TheSixthAxis' Scores

  • Games
For 4,006 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 45% higher than the average critic
  • 7% same as the average critic
  • 48% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 3.5 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 71
Highest review score: 100 Ratchet & Clank
Lowest review score: 10 The Lord of the Rings - Gollum
Score distribution:
4133 game reviews
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    F1 2016 offers the most comprehensive representation of the sport we’ve ever seen. Codemasters have implemented an array of features that are pure wish-fulfilment for fans, and cover the whole gamut of the F1 experience from paddock to track. There are still some key presentational improvements that need to be made.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    LOUD is a fun guitar arcade experience. The songs are fun to play through and are very reminiscent of a specific time for music. An initial run can be quite short but there is replay value in trying to get S ranks on songs, and unlocking higher levels.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a great continuation of Cal Kestis’ journey. The story is a little predictable and platforming could be sharper, but this is a sequel that builds on the ideas of the original and there’s real enjoyment to be had in exploring the expansive new worlds, digging into the lore and running into secret boss fights.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    F1 23 is a good evolutionary step forward for the series. The returning Braking Point story mode offers an enjoyable narrative with mixed up racing challenges, while F1 World brings together solo challenges, multiplayer events and car evolution in an interesting, if not yet essential way. The most significant step forward comes with the revised car physics and handling, which can still punish your mistakes, but makes racing without assists far more accessible.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Shadow Tactics: Aiko's Choice is the kind of stealth game that makes me reconsider my opinions on stealth games. Finely crafted and gloriously conceived, if you’ve missed out on Shadow Tactics before, don’t let Aiko’s Choice sneak on by... but you should play or replay the original first.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A great update on the 90's beat 'em concept with bone-crunching, motion captured moves that feel weighty and solid. Midnight Fight Express makes you feel like a bad ass, something very few beat 'em ups manage.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mini-Mech Mayhem is a great addition to the PSVR library. It's an accessible and fun strategy title that can provide hours of fun. There are some issues that do need ironing out, but if you have a PSVR headset then Futurlab's latest creation is well worth getting.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Foregone, being a 2D action platformer with a Metroidvania structure, looting mechanics and a smattering of soulslike tendencies, is certainly part of a crowded genre. The fact that it manages to stand out from the pack is a high recommendation indeed. This is a fast, fluid and beautiful action title that will keep you playing until the very end. I may never be able to retrieve that planet orbiting pair of socks, but it was totally worth it.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A solid port of what is easily Paradox Interactive's most accessible grand strategy game. While Stellaris has evolved and grown over the past three years on PC, the base game is still a good solid grand strategy title with some intriguing ideas for storytelling and managing an endgame, though without some of the depth of their other titles. More importantly, wrapped a controller and TV friendly interface around the game that puts control over even the grandest of empires well within your grasp.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    PaRappa can be as punishing as it is unconventional but, with an open mind, it may also be one of the best games you’ve experience on PlayStation 4.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Although hardly original in its premise, Dauntless offers an extremely fun and accessible take on the monster-hunting roleplaying game. It wastes no time in throwing you straight into the action and while easy to pick up there’s plenty of depth there for fans of the genre. What’s more Dauntless is completely free to play, gracefully sidestepping those annoying monetisation pitfalls we’re so used to seeing.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mages of Mystralia is a cracking game. It successfully captures the feel of 16 bit adventures and combines them with a fantastic spellcrafting system and the sidequests and character development of modern action RPGs. It isn’t the longest game and some may find the price a little steep given how cheap so many PC games are, but it definitely deserves to do well and I would highly recommend picking it up, even if you wait until a sale discount.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    I had a great time playing The Last Stop. While I don’t think the end of the story comes together as well as I would have wanted it to, I would still recommend playing it. If you’ve liked Telltale’s brand of narrative adventure games in the past then I am sure you would really like this. I was instantly hooked, and I can’t wait to see what Variable State make next.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Your adoration for Bonkies will really depend on what you're looking for. If you're after an easy to pick up party game for all the family, then Bonkies is not the chimp 'em up for you. However, if you're after a demanding co-op experience that requires both solid teamwork and communication to achieve your goals then Bonkies is absolutely top banana.