TrustedReviews

“Celebrating the speedrunning community whilst breathing new life into classic titles, there’s a lot to like about Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition.”

“Football Manager 2022 packs in a number of new features such as the Data Hub, an expanded Transfer Deadline Day and new Staff Meetings which all help to improve the immersion of the life as a head coach. These new additions result in one of the best entries in the series yet, although owners of FM21 may want to hold off until next season if you want more than just an incremental upgrade.”

“WRC 10 is a solid racing game with an Anniversary mode that celebrates the history of the motorsport. However, the management aspect of the game is a bit on the repetitive and dull side.”

“Humankind is a classic turn-based strategy game that invites comparisons to the Civilization series. Its unique spin of allowing players to combine multiple cultures does differentiate it from its rivals, but Humankind doesn’t quite offer enough to push the genre into uncharted territory.”

“Moto GP 21 isn’t big on features, but the racing experience is great whether you’re an experienced player or someone new who’s looking to get into the sport.”

“Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends and the Secret Fairy is a brilliant sequel that expands upon everything that made the original great, while forging a path forward that can be further expanded upon in the trilogy's final chapter.”

“At the heart of Control Ultimate Edition – Cloud Version is a great game; it should be enjoyed by fans of the action genre or, indeed, fans of Remedy Entertainment's previous titles. The problem is that by pivoting Control to the cloud gaming model, there are numerous issues to consider, including wait times, downgraded graphics and occasional audio-sync issues. If this is your only means of playing Control then there's a chance you could look past these problems and enjoy the core product, but I'd recommend the other versions of the game any day.”

“This is a great exercise experience for Nintendo Switch that makes excellent use of its motion controls, although the game doesn't introduce quite enough changes to stand out from its predecessor.”

“Football Manager 2021 is a winner and a real worthwhile upgrade not only for those who played the previous game but also those who might have lapsed in recent years. This is the most realistic version yet, with deeper player interaction and more varied communications with your team and key staff making you feel even more like a real manager.”

“Melody of Memory is a loving homage to the legacy of Kingdom Hearts, aiming to honour almost two decades of absurd excellence whilst also forging a new path forward. If any franchise is going to make a rhythm game an integral part of its overall plot, it's Kingdom Hearts, and I wouldn't have it any other way.”

“If you've already got PES 2020 and have found other means to update the squads and kits, there's very little of note here. The changes are minimal and this edition is likely just for those who decided against picking up the previous entry. But if a cheaper version of PES has you interested this is a great starting point. Yes, there are plenty of issues with the modes, commentary and AI but most of that just fades into insignificance when you're actually playing a game. Until the next-gen version arrives next year, this is the best representation of football you'll find.”

“Journey to Batuu is an enjoyable new game pack for The Sims 4 and a worthwhile glimpse into the Star Wars universe, but it sadly lacks ambition when it comes to doing something new with the property. At times, it feels like a glorified tourist attraction, and the lukewarm narrative doesn't pull you in enough to feel worthwhile. But for hardcore fans, this is definitely a journey worth taking for the price.”

“Project Cars 3, at least on the base console versions, isn’t quite the polished sequel we were hoping for, but despite its foibles – and there are many – it’s entertaining. The racing can be fun, finding that niche of being accessible and competitive.”

“A Total War Saga: Troy is a superb entry to Creative Assembly's strategy series, with both combat and diplomacy proving incredibly addictive. However, there have been a few tweaks to the Total War blueprint in order to accommodate the Bronze Age setting. Hardcore Total War fans may be dismayed by the lack of unit variety, but newcomers may well relish the simplified approach. The new economy system also adds a new depth to diplomacy and strategy, making non-combat play significantly more enjoyable no matter your Total War experience level. And with a smattering of Greek mythology, Troy feels one of the most distinctive entries to the series yet.”

“Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town is perfectly shaped to fill that post-New Horizons void in your soul. If you were a fan of the original Harvest Moon game, you’ll find a lot of nostalgia in this retelling of the Mineral Town story, but those looking for complex characters or a compelling story to follow may well be left disappointed.”

“As a huge fan of the Borderlands series, the Legendary Collection gives me almost everything I could've wanted – a solid port that runs well and finally does the series justice in handheld form. The steep asking price and lack of new content is unlikely to sway all existing fans, but the bundle is must-have for newcomers.”

“XCOM 2 is a challenging and engrossing turn-based tactical shooter, and seeing it running on the the Nintendo Switch is very impressive. However, there are a number of performance issues here, including immersion-shattering frame rate drops and frustratingly long loading times. There's no doubt that XCOM 2 is best played on a PC with a keyboard and mouse, but if the Switch is your only gaming platform then this is still a worthwhile buy, albeit an expensive one.”

“Remnant: From the Ashes remains a fantastic game with a healthy community and is a great purchase for any hardcore gamer looking for a new challenge. Sadly - it's first major expansion is somewhat light on content to keep existing players satisfied.”

“Epic Games has achieved something truly special here, and I’m eager to watch its growth go even further.”

“Fallout 76 has improved with the introduction of Wastelanders. The region of West Virginia now feels more alive with an increased populace, deeper quests and a greater focus on your place in its living, breathing world. But many of its problems remain, and haven’t been improved with such a major expansion. Far few players occupy each session, making multiplayer feel like a lazy afterthought instead of something that defines the experience.”