GameSpew's Scores

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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:
  1. Positive: 1,821 out of 3619
  2. Mixed: 1,640 out of 3619
  3. Negative: 158 out of 3619
3630 game reviews
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    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha
    If you’re a big fan of shooters and don’t already own the majority of the games included, Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha is a bit of a no-brainer, really. You could spend more money just trying to pick a battered old copy of one of the included games up, so of course you’ve got to buy it. If you just like to delve into the occasional bit of shooter action, however, then there are more modern shooters available that are simply better than anything on offer here and also cheaper. With Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha you get six blasts from the past, but the lack of fanfare alongside them is a little disappointing.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    A.I.L.A
    Casting players as a game tester, A.I.L.A presents them with multiple experiences to play through, each with their own setting and enemies. What's worrying, however, is how they bleed into your reality. It's an interesting premise, but ultimately it's let down by poor combat and a general lack of polish.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Blacksad: Under the Skin
    It’s a shame the graphics don’t look as sharp as they should on Xbox One X, but it’s a small issue in an otherwise unique game.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Crew 2
    Basically, no matter what floats your boat, there’s a good chance that The Crew 2 has it. And that’s why I can’t help but love it. Warts and all.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Cat Cafe Manager
    Ultimately, the day-to-day gameplay of Cat Cafe Manager does get somewhat tedious. You’ll forever be going through the same motions: cleaning up mess, interacting with customers, serving food and drink. Rinse and repeat. But there is fun to be found in growing your cat-filled empire. Seeing your café expand, and replacing old, run-down furnishings with fancy new goods is a joy. And it helps that it all looks so wonderfully cute, too. Don’t expect Cat Cafe Manager to entertain you for weeks, but for fans of cosy sim games, there’s enough here to warrant a purr-chase.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A Musical Story
    Despite its brevity, A Musical Story is a game that will stick with you long after you’ve completed it. Its sumptuous artwork, simple yet incredibly emotive, will leave a lasting impression, though not as much as the fantastic soundtrack, which will pulse through your head long after you’ve turned it off. Combining a narrative driven experience with engaging rhythm-led gameplay, the result is something rather special, unlike anything you’ll have played before.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Iron Crypticle
    In many ways, Iron Crypticle is old fashioned to a fault – the lack of persistence and awkward 8-directional movement and shooting mires it in the past, bereft of any modern gameplay enhancements.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    LEGO Bricktales
    Being fans of LEGO and puzzle games, we wanted to love LEGO Bricktales. We’ve found it very hard to do so, however. Crashes are one thing, but when the gameplay itself is hampered by fiddly controls and the feeling of repetition, there’s not a great deal of fun to be had.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
    It’s the perfect game to get out when you have family around for an occasion, and the retro events will likely elicit fond memories from gamers of a certain age. And to top it all off, there’s a decent single-player mode to get stuck into. It’s not perfect, but as mini-game collections go, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is up there with the best of them.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    NASCAR Heat 5
    If you skipped last year’s NASCAR Heat 4 and are looking to pick up a new NASCAR game, NASCAR Heat 5 is the one to grab, no doubt. It is indeed the best NASCAR game to date. There’s such a small margin between them, however, that unless you’ve got a wad of cash burning a hole in your pocket, there’s no real reason to pick this up if you do already own NASCAR Heat 4. Hopefully there’ll be some genuine new features and improvements in next year’s inevitable NASCAR Heat 6.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game
    Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – The Official Video Game is fun, especially when played with a friend. While some events aren’t as engaging as others, there’s enough variety here that everyone will find something they can enjoy or excel at. The huge range of outfits available to unlock gives completionists a reason to keep going back, but most players will find this best enjoyed in short bursts.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Arslan: The Warriors of Legend
    [Arslan is] not really that different from those that have come before it, but the focus on story leads to missions that feel more urgent and engaging.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Sheltered
    More than just a case of survival, Sheltered pushes you to grow and eventually thrive, and the moment your little unit starts to become somewhat self-sufficient, you’ll feel a real swell of pride.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Casey Powell Lacrosse 16
    Playing around with the customisation tools gave me the biggest shock in gaming since the beginning of The Last of Us. The customisation is insane. You can really do anything. This is more than Fallout 4 level of crazy facial manipulation. It is on par with Saints Row – and they only do it for a laugh. Whilst it doesn’t exactly add to the gameplay, I found it incredibly fun and spent ages making myself and my friends just for the sheer thrill of doing so.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Pankapu