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Every area of the game feels polished and complete.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Final Fantasy XV is a unique offering, both for the franchise and RPGs in general. Placing the onus on the relationships of your party, rather than the narrative, has meant that this is a game that strikes not just an emotional chord, but a personal one. While Final Fantasy stalwarts will likely balk at the action-heavy combat, the spirit of the franchise remains, and is better served here than it has been in many years.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    While I wasn’t completely sold on the limited inventory space available, the penalties for death, and the initial ease of the game, Steamworld Heist made for a great time. Tactical combat on a 2D plane is hard to make engaging and the occasional urgency of the short levels made for some badass moments where a sharp shot sealed the deal. A competent, if completely different second outing in the SteamWorld universe.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A beautiful love letter to Japanese games and culture with a simple but heartfelt narrative from start to finish that’s both comforting and life-affirming.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Burnout Paradise for the Nintendo Switch is a great port of a fantastic game, it’s just a shame how expensive it is. I can only hope that the popularity of these recent ports encourages Criterion and EA to finally commit to a full new entry in the series, or at the very least, a Burnout 3: Takedown remake.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Fresh Tracks gives a fresh take on the rhythm genre and I really the story set up and some of the songs, which are legit great pieces of music that could be released as singles. It is a game that will attract those who want to perfect runs, and the challenge it provides is tough but worth the entertainment.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    DJ Hero could easily have been perfect – there’s a huge amount of potential in the idea but I can’t help feeling that a little more time would have evened out the poor mixes and given more in the way of a creation mode.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Great presentation and plenty to unlock makes Vempire highly recommended.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Red Matter is the most immersive puzzle game I’ve played in a long time, thanks in no small part to how well it makes use of VR is utilised. The lighting and textures are staggering, the plot is intriguing and the game is well worth looking into. The caveats to this are that you can’t be the kind of person who gets motion sickness in VR and you have to be reasonably good at puzzles or you will not finish the game. It’s a bit short considering the £25 price point, but still worth a look for VR aficionados and Cold War sci-fi fans.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    An interesting divergence from the usual gory terror of the Corpse Party franchise. It's also a gargantuan crossover event that might leave players feeling lost or confused if they aren't caught up on every piece of Corpse Party media so far. Still, despite the somewhat daunting amount of catching up you'd have to do if you wanted to be totally in the loop, the latest Corpse Party is a wacky and absurd treat that any visual novel fan is sure to get a kick out of.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Vanquish does have its problems, but very few of them are tied to the PC port, which incidentally makes this version the best one by default. It’s B-movie nonsense at its best, with a science fiction setting, and very cool action sequences. It could definitely do with a bit more variety in enemies at times and it’s a little on the short side, but it’s still a great romp seven years later.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    For fans of Ward, Sperry and Ross’ previous work, Danger Zone 2 is the closest we’ve come to a new Burnout experience in years. Crashing into things hasn’t lost any of its base appeal, and while we’re waiting for Dangerous Driving to bring things full circle, this is more than worthy of your time.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    There is nothing intrinsically wrong with Band Hero – it is a good game – however ultimately it is a tweaked version of more of the same. If you’ve never liked the series, there is no reason to buy Band Hero. If you are a fan of earlier games and have a preference for pop, you’ll probably love it.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Having flirted with the dark side in the run up to launch, Star Wars Battlefront II has had its reputation sullied by its underlying business model and how that is tied to character progression. That distracts from how much it improves on the first game though, with much better variety in Galactic and Starfighter Assault, character classes and team play being gently encouraged, and a broader and deeper player progression. Perhaps the greatest irony is that fear, anger and hate were Star Wars Battlefront II’s path back towards the light.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Warlock is a welcome addition to Diablo 2 that manages to fit in quite well, outside of the fast that it's just a bit too powerful compared to the other classes. Outside of that, the new items, new revamped boss and endgame content, and some crucial quality of life features are great as well, but they're only going to be great enough for the price if you're really into Diablo 2. But who isn't, really?
