Category: Reviews

PlayStation VR review

Published on by Chris Scullion2 Comments

playstation-vr-boxThe future is finally here. Well, one potential future is, at least.

Despite Nintendo claiming it has no interest in virtual reality and Microsoft only cautiously promising Oculus support for its Scorpio console next year, Sony has made it clear in no uncertain terms that it’s very much on board the VR hype train.

The result of this is PlayStation VR, a headset designed exclusively for the PS4 which promises a (relatively) cheap way to join the virtual revolution.

The big questions are obvious. Does PlayStation VR really transform the way you play PS4 games? Will it make you ill? And is it the future of gaming? Continue reading “PlayStation VR review” →

Lego Dimensions complete character guide – every Year One character reviewed

Published on by Chris Scullion8 Comments

LEGO Dimensions Xbox OneThis week marks the beginning of ‘Year Two’ of Lego Dimensions, the fantastic toys-to-life game by long-time Lego game studio Traveller’s Tales.

Because Year Two introduces a whole bunch of new franchises to the mix, a lot of players will be getting into Lego Dimensions for the first time.

With that in mind, I’ve put together this enormous guide to all 46 characters released during the game’s first year: that’s the 44 main ones and the two limited edition characters Green Arrow and Supergirl. Continue reading “Lego Dimensions complete character guide – every Year One character reviewed” →

Writer’s commentary: Anatomy of a Mario Galaxy review

Published on by Chris Scullion11 Comments

In my decade as a games journalist I’ve reviewed nearly 1000 games.

Most of these reviews were written during my six years at Official Nintendo Magazine (ONM), and most of these were small ones – indie titles, WiiWare and eShop games, retro Virtual Console releases and the like. But many were also multi-page reviews of triple-A titles.

One of the questions I’m most often asked is which of these reviews was my favourite. I have two.

The first is my Super Mario Galaxy review from ONM issue 23 (December 2007) and the second is my Super Mario Galaxy 2 review from ONM issue 56 (June 2010).

Another of the questions I’m asked is how to write a review. There’s no easy answer to this – indeed, there’s no answer at all. Every reviewer has a different style, so there’s no right way to do it.

What I’ve decided to do, though, is take you through my two favourite reviews and give you a little insight into how they were put together.

I’m going to take you on an annotated tour of my Super Mario Galaxy review and my Super Mario Galaxy 2 review. Continue reading “Writer’s commentary: Anatomy of a Mario Galaxy review” →

Xbox One S review

Published on by Chris Scullion15 Comments

Disclaimer: unlike certain prolific YouTubers and the like, this review is not based on a free review sample of the Xbox One S hardware. I preordered and purchased this console at launch myself, and this review is an honest assessment of whether I feel my hard-earned money was well spent.

After enjoying obscene levels of success with the Xbox 360 last generation, Microsoft hasn’t quite dominated the industry this time around.

Xbox One S boxIts Xbox One trails behind the PlayStation 4 in terms of sales, and while Nintendo’s own problems with the Wii U have ensured Microsoft’s system isn’t going to finish third any time soon, it’s clear the One needs a rocket up its arse if it’s going to catch up with the PS4.

Enter the Xbox One S, the first of this generation’s obligatory system redesigns. Boasting a smaller frame, a new controller and support for 4K and HDR video, could the S be the console to overtake the PS4?

No. It couldn’t. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t still a nifty wee piece of kit. I should know, I just traded in my original day one Xbox One to buy an S and have been messing around with it since. The console that is, you filthy bastard.

The crucial questions are obvious – is it worth upgrading to the Xbox One S if you already have an Xbox One? And what if you don’t – is now finally the time to ‘jump in’, to coin a Microsoft slogan?

Read on as I try to answer these questions and many more. Well, a couple more. Continue reading “Xbox One S review” →

HELP: The Game review

Published on by Chris Scullion1 Comment

SEGA / VARIOUS
STEAM

In a time when Humble Bundles are born on a weekly basis and the idea of giving money to charity in return for gaming goodness is no longer a novel one, it takes something different to stand out from the crowd of other philanthrotainment, a word I just made up and immediately hate.

