2015, huh? Quite the year for video games, wasn’t it? Not only have we had some colossal open worlds to explore, filled with monsters, quests and other adventures, but we’ve also been spoiled with grade-A zombie slaughter, expansive RPG storytelling, old-school shooting, and even the the chance to step into the shoes of the Caped Crusader himself. Oh. Wait… actually scrap that last one.
Still, barring the odd disappointment we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to picking our favourite games of the year. Nevertheless, we’ve rolled up our sleeves and got to work, making the sort of tough decisions that high-level politicians and open-heart surgeons have to make every day. In many ways, ours were much more difficult.
Last Updated: 09/11/2015
Fallout 4
Video Review
Fallout 4
Welcome to the next 100+ hours of your life. Bring Purified Water and clean non-radioactive underwear.
Verdict: Fallout 4 is a superb game, with a huge and compelling game-world to explore, entertaining combat, and many quests that’ll keep gamers hooked for over a hundred hours of single-player-only fun. Yes the story is literally forgotten the moment you leave it (what son?), but other than that everything great about Fallout 3 is back in the sequel… which is both a blessing and a curse. It really does feel like Fallout 3 with slightly nicer graphics and a few mods (like “homebase customization”) thrown in, and while Fallout 4 has everything that made the last game great it has all the weaknesses too, like a terrible inventory menu, stiff character models, interior locations requiring loading screens, and more. Fallout 4 is an amazing game that I doubt anyone will be disappointed by, but it’s not unique. And I still prefer New Vegas.
Warhammer: The End Times - Vermintide
Video Review
Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide
The joys of pest control in the Warhammer universe.
Verdict: Vermintide is fast, furious fun, and its supporting systems do a great job of dragging you back in for just one more go. The melee combat is the most rewarding and enjoyable I’ve ever seen in a first-person game, and the distinct hero characters and post-game loot system give it plenty of extra depth and variety. Jump into an online game and you’ll have a great time, but with one or two friends at your side, Vermintide is a serious contender for the best multiplayer experience of the year. This one’s going to stick around for a good, long while.
Crookz: The Big Heist
Video Review
Crookz - The Big Heist
Stealing stones and awesome 'fros.
Verdict: When you’re busy weaving past guard sight-lines and slipping past security doors just before the cameras come back online, it’s easy to forgive the game’s minor issues. My worry when I previewed Crookz was that it wouldn’t build on the simple fun of the early levels, but thankfully those concerns were unfounded. While the game never abandons its forgiving approach, increasingly ambitious and interesting level design and a steady drip of new items and skills continue to provide a satisfying new challenge throughout the game’s accomplished story campaign. Crookz is a very enjoyable crime caper, and one of the most pleasant surprises of the year.
Beyond Sol
Purchase From: Steam
Verdict: Beyond Sol is some of the best things of games like Sid Meier’s Civilization, Sim City, and MOBA like control of your ship and fleet and combines them into one heck of an experience. I’d be hard pressed to remember a time I found a game so relaxing, yet stimulating at the same time. I lost hours playing it and I didn’t even realize it because, like some of the most addictive games I’ve played, I just had to do one more thing, then one more thing, etc. If you’re a fan of strategy games like Civilization or city building sims, then you owe it to yourself to check out Beyond Sol.
Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch - Enhanced Edition
Purchase From: Steam
Verdict: A great improvement over its humble origins, Deathwatch’s engaging tactical systems and great progression elements also serve to highlight the odd fact that the next essential Warhammer 40K strategy title isn’t a homegrown PC effort at all but rather, one born in the often reviled realm of ultra-casual games and microtransaction misery. If you have any prejudices about mobile games, look past them and get stuck in – Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch Enhanced Edition is the real deal.
Minecraft: Story Mode - A Telltale Games Series Episode One
Verdict: Minecraft: Story Mode – Episode One is a promising start to Telltale’s latest venture. As someone with only a passing knowledge of Minecraft, the story and characters were interesting enough to pull me in, and the manner in which the first episode ends suggests that there’s some fairly major diverging paths to be resolved in Episode Two. It’s nothing particularly new, as Telltale games go, but I think that playing with a more family-friendly property has been good for the studio. Those trademark life or death choices were getting a little contrived, so it’s nice to just hang around with a likeable group of characters and go off on a fun, mostly light-hearted adventure. With the occasional eldritch abomination thrown in.
Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth - Rising Tide
Video Review
Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth - Rising Tide
Beyond Earth's first expansion makes a big splash.
Verdict: That’s true for most of Rising Tide. There’s no single feature that will revolutionise Beyond Earth’s fairly conventional approach to strategy, but as a complete package this expansion does a great job of fleshing out the game’s mechanics and giving it a sense of identity that previously was sorely missing. New naval cities offer intriguing tactical options, and that enhanced diplomacy system is a huge improvement for a game which struggled to bring its cast of faction leaders to life. Even the less notable features, like Artefacts you can loot from alien structures and combine to earn one-off bonuses, and the new factions and Biome world types, add some welcome depth. There’s still work to be done – the end-game still fizzles out unspectacularly, and it’s disappointing that each world’s exotic alien lifeforms still act as little more than troublesome barbarians – but Rising Tide is an excellent first step on the road towards a better Beyond Earth.
SOMA
Video Review
SOMA
Amnesia meets Bioshock? Oh boy.
Verdict: SOMA is a truly excellent gaming experience, with the only flaws coming from your own personal expectation. If you’re expecting a game as terrifying as Amnesia and without any adventure game-style puzzles to solve you might have some complaints, but SOMA is still scary, dripping with tension and heart-stopping moments, and it’s easier to find the items you need to solve puzzles than in Amnesia. It’s the story and world of SOMA that is the highlight though, with a compelling storyline that really digs into deep moral issues like “what makes you you” and “what does it mean to be human”. In the 10 or so hours it took me to finish SOMA I was hooked for the entire experience, from shocking beginning to one of the best game endings I’ve seen since Portal. SOMA will destroy you emotionally, and that’s a very good thing indeed.
Penarium
Purchase from: Steam
Verdict: A trip to the psycho circus is far more enjoyable than it might first appear. Penarium is an excellent game that delivers quality fun with or without friends. The graphics and story are a perfect platform to deliver this unique platformer to the masses. The pacing works well to move players through the game’s grinding levels to the beat of a perfect soundtrack. Players who enjoy this type of game will find gold here, and players even remotely interested should dive in without fear.
Stasis
Verdict: The atmosphere created throughout the entirety of Stasis makes this one of the most constantly unsettling experiences I have ever played. As an experience this is incredible, but as a point and click game it doesn’t quite hit the same heights. There are some issues but overall this is a unique experience that deserves to be played.
Armello
Verdict: If you enjoyed playing board games or card games when you were younger (or are still young), Armello will captivate you. The game is beautiful to look at, fun to play, and challenging enough to keep you coming back for more. Even if you’ve never played a game like this before, it’s enjoyable just learning to play and finally getting a satisfying victory.
Renowned Explorers: International Society
Verdict: So whether you’re off finding lost forgotten celtic artefacts in the Scottish Highlands, delving deep into ancient Egyptian tombs, or scaling the heady heights of Shangri-La, it’s clear that Renowned Explorers has a lot to offer. While in truth, it’s possible that some might tire of its regimented systems and board game esque beats, the fact remains that Renowned Explorers still stands as one of the best surprises of the year so far that wannabe adventurers of any age can enjoy.
Mega Man Legacy Collection
Verdict: For both longtime fans of the series and newcomers experiencing the struggle against the nefarious Dr. Wily for the first time, what Capcom have essentially wrought with the Mega Man Legacy Collection is a consummate assembly of the franchise’s 8-bit era outings. Brought back to life in their original retro splendour and meaningfully augmented by both a longevity expanding challenge mode and a museum mode that files the depths of the series considerable history, minor flaws and a crushing, yet tolerable, difficulty are not enough to dull the enduring appeal of this great collection of titles from yesteryear.
Company of Heroes 2: The British Forces
Video Review
Company of Heroes 2 - The British Forces
The British are coming, and they're packing 17-pounder guns, glider commandos and a lovely flask of hot tea.