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Even a minor shift can turn the large and vocal fan base away, and so this isn’t the big sweeping change to rejuvenate the series in the eyes of those who have tired and moved on.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is a great JRPG that blends the spirit of Monster Hunter with turn-based combat and exploration. The central story is good, but it's the loot loop and party building that really draws you in. It may not represent a huge leap forward from the original game, but this is a fantastic title for fans of either the main Monster Hunter series or JRPGs in general.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Darwin's Paradox! is a lot of fun, the octopus and aliens theme is suitably absurd and comes with plenty of useful abilities that make the experience consistently unique and inventive. It is a short experience, which you should take into consideration, but it's one that's certainly worth playing.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    An absorbing, interactive Doctor Who-style time mystery, which is, without a doubt, wholly unique.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Bringing motion controls back with a bang, ARMS can feel surprisingly retro, yet it also fits in perfectly with Nintendo’s modern twist on gaming and the Switch. ARMS exhibits Nintendo’s flair for game design to its fullest, confidently taking a well-known genre and injecting it with colour and character to craft something that’s inimitably their own.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Space will likely be the issue that prevents users from experiencing L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, but while it isn’t a perfectly controlled VR experience, it’s impressive that we’re seeing a VR game that utilises Room Scale VR in ways that make sense. To actually be part of this crime drama, investigating crime scenes and apprehending criminals, was more enjoyable in VR. Here’s hoping the next time we see something like this, it’s a dedicated experience.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mad Rat Dead offers an entirely unique rhythm action platformer experience, one that is so good you’ll want to surgically attach more ears to your body. Original, addictive and tremendously thrilling, Mad Rat Dead will make you love 2D platformers again.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    PowerWash Simulator is a rare example of a game that more than lives up to its expectations. If the calming loop of the gameplay gets you then you’ll easily find hours of your life disappearing along with the dirt and grime. Add in some interesting challenge modes and a story that caught me by surprise and you have a game that more than deserves your time.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Alienation is a slick and polished twin stick shooter, filled with huge explosions and seemingly endless enemies to kill, but it’s let down in a lot of little ways. It’s still a great game, but I didn’t fall as madly in love with it as I did with its predecessor.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A pleasantly stress free puzzle game with a weird story and boss battles to boot. The level editor ensures there will always be something new to tax your brain, and it's a good addition to the PSVR 2 library as well.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    NBA 2K17 is on par with 2K16, making improvements in some areas, but with a few drawbacks alonside them.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Earth Defense Force 2 is a great Vita title, and whether you want something to play for a couple of minutes on a toilet or in-between classes, this is a must have. If you’re looking for a new game that you and your friends can have some fun together in, this is also definitely worth checking out. It’s dumb, silly fun, and even though the lack of a story can kill your motivation to progress sometimes, at the end of the day it’s still way too much fun to just drop into Tokyo and blast away dozens of giant mutant ants from space.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Warlords of New York is a welcome addition to The Division 2 and it probably marks the most fun I’ve had with the series to date. While some content falls a little flat, each one of the special encounters is a manic and explosive experience that will bring you to the edge of your seat. The quality of life changes, including the refined loot systems, also breathe life back into one of last year’s more enjoyable looter-shooter titles.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    For returning players, Madden NFL 19 does exactly what you’d expect, offering a fantastic rendition of the NFL experience with improved graphics, tweaked modes and other minor improvements. However, if you’re not a franchise devotee, 18’s introduction of the new engine, full training mode and Longshot’s superior first season makes it the better option for newcomers.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Although the touch controls need a tiny bit of tightening up to allow better targeting, and the difficulty curve can be a bit steep at times, it’s still certainly worth a play.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Stories Untold is a very interesting and engaging horror title, building a huge story that taps into your imagination before expertly drawing that scope back in. A couple of puzzles don't quite stick the landing, but the game is engaging over its three hours.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It’s a huge relief to find that Tales of Vesperia hasn’t just aged well, but continues to prove itself to be amongst the best games in the Tales series. The enhancements made to the Definitive Edition tidy up and expand on an already enjoyable game, bringing the characters to life more effectively than ever before and making it more than capable of enthralling both returning players and newcomers alike.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Anomaly Agent is a fun and furious action platformer, mixing fast-paced combat with an awesome soundtrack.