Liam Burford

Read the reviews of the haters (e.g. 6.8/10 naming no names) and believed them. Finally got around to playing and from the off I was mesmerised and instantly one of my favourite games of all time. However (!) this is not for everyone. Perhaps the best way to help you decide is to say if you have ever climbed a mountain and found a deep connection in both (especially) the isolation and comradery, then you will get this. This game is lonely, slow, challenging and photo realistic. Nothing else like it exists, not even close to it. Add a weird sci fi element (having to carry a foetus around with you is pretty bonkers and yet somehow even this works) and you have the work of a crazed genius. I am in absolute awe of this game

Two main criticisms have been levelled at this game; more of the same and woke/ 'inclusion'. In terms of the former, way more finessed and why fundamentally change a good thing? As for woke, I did not see this. If a political or any other agenda was included, this eluded me. My only criticism was too often it felt rather overly scripted. However, huge fun to play!

For those who have known Assassin's Creed since inception, this is a blast from the past with way better graphics and similar gameplay. For those who have not, this will be a bit of a different thing. Pro's: very much a stealth game, almost akin to Hitman at times, fantastic large open world, crisp easy to use interface, fabulous parkour, attention to historical detail, lush visuals, sensible save points, lots of side missions and huge fun to play. Con's: long winded intro, cut scenes often feel dull, combat is basic and essentially consists of being overwhelmed and running away to hide, it's not that clear what the overall missions are or what the point is other than 'find cult members and assassinate them' and no material new innovation (although assassinations feel 'smoother'). All said, comfortably 4/5.

I'm in gobsmacked awe. Finally video game meets video in a seamless blend. This is true Bedknobs and Broomsticks mixed in with Stranger Things. Think Control meets the narrative of CD Project RED. Baulder's Gate may be the best game ever made thus far. Alan Wake isn't competing with this. It's a whole different experience. Genre busting brilliance and a vision of what is to come. Please Remedy, keep it coming!

***PS5 Update***. The best just got better! Let's ignore the fact that the PS5 triggers are overdone and the driving is so not GTA. Cyberpunk just got a whole lot better. And the seeds of greatness were there from the off anyway. *** Cannot believe there has been so much negativity about this game. Presumably the latest patch has made a big difference? Game runs ok on ancient PS4 (keep well ventilated!)....way way better than the graphical mess that was the last Just Cause game. Sure, it's obviously been designed for next gen and the graphical detail at times struggles to keep up although in no way ruining the experience. Night City is a fabulous place to loose yourself in! 10 hours in on PS4 base and upping to 5 stars. Gritty and heavily story driven. This is how to do characterisation properly!

I remember laughing a lot when SR3 was first released back in 2011. Got the nostalgia content alone this game hits the three star mark. The problem is that SR3 is simply so very dated now. And whilst a remaster as opposed to a remake....compared to the stunning graphics of the latest Final Fantasy VII, the remastered graphics on SR3 still manage to look tired and old.

For starters I gravitate to story driven games and I hated and gave up on Dark Souls. HOWEVER. From the off it's obvious this is something special. The remaster has been done with skill, love and attention to detail. Haunting music. Beautiful graphics and a wonderfully 'old fashioned' feel to the gameplay. Best of all it's an RPG at heart- and a good one. If ever the phrase 'practice makes perfect' was more apt.....it applies to this game. It has me hook line and sinker. This is one of those games that even if you don't like the genre it's top of it's game and so you will grow to love it. A must have for the PS5. Weirdly totally appropriate that it resets when you die. This even can work in your favour. Give it time. It's a slow burner. Play slowly and carefully. Then you will get it. Just don't die! Again!

Very few bugs other than the occasional cosmetic glitch on PS4 8 hours in. Valhalla is a slow affair though this serves to help build up a very believable world which is great fun to explore. Combat is passable albeit a bit clunky...maybe my level early on. Feels like The Witcher albeit with nowhere near as much lore, characterisation and attention to detail. Nevertheless....it's great to be back in a similar world for sure.

A lot further in and unusually have had to downgrade. The most confusing user interface EVER. 80% of way through game I now find an earlier optional mission gives you super powers and acts like I just started the game. Really confusing missions. Timeloop clever but disjointedness is confusing and frustrating unequal measure. This is a lack of attention to detail. What a mishmash of lots of different games. Perhaps the games it is closest to are Hitman, Bioshock and Deus Ex. Make no mistake though the engine is Dishonored. A must for Dishonored fans. Ignoring the confusing menu and PS4 graphics....gameplay remains fun. Fab voice acting and iconic music.