Review Summary
As a series, Paper Mario constantly explores new concepts and mechanics, which is exciting, but that comes with plenty of risks. Origami King’s biggest chances don't pay off in a satisfying way. I enjoyed Mario’s hijinks and all the misfits he encounters, but the new ring-based action needs refinement. I hope Paper Mario’s next twist on combat can rise to the same level as its humor. ​

Review Summary
There's room in my heart for both styles of Paper Mario. The old games still exist and this newer, sometimes thinner formula is fine too. That said, it's possible Nintendo and Intelligent Systems have folded this subseries every which way they can at this point. I hope the next one is a little more fresh.​

Review Summary
Creased and folded with meticulous care, Paper Mario: The Origami King is a cut above the rest that sees the paper-crafted series back at its best since the rightly lauded Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. The moustachioed paper cut-out’s journey to liberate Peach’s Castle offers a personality-packed adventure that’s worth setting out on, and one that will be remembered for the laughter, thrills and standout moments that it delivers

Review Summary
I’m not sure why Nintendo feels that Paper Mario can’t be a role-playing game: What exactly was the issue with the original games, which were widely praised and sold very well? But the major issue for me was not that Nintendo removed the series’ RPG mechanics, but that what it replaced them with was not as good. Origami King might not be the successor to Thousand-Year Door for which fans have been clamoring, but this time the formula works, allowing the series’ great writing and worlds to shine through.​

Review Summary
Ghost of Tsushima has a distinctive aesthetic, after all, but it’s only skin-deep. The core game underneath that alluring exterior is a pastiche of open-world game design standards from five years ago; it lacks a real personality of its own. Ghost of Tsushima offers a lovely world to explore, and there’s value in that, but it should have been so much more than a checklist of activities to accomplish. ​

Review Summary
​It's desperately frustrating, because I maintain that Ghost of Tsushima is still, largely, quite fun. The problem is it's an easy, breezy, lite beer kind of fun - the kind that Sucker Punch is known for, after all - and the blanket genericism of it just doesn't sit well against such a po-faced tone. It's another game fallen victim to the palatability blender, coming out the other side as a slightly formless smudge of every genre, without a mastery of any. Going back to Ghost of Tsushima's roots, as an American game inspired by the comics and the movies of Japan, in a way it's quite apt. It's what happens when you want to pay homage, but don't want to add anything new of your own. It's Hollywood.​

Review Summary
​Ghost of Tsushima is pretty as heck – sporadic capturing left me with almost 50 GB worth of screenshots and short video clips to sift through – but, at its core, it’s just another open-world game. I found myself audibly sighing every time I crested a hill towards a mystery objective only to find another fox to follow or another haiku to compose. These diversions, while unique at first glance, proved to just be busy work as time wore on. I was so strong by the end of the game – filling up every skill tree is easy if you ignore the main story and just explore for a bit – that I didn’t even bother using stealth tactics for the last third. I don’t think I even died after the first few hours. There’s so little to get excited about in Tsushima once the initial wonder of the wind physics and lush environments wears off that the only thing that kept me going was my own innate desire to fill out the entire map. And that can only hold someone’s interest for so long.​

Review Summary
​Ghost of Tsushima is a joy to play and a joy to behold. Sucker Punch has crafted one of the most memorable open world games of this generation, buoyed by an immensely satisfying combat system and an engaging, dramatic story. Unlike many of its open world peers, it's a refined and focused experience -- gripping and immaculately presented at its best. A fitting first-party swansong for the PS4.​

Review Summary
​I want The Last Of Us II to be more than the experience I had. It’s a visually beautiful game that feels distinct to play, and the story it tells and how it tells it, at the most basic level, certainly pushes the edges of what games have done before. None of those accomplishments elevated or redeemed it for me. Like the nature consuming Seattle, or the outbreak consuming humanity, its ugliness overshadowed everything else.

