TheSixthAxis' Scores

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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:
  1. Positive: 1,953 out of 4006
  2. Mixed: 1,751 out of 4006
  3. Negative: 302 out of 4006
4133 game reviews
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    • 60 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Distortions
    A really mixed bag. The overall story of the Girl facing her psychological demons and overcoming the traumatic experiences that stranded her in this fantasy dreamworld is interesting and well handled, and I really liked the idea of using the violin as a kind of magical totem to transform and manipulate the world. The switches between perspectives and moments of introspection point to a sensitive appreciation of the deeper emotional resonances of Distortion’s narrative, but it just isn’t that fun to play. Dated and unresponsive controls, needlessly obscure exploration, and frustratingly unpredictable enemy encounters mean that it almost works better as a Let’s Play watch than it does as a game.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Lone Ruin
    Lone Ruin is a solid roguelike twin-stick shooter, though this style and form has been done better elsewhere. There's a decent challenge and some replayability to be found as you repeatedly venture into the ruined city, but its brevity and lack of narrative drive fall short of the genre's greats.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Spellbreak
    Spellbreak holds vast potential and is full of depths to explore, but it’s not quite there yet, despite the 1.0 release. Sure, it’s fun enough to play if you can sit down with two of your friends and bash out a couple hours’ madness, but I forgot what the game was called once I stopped playing. With next to no lore within the game, and with every win or loss feeling the same, there's just not quite enough to make a lasting impression.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Calling All Cars!
    It was supposed to be a revolution and CAC would lead the charge: cheap and cheerful downloadable games showcasing the PSN's future. But is a future of games this shallow what we want, no matter what the price?
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
    The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a fantastic homage to the original film and really shines in its general presentation, but the gaming experience itself proves to be a frustrating one. Combine an increasingly toxic community and the prevalence of cheaters with a distinct lack of maps and variety and you have a game that may well struggle to succeed in competition with the many other titles in the asymmetrical horror genre. To paraphrase the tagline to the movie – will this game survive and what will be left of it?
    • 56 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Recompile
    Recompile definitely isn't a perfect game – its combat and platforming have issues and it's easy to miss important things – but if you put the effort in, it's a rewarding and enjoyable experience with stunning visual and audio design and an interesting storyline.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The Long Dark
    I really, really, wanted to love The Long Dark, but a myriad of poor design choices and bugs teamed with a complete lack of instruction made it one of the most frustrating games I have ever played.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    King of Seas
    The ship combat and looting might carry King of Seas' piratical adventure for some, just beware that there's grinding through a bunch of stretched out story missions to get to the heart of the game. It's a game to break out when you're feeling extra piratey, but it has enough flaws that you should weigh them up before getting your cutlass out.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Dead Rising 4
    I persevered through the issues on PC because I genuinely found things to like in Dead Rising 4. The silly, if somewhat hackneyed plot was light-hearted in tone and Frank is just as likeable as ever. Investigations are a nice way to break up the action, which is just as insane as it ever has been. However, it’s a ridiculously easy game thanks to a liberal slathering of healing items, and the diabolically bad PC port is frankly embarrassing to see in 2016. A reasonably solid game that sadly on PC is just out of frame.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Loot Rascals
    Loot Rascals has potential, but the over reliance on luck and a lack of any real progression lets it down some what. I appreciate what Hollow Ponds is attempting to do with the game but without any tangible feedback that you’re improving it can feel like effort and time is being wasted. Still, the gameplay is actually fun, and the on-the-fly strategy aspect utilising cards is a system that has been implemented well. Loot Rascals looks great and plays well, and its style will appeal to some. If you want a game that is challenging, humourous, but very reliant on luck then Loot Rascals is for you.