HELP: The Game attempts to do just that by offering no fewer than 12 games, each sharing three distinct properties:

1) They were all made by notable development studios.
2) They’re all exclusive to this compilation.
3) They were all made in just six days. Continue reading “HELP: The Game review” →

Hard Reset Redux review

Published on by Chris ScullionLeave a comment

This review is presented in both video and written form. The video is at the top of the article, while the written transcript can be found underneath. While I’d prefer you watch the video (since it lets you see the game and hear my dulcet tones too), I appreciate some prefer to read reviews. This way you have both options. Continue reading “Hard Reset Redux review” →

Grand Prix Rock ‘N Racing review

Published on by Chris Scullion3 Comments
ENJOYUP GAMES / ENJOYUP GAMES
XBOX ONE

Grand Prix Rock N Racing pic 9In case you haven’t gathered already, I’m an unashamed fan of all things retro gaming.

I have fond memories of simpler times, when it was obvious where you stood with a game: beat this level, unlock that, get the ending, piss off happy.

A time when there was no need to worry about microtransactions, expansion packs, title updates or working servers.

Basically, what I’m getting at in a roundabout way is that I fondly remember gaming back in the days when Super Sprint was considered the dog’s balls. Continue reading “Grand Prix Rock ‘N Racing review” →

Coffin Dodgers review

Published on by Chris ScullionLeave a comment
MILKY TEA / WALES INTERACTIVE
XBOX ONE / PS4 / STEAM (XBOX ONE VERSION TESTED)

Typical. A couple of months ago in my Beach Buggy Racing review I complained about the lack of kart racing games on current-gen systems. And now here’s a second one.

What I should have moaned about was the lack of great kart racers, because it’s safe to say Coffin Dodgers doesn’t exactly scratch that itch. Continue reading “Coffin Dodgers review” →

Active Soccer 2 DX (Xbox One) review

Published on by Chris Scullion1 Comment
THE FOX SOFTWARE / SELF-PUBLISHED
XBOX ONE

Despite being the most popular sport in the world, there haven’t been many football games released on consoles for a while.

Active Soccer 2 DX pic 2Indeed, outside of the annual FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer instalments (and their tournament-based spin-offs), you’d be hard pushed to think of another football game released on an Xbox or PlayStation system in the last five years.

Active Soccer 2 DX, developed by Roman studio The Fox Software, changes this for Microsoft’s console at least, offering not just a new footy game but one that harks back to the simple days of Sensible Soccer, Kick Off, or…

Well, okay, just Sensible Soccer. Let’s not piss around and pretend this is trying to be any other arcade-style football game.

This one was clearly ‘inspired’ by Sensible Software’s 1992 gem, from obvious things like the menu interface (which is more or less lifted from Sensi) to more subtle things like the way yellow cards appear above players’ heads when they commit a foul. Continue reading “Active Soccer 2 DX (Xbox One) review” →

Lego Dimensions – Midway Arcade level pack review

Published on by Chris Scullion1 Comment

Lego Dimensions Midway Arcade level pack hero picLego Dimensions is a ridiculously ambitious crossover of all things pop culture, bringing together characters from popular movies, TV shows, comic books, toys and games in one massive mash-up.

However, until now the latter category there – video games – has been a bit under-represented, with only Portal 2 flying the interactive flag. That’s finally changed with the Midway Arcade level pack.

Having already treated us with individual level packs focusing on The Simpsons, Back To The Future, Portal 2, Doctor Who and Ghostbusters, this sixth and final (for now) level pack is aimed squarely at retro gamers, particularly those who had a soft spot for ‘80s arcade games.

What may surprise you, though, is that this isn’t really your conventional Lego game level. Instead, it’s more of a retro gaming compilation, a bit like the old Midway Arcade Treasures games back in the day. Continue reading “Lego Dimensions – Midway Arcade level pack review” →