Review Summary
Like the original Last of Us, some people are going to come away underwhelmed, but the story beats and the characters driving them are the main draw. Part II doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it gives us a lasting glimpse of a unique broken world full of broken people that's worth visiting time and time again.​

Review Summary
By the time I finished The Last of Us Part II, I wasn't sure if I liked it. It's a hard game to stomach, in part because so much of who Ellie is and what she does is beyond your control. She is deeply complicated and flawed, and her selfishness hurts a lot of people. At times, the pain you inflict feels so senseless that it can leave you numb. It's all messy and bleak and made me profoundly sad for myriad reasons, but the more I reflect on it, the more I appreciate the story and characters at its core. I wanted almost none of it to happen the way it did, and that's what's both beautiful and devastating about it.​

Review Summary
The Last of Us 2 is a masterful swansong for the PlayStation 4, and arguably the finest, most accomplished project Naughty Dog has ever embarked on. It’s far more than a traditional sequel, taking the original’s core message and expanding upon in ways that will be looked back on as brave, ambitious and undeniably controversial. 

But the impression it leaves behind is palpable, and one I hope future blockbusters will aspire to replicate. Its approach to diversity, mechanical execution and unwillingness to hold the player’s hand even in its darkest moments build to a closing chapter that will leave you in stunned silence. ​

he Last of Us: Part II is not for the faint of heart. It relishes in making the player feel extremely uncomfortable at times and it takes the post-apocalyptic brutality of its prequel to new heights. However if you can brave it through the emotional, graphic storyline, then wow, this game is truly sensational.

In The Last of Us: Part II you play as Ellie, a 19-year-old girl who was unfortunate to be born a few years after a fungal illness ripped apart humanity. This a tale of revenge after a traumatic event drives her to hunt down, in an attempt to kill, the people who turned her life upside down. She must wind her way through the remains of Seattle killing any infected or enemies that stand in her way. It is a gripping and powerful continuation of The Last of Us, which it is useful to have played beforehand in order to fully understand the characters and occurrences in this sequel.

Naughty Dog have made some substantially bold moves in the production of The Last of Us: Part II’s storyline. Henceforth the controversy that surrounds this game. I must say that, when playing, after a few of the cutscenes, I had to just take a step away from the game and process what had just happened. When you get such an emotional attachment to a game, as you do in this one, you know it’s good and The Last of Us: Part II is definitely nothing short of that. It is a beautifully crafted, emotional story of revenge that will leave you lost for words. It didn’t let me down and it never gives in.

The graphics in this game are astonishing. The environment and everything that it contains are eloquently detailed. I was playing on a standard PS4 and it was as if i was playing in 4K. Textures look intricately meticulous and landscapes look quite frankly incredible. This is particularly important due to the amount of time spent outside in-game.

The character detailing is equally if not more impressive. All of the characters, especially Ellie, look so realistic and life-like and I guess that’s a big contributing factor as to why the player gets such an emotional attachment with each of them. There is a small part in the game where Ellie peers into a mirror and makes different faces, and it’s not even a cutscene. The animations in this game a second-to-none, to a point where it feels like the developers are just showing off!

The Last of Us: Part II is not strictly open-world, yet some of the levels are large and complex, resulting in the game not being hindered by this. Exploring each level is certainly a good use of your time and there are many collectibles to pick up and read on the way. I highly recommend just doing a little bit of exploration now and then as it can really add to the story. Still the The Last of Us: Part II is a linear game where you cannot go back to a previous area. This therefore removes any illusion that this could be a sandbox title.

In terms of game mechanics, it is very stealth-based, much like its predecessor. However stealth becomes smarter with an array of different enemies and also a skill tree where you can unlock different skills that alter your combat style.

Summary
​
This games story is somewhat controversial but i believe that it is essentially faultless. I was gutted at some of the happenings after getting so attached to the characters in The Last of Us: Remastered yet, for me, that just added to my emotional engagement in this game as i wanted revenge as much as the protagonist. It is an original, gripping thriller and it is a game of which there won’t be anything quite like it again. The gameplay is brilliantly fluent and the visuals are phenomenal, however at points, for most, the brutality may be a bit too much. I loved playing this game for the full 30 hours and i feel like it is a credit to Naughty Dog’s relentless hard-work.

