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
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Exo One is an enjoyable other-world experience that challenges players with the mastery of an alien spacecraft. Tight controls and great physics more than make up for the odd repetitive spot, making Exo One an absolute must for anyone with an Xbox Game Pass subscription. Even without one, I’d still recommend picking it up.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked is a thoroughly enjoyable crossover sequel that takes the dungeon crawling of Demeo and wraps it in the warm blanket of Dungeons & Dragons themes, tropes and light RPG storytelling. There's a few nagging annoyances with the controls and only minimal hero customisation, but there's a cosiness to playing with friends and "accidentally" catching them in the blast radius of an explosive barrel.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    For Persona 5, the love and polish is there in equal amounts, but the somber jazzy style of the original game just doesn’t translate as successfully to a loud and groovy rhythm game experience.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Hue
    A charming puzzle platformer, Hue’s colourful aesthetic and thoughtful tone make for an enjoyable, if slight, adventure that will leave an indelible mark on your soul.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    There's only so much a developer can do within a genre, of course, but this feels like the first time in a while that big changes have been made with such resounding success.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Ramp is a minimal skateboarding experience that acts as more of a tool than a video game. At face value, it is an enjoyable experience that’s perfect for a quick skate, but those looking for a bit more depth might be better off looking elsewhere.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    While a fun and interesting take on the genre, Shadow Tactics will prove a little too demanding for some. Although self-contained, levels are surprisingly big, each crammed with an array of moving clockwork pieces. With some stretching past the half-hour mark, it can be an overwhelming and sometimes exhausting game to play. Still, you’d be hard pressed to find a stealth game as satisfying or rewarding.
    • 57 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Bloodshore is another great example of interactive movies that shows Wales Interactive shaping up to be the masters of the form. They have taken the core aspects that made the early Telltale adventure games so compelling and married them with well cast and decently acted stories. The depiction of game contestants with greedy or noble motivations while at the whims of mysterious overlords makes this an interesting counterpoint to the phenomenon that is Squid Game, Battle Royale, The Hunger Games.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Assassin's Creed Odyssey throws so much stuff at you, it's difficult to sift through it all. It's a beautiful game to look at and the story is intriguing, but it feels like a game that could have been a little more ambitious if given more time to develop. There's good ideas, from the branching story and character choice to the return of ship-based combat, but its ambitions also fray around the edges in a way that Origins didn’t.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Songs of Silence is a beautiful and engaging 4X auto-battler blend, whose unique approach will sweep you up for hours on end.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Deliver Us The Moon really surprised me. It's a bit rough around the edges, but it's a fantastic sci-fi thriller that kept me gripped throughout. Deliver Us The Moon is a stellar experience which will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR is an outstanding interpretation of the series’ iconic action into virtual reality, bringing the franchise to life like never before.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Shadows Of The Damned provides eight hours or so of some of the best third person shooting we've seen for ages – it's well produced, expertly paced and deliciously funny.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    NieR Replicant was always an odd title that was great both in spite of and because of its limitations. Many of those oddities remain in Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139..., but it's a more refined experience on the whole that doesn't feel quite so awkward when placed alongside the superb NieR Automata. Now, if only they could get around to remaking the Drakengard series.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Turning the horror game genre on its head, Carrion is a gory delight for you rip and tear your way through.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Journey provides a good story mode for FIFA, introducing the trials and tribulations of a young professional footballer, and when it comes to the action out on pitch, FIFA 17 continues to be a well rounded experience, even if it feels bogged down in midfield compared to PES 17.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Occultist is a great investigate horror game featuring a compelling narrative and well designed puzzles. With some excellent writing and voice acting, I was hooked in to play through its modest runtime in two sittings. With a debut game like this, I’m excited to see what will come next from Daloar.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered refines and improves a much misunderstood masterpiece. It's hard not to be amazed at how good this game still looks, and it comes with a new mode and some behind the scenes stuff to enjoy. It's not as big a step from the original release as TLOU Part 1 was, and so feels like a less noteworthy release, but the price for upgrading from PS4 is reasonable for what you get. For those who haven't played it, this will be the best version to play, even if it's just for No Return to add some more longevity without all the incredibly intense emotional stress of the main story.