Tom Hopkins
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Twinfinite
Gamer GuidesLatest Reviews
Assassin’s Creed Shadows in a nutshell is a more refined, polished game with more of the same familiar formula. This isn’t a big revamp, nor are there any deep changes. However, it’s the best the series has been for a while. Fun combat, a pair of genuinely interesting protagonists, and a gorgeous recreation of 16th century Japan mean the flaws are easier to overlook.
In its playful personality and incredibly inventive design, Astro Bot reminds me a lot of Mario Odyssey. It truly does sit alongside the best platformers of all time, providing some moments of pure magic and joy. Considering how smart and unexpected much of Astro Bot is, the possibilities for future adventures are endless.
On the court, TopSpin 2K25 is brilliant. It's realistic, satisfying, and feels great to play, especially as you get to grips with the timing needed for every shot type. It's just a shame that such good tennis gameplay is housed in such bland modes that have you grind for very little sense of progression.
Beyond playful visuals, Fullbright's game doesn't do anything that Gone Home did as well or better over a decade ago. I hoped Open Roads might feature a more expansive story or more varied gameplay because, as it is, it's a short and serviceable adventure game rather than a particularly memorable experience.
The Last of Us Part II is the perfect sequel and one of PlayStation's best ever games, so having an even better way to play it is great. However, while they don't detract from the story mode's excellence, the remaster's new modes and content are nothing more than forgettable filler.
Without straying far from the successful sandbox formula, it's an excellent final part of IO's trilogy. While the increased freedom and level variety won't be for everyone, Hitman 3 boasts some of the best locations and stories the series has ever seen, and there's so much to uncover in each and every one of them.
That lack of challenge and sense of progression won't be for everyone, and might even put off Dirt veterans, but Dirt 5's a varied and beautiful racing game that's a blast from event number one.
At its heart, FIFA 21 does a lot really well. However, it is also a mash up of incremental steps forward, baffling design choices, and seemingly ignored issues. It simply doesn't do enough to make the overall experience more enjoyable than it was last year.
Even if F1 2020 feels a little tired in some aspects and My Team isn't the revolutionary mode I hoped it would be, F1 2020 is still the best the series has ever been.
Playing as the Predator is a wonderful idea, it just deserves a better game around it. Bugs, mediocre first-person gameplay, repetitive missions, an ugly setting, and a reliance on playing with friends mean Predator Hunting Grounds is boring a lot more often than it is enjoyable.