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Review Summary
The gameplay may be uninspired, but Erica is the best FMV game we’ve had in a long time and is the perfect length for a single evening’s entertainment.​

Review Summary
ERICA stands as an intriguing example of connecting players with a game through touch controls. It succeeds primarily as a technical feat and less so as a deeply-engrossing video game. If the storyline were given more time to grow then maybe it would have blossomed into something special. As is, it’s akin to a murder mystery popcorn flick. There’s fun to be had solving the mystery, but not quite enough to create a memorable experience.​

Review Summary
We’re in the middle of a strange run of interesting full-motion video game releases, but it’s hard to be upset about the genre coming back, even in a limited way, when they’re as good as Erica.​

Review Summary
Though Erica’s illusion of choice may sully the experience on repeat playthroughs, the game still stands as the best FMV game available on consoles. Its high-end TV show production values and acting allow it to stand out in a genre muddied by low-budget attempts by game developers turned amateur filmmakers. Erica is a risky but successful title in an unusual year for PS4 exclusives, making it a short, cheap, and sweet title that any fan of experimental games should try out.​

Review Summary
If you’ve loved all the NBA 2K games in the past and don’t mind microtransactions or grinding, yes you should buy NBA 2K20. It’s still the best, and only, basketball experience out there.​

Review Summary
NBA 2K20 on Xbox One is an absolutely stunning game. The aesthetics and physics are the best I’ve ever experienced in a basketball game, the customisation and level of detail in created players and icons from the league is simply stunning, and the sheer volume of game modes to chose from is incredible. The huge downside to this game though is the greed from 2K who only want you for your money, making it purposefully hard to improve in MyTeam unless you bow to this.​

Review Summary
The quality of the port to Switch and the variety and depth of modes and options on offer in NBA 2K20 is incredible. That makes it such a shame that microtransactions infect the story-driven MyCareer, dragging that down to mediocrity or worse. Fortunately, the intriguing though repetitive MyGM mode and the flexible and engrossing MyLeague mode make up for the online-only options. Throw in the WNBA teams and NBA 2K20 is likely the best iteration of the series on Switch even with its caveats.​

Review Summary
NBA 2K20 feels like a turning point for 2K, and not in the right way. The publisher got too greedy, and it's going to show, in the next year's earnings. It's actually detracting from a good game, turning into a casino experience.
What makes it worse, is that there's literally a roulette wheel implemented, which only underlines what 2K had in mind. It's a shame, become the highlight of the NBA 2K20, like the addition of the WNBA, the improved ball control, and the multitude of other smaller changes are buried under a pile of microtransactions that make people wonder what they are actually playing.

The only mode that seems to have escaped, somewhat, the microtransactions plague, is the story, which is almost good enough to keep the game upright by itself. But it's almost good enough.​

Review Summary
 If you’re not going to end up staying for the story, at least the brutal combat itself will keep you satisfied for hours on end. Stay merciless, Lara.

Review Summary
Rise of the Tomb Raider is not perfect, but the areas in which it lacks are relatively minor technical issues and the story does a great job of picking the player up to ensure that they jump right back into the action if they fall foul of a problem. Once you've beaten the campaign, you'll be tempted by the addictive Score Attack mode, as well as having an eye on playing through the whole thing again to pick up a few more achievements, something which - rarely these days - is no chore. The switch to a style of play that doesn't rely solely on raw firepower is the absolute key to the game's success and that, mixed with a plethora of action-packed adrenaline-boosting scenes, makes Lara's second return an absolute blast to play.

Review Summary
A little too streamlined in places, but Rise of the Tomb Raider does a lot to improve upon its predecessor.

Review Summary
An enduring, enthralling adventure packed in with a few neat additions round out an already amazing game.