Purchase from: Steam
Verdict: Company of Heroes 2 continues to develop nicely with The British Forces, which adds a fun new army that plays very differently to any other faction in the game. If you’re a greenhorn like me, you’ll probably opt to make the most of that British defensive expertise by settling down in a nice solid defensive position and weathering waves of enemy attacks, but Relic has provided plenty of variety for those who prefer a more direct approach. By offering players a choice between the Hammer and the Anvil, Relic has prevented the British army from feeling like a retread of the formula established in the original game. An excellent addition.
Blues and Bullets
Purchase from: Steam
Verdict: Technical hiccups aside, Blues and Bullets is a raucous and relentlessly entertaining inaugural entry into the episodic adventure genre. The deft melding of historical characters and neo-noir stylings, together with a hefty dose of artistic license and appealing sleuthing gameplay mechanics all accrue to make Blues and Bullets one of the best surprises of the year so far.
The Swindle
Verdict: The Swindle is a highly addictive and fun randomly-generated steampunk thievery simulator. It can be hugely frustrating and the controls aren’t as precise as they need to be, but after an hour of calming down following the loss of my £10,000 haul I was right back in for more punishment. The look is lovely and, crucially, practical, sound design is up there with the original Thief, and the catchy soundtrack compliments it all very well. The randomly generated levels can create some unfair or too easy heists, but mostly the unpredictability ensures a lot of replay value. I’m not sure how much I’d play The Swindle beyond the 100 days (and they nip by, especially if you die a lot), but in general it’s a big ball of fun and frustration in a neat steampunk cybercrime bow. Give it a few patches and hopefully we’ll have a must-have game on our hands, but even right now you shouldn’t regret a purchase. Jolly good burglary, old chap.
Her Story
Verdict: A bold take on the long-forgotten FMV adventure genre, Her Story might be old-fashioned and light on what some might describe as traditional gameplay, but its sophisticated narrative and entertainingly novel take on detective work both allow it to soar far beyond the zenith of its seemingly outmoded remit.
Dirty Bomb
VIDEO REVIEW
Dirty Bomb
Splash Damage makes a clean kill with a Dirty Bomb.
Free from: Steam
Verdict: Dirty Bomb is off to a great start, offering a blend of fast-paced team-based action that I hadn’t realised I’ve been missing since the glory days of Enemy Territory. If I was being harsh I could say that there’s nothing particularly innovative here; as fun as the gameplay is, it’s a refinement rather than a radical rethink. Dirty Bomb isn’t a game that sets out to change the world, it just focuses on doing one thing well, and succeeds admirably. There are some balance issues to tweak, and the game’s performance could stand to be smoothed out a little – I occasionally experienced some odd end-of-map FPS stutter – but those are relatively minor imperfections. Dirty Bomb is well worth your time already, and I’m excited to see what Splash Damage has in store as the game continues to develop.
Massive Chalice
Verdict: Massive Chalice is lots of fun and highly addictive. Yes a lot of the best things about it come from it being highly influenced by XCOM: Enemy Unknown, but it not only captures a lot of the spirit of our Game of the Year 2012 but Double Fine also manages to provide their own unique spin on it with the Game of Thrones-style setup. Yes it has a few minor problems, most notably not providing a reason to care for any of the people under your command and some fairly unimaginative combat area design, but it remains a damn fun game for the 15-20 hours it took me to finish it and I’ll probably go back and play some more. Well done Double Fine, another good game to add to the roster.
Magicka 2
Magicka 2
VIDEO REVIEW
Fun with friendly fire.
Verdict: Magicka 2 offers a smoother, more comfortable experience than its predecessor, but that doesn’t mean the series has lost its signature charm. It’s still insane, madcap fun, that somehow manages to make an absolutely unintuitive control system into a strength rather than a weakness. Played as a drop-in multiplayer game, it’s an entertaining, amusing hack and slash. With a group of friends, it’s an absolute riot.
Technobabylon
Verdict: Technobabylon is one of the best adventures WadjetEye have ever published, and that’s saying something. While the last two Blackwell games beat it by having slightly smarter and more realistic puzzles, Technobabylon still does them well and almost edges ahead by occasionally having multiple solutions. The story is smart, funny and intelligent, all the characters feel relatable despite being in a future world, and that world is well thought out and believable. I won’t blame Technobabylon for the developer’s choice of graphics engine, but sometimes it’s hard to see important things and that makes the pixel art less compelling and more frustrating. There’s a reason why the term “pixel-hunting” exists. Nevertheless, Technobabylon is a superb adventure game that you really should be playing right now. Go on, put The Witcher 3 down a moment and try it, you won’t regret it.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
VIDEO REVIEW
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Full disclosure: after this super-giant-review it's probably getting Game of the Year from Chris Capel.