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Overall I really enjoyed playing through Mad Blocker Alpha. It will in no way convert those who have little interest in the genre, but for puzzle fans it offers a lot of content coupled with that 'just one more go' factor.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Of the many roguelites I’ve played over the last few years, Monster Slayers is perhaps the most successful in offering enough variety and options to prevent the annoyance and frustration that so often accompanies repeated playthroughs. The different classes and range of cards mean that there is a fantastic sense of improvement and development whilst the random layout stops runs from being too simple.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions is the wild and hyper-stylised sports game I've been craving for over a decade. The gameplay is quick to pick up, but hard to master, and the over-the-top anime transitions and animations that are sprinkled throughout the action make it endlessly entertaining. Offline and online versus is sure to give you hours of entertainment if you're the competitive type, while the hefty amount of single-player story content can keep you just as equally entertained. Anyone who's been waiting for the next great arcade sports game need not look any further – it's here, and its name is Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A Cthulhu Adventure is a real treat, and one of the most enjoyable games of its genre and textual influence I’ve played in a long while. It isn’t the longest game by any means, but there are many Easter eggs and cool horror references hidden away to find. Stuck In Attic have excelled themselves with this genuinely funny game and I look forward to seeing what they have to offer next. The one major bugbear throughout this is why they didn’t call it Gibbous: A Cathulhu Adventure.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A huge surprise. Whilst we went into it hopefully, we didn't quite expect such excellent gameplay in such a detailed world, and we certainly didn't expect to find revolutionary multiplayer concepts.
    • 55 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    In spite of its occasional frustrations, Ninjamurai is one of the most compelling PSP games released this year. The fact that it's a Minis game, at that price point, just make it all the more enticing.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Bomberman Ultra is exactly as expected and should be merited for that, although it’s very similar to the Xbox 360 version if you have that already. Regardless, Bomberman is just like riding a bike, you may not do it for years, but you never forget how to blow stuff up. Nothing overly ground breaking, nothing unexpected, just great fun.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Under the Island is the perfect fit for gamers who long for the older days of dungeon exploration focused Zelda titles and is one of the most polished and enjoyable retro throwbacks you’ll find. The charming story and characters, and the high quality of the level design help this to really shine.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Threefold Recital is part-game, part-philosophy lesson and it's been made with a lot of heart. The three main characters all stand out well, and the story is generally good, even if it becomes a little too twisty in the middle. That aside, Threefold Recital marks a strong start for the 2025 indie scene.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    I'll admit I wasn’t keen on Hunt: Showdown to start with, but after the first few matches I realised there's something special here. This is an unusual entry in a genre ruled by far snappier shooters, and it takes time to get your head around Crytek's clever twist on the formula. Stick with it and you'll be rewarded with a uniquely engrossing multiplayer experience.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Yoshi's Crafted World is simply lovely. The arts and crafts style is used in so many quirky little ways, the soundtrack lodges itself in your brain, and there's the same kind of laid back family friendly collectathon platforming that the series is now known for. Its one real new trick is its art style, sure, but that doesn't make it any less charming and wholesome.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tropico 6 feels like the kind of game that you can fall back on when every other game gets a little too stressful. The economy can be trick to get started, but you can soon start to kick back and take it easy. If you are finding it too hard though, turn on unlimited money and enjoy your break. It’s almost like going on holiday to the Carribean, which is fitting really.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Virtua Tennis 4 absolutely nails the arcade experience and kicks up some amazing graphics.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Fun and frantic, it marks a unique take on a well known genre, which, with typical flair, Nintendo have made their own.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    While there’s a distinct appeal to Steel Division: Normandy 44, this is a game that caters to a particular niche audience of hardcore strategy fans. Its depiction of the Second World War focuses on realism, with a reliance on ambushes and weight of fire in infantry combat and a surprising fragility to the tanks, but this difficult to master game won’t be for everyone. There’s some clever ideas in the shifting front lines, the fog of war and Battlegroups, but there’s problems with the presentation and some elements that feel unbalanced.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Moon may look dated and its mechanics and puzzles can be obtuse as hell compared to what you might expect in 2020. Stick with it however and it’s one of the most charming and unusual RPGs you can play that’s just as influential and relevant as ever.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Despite having one or two niggles, One Epic Game is a total blast to play. Not only that, but it's incredibly addictive and designed in such a way that you can dip in for five minutes, or sit down and spend a couple of hours playing.