Review Summary
All in all, this is not a great game, but it would be a mistake to discount it completely. The most disappointing thing about Alex Kidd in Shinobi World is that there's little in the way of ambition; everything it sets out to do, it does well, more or less, and the general impression is that if the designers had just pushed themselves a little harder, and reached a little higher, this could have been one of the more memorable titles of the 8-bit generation. As it is, the game is not an embarrassing farewell for Alex Kidd, but neither is it the blaze of glory Sega's long lost mascot deserved.​

Review Summary
Alex Kidd in Shinobi World is a hidden gem in the Master System library and it's a shame that few people have heard about it. The short length is a genuine complaint but the gameplay is so addictive that you'll want to replay the whole adventure over and over again!​

Review Summary
Overall, Alex Kidd in Shinobi World is a solid game and one of the better games in the Sega Master System library, but it’s just not “blow you away” good. It’s just a bit too easy and is over too quickly, but for me it was a fun diversion and a good addition to my library, albeit an expensive one. I’d recommend this game for platform game fans, but you may want to hesitate unless you’re a collector due to the high price tags this now commands. That being said, if you can find it for a good price then grab it, as it should offer you a good few hours of good quality gameplay.​

Review Summary
It's a pretty fun game, and honestly it's my personal favourite Alex Kidd game. So if like Shinobi, try this game. And if you don't like Shinbobi, then play it anyways because there is enough differences to make this an entirely different game. I like it, I really like it.​

Alex Kidd was the fourth (in PAL regions and America) Master System game featuring Alex Kidd, which is generally regarded as a return to form after the Lost Stars and Hi-Tech World episodes.
 
Alex's adventure takes place in Shinobi World.  Alex dons a Ninja costume and is able to use Ninja magic during his quest.  The environments, enemies, bosses and level design re-imagine ideas from Shinobi, but are given a more playful and comical perspective, by mixing in the bright graphics and musical style established in the earlier Alex Kidd games.
 
Although this game was well received at the time, sadly this was to be Alex's final game.  Albeit, Alex hasn't been completely forgotten, he has made some cameo appearances in modern Sega titles such as Sonic & Sega All Stars Racing.
 
This game remained an exclusive title for the Master System.  It could also be downloaded for 500 points (about £4.50) on Wii's Virtual Console service.

Upon loading the game you are presented with a brief cut scene, which shows the game's story.  It's basic, and very unoriginal (think, Sir Arthur and Princess Prin Prin, Mario and Pauline, etc) but explains why Alex is in Shinobi World and the motivation for his quest.

Prior to the start of the action you are shown a map, and then a game summary, which shows the boss you'll be facing at the end of the round, and your current score and number of remaining lives.

Alex's adventure is split into 4 rounds with each round being split into 3 scenes.  The first two scenes of each round require the player to cross a scrolling platform area and avoid or kill any enemies; the areas scroll both horizontally and vertically with some later scenes having multiple paths through them, where there are underground and overground routes available.  The third scene of each round just contains the round's boss.

The second platform scene in round 4 has a slightly different structure, whereby the level is made up of a series of small rooms, which will present a particular challenge (including a Mega Man style disappearing platform puzzle), or require you to defeat an enemy, including the return of the Kabuto and Robster bosses.  Facing off with these bosses for the second time was a new challenge and required a bit of extra thought, due to not having the throwing darts available.

The graphics throughout the game are excellent and really show off the Master System's capabilities.  The environments are bright and colourful and the sprites are well drawn with lots of detail and character.  Each of the game's 8 platform scenes has a distinct look to it and there are a variety of enemies in each area.  Throughout your adventure, you will traverse a cityscape, explore large buildings, cross a Harbour at night, swim through underwater caves and ascend the side of a waterfall; all on the way to Hanzo's mansion.

The controls are well designed and respond fluently.  You use the D-dad to move Alex left/right and climb up/down ropes or ladders.  The joypad buttons are used to make Alex perform a variety of actions such as jumping and using weapons.  The jump button can also be used to make Alex perform a wall jump, this requires that there are two walls very near to each other.  To wall jump, start the jump off as usual then quickly press the jump button again each time Alex touches the wall.  I only found a couple of places in the game where it was possible to wall jump, but it was usually a handy way to reach some bonus items.  

Alex begins each round armed with a sword, which slashes round in an arc, or it can be directed downwards to take out breakable blocks beneath you.  You have to be very close to enemies to take them out with the sword.  The sword can be powered up so you can also take out projectiles, e.g. ninja stars thrown at you, when you slash with your sword.

Throughout the platform scenes there are chests, which you need to break open with your weapon.  Usually these are in plain sight and don't require much effort to reach.  Although there were a few later on in the game, which I couldn't work out how to reach.  The most common item found is a heart, which replenishes one hit (your remaining hit points are shown as a series of triangles at the top left of the screen).