    • 52 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Mighty No. 9
    If you Kickstarted this game, you’ll likely be fairly satisfied with how Mighty No. 9 turned out. However, it’s far from ground breaking in terms of its visual style, has some rather rage inducing sections of the level design, and the dash is imprecise. That said, the majority of the game is fairly fun to play and it certainly captures the spirit of Kenji Inafune’s Mega Man franchise, it just lacks a certain amount of polish.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Landflix Odyssey
    Landflix Odyssey isn’t a revolutionary title by any stretch but it is a fun and mostly well-realised diversion that takes a light-hearted look at our TV obsessions. The different worlds offer some nice variation, but some are definitely more successful than others. I could have happily lived without the frustrating slowdown mechanics of the Going Mad levels for sure. It might not get you obsessed like your newest favourite TV series, but it shouldn’t make you reach for the remote either.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom
    If you happen to be a fan of both Adventure Time and Zelda then you’re unlikely to find another game that combines the world of Ooo and the gameplay of Hyrule in such an enjoyable way.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    WWE '13
    THQ have held the WWE licence for a long time now, so to put out a game that feels so broken, with poor collision detection and a large number of bugs are something I'm struggling to accept.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris
    Not a bad game, it’s just not a great one. The singleplayer game brings nothing new to the franchise, and in some ways even feels like a step backwards from Guardian Of Light. As a multiplayer game it takes on a different and welcome dimension, though for every great moment, you can expect equal frustration.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The Outer Worlds
    At first glance, The Outer Worlds on Nintendo Switch falls massively short of the bar set by other ports to the hybrid console. Everything has been scaled back in an effort to get it working as smoothly as possible on the machine, but there are still major problems with how the game performs. Even so, I found myself still having a lot of fun playing The Outer Worlds on the Nintendo Switch, which is a testament to just how brilliant this game truly is.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Mario vs. Donkey Kong
    While it's been pleasing to see Nintendo revitalise certain parts of their back catalogue, Mario vs. Donkey Kong feels a bit dated, despite the modern graphics. I just wish there had been a slightly grander effort to modernise the feel of the game.
    • 56 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Dangerous Golf
    In short sessions, preferably with other players, there’s still plenty of fun to be had in tearing through each level like a bull in a china shop. That said, the longer you play Dangerous Golf, the harder it becomes to overlook the game’s shortcomings. It’s a respectable debut from Three Fields, if one that doesn’t quite live up to its full potential.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Tiny Metal
    Tiny Metal is a great attempt at reviving the Advance Wars style of approachable military strategy for modern audiences, but while it certainly looks and behaves the part, the poorly balanced campaign and uninspired narrative only serve to emphasize just how special those classic games were.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Street Fighter X Tekken
    X certainly has its merits but when all is said and done only it feels like a game that is specifically tuned towards series veterans or those who are invested in the online community.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Transference
    Transference’s inventively spins its story of obsession and broken families into a game that’s all about perception and twisted realities. It’s not entirely successful, failing to confront the topics it raises and failing to live up to its Hollywood billing and origins, but it’s still deeply atmospheric as you flick between realities, solve puzzles and figure out the lengths to which Raymond Hayes would truly go.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    God of War Sons of Sparta
    God of War: Sons of Sparta is a bog standard retro-inspired Metroidvania. There’s energetic combat and strong boss fights, though neither can quite make up for the dreary exploration and boring story, resulting in an OK experience. For me, when it comes to a franchise as legendary as God of War, OK isn’t nearly enough.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Ghostbusters: The Video Game
    Despite a smart, exciting start, towards the end you’ll be tired of the game.
