MrMT

Hilarious good natured madcap fun. Yes, there were too many glitches, but overall this was a delightful experience, which did some things I’d never experienced in a game before. I wish more games had this light hearted approach to world building.

This is everything I want in a video game. A hilarious immersive and irreverent good time.

Fantastic immersive fun. Don’t listen to the gripers… this is the Star Wars game you were looking for.

Georgeous cozy dungeon crawler with more to it than initially meets the eye. This was a great change of pace, with some enjoyable puzzles and a lovely setting. Included on gamepass too.

A truly original blend of action and tower defence, with some beautiful artwork to boot. Well done capcom for backing such an unusual creative vision. Even better, it’s on gamepass.

A truly original blend of action and tower defence, with some beautiful artwork to boot. Well done capcom for backing such an unusual creative vision. Even better, it’s on gamepass.

Georgeous cozy dungeon crawler with more to it than initially meets the eye. This was a great change from all the dark brooding games out there, with some enjoyable puzzles and a lovely setting. Included on gamepass too.

I guess I didn’t hate it, and it didn’t outstay its welcome, but there wasn’t a single challenge in the game, and the walking simulation was pretty slow. Pretty but pedestrian.

It’s the familiar Ubisoft formula for sure - a few hours of gameplay reveal a lot of standard features. The jumping puzzles, the base clearing, but the world itself is very well done…. I watched the second Avatar last night and was struck in the early sequences how they nailed Pandora as an environment. Not sure I’ll have the energy for a full playthrough, but for a game you can play on Ubi+ for a song, well worthwhile sinking a few hours into.

The game really is as bad and buggy as the memes and videos suggest. I’m rating a 3, as there is some atmosphere and style here, which in a better game I might have enjoyed. But coming straight from Dead Island 2, the drop in quality is remarkable. It's so poor, this may have wider consequences for XBox and Microsoft as a whole. The fact that they pushed this stinker so hard is baffling, and quite alarming. A potential system-sinker.

For the sheer joy of a few hours in a wacky world with jokes flying fast and thick, this is well worth playing. As part of gamepass, a no brainer. Delighted to see the fun brought back to video gaming.

Wonderfully original, fascinating subject matter - brings back memories of The Name of the Rose. The gameplay won't be for everyone, but for those with the intellectual curiosity to dig in, this is an absolute gem. So glad that Game Pass is able to support content like this for the thinking gamer.

A delightful and charming feelgood story… the tone is just wonderful, a town filled with mystery, a creative book-based choose your own adventure mechanic, and lots of sweet interactions. Bravo. I look forward to more from this studio!

This a tremendously fun large scale team based battle in a spectacular setting. Slower paced than battlefield 2042, which takes some getting used to, and less complex, yet far more interesting, with genuine team play, a real sense of dynamic battles with attack and counterattack. Isonzo has a pacing and coherence that should send AAA studios a wake-up call as to what makes this kind of game fun. Congrats, this is a great achievement.

Strikingly underrated, this game offers a compelling vision of a dystopian totalitarian London, and something genuinely new in video game narrative structure - the protagonist is a movement, rather than any particular character, united by an ideal, which shifts and changes over time. Very clever stuff, lots of sandbox shenanigans to enjoy. Plus, plenty of humour - including on the must-listen bug news channel. It's a shame that this game's relevance is not more widely recognised.

Tremendous stealth em up. Hitman WW2, only without costumes, fewer scripted events, but more guns.

Absolutely wonderful interactive narrative experience. This really stretched the video game storytelling form, and I loved it.

Tremendous fun. The surprise of the year so far for me, and a wonderful reminder of the joy and innovation that video games can bring.

If this were a new game released in 2021, it would fare pretty poorly. Thing is, it is being released as a new game in 2021.

There's fun to be had here, for sure, but this was not ready for release. In a few months, I think this game will be very good, but as of launch, it's undercooked.

