Chris Jecks
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TwinfiniteLatest Reviews
Moving Out 2 is going to be a hit with those that enjoyed the first game. For me, it didn't quite stick the landing and led to more moments of frustration than fun. Those looking for a new multiplayer party games will likely have fun with it in short blasts, but just be aware this still isn't quite hitting the lofty Michelin-starred heights of its culinary cousin.
Redfall feels like a victim of the great, Game Pass machine. A game with heaps of style and potential that ultimately falls short in core areas like story, mission variety and technical performance. I can't help shake the feeling development may have been rushed in order to fill a gap in the subscription service's exclusives release schedule. It's fun in parts and its wider potential occasionally manages to shine through, but it ultimately serves as another reminder that Microsoft's first-party offerings still lag behind the best the industry has to offer.
All in all, Burning Shores is a solid expansion to Horizon Forbidden West that fans of the series will want to play before the inevitable sequel. It's teeming with more sci-fi story goodness, and Los Angeles is a stunning new environment to explore, complete with all of the Horizon side activity trimmings we've come to know and love ticking off our map. While the offering of new monsters, and some of the combat scenarios felt a little underwhelming, as a package, it's well worth the ticket to entry.
God of War Ragnarok is the epitome of cinematic gaming experiences. It's an unforgettable, magical adventure teeming with treasures to find, legendary opponents to slay and relationships to forge along the way, all built upon a near-perfect core gameplay loop that sinks its Chaos Blades into you and refuses to let go. The latest step in Kratos and Atreus' father-son dynamic is just as touching as the one before it was in its predecessor, and the slight amendments to the gameplay make this the sequel the 2018 reboot of the series deserved. Ragnarok is both the PS4's final swansong, and the best of what the PS5 has to offer, and right now, one of, if not the best cinematic gaming experience you can buy.
As Dusk Falls is a mixed bag. I really admire it for trying to tackle difficult subject matter head-on, and in fleeting moments it does this excellently. It has a fantastic voice cast that help bring the characters to life, but then it undoes all of its work with clichéd narrative beats and awkward, unrealistic moment-to-moment action. I'd gone in hoping for a groundbreaking style of narrative-driven experience, one that operated on a sprawling web of branching paths over the course of thirty years of events, and was left underwhelmed by a fairly by-the-numbers entry in the genre that only dips its toe into its three decades-of family history and character entanglement. If you're a fan of the genre, you'll probably have some fun with this, but it's hardly the revelation that the decision-based, narrative-driven genre feels like it so desperately needs.
F1 22 is another solid instalment in Codemasters' Formula 1 simulation series, even if the tweaks to the on-track gameplay aren't all that noticeable. It feels very much an annual EA sports title. Updated 'rosters' in the form of its tracks and driver ratings, a few very minor adjustments to the core gameplay, and one or two new additions that do (or don't) enhance the experience... I'm looking at you, supercars. Its character models can look a little lacking off-track, but as long as you're happy to overlook this, the racing action is just as supremely satisfying as it ever has, and is sure to keep F1 fans content for the following 12 months.
The Quarry is a reminder of just how great Supermassive's games can be when given the time and the right amount of polish. A longer runtime over previous The Dark Pictures Anthology titles allows for more character-building and thus you're more invested in them and their plight. A number of gameplay improvements, an intriguing story, likable cast of characters, and tough choices combine to make for Supermassive's strongest horror outing since Until Dawn kickstarted it all those years ago. The Quarry is an easy recommendation for players who have been watching campy horror movies for years, wishing they could make all the smart decisions that would obviously keep everyone alive. Or, you know, the psychos who just want to watch the world burn.
Every once in a while, a true indie gem comes along. A classic for the ages lauded by critics and players alike. One inspired by classics, taking their best mechanics before refining and crafting something wholly unique and simply unforgettable, for better and occasionally, for worse. After more than 15 hours of deciphering cryptic clues and losing myself in its meticulously-crafted, mysterious world, Tunic has cemented itself in that bracket of all-time indie classics, and one that you simply have to play.
Horizon Forbidden West is a spectacular sequel to one of the PS4's best exclusives. Its narrative is one of its strengths, with unforgettable characters and twists and turns that maintain a solid pace throughout, and it's combat has been expanded on, adding in new weapon and ammo types to make eliminating machines and humans an immensely satisfying experience. All of this is wrapped up in a world that feels more alive and meticulously crafted than its predecessor with visuals and animations that bring that special blockbuster feel Sony's exclusives are now renowned for to the PS5. Bugs and glitches can occasionally take the shine off it, but with many addressed by the day one update, these are likely to have less of an impact on your experience. Horizon Forbidden West is a must-play if you own a PS5, and an easy GOTY contender in 2022.
Halo Infinite is a strong package, offering exceptional story missions in a campaign with a underutilized open-world, and compelling, chaotic multiplayer. Its campaign offers yet another unmissable adventure with the Master Chief, giving us a glimpse at a more emotional man inside the armor. The world of Zeta Halo is a solid foundation for the series' open-world format, but its side content all feels a little basic and there's not a massive amount of it in favor of keeping attention on the main missions. It's a step forward for the series, but does nothing groundbreaking in terms of industry standards. Fortunately, the combat gameplay remains some of the most enjoyable in games right now. The lack of co-op campaign at launch is a little disappointing, but the promise of its release in 2022 will give players all the more reason to reclaim Zeta Halo from the Banished all over again. For now, the classic Halo multiplayer offering will be more than enough to keep them playing for months on end, even if the game modes and maps offering needs some refinement, ideally sooner rather than later. This is the evolution the series needed and provides a promising foundation for the...