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Watch Dogs Legion is a different type of sequel to Watch Dogs 2, contrasting in its approach to creating a hackable open world playground, but with no less impressive results. Playing as any citizen in London leads to some less-than-engaging story moments, but the web of relationships and activities that crop up as a result of the systemic design is mind-blowing. I rarely did the same thing twice in Watch Dogs Legion, and if I did, I wasn't doing it the same way twice. Watch Dogs Legion truly feels like a living, breathing world, and it's a world that I plan to revisit often, even though I've seen the credits on the main story roll.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    DIRT 5 strips away the more serious elements of the franchise and puts all its eggs in one, arcade cabinet shaped, basket. At times a riot, in other areas a little repetitive and lacking in finesse, it nevertheless delivers on the concept of an adrenaline-fueled off-road racer. It’s a game that makes you sit forward in your seat and savour the joys of jumping a Dakar Rally Peugeot 3008 over a ravine.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla effortlessly plants its banner as the best open world RPG available for the new consoles. This Viking epic flexes its gore-soaked, tattooed muscles when it comes to world-building, and medieval England wows with its enchanting untamed vistas. It’s also portioned out at a steady pace and, if not for the repetitive, limited combat, Valhalla could have ranked even higher among our favourite games in the series.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Bureau has occasional problems with pacing, it could do with a little more polish and it doesn’t revolutionise shooters but it does adroitly step sideways into a totally unfamiliar genre and it expands the greater fiction while doing so. Another successful XCOM mission.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    How much you get from Transformers: Devastation will depend entirely on how fondly you remember the original cartoon. Non-fans will find an competent, if short, beat ’em up which is perhaps a little over priced, but die hard fans will be yelping, punching the air and reliving their childhoods by transforming in to a semi truck and chasing Ravage as he pounces across Cybertron.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Excellent stuff. For newbies this is a decent introduction to electronic music construction, and a brilliant little portable test bed for the experienced producer. It even exports MIDI.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It Takes Two is a great rom-com romp filled with action, oodles of variety, and more than a few twists and turns. No, you won't like Cody and May for much of the game, and some segments do feel a touch drawn out, but grab the right co-op buddy and this is a hoot.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    As confusing as it is entertaining, Superliminal constantly uses unique mechanics that go against your expectations, even once you've adjusted to what it did last time. It might be short, but it's a genuine delight.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    There’s a fair amount of fluff and filler spread throughout the lengthy RPG, but its tail end features some great nostalgia trips and fun character moments. It’s a great celebration of the legacy of Final Fantasy that’s a blast for fans old and new.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Aliens: Dark Descent is a fantastic Aliens game. It absolutely nails the feel of the films and brings exactly the kind of tense and thrilling strategy combat you would want. The iconic motion tracker and creature design fit perfectly with the genre and there is even an interesting narrative that introduces some new perspectives to the series. While game over can come far too swiftly at times, there is always something to draw you back in.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Love Eternal is an experience that lingers, with a story that can be interpreted in many ways depending on your own views. It's both unnerving and tough, which will appeal to those who enjoy the challenge of precision platformers, but it may prove frustrating to those with slower reactions than the game demands.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes does a great job of wrapping the 2004 TV series aesthetic around a tense and fraught roguelite battle for survival.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    If you’ve been craving a more traditional entry to the series since A Crack In Time, then this will suit you perfectly. It’s not the longest or best game in the series, but it’s a budget title and full of fan service, though that may turn non-fans away and it’s hardly the best entry point into this universe.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Put simply, Samurai Warriors 4 Empires is the very best this series has to offer. Taking the refined core gameplay of Samurai Warriors 4 and dousing it in the tactics of Nobunaga’s Ambition has worked wonders.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is an impressive Switch port that make graphical cuts in just the right places. Those cuts ensure a smooth and consistent gameplay experience that sets a new standard for Tony Hawk games on the go.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    DC Justice League Cosmic Chaos is a light hearted and comedic super hero game, with gameplay that is approachable for all. While the battling can get a bit repetitive at times the story and the charm of Happy Harbor will keep you going through to the end.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Destiny 2: Shadowkeep is another solid expansion for Bungie's addictive looter shooter. It's a mixed bag, building on the solid foundations of Destiny 2: Forsaken with some ideas working better than others. This is a new era for Bungie though, with an ambitious vision of a game that's constantly evolving from week to week, and the first glimpses of this already giving me real optimism for its future.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    There are also a few returning issues with the controls, with the dash skill being an particular annoyance; it’s designed to speed you around each dungeon but instead you have continually re-engage it every time you turn a corner, leave an area, or enter a room.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Central Fiction has the most gameplay content and the best gameplay of any title in the series. Longtime fans will be satisfied, and newcomers have more reason to jump in now than ever before.