This is an excellent game, full of fun things to do. It has a great positive vibe, a compelling 'one more turn' gameplay loop, and in an era when so many games are launched in a parlous state, it just plain works. Coming as part of game pass, it's also amazing value. I have a couple of reasons why I'm not giving it a ten. 1. Although it takes the best of Forza 4 and iterates, I personally would have enjoyed an option to get out of the car and explore some of the landscape and local culture on foot. 2. I wish it had focused more on the transition to electric cars. Given the climate crisis, I feel a bit uncomfortable at this celebration of petrol - and think it could have done more to reflect our fast-changing world. Other than than, highly recommended.

Don't listen to the naysayers or listen to the Italian review score bombers - this is a very fun game, in a compelling world. My only gripe is that they did not do enough of the non-violent aspects of revolution (this could have benefited from more hearts and minds, UN inspections etc), but for what it is, it's pretty much the best the Far Cry series has to offer. Yes, the gameplay is very familiar, but it's polished and offers a wealth of fun activities - and to my mind one of the best games of the year so far.

This is a tremendous game that keeps getting better. I always want to like these rpgs, but tend to get bored. So far, however, this game has really held my attention - it keeps on adding new elements to keep the interest alive, and is far bigger in scope than first appears. It builds a compelling world, with a good range of characters, who can be quite amusing, or do unexpected things. Fun times, and well worth the price of entry, especially if discounted. I only drop a point as the army management system is not well explained in game.

Pure entertainment, joyous creative fun. Is it flawless? No. But you won’t find a more consistently delightful experience on the market this year.

Very entertaining rpg isometric looter shooter. Yes, it’s a bit one note, but that note is consistently fun, and I look forward to finishing this one - which is not such a common experience in gaming these days!

It's baffling to me how anyone could give this game a good score. Yes the atmosphere is well done, the environment and cut scenes have charm - but the game itself simply doesn't work. The combat is sluggish and unintuitive, the control scheme feels like it's fighting against itself, and the AI is bafflingly bad - as in, how could anyone in good conscience release it in this state? If you have any elevation, or are across any gap, or are even at a certain distance, the AI simply cannot react to you, so as an archer you go go through entire levels killing everything and aggroing nothing. I could continue, but bottom line: this game is in no way ready for release, and it's nigh on incomprehensible that Xbox would associate the Game Pass Day 1 brand with this game.

When this game worked, it was tremendous fun, but unfortunately that experience was spoiled by a buggy launch, which got even worse over time, at one stage effectively wiping characters with all their progression. After a couple of months that issue was tackled, but matchmaking remained poor, and a game meant to be played co-op ended for the most part a lonely single player experience.

It’s not the bugs, though they are annoying. It’s the game itself. While some of the initial story is fun enough, the open world is shallow, the npcs are a mess, and the loot system is an exercise in tedium. A million containers filled with junk. Crafting system and money relies on incredibly dull looting of every room one item at a time. And the combat feels weak (with enemies either turning invincible, or getting stuck in various places). Which is all a great shame, as the world itself looks pretty fun. What a wasted opportunity. Do not buy.

I'm going to go ahead and give this a 10. Not because it's perfect - there are certainly some repetitive and boring elements. There are moments when you end up hunting marks on a map (although the animal system is a very smart way to try to do away with much of that). But as a package, it feels coherent, and complete. All the little moments add up to a sense of place. This is in contrast to a game like AC Odyssey, which had great flourishes, but didn't feel grounded - too much teleporting around, too disjointed. In this game, all your actions feel like a meaningful part of the plot. Nearly all the side quests came across as part of the central narrative arc - Jin Sakai's transformation into a myth, and what it felt like to be the human going through that experience. And when, on those rare moments, all the various skills and tricks came together, hoo-boy this game is up there with the best in terms of making you feel like some kind of conflicted super-powered bad-ass.

This is the first COD I’ve played in years (Battlefield was my main shooter), and I have to say, it’s a very polished product. The campaign has some fun moments, especially the stealthier ones (although at times it devolves into a boring shooting gallery), warzone is a great BR, the mp is actually pretty good - although some of the ground war maps are really stupid once the kill streaks get rolling. It’s not revolutionary, but it’s entertaining. All in all, well worth the cut price it’s now at.

It’s really hard to fault anything in this extraordinary creation tool. Once you get the hang of the controls, and learn what it can do, it really feels like a leap to the next level. And I get the feeling this is just the beginning...