    • 55 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Table Top Racing: World Tour
    Although very enjoyable in small doses, Table Top Racing: World Tour doesn’t carry quite enough substance to make it past the finish line with flying colours.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Magicka 2
    it’s a competent action game that has made a beautiful transition from its original PC roots and one that will no doubt garner a new console-based coven.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
    What could have been the best strength of Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes is its greatest weakness. With the amount of things to do, types of gameplay available, and sheer number of heroes to recruit, the game feels unfocused and inconsistent. Some of what it does, it does very well, but it doesn't quite overcome the negatives. Those who truly love classic JRPGs like myself will find plenty to feast on, but those who don’t should go Nowa near it.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    We Happy Few
    There’s a huge amount of potential in this dystopian 1960s drug trip, but ultimately it starts to feel frustrating quite quickly. Every time We Happy Few draws you in with an interesting tidbit about the world or the character you are playing as it’s scuppered by the systems fighting against you.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Ratcheteer DX
    Ratcheteer DX is not a bad game, but it does have issues that stop it from being great. The story and the world that we see is well put together, but navigating that world can be a chore at times. It is a game that has moments of brilliance through its puzzling, yet I can’t look past some of the game’s more frustrating elements.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Orwell's Animal Farm
    Orwell’s Animal Farm relays the content of the book well, but stops short of drawing from any new depths, as choices are limited and the plot takes second place to a dry management sim.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Groovin' Blocks
    The game has basically one trick up its sleeve, but a trick that it executes very smoothly.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Vertical Drop Heroes HD
    Ultimately, Vertical Drop Heroes HD is fun for a few hours, but gets repetitive quickly. The asking price is low so it might be worth a look if it really tickles your fancy, but Rogue Legacy is only £4 more expensive and accomplishes similar ideas more effectively and with more depth.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The Crew
    The in game world is absolutely huge and it’s filled with a great deal of content – it looks brilliant at times too. Although the handling takes some time getting used to it does feel natural as the game begins to open up. Despite that, the driver AI can be infuriating at times, as with the traffic placement which I refuse to believe is a coincidence. The online doesn’t feel well integrated either and the story is uninspiring.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Dark Nights with Poe and Munro
    Dark Nights with Poe and Munro is, as a drama, objectively terrible, but there's a chance it could be a cult hit. It's like watching an amateur dramatics presentation in your local village hall, but on a PlayStation 5. If you can grab some friends, copious amounts of alcohol and embrace the ridiculousness, you will have some fun.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Raji: An Ancient Epic
    Raji: An Ancient Epic is a solid first attempt for Nodding Head Games, but there are issues that will need to be addressed for future games. The Indian setting and use of Hindu mythology differentiates Raji from similar titles, lending it a fast-paced story and interesting protagonist, but the presentation, quality of voice acting and platforming all need improvement.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    PlayStation VR WORLDS
    An interesting but inconsistent bundle of smaller experiences, and it’s full of games that feel too beholden to the tech demos that they’re derived from. The London Heist cries out for a few more set pieces, Danger Ball could be bettered with multiplayer and more variety in gameplay, and it’s only really Scavengers Odyssey that feels like it’s getting close to the size and scale of a full release in its own right – even that ends on a cliffhanger of sorts.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Hood: Outlaws & Legends
    Hood: Outlaws and Legends has some good ideas, but the execution is a little lacking. The one mode here is enjoyable but it gets very repetitive, with the clunky combat, slow matchmaking and poor, though admittedly amusing AI, taking the fun out of it. With more variety, whether in the form of different modes or with each map having its own objectives, this could have been a winner, but as it stands it's got a lot of squandered potential.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Tom Clancy's The Division Resurgence