Verdict: Yes the combat feels more at home on a gamepad, the map’s still not perfect, and you’ll get some quests a hundred gameplay hours before you’ll even be able to attempt them, but these are the worst things about The Witcher 3 and they’re minor irritants at best. I said it at the beginning and I’ll say it again: if you’re an RPG fan you cannot miss out on this game, and unless Batman: Arkham Knight blows me away or that swine Nick Horth chooses it first it’ll be my Game of the Year come year’s end. Let me put it simply: if you don’t buy The Witcher 3 you’re a Muire D’yaeblen.
Axiom Verge
Video Review
Axiom Verge
An awesome Metroid-inspired platformer.
Verdict: A homage to retro classics is one thing but having gameplay that’s both challenging and fun makes Axiom Verge special. If you grew up in that era, you’d be a fool to miss out on this and if you’re new to the genre, I can’t think of a better entry.
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
Video Review
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
"I am so tired of Nazi Zombies. It's so... overused" - South Park, The Stick of Truth.
Verdict: Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is an incredibly fun standalone expansion to one of the Best games of 2014, and in plenty of places is tougher. Sometimes more frustrating, especially in places with respawning enemies, and the forced stealth section in the beginning is a bit of a misstep, but overall the Wolfenstein gameplay is just as great here. Nevertheless there are issues, most notably the Nazi Zombies finale being underwhelming and the load of technical problems this reviewer encountered (and I’m not the only one). It’s certainly not as good as The New Order even condensed, but it’s still almost certainly going to be the best single-player-only FPS out this year. Unless Singularity 2 shows up, of course.
Galactic Civilizations III
Video Review
Galactic Civilizations III
Boldly go where no man has gone before. Then blow it up with Nightmare Torpedoes.
Verdict: Galactic Civilizations 3 is a constantly rewarding experience, a colossal box of toys with which you can create some truly memorable stories. It’s the embodiment of the ‘just one more click’ cliché, a game that can have you jumping on intending for a few turns, only for you to come to your senses hours later, eyes bleary and unfocused, but that new armada of elerium-shielded warships ready to roll over your unsuspecting enemies. Like previous entries in the series the game requires some serious time investment, but crucially it never feels like a chore – there’s always something cool to work towards, some reward or interesting decision coming your way. It’s also genuinely funny at times, with some clever writing and characterful species design. Even some lingering technical issues can’t spoil the fun. This is the new gold standard in 4X space strategy.
Verdun
Verdict: Much like the conflict that the game shares its namesake with, Verdun is a ferocious and tense multiplayer shooter the likes of which we haven’t seen in a long time. Generously stuffed with player-made emergent moments on the battlefield and an incredible sense of place, Verdun is not just a great take on one of history’s more marginalised wars, it also happens to be a resoundingly solid shooter in its own right too.
Order of Battle: Pacific
Video Review
Order of Battle: Pacific
The Pacific Theatre finally gets the attention it deserves.
Purchase from: Steam
Verdict: Order of Battle: Pacific doesn’t exactly shake up the strategy genre, but its focus on the Pacific theatre is a welcome one and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it. A few neat features and the accessible nature of the game mean it’s open for newcomers to the genre but also challenging enough for veterans. The Pacific campaign has been neglected badly by the media and video games and I’m glad to see a developer has put this important theatre back on the map. Maybe next time I’ll get my personal wish of a Commonwealth campaign come true.
Project CARS
Video Review
Project Cars
A beautiful and in-depth racing simulator. Shame about the name though eh?
Verdict: Bearing in mind that it was impossible for me to assess the quality and stability of the online components of the game, but it was still clear to see that Project CARS is a bloody good racing simulator. Those of you looking for more of an arcade racer may be better off looking elsewhere, especially at launch price, but if you’re looking for a beautiful and in depth racing experience then shelling out £40 on Project CARS will be money well spent.