It's the same old Tropico everyone knows and loves, with a few extra goodies thrown in. The missions are funny - although (I am on my fourth) I might have enjoyed a little more organic relationship to my citizens on the ground. (The story characters feel a little divorced form the pawns you mess around with). My main critique is that the game's economy means the player needs to start stop between pause and 4x speed, rather than a more consistent pacing.

Don’t listen to all the puffed up outrage regarding this game, it’s completely overblown. BFV is a tremendously fun experience, and in my estimation has advanced in many ways from the excellent BF1. The attrition system and fortifications have made attacking points a far more tactical experience, requiring teamplay, and actual smart use of positioning and flanking, rather that the mindless charging of some other games. The battlefield sounds and drama are top notch. This is BF on top form, and I heartily recommend it.

It’s a beautiful story driven game, but it’s also slow and clunky. The first hours move at glacial pace, and it’s easy to make simple UI mistakes which make them even longer. Looting is slooooow. Searching cabinets is sloooow. Changing weapons is sloooow. Getting from a to b is sloooow. I may amend this over time, but so far I’d say it’s best in class as a living world with interesting events and scenarios, but functionality is flawed.

I am giving this a ten, not because it is perfect (nothing is perfect) but because it offers the highest level of game satisfaction and enjoyability there is. It just feels right, and when you are playing, you are utterly immersed. The addition of the boy, and a few other characters peppered in, take away the loneliness that games like this can sometimes create... it's the same puzzling, platforming, brawling, experience you know and love, but with someone to share it with you. The kid has just the right balance of respect and sass. The graphics and sound are great, the story - well, ya know, take it or leave it but you certainly have a sense that big momentous things are driving you forward - the development of your powers works jut fine, and the combat itself has a very satisfying physicality, A couple of the boss fights can be gamed... ie, you can take advantage of the environment in ways that slightly break the immersion... but other than that this puts you in a place and a culture that is entirely engrossing. Very well implemented. Rates with the best Uncharted games, Witcher 3, Mass Effect before it went off the rails, Last of US etc... ie it's a memorable, enjoyable classic.

I picked this up in the PS4 end of year sale, and I have to say, it's been a wonderful surprise. A kooky vibrant city, full of fun and games: puts the sandbox back in sandbox, with crazy emergent gameplay, unexpected events that unfold around you, and often sheer hilarity as you hack and puzzle your way around the city. The world is beautifully and convincingly rendered, and the stories I have played so far are a highly entertaining look at hacker culture, with a humour that often matches yet differentiates itself from GTA. And the online portions gives a sense of life (more than a year after its release) that really add to the single player experience. Top Notch. I only dock a point because the driving controls lack heft - and while not a pure driving game, a fair amount of driving is nonetheless necessary.

Way to go, EA. You killed video gaming. Pay to win is the future you have decreed. This means games are no longer games, by any reasonable definition of the term. Shame on you.

This game is seriously underrated. It is basically a hilarious blast of Star Wars action, offering exactly what the doctor ordered : manic blaster action, walkers, at-sts, speeder bikes, xwings, tie fighters, Luke, Darth, boba Fett, just a bunch of fun. If this is the much-derided casual game players love to hate, give me casual. It's good simple old fashioned fun. I look forward the forthcoming maps and game modes.

Absolutely Nails the dark Warhammer atmosphere. Yes rats behave much like zombies, yet it's deeply refreshing to see the horde in a different guise, and such a compelling one at that. The rat army is so extraordinarily alive. The animations are entirely convincing, and the sound direction is superlative: the Stormvermin marching chant - 'keep left, keep left...' a terrifying warning of a tough fight to come; the snicker of the gutter runner, the roar of the rat ogre. You'll learn these sounds and grow to fear them, and then to prepare for them, each signalling its unique kind of fight. Technically it's flawless - everything is extremely responsive, the combat has a wonderful sense of weight and impact. The levels are varied and all interesting in their own right. Loot comes steadily but not in abundance... you'll really appreciate that blue. But more than loot, you will relish learning how to play this game, its nuances and its foibles. Watching a video of this just doesn't do this justice. It has to be experienced.