    I have enjoyed playing The Division: Resurgence, but it's a rediscovered joy of improving my character stats and churning through looter shooter missions. There's the foundations here for more, but with a low stakes main story, and too many points of friction through the UI and gameplay, the main thing it's made me want to do is go back and play the console games.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Demon's Crystals
    Good games make headlines and bad games will also generate column inches, the one thing you don’t want you game to be is average, but sadly that is what Demon’s Crystals is. It plays perfectly well and is free from problems and bugs, but it’s totally forgettable without a speck of originality. At just £3.99, it’s a good price for a few hours entertainment if you have some friends on the couch to play with.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Silent Hill: Downpour
    It may be a visually sound package that throws a few unique spins on the Silent Hill template, though the sometimes awkward puzzles and irredeemably abysmal combat are enough to drag Downpour down the gutter and towards mediocrity.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Gravity Heroes
    Gravity Heroes is a curious proposition. The core gameplay elements are rock solid, the four-player gravity switching leading to plenty of chaotic fun, but the concept as a whole feels under-explored and the intense difficulty will can soon become a joyless slog.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    ELEX II
    Elex II is a perfect continuation of the Piranha Bytes RPG formula, but it is unlikely to win over new fans. The graphics and gameplay are very similar to the first game and are beginning to feel increasingly dated, a feeling exacerbated by all the fantastic games released in the last few months. If you’re already a fan of Piranha Bytes then this is exactly what you’ve been waiting for, for good and ill.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Anthem
    Anthem is a song that we've heard a few too many times before. Here's a game that promises a grand vision of an open world, of a co-op RPG shooter that you can play for dozens of hours with your friends, but at launch it simply doesn't live up to expectations. The core exosuit flying, the Javelin design, the interwoven combat and the gorgeous world BioWare have created are all excellent, but at launch it's lumbered by bugs, technical hitches and odd or uninspired design decision. I want to like this game, but sometimes it doesn't make it easy.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
    After a day of playing Mario Kart World and Fast Fusion, Welcome Tour was a light, engaging way to wind down from high speed thrills. While it could arguably be a free pack-in exhibit, the £8 asking price is low enough that you shouldn’t feel too hard done by for the curious. If you want a undemanding and easily digested introduction to the way the Switch 2 works, then look no further. If you want an actual game, buy one of the other launch titles.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Hexologic
    Whether you’re a Sudoku enthusiast or a new player, Hexologic is a puzzle game that’s easy to pick up and learn. If you’re looking to pick your brains at clever numerical puzzles, this game will keep you busy with its wide selection. It may not be one to try and beat in one go, but it’s definitely worth picking up if you like your Sudoku with a twist.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League
    Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is a perfect example of how live services can sap all the energy out of a game experience. The story, the character and gameplay all range from good to fantastic, but the missions grow stale before too long, the loot system's few bright spots are tarnished by the chore of everything else you earn, and the story and characters all but evaporate once you reach the endgame.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    TOHU
    Tohu is a mixed bag. It delivers such beauty and curious treasures, but it loses some of its shine thanks to tediously hard puzzles and a hint system that proves to be a greater hindrance than the actual puzzles. For those who love a challenge, Tohu will tick all the right boxes for you. However, I found it to be lacking in depth for a game that showed such promise; the trailer, imagery, and story all hold the potential to deliver more and it just falls short, or at least it did for me.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Freedom Wars Remastered
    Freedom Wars Remastered offers one of the more intriguing visions of the future, but where its setting is thoroughly futuristic, its gameplay remains firmly in the past.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Deiland: Pocket Planet Edition
    Deiland: Pocket Planet is a game and concept with a lot of heart and potential, but a few issues bring the experience down. A patch or two this could easily turn into a brilliant short story for any indie gamer, but for now it's an interesting tale that needs a little more time on it.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Disciples: Domination