    After experiencing the finished product, I’m pleased to see that Pankapu turned out to be such a charming and worthwhile adventure.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Football Manager 2019 Touch
    Football Manager 2019 Touch is so much more than its iOS/Android namesake; it’s the beautiful game made even more beautiful. It’s the definitive option for any diehard Football Manager fan, or football fan, looking to take their passion on the go.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Rabbids: Party of Legends
    Our only pause with Rabbids: Party of Legends is its price point. At £34.99 it feels rather steep for a party game that’s realistically only going to get pulled out for an occasional hour or two. Particularly when you add in there’s no online multiplayer options either. It is a lot of fun though, and perhaps one of the best minigame compendiums of recent years. By all means pick it up, but perhaps wait for a sale.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Akane
    With its gameplay backed up with stylish pixelated visuals and a banging soundtrack, there’s a lot to like about Akane. It’s a game that’s easy to pick up but hard to master, fun to jump into for just a few minutes of fast-paced action whenever the urge arises. Play it for much longer, and the feeling of repetition is sure to creep in. But thanks to its budget price, you’re guaranteed to not feel short changed by what’s on offer.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Zipp's Cafe
    Short but entertaining, jump into Zipp’s Café for the noir vibes and wonderful characters, but stay for the utterly enjoyable drink and food-making. It’s not going to be for everyone, but it’s a neat little twist on the café simulator genre, and it’s always a treat seeing an existing IP turned on its head in such an interesting way.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Slave Zero X
    If you love all things retro, or are mad for beat ’em ups with high skill ceilings, you might get a good kick out of Slave Zero X. For many, though, tedium is likely to set in pretty quickly, and frustration might be felt regularly too. It’s the type of game that draws you in and makes you want to like it, but then often fights you and pushes you away. We’d certainly be up for a sequel that refines what’s on offer here and expands upon it.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Moons of Madness
    Moons of Madness is a wonderfully chilling outing that blends horror and sci-fi to excellent effect, delivering a palpable sense of dread. Most pleasingly, it channels the spirit of H.P. Lovecraft without yelling “CTHULHU!” in your ear every five minutes.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Super Bomberman R 2
    For Bomberman fans, Super Bomberman R 2 is likely to be a must-have simply because of cross-platform play; it’ll certainly make finding matches easier, and that’s where most of the fun lies with this title. Additional match types also make it attractive for those wanting to play it locally with friends, even if Castle proves to be somewhat disappointing. It’s just a shame that so much content is locked behind coins in the store, and that while the campaign is better this time around, it’s still not all that engrossing.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Slain: Back from Hell
    If you have an abundance of patience, a high degree of skill and the tenacity to not be defeated, then Slain: Back from Hell is likely to give you hours of fun. For most though, it’s just going to be the cause of extreme levels of anger and frustration.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain
    Iron Rain might just be my new favourite Earth Defense Force game. Sure, it doesn’t throw quite as many enemies at you, and performance isn’t as smooth as usual, but the latter issue isn’t so bad if you’re playing on a PS4 Pro. The improved visuals and gameplay tweaks make it more of an immersive and enjoyable experience, and that’s what really matters.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Heartworm
    It's not really scary, but Heartworm remains a fun retro-styled survival horror game nonetheless, thanks to its intriguing story and rewarding puzzles.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Shift Happens
    Don’t expect too much from the single player mode, but if you’ve got a friends who’ll enjoy puzzling with you, I highly recommend picking Shift Happens up.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection
    The high level of difficulty means that it’s unlikely to be everyone’s cup of tea, and it’s a shame that its easiest mode locks players out of a great deal of content, but there’s no denying that a valiant attempt has been made to make it more accessible. And what’s really surprising is that it also offers a surprisingly novel local co-op experience.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Madden NFL 23
    Like a scratched record, then, we end our review of Madden NFL 23 like we have the last few releases. That’s by saying that with its numerous incremental improvements, it’s the best Madden yet. But as ever, unless you’re an ardent fan who knows the series like the back of their hand, it’s an inessential purchase if you have last year’s offering. Or perhaps even the one before that. In terms of what’s actually new here, there’s very little. And even less of monumental value.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Fragments of Him
    It probably goes without saying that I enjoyed almost every aspect of Fragments of Him. The only negative is its very short running time, lasting around two hours; I would have loved to go more in depth into Will’s life and the struggles of his friends and family.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Vostok Inc.
    Stripped of the need to generate moolah, or injected with a heavier dose of strategy, Vostok Inc could be a stellar venture. But the bottom line is that this game’s pockets of excellence are stifled by an awkward mechanic that turns your interstellar journey into an unappealing, pan-galactic grind.
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