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Compared to last year’s Superchargers, Imaginators is certainly a step in the right direction. Instead of bolting something onto the existing formula, Toys For Bob have instead gone for reinvention. Being able to construct and share your own Skylanders isn’t a massive game changer, but it feels far more considered than other gimmicks.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    We're not saying that the story mode here is any worse (or better) than previous titles in the series – it's easily on par, but it's also rather stoic in its mechanics and a few more diversions would have elevated it beyond its PS3 contemporaries. But as a platform for your own imagination (and one generously compatible with much of LittleBigPlanet 2′s DLC) it's unmatched, and as limitless as you'd want it to be.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Ashen is good, but nothing revolutionary.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It’s beautiful. So wonderfully crafted, and a real step up from the PS3 generation of shooters. There’s more good design than there is bad, and it’s really something you should be experiencing for the visuals, sound and setting alone if you buy a PS4.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Invincible is a novel brought to life, blending its story and stunning visuals with engaging exploration. The Invincible goes back to the roots of sci-fi, offering something both classic and new when it comes to exploring the relationship between humanity and the final frontier.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    An engaging and enjoyable narrative experience, and it makes the most of its stellar cast, pushing the boundaries of storytelling in games and presentation. However, it won’t be for everyone, particularly those who don’t like to be led by the hand or don’t want to spend an extended amount of time watching content rather than interacting with it. It also falsely makes you feel like you have a choice, but then, that’s much of its point, and despite a few missteps this is a story well worth experiencing.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    SWAP Force is in many ways a surprise. It remedies a raft of the series’ biggest issues whilst adding its own twists.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Rain on Your Parade is a casual puzzler that's a whole lot of fun. The simplicity of the gameplay allows for experimentation throughout with unique levels every step of the way. The game has charm (despite Cloudy being a bit murderous at times), and the minor issues are easily overlooked due to the fun nature of Rain on Your Parade.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Bugs and a weak narrative aside, The Surge is a much more confident take on the emerging Soul-like gameplay style. It takes the known tropes of being challenging and having progression dependent on learning attack patterns while adjusting your play style to accommodate, but it also has some fresh ideas that not only make perfect sense, but could shape future games. It’s nice to see a developer give a gameplay style a second shot and Deck13 have almost nailed it here.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Rise of Iron is an excellent expansion to Destiny, but it doesn’t have the same lasting impact on the game as The Taken King did. There’s not all that much for Bungie to fix this side of a fully fledged sequel, and so this DLC gets to focus on weaving a new story that delves into the game’s lore, providing hours of new content for the game’s fans to play time and again.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Raiden III might be not be the most iconic entry in the original series, but the Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX re-release deserves to be the most iconic entry in their remasters. With a load of unforgettable OST remixes tied to an addictive score-based unlockables system, this is a shmup worth coming back to time and time again.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    I really like Fitness Boxing 3 as a training tool. I've been incorporating it into my workout routine getting my cardio in the morning with Fitness Boxing 3, and then doing my weights at lunchtime for a more complete experience. If you're looking for a fun way to start moving, then this could well be it.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A new direction for the Need for Speed games, and it almost works. Whilst career mode is lengthy and rewarding and the game has stacks of cars and plenty of customising options, multiplayer is weak and the lag online is quite abundant.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Either way, Hitman GO: Definitive Edition is well worth the plunge, even at its current asking price. Although the cost has been inflated, you’d be hard-pressed to find a puzzle game of this calibre on PSN or Steam for just over a fiver.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Best Friend Forever has an enjoyable, light-hearted storyline, for an easy relaxed gaming session. Dating Sims can be very hit or miss, and despite being short and having some unfortunate dialogue, I would very much consider this one a hit. The “adopt, don’t shop” message, as well as the inclusion of dog breeds that are considered unpopular only added my enjoyment of the game. Oh, and yes, you can pet the dog.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Amerzone: The Explorer’s Legacy is a very good remake of an already well regarded puzzle game. While the story is a little predictable, it looks very good, the puzzles are well designed, and the environmental story telling is well constructed.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    There’s very little you haven’t played before in the campaign and the new cinematics and voiceovers do little to assist the bare story, but the gameplay is still great, it looks and sounds fantastic, and fans will no doubt enjoy playing the formerly PC-exclusive section they missed the first time.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Avicii Invector: Encore Edition in VR the perfect final form of this modern rhythm-action classic.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    140
