcomers there's a huge amount of content which should keep you coming back for some time.
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition is amongst the finest open-world games of recent years, with gratifying and brutal combat, a genuinely gripping story and excellent car handling for this type of game. Despite some technical issues, which perhaps should have been addressed for a 'definitive edition', the game remains as playable as it was two years ago. Given the wealth of content and its relatively low entry price it would make a sound addition to anyone's collection, though there's ultimately nothing new here for players that have exhausted the original the first time round.
Defense Grid 2 is an enjoyable return to Hidden Path's dystopian future, though whilst the sequel features a number of improvements some key features of the original, in particular the engaging story, have been lost along the way. For fans of the genre it's still an essential entry on PC and console, with hours of content and plenty of replayability, all wrapped up in a high quality package.
Just Dance 2015 is a polished and enjoyable product, and whilst it's potentially still behind the Dance Central series in a few key areas, including the way it monitors player actions, it makes up for this with its trademark styling, a strong collection of songs and intuitive online features. Who knows, it might even teach you a few moves to use on a Saturday night.
Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions is a fantastic return for the series that brought the twin-stick shooter to modern consoles. Damningly hard, visually and aurally distinctive, there are few games that can match it for both immersion and addictiveness.
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is not a bad game, it's just not a great one. The singleplayer game brings nothing new to the franchise, and in some ways even feels like a step backwards from Guardian Of Light. As a multiplayer game it takes on a different and welcome dimension, though for every great moment, you can expect equal frustration.
Unmechanical: Extended is a puzzling game, in every sense of the word. In that manner there are puzzles, each of which must be surmounted before you can progress, but equally its lack of any true storytelling, beyond that which you create yourself, or indeed any hand-holding to point you in the right direction almost cause too much confusion. However, there is a wonderful spirit to the game, created by the beautiful aesthetic and meaningful sound design, both of which really warrant experiencing.
Life Is Strange makes a strong start to its season, with the first episode introducing a number of interesting characters, and raising a number of questions that left me needing answers. The visuals paint a solid, and often beautiful world, and despite the occasional misstep in the dialogue or execution Dontnod have the beginnings of a worthy and memorable entry in the adventure game genre.
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate could destroy your life. If you allow it to get its hooks into you, the cycle of hunting, carving, and crafting is so intoxicating that it can genuinely generate hundreds of hours of gameplay. The addition of online multiplayer finally brings the series to handheld in a form that makes perfect sense, and Capcom have improved the game's accessibility without losing any of its quirky Japanese character. All in all, it's an essential entry for both new and returning hunters, and another vital exclusive for Nintendo's 3DS.
Ace Combat Assault Horizon Legacy Plus is an enjoyable and engaging entry in the series, and in the combat flight-sim genre. For returning players however there is very little new content here to warrant a purchase, unless you're absolutely desperate to pilot a Samus Aran airplane in a fictional war. For those new to the title who are looking for something slightly different to go with their New 3DS, there's a lot to recommend here, though it sadly all feels like a bit of a missed opportunity.
Fundamentally, many of you may have been playing Dead or Alive 5 for the last two and half years now, perhaps with a sojourn into Dead or Alive 5 Plus on your Vita, before upgrading to Dead or Alive 5: Ultimate along the way. For the stalwart fan, it's possible that Last Round contains just enough additions and upgrades to make a purchase necessary, especially when you consider its budget pricing, but for the less committed it may not be enough. Meanwhile, for those yet to play Dead or Alive 5, Last Round is the most complete and attractive version of an enjoyable, albeit ostentatious, fighter despite a few minor issues.
Pneuma: Breath Of Life is a game that I urge you to experience. It's not perfect, but in a way that fits entirely with its own outlook, and its effectiveness as a story is both thought-provoking and surprising. Pre-conceptions aside, it is certainly an intriguing and unique title that explores elements of philosophy and life often left untouched by gaming.
So much of what Screamride does it gets right, with the necessary gameplay hooks to see you repeat sections again and again, just to score a few more points to move you up the online leaderboards or achieve a perfect level rating. It also offers a relatively good degree of variety, and across its fifty or so levels there's enough content to keep you interested before you turn to building your own creations. However, there are some troubling flaws with the camera, and the construction tools, though potent, are not as immediately accessible as they should be.
Contemplation builds on the successful first episode of Capcom's latest foray into new distribution models, and piles on the difficulty, atmosphere and ever-thickening plot with satisfying results. Fans of the series will appreciate the plot twists, whilst newcomers can get stuck into a well-grounded Resident Evil game that is so far living up to its heritage.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars is an enjoyable and involving puzzle game, particularly for younger gamers, which despite its relatively short campaign has a number of tricks up its sleeve to guarantee that you'll be returning to it many months later. The level editor is a great example of empowering players with clear and solid tools, which allow you to to work creatively and effectively without being hampered by overly complicated systems.
Judgment continues the strong work that the first two episodes started, though it meanders a touch too much, and the increased number of puzzles tend more to hinder rather than genuinely challenge. The character progression of Barry and Natalia is excellent, and it's their sections that stand out the most. The conclusion of their story is what every player will be hankering for when the credits roll, and they don't have long to wait.