Age of Wonders III: Eternal Lords
Video Review
Age of Wonders 3: Eternal Lords
A mammoth expansion. With extra mammoths.
Purchase from: Steam
Verdict: That’s a fairly minor criticism though. Like all good expansions, Eternal Lords doesn’t just throw in a bunch of new content at random (though that’s not to say there isn’t a ridiculous amount of new goodies, because there is). It carefully re-considers the mechanics of the core game and offers interesting new ways to approach familiar problems. The big draw here is the inventive Necromancer class, which is just heaps of fun, but both the two new races and the range of smaller changes, like the new options for a peaceful victory, are smart additions that will make Age of Wonders 3 feel fresh again to even the most jaded player. Take note, developers; this is how you do a good expansion pack.
Grand Theft Auto V
Verdict: Having played and reviewed the original release for PlayStation 3 when it launched I can say the PC version of Grand Theft Auto V is no mere port, and that Rockstar Games have learned a great deal from their troublesome GTA IV days when it landed on PC. You’d think GTA V had been purpose built for the PC, and that’s because it has been – from the generous array of graphics options, to native keyboard and mouse support – Grand Theft Auto V isn’t disguised as a PC game; it is a PC game.
Dungeons 2
Video Review
Dungeons 2
Welcome to the dungeon, we've got fun and games.
Verdict: Maybe Dungeons 2 plays a little safe by ditching some of the more intriguing aspects of the previous game (I still think the idea of using overconfident adventurers as a form of drainable resource is a fantastically twisted conceit that could have been fleshed out further) in favour of going back to the roots of the dungeon management genre, but it’s hard to criticise Realmforge too much for that when the game is this enjoyable. While it is fairly simplistic, the overland RTS game provides you with a real focus for expansion, and building your dungeon kingdom while simultaneously managing your menagerie of twisted minions is addictive fun. It doesn’t quite capture the delightfully sadistic sense of humour that marked out Dungeon Keeper in its prime, but Dungeons 2 is still a worthy tribute, and well worth your time.
Pillars of Eternity
Video Review
Pillars of Eternity
Obsidian's gargantuan, crowd-funded RPG epic is here. You might want to quit your day job.
Verdict: All you really need to know though, is this; Pillars of Eternity is a triumph. If you’re a backer and a fan of those classic Infinity Engine games, you’re in for a real treat, a smart and complex adventure that will keep you entertained and absorbed for possibly the rest of your life, and certainly until the already announced expansion pack comes out. Even those who never got on with those classic games should give it a go, because there’s a tonne of smart design choices in here that smooth out the rough edges that might have kept you away before. A superb introduction to a fascinating new fantasy world. Can’t wait to see where in the world of Eora we get to go next.
Cities: Skylines
Video Review
Cities: Skylines
Is Colossal Order's city-builder a shining metropolis, or a smog-ridden mess?
Verdict: There are a couple of notable omissions – it would be nice to be able to alter map terrain in-game, disasters aren’t included, and overall variety in building style is somewhat limited, but Colossal Order has already announced that it’s working to solve these issues post-launch, with tunnel roads and railways set to be added in the game’s first free patch, and more region-specific buildings planned for the future. Regardless, these are minor quibbles considering the wealth of content in Cities: Skylines, and that’s not even taking into account the addition of Steam Workshop support and easy-to-grasp mod tools, both of which will ensure a steady stream of content from the community. There’s already a decent roster of maps, ready-made cities, building designs and more to download, and the game’s not even hit the shelves yet. It’s a sign that Colossal Order cottons on to the reason people like these city-building games; they want freedom, not restriction, streamlined, easy to use systems, not needless complexity. In that sense, Cities: Skylines is a resounding success. In summary - here’s the city-builder you’ve been waiting for. Enjoy.
Homeworld Remastered Collection
Verdict: Gearbox Software today owns the Homeworld IP and remastering the originals might seem a ‘cash grab’ at first glance, but considering the enormity of their effort to bring Relic’s space RTS masterpiece of the late 90s and early 2000s into today’s gaming arena, they more than prove their commitment. From the huge graphical and sound overhaul, to tweaking the game interfaces and implementing a hopefully robust multiplayer supporting mods, Homeworld really might just make it home after all. It should also be noted that helping to dust off the classics that founded the series should help make them feel more confident stepping forward with their own ideas, whilst remaining respectful of what Relic created over 15 years ago, and what PC gamers fell in love with.