I want to weigh in on the relatively poor reviewer ratings. Mad Max is an absolute blast to play, absolutely comparable to Shadows of Mordor in tone and pace and feel. Obviously it's suffered next to Metal Gear, but can be got cheaper, and quite frankly is as good a time as you'll have in gaming. Yes, the tasks repeat themselves, but so do most tasks in most open world games, and the meat and drink of this release - road combat - is quite simply great fun. The world itself is fabulously realised and believable. Not a perfect 10, but a rock solid 9, for a nitro-burst of gool ol' fashioned top notch gaming goodness.

Blizzard hit a home run with this one. I always liked the idea of MOBAs, but in practice they were an irritating chore, to learn all the best builds, last hitting, items shops... yawn. This game strips MOBAs down to their essence: being a crazy hero with wacky powers, and seeing how you interact with your teammates. It's accessible, great fun, and offers plenty of depth; just less complexity. Top notch entertainment, for free!

I have to agree with the low scores here. I live 2013, and played it like crazy. I bought 2014, and was well into it until something wiped my progress, and I was back to the beginning with no unlocked cards. 2015 appears even more predatory - either you pay an insulting amount of money for unlocks, or you grind your way up through endless turgid battles to start building a deck - which will never be as good as the one you pay a premium for. ie, this is pay to win. To those that enjoy pay 2 win, have fun. Personally, I prefer a game.

This is the best new MMO to come along for some time. The skill system is excellently flexible, allowing a great range of playstyles with each of the 4 core classes. The world is enjoyable to explore and quest in, the crafting works well, the combat is meaty and satisfying. I would say this is a pip above Guild Wars 2 at this stage; we'll have to see how it feels in a couple of months.

Magnificent. Sophie's World for gamers. Simply no doubt this is a 10/10, after only an hour or two. If you have a curious mind, don't investigate this game. Just get it.

The game is tremendous. Obviously it's early days, and there have been some issues here and there, but the playing experience is top of the line in every way. A vast world to explore. A good range of interesting classes and races. Excellent pvp, which can handle many players. (My only small gripe is that I would have enjoyed pvp in the main game world, but the game has large pvp zones which work very well). The world is alive with action and sounds. The draw distance is impressive. I have high hopes for this one - long may it prosper.

6.8 user score? I wonder why? The multiplayer on this game is really tremendous; just like its predecessor, I just know I will enjoy this for a long time to come. Slightly miffed that I didn't notice the whole preorder for free maps thing... and then downloaded on origin for a bad deal on the pc (you can still get the free maps if you buy for consoles in gamestop - go figure; use EA's service to get stiffed). But the game itself, for what you buy it for - the great multiplayer maps - is top top notch.

The game gets a 6 for some lovely new zones, a fun reworking of Azeroth, but essentially a failure to move forward in terms of gameplay or design. In other words, it is more of the same old endless grind. If you enjoyed it before, you will enjoy it again. It's worth a trip to fly round Azeroth, enjoy a couple of the new zones; but it is not fresh and not innovative. The new high level world content is fun while it lasts, but quickly finished. After that it's the same old sit in a city and wait for dungeons to pop, pray your gizmo drops so you can do a more difficult version of the same dungeon; grind reputation, grind honour, grind justice points by endless repetition. I can't wait till we see a new breed of MMOs which emphasize dynamic change, and interaction in a living breathing world, rather than a treadmill of instances and limited battleground. A game which focuses upon random surprise, rather than perfecting scripted predictability. A game which finally **** the - go to quest hub, kill 10 of these, 10 of those, 10 of the other. Cataclysm makes strides here - some of the new quests are fun. But too many repeat the same old formula. Basically, get it, play for your month, and then delete.

This game was perfect for my four and a half year old... I can't imagine adults getting much out of it (except some fun with the banter and animations), but for a young kid it is perfect - he gets a huge sense of achievement, loves being Batman, and can actually progress through levels. A great buy for little kids; I would not recommend otherwise, not as a gaming experience at least - although the atmosphere is good light hearted fun