    An uninspired strategy RPG, Disciples: Domination offers an unremarkable experience that fails to stand out in a crowded genre. There are a few flashes of brilliance here and there – primarily with the morally challenging decisions that need to be made in the throne room – but otherwise this latest entry in the Disciples series fails to offer a compelling world to save.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires
    It fails to do anything that really pushes the series forward, borrowing heavily from previous games while adding a few extra bells and whistles.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Windbound
    The barriers that Windbound puts up makes it a tough game to enjoy, at least initially. It will take time to appreciate what it brings to the survival genre with its clever boat-building and authored open world action, though these smart nuances often go hand-in-hand with tedious, sometimes frustrating stretches of playtime.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Warriors: Abyss
    With the mainline Musou series entering a new era, Warriors Abyss is a fun yet flawed repurposing of past games that feels like a sendoff, as if Omega Force is closing the book after a very long chapter.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    1-2-Switch
    For all its good ideas, inventive uses of the Joy-Con and potential as a fantastic party game, 1-2-Switch has just as many fumbles that make it far from an essential Switch launch title. It can be a lot of fun, but it fails to keep you in the moment, takes too long to explain and set up each game, and no amount of immature giggling at euphemistic games can manage to rescue it from itself. It might be quick on the draw, but what follows is more of a confused fumble.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Symphony of the Machine
    Symphony of the Machine is a pleasant enough puzzle game, with its laser beam manipulation requiring a little out of the box thinking at times. However, it’s a concept that we’ve seen before in VR, and niggles with moving around and interacting with this 3D space left me feeling a tad frustrated and disappointed.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Snooker 19
    Snooker 19 is a solid snooker simulation that will definitely appeal to fans of the sport. The relative lack of modes and some major oversights do hold it back, and so it is difficult to recommend unreservedly. It might be Lab42's first attempt with the official license, but right now Snooker 19 feels too much like style over substance. Not so much a 147 as a battling 50 ending in an unfortunate in-off whilst amongst the reds.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Alien: Rogue Incursion
    I really wanted Alien: Rogue Incursion to be good and it starts so well, but then things just fall apart. There are many bad design decisions in the game so that you feel like you are fighting them rather than the Xenomorphs.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Sweet Surrender
    Ultimately, Sweet Surrender is too repetitive. It's fun shooting and slicing up robots with a wide variety of weapons, but the environments and upgrades quickly become repetitive and it lacks the variety and meta progression that roguelites use to entice you back into another run.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Golf With Your Friends
    Golf With Your Friends has all the rage-inducing charms of minigolf to savour while playing with your chums. With plenty of varied courses to play through and some good variations, there's a lot of fun to be had, even if the game often feels inconsistent and unpolished.
    • 55 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The Assembly
    I’m certainly eager to see where nDreams take us to next, as they hone their craft in developing for virtual reality, but The Assembly is sadly just a first step on that journey. It does some interesting things, with a nicely constructed story split between two characters and contrasting styles of gameplay, and it gets the controls right for first person exploration in VR, but without that, it would struggle to stand out from the crowd. [Tested with Oculus Rift]
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution
    Revolution has failed to take a step away from the shadow of UNS3, and will have to remain all that it looks to be: a filler while we wait for the final main-story instalment.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Dead Synchronicity: Tomorrow Comes Today
    On the one hand the art style, atmosphere, and interesting story premise are things that are worth experiencing. However the pacing of the puzzles can be frustrating, especially when what would appear to be the obvious solutions don’t work in a world where regular logic usually applies.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Heidelberg 1693
    Heidelberg 1693 is a neat action platformer with some memorable enemy design and boss battles, but it often feels as if the level design is at odds with the limitations of the weapon that sets the game apart. Still, I feel suitably proud that I managed to finish it and it still comes recommended for fans of titles like Ghosts n Goblins.