Occasionally you will find an item, such as a dart or a ninja magic item (used immediately), or even an Alex doll, which awards an extra life.  When collected, the dart replaces your sword.  As a ranged weapon it's much easier to defeat enemies with the dart; perhaps too easy at times, the first two bosses won't stand a chance against you if you have the dart.  However, I don't think darts are available in the final round so don't rely on them too much.  In particular the first form of the final boss requires accurate and carefully timed use of your sword, so getting used to close combat will pay off in the end.

Alex can also use ninja magic to turn himself into a fireball.  You must be hanging from a rope or lamp post to start this manoeuvre.  Holding the action button will make Alex start to spin around, after a few rotations Alex will burst into flames, once you release the button Alex will fly across the screen killing any enemies he comes into contact with.

The music throughout the game is excellent.  It is based on the Shinobi music but is remixed to give it a lighter feel, which is in keeping with the Alex Kidd series.  Sound effects are quite basic but don't outstay their welcome (no annoying scream when you die this time).

Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed the game and would recommend it to platform game fans.  The game starts out fairly easy but the challenge does build up from the third round onwards.

​The world is under attack from aliens, who do you call upon? An octopus of course. It’s time to save the world one tentacle at a time.

Octonaut on Xbox One then is a game from eastasiasoft that finally rewards the practice you put in; a game that doesn’t shower you with achievements merely for looking at the screen. It’s fast, fun and challenging, and the old school style of one credit and then being left to git gud is a welcome change from the easier games that seem to limp onto the market these days. I’ve really enjoyed being a space octopus shooty thing, and I think you might just enjoy it too. For the price, you may as well give it a try. 

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Graphically the Master System version does not follow the look or design of the arcade game, however the graphics are good for the system with fast and smooth scrolling.  There are quite a few different enemy types and the ground and air based sections each have their own distinct look and design.  However, later on in the game the backgrounds reuse the same elements over and over, and the enemies repeat, so once you've got through the first two missions you will have seen most of what the game has to offer.
 
I wasn't very impressed with the music, there are two main tunes in the game, one for each of the ground sections and another for each of the air sections, and then there is another short tune for each mission's final shootout.  Sound effects are limited to basic shooting noises and explosions.
 
The controls are simple and work well, with one caveat.  The D-pad moves your vehicle.  Each vehicle mode has a slightly different feel; the motorbike is the most maneuverable, but vulnerable to collisions with other vehicles.  Once transformed into the car the steering is slightly slower, but you are a bit stronger and can withstand collisions with the other vehicles.  Pressing both action buttons together whilst on the road allows you to transform from the car back to the motorbike, but I didn't find much use for it.  The jet-car is initially the least maneuverable of the three vehicle modes, but can be powered up to move more quickly.
 
The action buttons shoot, and also bomb (air section only).  You can hold the action buttons for continuous fire, however the rate of fire is way too slow.  I'd strongly recommend using a rapid fire unit or a rapid fire enabled joypad for this game.
 
I found the game quite challenging at first, although after some practice I was usually getting through the ground sections without too much trouble.  However, I still struggled during the air sections  Generally the challenge is fair, although in the flying stages there are sections with clouds in the foreground so some enemies and their shots can be hidden from your sight, which can lead to some annoying deaths.

If you’ve never played the Gunman Clive games, get on that. They’re wonderful, no matter what you’re playing them on. For old pros? I think this HD Collection is worth the double dip—if for nothing else, then for Chieftain Bob’s ending in the first game.

Gunman Clive HD Collection brings together both games in one package. With a cheap price tag, nearly 50 levels to go through, and a unique visual style, it's easily worth the price of admission. The first game might not hold up as well, but the advancements from the sequel balance it quite well.

​All in all, Gunman Clive HD Collection is an absolute no-brainer. For the low price of entry, you are getting HD versions of not one, but two of the most impeccably-crafted action platformers of the last decade. They may be over a bit too soon and they may not always have the most fair level designs, but there's more than enough replayability here to cancel out both of these problems. Do yourself a favor and go download this game immediately.