GameSpew's Scores

  • Games
For 3,619 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 51% higher than the average critic
  • 10% same as the average critic
  • 39% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 2.2 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 73
Highest review score: 100 Returnal
Lowest review score: 10 Planet 2000
Score distribution:
3630 game reviews
    • 75 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    I wish I could say more good things about The Jackbox Party Pack 7, but overall I was disappointed by this selection. I’ve come to expect that one or two of the games might not be great, but with three of the games here being complete duds, this is probably the poorest Party Pack yet. In its favour, The Jackbox Party Pack 7 is presented as nicely as any Jackbox game always is, and it remains as easy as ever to play with friends. But when six better games in the series exist, this one’s a hard sell. You can play Quiplash elsewhere, making Blather Round the only worthwhile title – but I’m not sure it’s worth buying the entire game for.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    This gripe (and iffy translation) aside, Vigil is a joy to play; challenging but rarely frustrating. With its sprawling locales, creative but unsettling foes and missing daughters, it’s a gorgeously grim fairy tale. Its Soulsborne influence may be a little too apparent from time to time, but Vigil: The Longest Night is a title well worth taking up your sword for in its own right.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It’s clear that Tempest 4000 is pretty good then. But there’s just one thing wrong with it: it costs too much.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The more you put into Fae Farm, the more you’ll get out of it. This is a delightful entry into the farming sim genre, offering a wonderful, magical world that begs to be explored, and an endless list of things to do. Whether you want to simply tend to your crops or hunt down every secret that Azoria holds, you’ve got dozens of hours of gameplay to look forward to here.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sure, the controls are complicated. And the special move types feel a little unnecessary. But this is Mario. The man was made to be over the top. I was foolish to expect anything less.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Unruly Heroes is a gorgeous action platformer that oozes charm. The single-player story mode is an absolute gem that I will undoubtedly revisit. The simplistic gameplay combined with a cast of four well-designed and unique characters makes for a fantastic experience that stands out from other platform games. If you don’t want to go on this adventure alone Unruly Heroes can even be played with up to four players locally. There’s also a PvP mode if you wish to test your skills against your friends. Pick up Unruly Heroes now for a wildly exciting adventure.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Brought to life with gorgeous hand-drawn art, Paper Trail is beautiful to look at. Its puzzles, centring around folding and unfolding paper, are an acquired taste, however, and can quickly grow tiresome. As well-designed and clever as they are, we'd wager some players will struggle to digest more than a couple of levels at a time.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    I praised The Isle Dragon Roars for its ingenuity and design, and while Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden is still a delight, a mere three months after playing the first game some of the charm has worn off. I’m glad Square Enix is continuing to invest in smaller, offbeat titles, but something to set it apart from The Isle Dragon Roars would have been nice. As it is, it’s entirely more of the same. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but if you’ve only just played the first, it may feel a little tiresome.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Samurai Shodown is a good fighting game. It really is. But the Switch version’s framerate issues, long loading times, and blurry visuals stacking on top of the existing lack of content and modes, however, its cost is a large pill to swallow. If you’ve got money to burn you’ll certainly get some joy out of it, but with fighters like Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late[cl-r] now available on Switch, it could be better spent elsewhere.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    PowerWash Simulator is the type of game that you sit down to play for 15 minutes, then realise hours have gone by. It may not be full of intense action or have a rivetting story, but once it’s got its hooks in you, it’s hard to break free. The desire to clean just one more object is strong. Still, it’s an acquired taste: it does simply have you undertaking menial jobs after all. But if you like stress-free games and don’t mind repetitive tasks, the reward of making things look shiny and new is considerable.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Earth Defense Force: World Brothers is a great entry point for those looking to get into the long-running series, and one that’s more accessible than ever thanks to an aesthetic that makes it more suitable for younger players. Throw in new features like the character switching mechanic and you have a game that’s a blast to play in small doses when alone, but really shines when played with others. Ultimately though, repetition is still an issue, as the gameplay never really evolves as you move through the lengthy campaign.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    I reached the end of my first playthrough of Void Bastards in around 12 hours, and for at least half of that time it felt like a slog.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Killing Floor 2 is an amazing example of how to take a gameplay element often pushed to the wayside in other blockbuster releases, and refine it to such a degree that hardcore fans of the experience can’t help but be impressed and have plenty to do.