    • 58 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Hungry Shark World
    Within it’s ocean depths, there’s plenty of fun to be found in coming back to Hungry Shark World every once in a while. The game’s point system makes it competitive enough for players who want to beat their personal best score, but the game really puts emphasis on running the same stages with different sharks which can start to grind. So while the game itself is pretty fun, Hungry Shark is one of those games best played in short bursts.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Etherborn
    Etherborn has so much potential, but its best moments are over far too quickly, leaving little replay value aside from showing people how cool the design is.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Yaga
    There's a lot to like about Yaga; intriguing world building, superb characterisation, conversational tactics and a clear passion for Slavic mythology all tick my 'Yes' boxes. But the uninspired combat, slow movement, ineffective forging and annoying bad luck mechanic. It's an unsatisfying folktale then, the kind where the storyteller insists on coughing and saying 'erm' a lot, when all you want them to do it get on with it and get to the good bit.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Clue: Murder By Death
    Clue: Murder By Death fully immerses the player in a thoroughly realised 1930’s era country estate murder mystery with the welcome addition of cute, cartoony visuals. Sadly, the game is somewhat let down by a frustrating two-hour real-time playthrough limit that collides with tedious character walking speeds and frequent clunky load screens.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Styx: Shards of Darkness
    Shards of Darkness could have been a big step forward for the series, giving you a more rounded set of gameplay possibilities, alongside the better looking environments and other areas. Alas it’s not as big an improvement as I’d hoped and is let down by bugs and inconsistencies. It’s a stealth game with one foot stuck in the past, and that remains both a blessing and a curse.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Despotism 3k
    Despotism3K is full of humour that had me laughing a lot, but the high degree of difficulty and randomisation and arbitrary choices that can end a run in a moment had me swearing at it a lot, too. You end up replaying gameplay that doesn't change all that much between runs. Still, it's a good distraction if you don't want to play a huge adventure game, and instead want to throw some puny humans into a bioreactor.
    • 57 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
    Despite the flaws of Epic Mickey 2 I’ve found myself enjoying the game more than I would have thought. The story is charming enough to keep encouraging you through Oswald’s idling and the poor depth of field, with the Mad Doctor’s songs arguably the best moments of the game. The touch screen abilities don’t quite work and you’ll find yourself quickly reverting back to old fashioned buttons.
    • 49 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Night Book
    Night Book is a good example of the kind of modern FMV game that Wales Interactive produce. It brings together an interesting story with some strong performances and a topical site of anxiety. At a run time of about 45 minutes for each playthrough this is perfect for a quick play with a glass of wine but may not feel like the best value. There's plenty of replayability though if you want to unlock all the endings, but many of them involve only slight variations of events you’ll have seen before. Night Book is very much an FMV interactive experience rather than a game but it is undoubtedly a solid example of its kind. Just don’t go into it expecting much in the way of gameplay.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The Saboteur
    The Saboteur feels a little rushed and incomplete but has an unexplainably fun side to it. Frustrating and boring at times, it does give way to some great moments and conversation pieces.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
    Black Ops 7 really demonstrates the difficulties of Call of Duty's yearly release schedule and going back-to-back with its sub-series. It's not as rushed-feeling as Modern Warfare III was, that's for sure, but it's also not a consistent experience. The multiplayer and Zombies are solid continuations from last year, but there's not too much excitement in that, especially after the energy-sapping co-op campaign and Endgame.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star
    If you come into this expecting a setting, cast or narrative similar to any of the anime, you might be left disappointed and confused. It’s still a fun, addictive game with the flashy combat you’d expect from a Warriors-style game, but you might have to tune out the story in order to enjoy it. In a franchise where story is so key, that’s a huge bummer.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    The Academy: The First Riddle
    The Academy isn’t a bad game, per se, but promises far more than it delivers. Its influences are too clearly worn on its sleeve and it ends up less than the sum of its parts. The school is too small and the puzzles just not exciting enough to really draw you in. The target audience is probably much less jaded than me and younger players will probably enjoy the combination of Hogwarts-esque schooling and puzzles, but it’s a difficult title to recommend for experienced puzzle gamers.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Lords of the Fallen
    If you’re looking for a game that has punishing fights, but is a bit easier than Souls then this is it. However the story and lore just aren’t that interesting, despite a good premise and Harkyn doesn’t have much personality. There’s also quite few bugs that really need addressing, like clipping through the environment and objects, or the enemies that just stop moving completely, yet can still deal damage, or suddenly develop the ability to fly.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Where the Heart Leads
    Where the Heart Leads offers a supremely compelling and fascinating overall narrative, one that is filled with genuinely meaningful choices – surely a rarity in video games? Unfortunately, its tall tale is also bogged down with numerous presentation issues that result in dull characterisation. Overall an uneven experience that’s both brilliant and boring – sometimes at the same time.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Hirogami
    With its gorgeous visual style and some fun origami transformations, Hirogami has some high points to enjoy, but it sadly does have a few too many paper cuts that become consistent frustrations. It's not overly challenging, but lowering the difficulty does lend itself to a kind of relaxing, almost meditative experience at times, at least when the camera and other quirks aren’t getting in the way.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Lollipop Chainsaw
    Such is the fickle world of gaming that the game can be found – one week after release – for £19.99. At that price, despite its flaws, the game is well worth a look, so the score's a cleavage heaving, upskirt looking, foul mouthed...