    With only a gradual difficulty curve to its platforming, 140 is just a few hours long, but they’re a good few hours. There’s a vibrant and colourful minimalist art style, and it goes well with the soundtrack that really underscores and ties into the simplistic rhythm platforming.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Against all odds, KOEI has proven that even the smallest of adjustments are still enough to maintain interest in its hack and slash series. Hardcore fans and completionists will have an absolute field day with plenty of enjoyment to be had by non-regulars and newcomers alike.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    I didn’t expect Cardpocalypse to resonate with me as much as it did. It's a cute, clever and charming little homage to what CCG life used to be like. Sure, we didn’t have supernatural big bads running around the playground, but the excitement of opening a booster pack or getting a new rare to put in your deck really shines through. If you’re a CCG fan, or even if you just think back to your Pokémon cards with a sense of nostalgia, definitely give Cardpocalypse a look.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Chicken Police is far better than I'd expected it to be, due in no small part to the way it nails the noir aesthetic. It's clearly had a lot of care and attention put into it, with puns, jokes and background information tucked behind every corner and in every bit of dialogue. It's a surprise, but Chicken Police is excellent and comes highly recommended to anyone whose egg it pickles.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    With a more intuitive – not to mention, convenient – core gimmick, Skylanders’ fourth instalment is a solid outing for the series, dispelling fears that the Activision power seller is succumbing to fatigue. For fans, it’s yet another all-round improvement, but Trap Team also serves as a perfect entry point for newcomers.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sometimes it's worth trying to reinvent the wheel, and Turn 10's renewed Forza Motorsport takes the series in some new and worthwhile directions. The 'CarPG' levelling and pre-race practice sessions really help to foster familiarity and confidence with cars and tracks over time, and Forza is now on a par with Gran Turismo and others for the online race structure. It all sets the foundations for years of new cars, tracks, races and further improvements that I'm looking forward to seeing.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    An infectious, frantic multiplayer blast, Super Bomberman R Online’s major caveat comes from its place amongst the current raft of Stadia exclusives. It doesn’t seem to be the place that people are choosing to play major multiplayer games, but in the case of Super Bomberman R Online, that’s a crying shame.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian doesn't exactly carve out it's own path - you can tell it's part of a bigger picture, and it's a shame that bigger picture is inaccessible due to the fleeting nature of gacha games. Still, taken on its own, this is an incredibly fun Atelier entry with an exciting new shopkeeping system that I hope is a major and bigger focus in future entries.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Valfaris is an excellent and challenging action platformer with a wonderfully designed combat system. The balancing of close combat, laser action, and the shared resource for shield and subweapons mean that most encounters require a careful and skilful approach. The result in a standout title that shows how far Steel Mantis have come from the flawed Slain: Back From Hell.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    After taking a year off, Assassin's Creed is going through a transitional period and taking players back to the very founding of the Brotherhood in Ancient Egypt is symbolic of that. The vast new setting, the improved combat system and moving the series towards being a real action RPG have injected this series with a new life.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Where the original console release of Assetto Corsa Competizione had some huge caveats hanging over it, the game's release on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S brings it up to spec, effectively matching the PC version. It still has some weaknesses in presentation and structure for new players in particular, but once you get into the groove, it's one of the best sim racers you can buy right now.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Chaos Code: New Sign of Catastrophe thankfully does not live up to its subtitle at all. This re-release of a re-release builds up on everything that came before it, fleshing out the experience into something worthy of your attention, whether you’re a hardcore fighter or a casual button-masher. Some wonky writing and poor visuals dampen the experience somewhat, but if you can look past that and fancy some classic KOF style fighting game action, this is the game for you.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Lego Bricktales is a wonderful adventure that's full of the charms of playing with the iconic construction toy in real life. It's a gorgeous digital rendition with all its exquisitely crafted dioramas a delight to behold, and with puzzles that lean on Lego's greatest strengths. Just beware that the Switch version is hampered by intrusive performance issues in places.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    There is no doubt that Sonic & SEGA All-Stars borrows from Mario Kart heavily, however in this case that is no bad thing because this game has depth, it works well and most important of all, it’s great fun.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Soundfall is a whole heap of rhythm-action, loot-driven, Discord-smashing fun. It’s also one of the indie highlights of 2022.