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is a bold sequel that adds RPG elements into the mix and has more of an action focus. Awkward fixed camera angles add unwanted frustration to combat, though, and the new weapon switching mechanic is troublesome to use in the heat of battle.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Overall, Hitman shows a lot of promise for the future, but unless the prospect of saving £3.98 right now seems thrilling to you, buying The Full Experience is a bit silly at this point.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    A Rose in the Twilight is best described on the surface as being an undeniably bleak, somewhat charming, but consistently creative 2D puzzle platforming experience.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Even if Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened was slightly disappointing, we’d ultimately still be impressed, given the hardship that Frogwares has faced over the course of its development. The fact that it’s actually a very good game its own right shouts volumes about the talent housed within this small Ukrainian developer. Truly, this is a real showcase of passion, perseverance and raw talent. Detective games really don’t come much better than this – especially if you like a bit of the occult thrown in for good measure.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    For those attempting to use a controller you’ll likely give up before the game has barely started.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    If you’re already a fan of The Expanse, you’re undoubtedly going to get more out of this than a newcomer. But don’t write The Expanse: A Telltale Series off even if you’ve never seen it before – this prequel makes a great starting point, thanks to its cast of new characters and focus on space exploration. As great as the story is, filled with thrills and tense moments, the highlight has been digging through the eerie, empty wreckages of spacecraft and space stations. It’s safe to say that Telltale’s return is a strong one, and we’re excited to see what the company does next.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    For fans of on-rails shooters like House of the Dead, Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded is an excellent modern-day equivalent. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never seen the movies: this is a perfectly good standalone zombie-shooting romp, made better than ever thanks to the performance and fidelity boost offered by PSVR 2.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    For detective game fans, Agatha Christie: Death on the Nile is a must-play. Excellent presentation and a varied mix of puzzles make this Poirot-led adventure a joy, whether or not you're familiar with the original novel. Poor lip syncing lets the experience down a bit, but it's a small gripe in an otherwise easy-to-recommend adventure.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Ys: Memories of Celceta is a good game. This PS4 port just doesn’t do enough to make it stand out in the current market, however. If you’re new to the Ys series, you’re better off with Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, which simply looks and plays better yet isn’t a great deal more expensive. Only ardent fans are likely to go wild about this basic port; at least until it goes on sale, anyway.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    There’s some good to be found in Mortal Shell; its world is interesting and generally well designed, it looks lovely, and some of its boss fights really are exhilarating. But there are just so many aspects of it that will leave you frustrated, underwhelmed or disappointed. It’s a shorter, more focused Souls-like experience that demands you go toe-to-toe with your aggressors, but its combat and surrounding systems just aren’t good enough for you to feel wholly fulfilled by it all. It’ll no doubt have its fans, but Mortal Shell could have been so much better with more polish and some tweaks here and there.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    It’s something of a dilemma to be left disappointed by a game where your only complaint is that it left you wanting more. But that’s how I feel about Donut County. What it does, it does very well. But there just isn’t enough of it.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Star Wars Outlaws perfectly captures the essence of the much-loved franchise, making you believe you've actually stepped into its world. Locations are densely packed with things to do, and whether you're sneaking around or engaging in an all-out firefight, it's always a blast. Add in the Syndicate system which means your actions have consequences, and you have one of the best Star Wars games yet.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    There’s no question that LUNA: The Shadow Dust has been a passion project for Lantern Studio. The care and attention that’s gone into even the smallest details is plain and clear to see. While its puzzles can be quite obtuse at times, any video game enthusiast will be happy to turn a blind eye to experience what this game has to offer. It isn’t perfect, and it isn’t for everyone, but it’s a true accomplishment – of that I have no doubt.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    In many ways, Gran Turismo Sport feels like a tech demo. Visually, it pushes the bar, with car models that are as good the real thing and environments better than ever before. And the lighting; holy hell, the lighting. It is glorious. In terms of content though, it’s lacking.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The vehicles radically change the gameplay but are in keeping with the outrageous power and unpredictability of Worms combat.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    If you appreciate great art and design, and enjoy solving puzzles, don’t even hesitate to pick up Figment. You won’t regret it.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    City of Lights has some of the best storytelling that Telltale has ever accomplished; it’s no wonder story is what they’re most known for.

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