    • 76 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Screamer
    The team at Milestone have been crafting racing games for more than three decades now, Screamer proving that they aren't afraid of taking risks and trying something new. From its surprisingly fleshed out storylines to its advanced racing gameplay concepts, there are plenty of intriguing ideas at works here though not all them are executed well.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Zombie Army VR
    There isn't much to say about Zombie Army VR. It's not bad, but it also doesn't stand out from the zombie shooter hordes, and it even fumbles the series' only truly distinctive feature, the X-ray killcams. It's a by the numbers zombie shooter in VR that might be enjoyable enough if zombie shooting if your gaming version of comfort food, but there are better options out there.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Airheart: Tales of Broken Wings
    Airheart presents an interesting idea with hints of brilliance, but fails to deliver a game with staying power. Whilst the upgrade system is satisfying, it’s let down by repetitive gameplay and UI issues that get in the way even when playing with the endearing crafting system.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Nine Parchments
    Nine Parchments is a solid release. Its gorgeous art style, dependable controls and fun co-op play almost hide a multitude of sins. Almost. Unfortunately, with a poor save system and combat mechanics that never really develop from the first level onwards, Nine Parchments soon becomes a slog that is less than magical.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Conarium
    Conarium is a good example of a Lovecraftian game. It focuses on the atmosphere and lore that characterises the genre whilst mostly avoiding the worst excesses. It tells an intriguing story well despite the slightly dodgy voice acting and presents a good approximation of the impossible non-Euclidean geometry of the Elder God’s world. If you like a touch of Cthulhu in your life, then you could do worse than venturing into Conarium’s brand of madness.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Kona
    Spanning several hours and sporting a number of more traditional game features, Kona feels far meatier compared to your average walking sim. The combination of nonlinear design and survival mechanics certainly help to dispel some of the issues I have with the genre. That said, the vagueness surrounding some puzzles, frequent backtracking, and a somewhat dissatisfying finale left me with mixed feelings despite introducing some welcome changes to the formula.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
    Not quite a triumph, then, but it’s leagues ahead of The Order Of The Phoenix – and if we’re being cheeky with the scores, hardcore Harry Potter fans should treat this as an [80].