The Book of Unwritten Tales 2
Verdict: Though you might balk at the idea of playing a traditional point and click game in 2015, there’s something beautiful about this classic formula at work here. Like dusting down a Dickens tome rather than reading Game of Thrones on a Kindle, The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 feels like settling down with a mug of tea and crumpet, or a pint of brown ale and a pie while the rain pounds down on the window. It’s a comforting reminder that video games can still hark back to their traditional roots and produce an enjoyable experience without any overblown live-action trailer or day one DLC. This is a delight to play.
Apotheon
Verdict: Dig beneath the effortlessly stylish veneer of Apotheon though and it soon becomes clear that its impressive calibre bleeds through into its homage to the engrossing Castlevania and Metroid games pioneered back in the 8-bit days. And that folks, minor niggles aside, is a godly thing indeed.
Total War: Attila
Video Review
Total War: Attila
What's the matter, Hun?
Purchase from: Steam
Verdict: Look, I understand if you’re reticent after Rome 2. After that game’s frankly unacceptable launch it felt like Creative Assembly would never learn the lesson that jaw-dropping cinematic spectacle and scale is no good if your game is undermined at its very foundations. With Total War: Attila, they have got those foundations right. It’s an excellent game, and an excellent Total War game. It’s not without flaws, but this time those imperfections are forgiveable next to the wealth of quality on offer. Total War: Attila is the return to form that the series desperately needed.
The Escapists
Video Review
The Escapists
Do you take your porridge or make a great escape?
Verdict: I’m pretty sure this won’t appeal to a lot of people. It can be bone-crushingly hard at times and difficult to get into. But by giving you the tools to craft your own escape and leaving you alone to sort it out, The Escapists is one of those classic hands-off games that encourages you to create your own story and incredible moments.
Deathtrap
Purchase from: Steam
Verdict: In borrowing so heavily from its heritage, developer Neocore could have quite easily overburdened the somewhat narrow tower defence formula with pointless additions and misery inducing micro-management busywork. As it is, Deathtrap approaches the qualitative apex of its craft and niggles aside, sets a splendid example of how to marry two genres together to make a superlative whole.
Dying Light
Video Review
Dying Light
When there’s no more room in hell, Dead Island will get parkour.
Verdict: Dying Light is a very impressive game that’s clearly had a lot of care and attention put into it. Harran is great to explore with the mostly well-implemented free-running and killing zombies never gets old, especially with the upgrades you pick up and the new enemies introduced throughout the campaign. The online portions are neat and it’s worth playing co-op as it keeps the game interesting. Basically the only real thing holding it back is the unnerving feeling that it’s just Dead Island with some excellent new ideas, and if you’re purely playing single-player you may well get tired of it before the credits roll. Graphically the game is impressive but things are pretty washed-out and brown, and on PC it’s tricky to keep a good frame-rate. Nevertheless the negatives are mostly minor or should be fixed (either by Techland or the community), and unlike its predecessor Dying Light is definitely a zombie survival game that’s worth the wait. It might even deserve a Game of the Year Edition this time.
Life is Strange
Verdict: I’m sort of embarrassed to say that I really like this game, but I tore through it in one sitting and felt better off for having done so; I feel like I need to load up an FPS and run around with the biggest gun I can find for a few hours to make up for it. The reality is, Life is Strange is a really charming enjoyable experience with a great deal of character depth and an intriguing, if not entirely original, story. It’s not without its flaws, like I said, the girls seem to act and look younger than they supposedly are, and some of the lines seem rather forced and fake, but overall it’s woven well enough as to put together a fulfilling and enjoyable experience. I’m looking forward to the next part.
Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition
Purchase from: Steam
Verdict: With the release of HoMM3HD following hot on the heels of Avernum 2: Crystal Souls, it feels like revamped versions of old-school fantasy games are the flavour of the month – and we’re not complaining. As with Avernum, HoMM3’s sheen has not been dulled by the vitiating properties of time; instead, its unique blend of roleplaying and strategy is just as alluring 15 years on.