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    If you think first person shooters take themselves a little too seriously, Rage is the game for you. If you like shotguns, explosions, imaginative ammunition types and crossbows then Rage is the game for you. It's an unapologetic love letter to the classic FPS gameplay that inspired the most popular genre in modern gaming and it updates enough that it doesn't feel in the least bit dated.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is probably the best of the series so far, with an atmosphere and narrative that will hook you in and leave you feeling incredibly immersed. There is a great deal of depth to the camera-based combat and exploring the village is a wonderfully atmospheric experience. I could have done without the stalker enemies and the game throws a vast amount of lore and optional side stories at you at times, but the core game deserves to push the series into wider appreciation.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 Turbocharged is like Hot Wheels Unleashed, but better in every single conceivable way. Frenetically fluid and stonkingly fast, this is a quality arcade racer that will slap smiles on the faces of both young and old alike. Just don’t mention the single-player campaign.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sakura Wars may be a crisp, fully 3D modern release, but every inch of the story, characters, and sound feels like it's straight out of the 90s. This soft-reboot may not revolutionise gaming as the original game did, but it still manages to deliver an expertly crafted love letter to those old-school stories and characters that will put a smile on anyone's face. The combat scenes may lack the same depth and intrigue as the story beats of the game, but they're a minor part of an otherwise unforgettable anime adventure.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Steel Seed is not going to win any awards for originality, but it's a solid stealth-focused action adventure game that is entertaining throughout.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Synth Riders might not unseat the VR rhythm action king, as it doesn't feel quite as satisfying as nailing an extended Beat Saber set, but it's one of the strongest alternatives. If you're looking for something different to musical Jedi training, this is definitely a contender.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Rack and Slay is a fun twist on the roguelike, with a unique style to it. The challenges and the variety of abilities changes up each run, giving the game some depth, but the enemies come across as basic, and their spawning needs some improvement.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Like its Hyrulean brethren, Fire Emblem Warriors is a joyous action packed romp through hordes of faceless enemies in the company of some well-loved characters and all the trappings of a Fire Emblem game. It’s not going to convince anyone who’s unsure about the well-worn Warriors template, and it’s far from being a technical showcase for the Switch, but it is raw, unadulterated fun packed with bags of fan service.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The story might not explore all of the potential, but briefly shines a light on what the new possibilities might be for those making their own levels. The wide array of new tools, the removal of limitations and addition of new characters and power-ups will all serve to empower the community to reach new heights.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Project Warlock is a Doom-like that packs a punch. The levels are full of secrets, the enemies have a great range of behaviours, and the weapons – boy, the weapons – are a joy to use. Add all of that to the 60 levels to learn and explore and the challenges provided by the higher difficulty levels and you have a winning formula. Even if the pixel graphics aren’t your usual cup of tea, Project Warlock is more than worth your time.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Under its bleak red skies, Umurangi Generation is scrappy at times, but it's also a bold photography sandbox game that isn’t afraid to fill each frame of your lens with stark warnings of a world at crisis point. It’s more than a game about capturing a good shot, but captures the very times we live in.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Another Crab's Treasure riffs off the Soulslike genre, but strikes a great balance between humour and homage. This is a great game with a good message, and above all else, it's just a lot of fun.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Read Only Memories: Neurodiver is a game that wears it's influences on it's sleeve, from corny 90s anime dubs to slick sci-fi and even Mexican culture. It's all worn and shown off so proudly that the resulting mix is loud, proud, and unforgettable. I just wish that it was so much longer, because I already miss my time in Neo-San Francisco.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    In this madcap steampunk rendition London, a city of ludicrous buildings filled with robots and traps, the key is learning how to quit while you’re ahead. It’s all too easy to slip up and foolishly get spotted – and yes, the occasional glitch or quirk of procedural generation can feel unfair – but it makes each success all the more tense and rewarding.
    • TheSixthAxis
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    MAG
    The challenge of branding MAG with a number (much smaller than its trademarked 256 and between 1 and 10) to denote its quality is akin to rating World of Warcraft after a weekend of gold-farming, long before the full majesty of the game has blossomed and shown its true potential. The best we can do is rate our early impressions, undoubtedly influenced by the game’s prospects for the future.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Disintegration is a game of, and about, duality. It manages to feel like a throwback while it's fresh genre melding brings it straight into the present. It's an occasionally lifeless, mechanically sound construct, but everything about it has heart. It's a double A game, the likes of which we don't often see anymore, and it's one of the most unique and consistently enjoyable sci-fi shooters of recent years.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The game has a good look, is buttery smooth to play, and has a killer soundtrack to go alongside it. Constant death aside, what’s not to like?
