Well Played

• PC
• 5 / 10
• Australie

Kursk is a great idea, executed mediocrely. The story of the disaster is told very well, with great respect to the zeitgeist of the turn of the millennium. If that’s what you’re after, and you don’t mind dealing with some very janky controls, Kursk could be right up your alley…provided you can pick it up for a smaller price.

• PS4
• 8 / 10
• Australie

• PS4
• 8.5 / 10
• Australie

The lack of a single-player campaign does little to tarnish Black Ops IIII, which given the strength of its three varied modes is still an incredible amount of value. Blackout does an excellent job of directly copying its contemporaries while being objectively better than them, Zombies is Zombies, and the multiplayer is some of the strongest the series has seen in many years thanks to some meaningful changes that have genuine impact without rocking the boat too much. I’ll see you back here next year, where we see if Infinity Ward can keep the good feeling going.

• PC
• 7 / 10
• Australie

It’s pretty clear that Infliction is a passion project and although it’s a bit rough around the edges, I had a lot of fun while playing it. It’s not the scariest game I’ve ever played, but it does a pretty decent job of keeping you on the edge of your seat and pouring over every scrap of paper in the game to try and piece together the story. I also love that it’s clearly influenced by classic horror films like The Exorcist and Jacob’s Ladder, just to name a few. The fact that Infliction was mostly created by one person is very impressive and if you enjoy supporting small Australian studios, I recommend picking it up and giving yourself a good scare.

• PS4
• 8.7 / 10
• Australie

• XONE
• 3 / 10
• Australie

It’s hard to fathom how a developer could put out a racing game where the fundamentals are borderline unplayable by design. I mean no one will give a toss that your customisation system is shit-hot if your game is about as fun as sharing a toothbrush with a serial dart smoker. Super Street: The Game is a car crash of game design, and one that should be sent straight to the wreckers.

• PS4
• 8 / 10
• Australie

TGC19 offers one of the most rewarding golfing experiences released in the past decade. It is challenging enough to give budding golfers a run for their money but fun enough that any player can pick up and play a round should they feel the urge. While the PGA licence gives the Career Mode authenticity, it isn’t used to its potential. Although, with the course creator and online mods there’s enough here to keep golfing fans satisfied for a while.

• 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.

• 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.