Grey Goo
Video Review
Grey Goo
Is Petroglyph's new RTS a C&C or a C&C4?
Purchase from: Steam
Verdict: The biggest problem Grey Goo has is that it’s far too hard for what it is, which is a fun Command and Conquer-style RTS. I’ve played lots of this type of RTS and I’ve rarely encountered one with such a non-existent learning curve - you either know everything immediately or you die. Which is a shame, because everything else on display here is really good fun. The factions are all unique, enjoyable to play, and mostly balanced despite being so radically different, along with all that Trident Rush nonsense in multiplayer. That the campaign is only 15 missions and you have to play each faction in turn is a little annoying, but it’s not a game-killer. The cutscenes are all very impressive, as is the graphics and audio, and I found myself simply drawn in by it all. Probably Petroglyph’s best game (especially if you’re not a Star Wars fan), it won’t steal the RTS crown from Blizzard or Creative Assembly but if you want a straight fun strategy you won’t regret being absorbed by Grey Goo. It’s still a stupid title, though.
Grim Fandango Remastered
Verdict: Grim Fandango really is a masterpiece, although it’s not a completely perfect one. The story, world, voice acting, music, script and style are some of the best gaming has to offer, rivalling the best animated movies. The puzzles are 80% superb, best the adventure genre can do, and 20% frustrating as all hell. Nevertheless that’s an absolutely minor thing in the grand scheme of things, and the world and writing are so incredible you’ll let any trial-and-error moments slide. The Remastered edition ensures that Grim can be played today, and the cool Developer’s Commentary and Mouse Controls mean that even people like myself who have played Grim a dozen times can still enjoy it fresh again. Not much has been done with the graphics other than a bit of widescreen adding but the lovely style the game has means that it doesn’t matter, and it still looks great anyway. To put it all into one sentence: you want to experience the best storytelling in gaming, you need to play Grim Fandango. You’ll have to use a walkthrough on the Forest, but it’ll be worth it. So then Double Fine, Disney… Day of the Tentacle: Special Edition ready yet?
BlackGuards 2
Video Review
Blackguards 2
An impressive tactical RPG sequel that's as dark as a blaggards heart.
Verdict: Coming so soon after the first entry Blackguards 2 is a surprisingly packed improvement over the original, giving you the chance to dominate and rule over South Aventuria with all the bitterness and rage such a task would need. It won’t suit all newcomers to PC TRPGs and yes, battles can be brutal and unforgiving at times, but for those with even the slightest bent towards getting knee deep in stats and tactical battles then Blackguards 2 is a worthy purchase.
Avernum 2: Crystal Souls
Verdict: Nevertheless, these technological hiccups – try as they might – couldn’t taint an otherwise rewarding journey through the divided lands of Avernum. For those who are already fans of the series, I’d suggest Crystal Souls is an essential purchase. For those none the wiser to Spiderweb Software’s extensive back catalogue, there’s no better time to join the fight.
Resident Evil HD Remastered
Video Review
Resident Evil HD Remastered
A remake of a remake from 2002 of a game from 1996? Time to go... BACK TO THE MANSION!
Verdict: I find it interesting that 2002 Capcom completely remade a beloved title so it felt like a new game, whereas 2015 Capcom just re-releases a 13-year-old remake with a controls, widescreen and texture patch. Nevertheless despite being aged in the voice-acting, aiming, and not-telling-you-anything-you-need-to-remember departments Resident Evil is still a fantastic game. While the fixed camera angles and the adventure-game like puzzles will shock more recent series fans it’s all still enjoyable, and the Crimson Head zombies, the great and ever-surprising design and the atmosphere ensures the remake feels like a unique entry in the series. I haven’t even mentioned the two giant campaigns for Chris and Jill which play completely differently, especially if you finish one before starting the other, so there’s value for money here too. While the “HD Remastered” tag feels a little hollow, if you just consider this a slightly updated re-release of a fantastic game then I can heartily recommend Resident Evil HD Remastered. Just remember to have a notebook and pen handy.
So there, that’s what we think about the year’s offerings so far. At least until November, when Fallout 4 comes out. Seriously, 2015 has been ridiculous. What do you guys think? Anything we’ve missed? Anything still to come this year that you’re looking forward to?