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dead Take isn’t trying to out-monster anyone. It’s interested in something scarier: how performance and power warp people, and how easy it is to mistake a good cut for the truth. The house is empty, but the screens are crowded with ambition, with compromise, with the awful clarity that comes when you choose which version of someone to believe. Imperfect puzzles and a few cheap jolts aside, this is a confident, claustrophobic horror piece that sticks because its actors do. When the credits roll, you’re left with exactly what it set out to give you: not a scream, but a shiver.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Despite abandoning the series' all-too-iconic red-haired hero, Ys Origin is one of the most memorable and enjoyable entries in the franchise. With multiple characters, incredibly tight controls, and rewarding unlockables and bonus modes, it's a perfect entry into the series for newcomers as well as an absolute treat for veteran Ys players. The lack of a map and the simple combat can sometimes be a bit of a frustration, but they're ultimately minor annoyances in an otherwise incredible old-school action RPG.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It looks good, the humour remains persistent, and overall the collection is enjoyable. I’d recommend the trilogy if you want to get into the series, if you love the series or if you’re a fan of platforming titles.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It’s almost heartbreaking how much fun SNK Heroines is, because all of that fun is wrapped up in a fetishistic presentation that didn’t need to be there in the first place. By putting out a cool, casual-friendly fighting game that happened to only have a roster of female characters, SNK could have reached a wider audience of people and rekindled some of the magic they made 18 years ago with Gals’ Fighters. Instead, though, SNK put Mai Shiranui in a cowprint bikini and gave Terry Bogard breasts, alienating a massive amount of people in the process.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Once the sun rises and the bloodbath ends, you’ll be itching to play The Quarry again to see what other outcomes there are. this is Supermassive’s most refined horror game to date, but it just falls short of snatching Until Dawn’s gore-crusted crown.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It’s a sad truth that still puts a pit in my stomach, but Kojima and Konami are done. Konami still owns the Metal Gear name though, and they still want to make video games for it. Please let them. A new Hollywood reboot of your favorite franchise does not retroactively ruin the quality of the old movies, and Metal Gear Survive does not suddenly make the Metal Gear Solid series any less brilliant. Metal Gear Survive, instead, stands alongside those as perhaps the strongest spinoff in the franchise to date. Metal Gear Solid as we know it may be finished, but after having so much fun with Survive, I’m excited to see what Metal Gear looks like in the future.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    With an engaging sci-fi story and its minimalist style, In Other Waters manages to draw you into its mysterious story and brings the alien environments to life through your imagination. There are some performance issues that can detract from the experience, but overall, In Other Waters is a journey worth taking.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A Dream About Parking Lots is an interesting little experience that uses a real life situation many of us would have found ourselves in, and uses it to create a therapy session. It is a short and succinct experience that has quite a lot of depth to it, though it isn’t the best looking title.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A pleasant surprise. It provides a good story wrapped in some very enjoyable gameplay mechanics. Whilst it does have a few niggles, there's no denying that it's a hoot to play through as you hack, slash and blast your way to the Spire. The key issue though is the lack of variety.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Chariot is one of the better platformers I’ve played of late. Played on your own, it is a good and challenging affair, but working in a pair pushes it up a few notches.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Let’s cut the 'Karp. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is a delight that franchise fans will love, beautifully remastered for the Nintendo Switch. The gameplay might be repetitive, but it features a tale that will tug on your heartstrings and leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. So give the demo a try to see if you want to Ponyta up the cash, but it'll be well worth it as you watch the cute little wiggles, live through the heart-warming story, and savour the goregous watercolours that feels like you have your own Smeargle jamming your eyes full of art.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    With smart gameplay, gorgeous graphics, and a brilliant story to tell, it looks as though Unravel could be ColdWood’s first breakout hit and a deserving one at that.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A fun and challenging combination of old school first person shooter design and rogue-lite mechanics. It does require a great deal of patience and it’s easy to get frustrated when it feels as if the game is punishing you with the available drops, but when you get a good set of weapons and scrolls, you can breeze through the early levels with ease before the pyramids ramp up the difficulty. If you are prepared to make it through the cycle of looting and upgrade and have the patience to put up with the potential for horrible drops, then Immortal Redneck comes highly recommended.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The balance of simplicity and depth throughout is impressive and should draw in new players without disappointing old fans of the series.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It's not quite on a par with the latest console versions but it's remarkably close, in terms of both form and function.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    With fluid gameplay, gorgeous visuals, and an incredibly inventive story mode, there's a lot to love in this unique fighting game. The limited roster may prove to be the biggest challenge this game faces in maintaining a strong community, but with so many positive changes since it's 2018 Early Access launch and the spotlight of an Evo Online tournament, there's nowhere to go but up for Them's Fightin' Herds.