Well Played

• PC
• 6 / 10
• Australie

• PS4
• 4 / 10
• Australie

I wanted to like Anamorphine. I really think that gaming as a medium has the potential to tell stories around issues of mental health in unique ways that can bring about awareness and understanding. It’s not even that this game does a disservice to that cause, it just doesn’t add anything new, and despite treading well-worn ground it somehow fumbles at every step. Then it asks for a crisp pineapple for the trouble.

• XONE
• 6.5 / 10
• Australie

CPL18 is a decent enough service to the sport of lacrosse. Thankfully it’s a sport that is simple enough to recreate digitally without the need for a massive budget. Despite its lack of licensing, Australian-based Big Ant Studios has created a game that should keep lacrosse diehards satisfied until the next iteration. Although, the $75 AUD entry fee may deter the masses.

• PS4
• 5 / 10
• Australie

World of Warriors is cute and fun at times, but overall it’s a bit pedestrian and forgettable. It’s abundantly clear that this is a port of a game designed for mobile devices, but it’s done so in a way that actually works surprisingly well, like the updated visuals and omission of microtransactions. The relics of the previous format persist however and the game is only enjoyable in short bursts, which means it can be hard to justify the price tag. If you have a younger person in your life that is learning about history, this could be a great time waster to enjoy with them, but otherwise you’ll likely struggle to stay interested.

• PS4
• 7 / 10
• Australie

The American Dream is a reasonably fun on-rails shooter that made my PSVR and Move controllers feel relevant again. It’s fairly well priced for a VR game and although it can feel like a bit of a slog to get through, once you’ve unlocked each chapter you can even throw your headset on a friend to show them how fun shooting in virtual reality can be. Despite its flaws, I enjoyed my time with T.A.D. and Samurai Punk should be commended for their VR debut, especially considering they are only a small development team based in Melbourne. If you have the hardware needed to play it, I’d definitely recommend picking it up, even if it isn’t the scathing political commentary I expected it to be.

• PS4
• 5 / 10
• Australie

In order to discern whether Beast Quest is an ample enough video game adaptation I wondered whether this is something I would’ve played in my junior years, but the answer is about as varied as $2 bag of mixed lollies that I would’ve bought during the same time period (we’re talking 15-20 years ago). If you’re a fan of the book series and have been craving a video game take, then I’m sure you’ll find Beast Quest (the game) to be somewhat of a catharsis. For kids, there’s enough here to send them off on their first RPG adventure, but I don’t think the $69 admission has been justified. To be honest, I’d wait for a price drop before sending them off to Avantia.

• PS4
• 6 / 10
• Australie

Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet is fun at times but ultimately struggles to stay relevant to anyone but fans of the series. If you love the show, chances are you’ll love this game but everyone else will likely just plug through the opening hours before moving on to something a bit more interesting. The change of gameplay style and in inclusion of a character creator definitely serve the game well, but I feel like a bit more was needed to get this over the line, especially considering the quality of RPGs we’ve been receiving in the last few years.

• PS4
• 9 / 10
• Australie

Dragon Ball FighterZ is an awesome game, and whether you’re a fan of the genre or a fan of the series, you’ll find it packed to the brim with stuff to do and things to love. The stunning visuals, enjoyable story and accessible gameplay mechanics have already made it one of my favourite releases of the New Year. Not only has it sparked a competitive spirit within me (which I plan to take online), it’s also inspired me to dig out my old VHS recordings of Cheez TV. On second thought, maybe I’ll just stream it.

• PC
• 7.8 / 10
• Australie

The Red Strings Club’s greatest asset is the food for thought that it deals out in large helpings. For fans of high-concept sci-fi and philosophy in general, The Red Strings Club will provide plenty of beard-stroking moments of introspection. I’m not sure who exactly I’d recommend this game to, but if you’re keen to question the nature of humanity and still wonder if androids dream of electric sheep then there’s a lot to love here.

• XONE
• 8.8 / 10
• Australie

InnerSpace is a thoughtful and well-crafted exploratory adventure that would be perfect were it not for the odd moment of frustration with its controls. Creating a sensory experience this profound while backing it up with solid storytelling and gameplay is no mean feat and fans of games like Journey and Abzu would do well to get themselves lost in The Inverse.

• PC
• 7 / 10
• Australie

All in all, Hand of Fate 2 is a well-rounded game that addresses a lot of the concerns that its fanbase had upon the release of its predecessor. Though essentially a replica of the first game, Hand of Fate 2 offers some unique, quirky additions that justify buying the second game. Whether you like games for their story, their puzzles, or their banter, there’s something for everyone to enjoy with this indie gem.

• PS4
• 7 / 10
• Australie

Ultimate Chicken Horse is an addictive and surprisingly nuanced competitive platformer that shines in skilled online play, but fails as a couch multiplayer game thanks to a combination of a lack of coaching and confusing menu systems that will try the patience of casual players in a party setting. If creating Super Meat Boy-esque levels on the fly to screw over people on the internet sounds like your bag though, this might be the game for you.

• PS4
• 7 / 10
• Australie

Overall, Rapala Fishing: Pro Series offers an at times relaxing, at other times frustrating yet rewarding experience that will appeal to fishing enthusiasts or those looking for a bit of arcade-like fun. The quest for the best fish in order to unlock better gear is a challenge at first and somewhat of a grind which kept me coming back, but once I had been gifted the best equipment in the game and effectively bypassed everything in-between I lost interest pretty quickly.

• PS4
• 4 / 10
• Australie

Overall Mecho Tales may appeal to some gamers chasing nostalgic 2D memories, but nothing about the game made me feel any emotional ties to my character or to the story, nor did it provide any real sense of enjoyment and the only challenge here is to one’s patience. I never felt motivated to finish the game and the only positive that came from finishing the game was that I got my second Platinum Trophy.

• PC
• 7 / 10
• Australie

Necrosphere overall offers a great challenge for fans of difficult games, as well as fans of the Metriodvania genre in general. The game’s controls, despite being ambitious, can be overly frustrating and lead to some minor disdain towards the game. Backtracking is a bit of an issue early on, but as you gather more upgrades, the issues with returning to previous worlds disappear. Necrosphere (despite some hiccups) is an absolute joy to play, with the completion of each difficult section making you feel like more and more of a platforming badass. Necrosphere is a great experience, and one that fans of difficult platformers should not miss. Necrosphere is only available for PC at the moment, but PS4, PS Vita and Xbox One versions are slated for fall 2017.

• PC
• PS4
• 9.8 / 10
• Australie

• PS4
• 8 / 10
• Australie

In the dwindling world of golf games, The Golf Club 2 shines as a beacon in the dark. Its intricate yet simple mechanics and beautiful landscapes will appease beginners are experts alike and the pick up and play nature of TGC2 makes it very easy to invest a few hours into. The glitches and crashes were few but frustrating but certainly not a deterrent to owning this game. Lovers of the game of golf will find hours upon hours of enjoyment with TGC2, but so too will casual sports gamers.

• PS4
• 8.5 / 10
• Australie

Death Squared is simple, addictive and challenging – it’s not so hard that it makes you feel like a simpleton when you fail, and when you do start to complete the harder levels it gives you a sense of accomplishment and that you may somehow be a long-lost relative of Albert Einstein. There is a good amount of levels included, and more than enough to make or break friendships (or yourself). The only blight is that being a co-op-based experience, being limited to local co-op may put off some people. If you want a good challenging experience, either solo or team-based, I can highly recommend Death Squared. Plus, it’s Australian-made.