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    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.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    If you’ve enjoyed the Trine series up to this point then you are in for a treat, Trine 5 is by far the best entry yet, offering puzzles that are phenomenally inventive and an utter delight to solve. If you haven’t taken the plunge yet with Trine, then now is the perfect chance. If only we could ditch the combat and have twice the puzzles, then truly would Trine reach co-op puzzling perfection.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Future Unfolding doesn’t compete with the open world delights of this season’s big hitters like Horizon: Zero Dawn or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but instead offers a wonderfully relaxed and immersive combat-free alternative. It’s a safari rather than a big game hunt, but one that deserves to be explored.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    For fans, this is a first service short of unmissable.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    FIFA 19 feels like the culmination of the last few years of FIFA games, and not just from the conclusion of The Journey’s interwoven story. The Champions League gives EA the opportunity to show their presentation skills and bed in a new commentary partnership, a shakeup for the main online set up of Ultimate Team, and the surprisingly fun new Kick Off mode. Some new ideas don’t quite come together, but there’s a reason why FIFA is the biggest game in town.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Whether you want to whet your appetite before Animal Crossing: New Horizons comes out or you're looking for your next fix after blowing through everything available in Stardew Valley, Rune Factory 4 is the perfect second-life for you. You might feel a bit overwhelmed at first, but once you manage to find your focus the addictive gameplay lets you wash away hours of your day in an instant.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    With the simplicity of squash and block smashing at its core, C-Smash VRS is a virtual racket sport delight. The bat and ball physics are tricky to master, but stick to the easier Zen mode, or play with a friend in multiplayer and co-op, and there's plenty of joy to be had here.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A lot of what goes into God of War feels as though it was cherry-picked from the modern gaming zeitgeist. The semi-open world structure, loot system, and a much deeper narrative focus work well, but are all trends being pushed by most other big games. As a result, God of War can feel slightly homogenised in a way that some fans may find unappealing. Thankfully, a strong sense of setting and brutally satisfying combat help maintain that God of War identity. If it wasn't made abundantly clear already, this is the first in what will most likely be a new trilogy for the God of War franchise, and this first instalment serves as a pretty great foundation.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    I suspect that it will be a game which polarises opinions among Vita gamers but I loved almost every aspect of it and I’m very happy that the Vita remains such a strong platform for imaginative experiences like Metrico.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Last Guardian feels meticulously pieced together and is easily one of the PlayStation 4’s stronger exclusive titles. It’s risky and unconventional, flouting modern design practices in a way that few other AAA game would dare to in 2016. Although far from perfect and a little worn from age, it’s a one of a kind experience and hopefully won’t be the last we see from Fumito Ueda and this enchanting world.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Floor Kids brings freeform fun to the dance rhythm action genre, successfully delivering on a unique gameplay system that provides the player with freedom and the opportunity to improvise. The restrictive chorus sections disappoint and the game is all over rather quickly, but whilst it lasts Floor Kids is definitely a ninja floating nut cracker.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King is another indie game which feels right at home on Nintendo’s platform, despite also being available on Steam. The game will appeal to those looking for a bit of classic dungeon crawling, and it will be sure to please those that have missed top-down Zelda adventures. With a lovely kingdom to explore and a varied range of objectives, Blossom Tales shows us that this genre is still very much alive.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Arcade Paradise is a superb management sim that puts you in the shoes of both the arcade manager and the player. Whether you are an old arcade head like me or somebody who can only view things through a historic lens, there is so much to enjoy here. Once you get past the necessary grind of the opening hours the game opens up to become an almost encyclopaedic slice of arcade life. Even when you’ve upgraded the arcade, there are always high scores to chase too.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Invincible Presents: Atom Eve is a fun blend of visual novel and combat, with a decent and well-written story and very good artwork alongside. The combat is good too and the whole package really adds to Invincible lore, even if it is not canon.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! is another quirky, charming puzzle platformer from HAL. It might not have quite as outlandish box types as Bye-Bye BoxBoy!, but it makes up for that as a welcoming entry on Switch for newcomers, stacks and stacks of bitesized puzzles and a new co-op mode to boot.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Borderlands Legendary Collection is a fantastic compilation of Gearbox’s prototypical looter shooter series. Fans and newcomers can set out to Pandora on Switch, safe in the knowledge that very little has been lost, while the portability and optional motion controls add something meaningful to the experience.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    For The King is a fun and stylish RPG, but prepare yourself for classic roguelite frustrations of dying and starting the campaign again, just to get a little bit further each time. If you enjoy that kind of challenge and like board games then For The King is well worth checking out.

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