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sonic X Shadow Generations is a great time. The remaster is exactly as you'd expect and the new game on top of it is better, more polished, varied, and refined. It's almost converted me to a 3D Sonic guy, which is shocking, and, because it's about Shadow instead of Sonic, you don't have to put up with anywhere near as many obnoxious voice performances. Shadow himself is just a bit broody and says things like "the ultimate power" in an almost-Keanu Reeves voice which really makes me laugh – especially with the Keanu voice pack coming in December for some top tier silliness.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Cities: Skylines 2 has a bright future ahead of it. The core city building is solid, a well-rounded new take on the city building genre that already covers a lot of bases, but has plenty of room for expansion and further ideas to come through to it. Sure, you might miss the creature comforts of old DLC and mods, but given time Cities: Skylines 2 will be a bigger and better city builder.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    It's easily one of the better titles on the system. If you've any love for electronic music then the soundtrack alone is probably worth it, but as a puzzler there simply isn't anything else around that even comes close. Essential day one stuff.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Laika: Aged Through Blood is a haunting metroidvania unlike any other. The blend of breakneck motorcycle combat and a harrowing story of revenge smash together to create an artistic experience few games this year can rival.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Need for Speed: Shift is far from perfect, however it has real soul and you can tell the developers have a real passion for racing. A little more EA polishing would make this the best racing game around.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Whether you’re new to inFamous or not, First Light is definitely worth looking into. The only reason you won’t enjoy this is if you didn’t get on with Second Son at all, and although there are some improvements, there’s not enough difference here to convince those who dislike inFamous.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Pixeljunk Monsters 2 is a very solid entry in the tower defence genre. The little things it has changed make for some really interesting choices when it comes to tower placement and co-op play makes it much more replayable. Graphically the game is stunning in it’s own way and will keep you invested in the tree-destroying, tower-building, funky-dancing gameplay as you progress through the increasingly tricky levels until the end. It suffers from the same issues prevalent in any TD game but is a solid entry nevertheless.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The recurring theme here is substance. On paper, creating a wave-based shooter doesn’t sound all that inventive or ambitious, yet Raw Data is just that. In a bid to capitalise on the VR gold rush, we’ve seen plenty of smaller, lacklustre shooting galleries, but Survios effortlessly puts them all to shame.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    I really enjoyed Statik. It’s not particularly big, but it is very clever, and has clearly had a lot of thought and love poured in to it. VR is an integral part of the game rather than being a showy gimmick, making this a fine addition to the PlayStation VR library.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Marvel's Iron Man VR is a brilliant superhero adventure, and one that replicates its star's physicality in VR in a truly incredible way.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Putting the obvious parallels to one side, Immortals Fenyx Rising is a thoroughly enjoyable game. The main character is very likeable, and the humour between the characters is great, while the Golden Isle looks fantastic and is filled with content without also feeling overwhelming. It takes a while for the combat to grow, and the end portion of the game drags on, but if you want a fun and compact open world game then Immortals Fenyx Rising is well worth playing.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Layers of Fear is a great example of Bloober Team’s particular brand of psychological horror. Playing through the entire series as one game makes the connections and links between the stories and characters far more evident and the end result is a real treat for horror fans. It is a very different sort of horror to the likes of Resident Evil 4 and Dead Space but is still up there as one of the best horror games of the year for me.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Stick It To The Man is such a bizarre and brilliant title overall offering an approximate six hour experience that can’t really be compared to anything else on PS3 or PS Vita.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    I love that Freedom Finger sticks it, quite literally, to any expectations or tropes of the shmup genre. It’s tough, puerile and loud, while being thoughtful, creative and satirical. The music is fantastic, the challenge rewarding, and its only real hindrance is the ability of your fingers and thumbs.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    A lot of love and time has gone into Children of Morta, and the level of polish and complexity across its narrative and gameplay make it one of the most interesting roguelites to date. The difficulty curve and relative brevity of its story may put some off, but Children of Morta is a beautifully crafted, polished roguelite that deserves your attention.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Dredge successfully balances a rather serene fishing game with something rather more dark and sinister lurking beneath the surface. Despite the spooky eyes, tentacles, and things going splash in the night, it's really quite relaxing.

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