Cultured Vultures

Deep Sky Derelicts is an amalgamation of standard RPG ideas and a gorgeous visual aesthetic but lacks the satisfying combat that would fuel its longevity. If you’re a die-hard RPG stat cruncher, then you will likely get more mileage out of the Definitive Edition’s base and DLC content packs. But for those after a more rewarding experience, look elsewhere amongst the stars.

Iron Danger isn’t perfect, nor is it the best dungeon crawler out there, but it is incredibly unique. Sure, time reversal isn’t exactly a new feature in gaming, but Iron Danger’s take on it feels fresh and very different to anything out on the market right now. That fact alone makes it worth a purchase, especially if you crave something new.

A beautiful sequel that successfully manages to improve on almost every aspect of the original, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is one of the best Metroidvania experiences you can find.

DOOM Eternal is everything you could ever want from a DOOM game. It is the natural evolution of the successful 2016 reboot, a magnificent upping of stakes that is almost peerless in giving power to the player with plenty of content to keep coming back to. If it’s pure escapism you want from your video games, DOOM Eternal is the dictionary definition of that.

With the release of Panzer Corps 2 and its updated graphics, improved UI, greater accessibility to newcomers and expanded player options, it’s a must-buy for any history and strategy game fan.

Despite small improvements and a larger roster of characters, My Hero One’s Justice 2 doesn’t quite offer enough significant evolution in its gameplay or combat to set it apart from its first instalment.

Granblue Fantasy Versus is not a perfect fighter by any leap of the imagination, but what it lacks with its inconsistent mechanics and light roster, it makes up for as a product of passion and heart. Its less-is-more approach and accessibility for novices and hardcore fans alike are great for fighting fans of all backgrounds.

There’s plenty of fun to be had with One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows, but the obvious gameplay and presentation flaws make the game hard to recommend at full price. Fans of the series might get a kick out of it, but there’s not enough decent meat on the game’s bones to warrant any long-term attention.

The idea of Overpass might have sounded good on paper, but the execution leaves players with a game that is at best boring and at worse unbearably frustrating. When you get stuck, and you almost certainly will many times, it becomes disheartening to the point where you just want to turn off the game and try something more enjoyable.

It’s a good collection, but nothing spectacular, and has a greater chance of appealing to those who were already fans of one of the franchises and less of a shot for attracting new fans. I hope I’m wrong about that because new converts could find themselves having a lot of fun here.

While it has inevitably aged in places, Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition is still a fantastic upgrade of the old title with enough new additions to demand your attention. The Freestyle mode helps bring Devil May Cry 3 into the modern era, opening up combat and play style options and helping the game feel fresh and exciting once again.

Two Point Studios have created a brilliant simulator in Two Point Hospital that modernises the Theme Hospital experience while working beautifully on consoles.

Daemon X Machina works as a standard twitch-heavy action game, neglecting any deeper plot in favor of customizable, effective combat systems. Though it won’t stick with you after playing, this is a mech action game that garners some fun moments without being too experimental. If you’ve loved mechs before, Daemon X Machina will fill that void.

While it might not do enough to coax out those who already own the game on other platforms, or who can play it right now via Xbox One Backwards Compatibility, the Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle is a premium slice of video games at their best, and is well worth checking out.

The game doesn’t do anything particularly new, but it manages to do it better than many first person adventure games have before, though the ending is a bit too heavily telegraphed. Also, while the writing is very good, I felt it veers slightly into schlock territory in its final act. Nevertheless, The Suicide of Rachel Foster is a fantasic, slow-build creepfest that is definitely deserving of your time, especially if you enjoyed the likes of Gone Home, Firewatch and co.

Table Manners is designed to give you indigestion with its OTT gameplay bound to provide a few frustrated laughs, though its lack of polish and longevity mean it's a bit of an empty snack.

While Zombie Army 4 won’t win any awards for its story and doesn’t represent a massive revolution alongside most of Rebellion’s third-person shooters, it’s still some completely unpretentious fun with plenty of value and depth that also lets you play as a weird Russian wearing a sleeveless shirt. Sometimes that’s all you need in life.

As I have said in previous reviews, there are only so many times you can creatively call a video game boring and here we have the more unpardonable of Sisters Royale’s sins: it’s simply boring. Unless you really love this genre, allow me to warn you against Sisters Royale one final time. Its humor will be lost on anyone who actually values women as more than just a person who cooks the tea in a French maid’s outfit, its presentation is as fun as watching the lowliest of hentai movies and it has no value to anyone outside its target audience.

Astra Exodus is a fairly decent 4X strategy game with some interesting ideas and a surprisingly good tactical combat system, but it’s bogged down by a lack of polish and some technical issues.

Journey to the Savage Planet gets an awful lot right. The addictive main gameplay loop never becomes stale, while the imaginative world and beautiful visuals keep you enthralled in the experience. So while the game only lasts a dozen or so hours, it feels full of quality and has a special kind of wackiness to it. Of course, there are some issues when it comes to the simplified combat and lack of narrative though, they are simply not big enough problems to warrant switching to another game.

Aside from these issues, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot feels both new and familiar. The story might be well trodden ground at this point, but it’s never been showcased to this level of detail before outside of the anime and manga. For fans of the franchise, it’s a welcome addition to the legacy of games, while new fans could consider this the perfect jumping on point. That, or just watch Dragon Ball Z: Abridged.

Vertex Pop are a small team, so a lot of the issues with Super Crush KO could be attributed to a lack of resources, and ultimately, the game offers plenty of enjoyment for fans of the beat ‘em up genre. That said, Super Crush KO’s issues are prevalent enough to dampen the overall package.

The game is also Big Ant’s most competent release yet. While many of their other titles have been very rough around the edges, this game has more polish and fewer problems to contend with. With some post-launch love to improve some of the more lacking areas, AO Tennis 2 could be a real winner. For now, though, it is likely a game that only dedicated tennis fans will truly enjoy.

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is an essential purchase to experience the series as a more complete package. This is a game that does not give up its secrets easily, but offers players a wealth of options to succeed - with enough perseverance.

Vampire: the Masquerade - Coteries of New York holds a lot of depth in its world and melds in some small mechanics to help add an element of strategy. Better suited to players who are already familiar to the world, but easy enough for fledgling vampires to embrace it.