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Lumo
    Lumo is full of well thought out puzzles, but it lacks certain gameplay touches that could have pushed it into being a great game. My main gripe is that the jumping feels awkward and, coupled with perspective issues, means you can fail a simple puzzle dozens of times.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Graceful Explosion Machine
    There is absolutely nothing wrong with Graceful Explosion Machine, and if you enjoy chasing high scores then it will provide you with a decent challenge. For the the rest of us, it’s a dinky little shooter that you can complete in a couple of hours and will forget about in half that time.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion
    Merely okay. There is little new here, but it’s functional enough that fans of the series will find much to enjoy as they explore the land of Ooo.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
    If you like Pokémon Go but you’re more invested in the Harry Potter Wizarding World, then this game may be for you. Pokémon Go has matured incredibly well since launch, so perhaps Wizards Unite will follow the same path to success, but for now, there isn’t much to be excited about. If you were hoping that Wizards Unite would rival the cultural phenomenon that was and is Pokémon Go, you’ll be bitterly disappointed.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    WWI Tannenberg: Eastern Front
    I often feel uncomfortable playing military shooters. Is it really morally acceptable for me to be having fun in a virtual playground that depicts a real life conflict in which thousands lost their lives? I don't know the answer, but thankfully Tannenberg never forces me to consider this ethical question. Tannenberg has some good ideas, but it's a slightly dull online FPS that never really gets going. As a budget multiplayer shooter there's some satisfaction to be had, but overall this is a far too limited and sluggish experience.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Funko Fusion
    I’m still none the wiser who Funko Fusion is for. It’s a kid’s game that’s too adult for kids, with a batch of franchises that only older fans will really appreciate, but then they’ve dialled down the difficulty, presumably to appeal to younger players. The shame of it is, with the right characters, this is a great kids game, and the Jurassic World levels only highlight that. Funko Fusion offers plenty to like, but just like its plastic-melting antagonist, it fuses too many of the wrong parts together to feel cohesive.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron
    Aces Of the Luftwaffe: Squadron does a lot of things right over its short duration. Tight gameplay, small innovations to the shoot ’em up genre and terrific local co-op. Unfortunately, the grind to level up characters and lengthen the playtime turns what was once fun into a tedious and frustrating slog.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD: Remake
    House of the Dead: Remake is a great blast from the past that will satisfy that nostalgic itch and provide plenty of gory fun. On Xbox, however, you lose out on much of the feel of the title and are left fighting against the controls. If it’s your only option then there is still enjoyment to be had here, but if you have access to a PlayStation, Switch or PC, then I’d recommend picking it up on there instead.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Crisis on the Planet of the Apes VR
    It’s clear that Crisis on the Planet of the Apes has a lot of ambition and it does get a lot right in this regard, but at the end of the day, all we have here is a VR tech demo. Climbing around here was the most immersive VR moment I’ve had to date, but the controls could sometimes took me right back out of it. As a showcase for what VR could do in the future, it’s another great example of things to come.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Godfall
    It takes a while for Godfall’s combat to truly open up and when it does, you’ll revel in its beefy ballet of well-timed blows and counters. That said, it’s hard to ignore the flimsy scaffolding that keeps this PS5 launch title standing, the lack of matchmaking, and a loot system you’ll quickly lose interest in. Although still great fun in short bursts, this isn’t the rousing next-gen RPG experience you’ve been searching for.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Let It Die: Inferno
    Ultimately, Let It Die: Inferno has too many flaws to look past, especially when so many of those flaws are related to the base gameplay loop and experience. It can be fun and sometimes rewarding to dig through a janky game for a satisfying gameplay or story experience, but that isn't the case here. While the game looks and feels just like the original at a glance, it isn't a game I see myself putting nearly as much time into, or remembering nearly as fondly.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    We Were Here Together
    We Were Here Together is ultimately a bit of a let down on console. Some of the biggest puzzles are quite frustrating, some of the others rely on a poorly designed user interface, and the ones we most enjoyed were the shorter ones anyway. There are better coop puzzlers to spend your cash, time, and friendships on.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    The Knight Witch
    The Knight Witch could have been fantastic. It was so dang close to being something very special thanks to its fantastic visuals, great gameplay and compelling story, but it's instead plagued by frame rate issues and awful difficulty spikes rearing their slappable faces to ruined the fun. Fingers crossed Super Mega Team takes the time to thoroughly patch The Knight Witch and make it the game that it deserves to be.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Graven
    Despite three years in Early Access, it's hard to recommend Graven at launch. From odd design choices to bugs and progression issues, the unfortunate conclusion is that Graven is a real missed opportunity.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Painkiller
    Painkiller is a shame not because it's especially bad, but because some of the fun weapons and combat are buried beneath the dull, uninspired and repetitive mechanics, and a surprisingly short 6-hour runtime. It can be fun to shoot demons with cool weapons and a friend or two, but this just feels a bit too disposable, and ultimately uninspired.
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