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.
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.
Moving Out is a welcome addition to the collection of couch co-op games that focus on an adrenaline and argument fueled race against the clock. Its gameplay loop is easy to understand but hard to master, throwing new obstacles at your around every corner. It just doesn't have the chaotic magic that made the Overcooked games special.
Doom Eternal is far more than gore, double jumps, and brutal executions. It’s an impeccably designed game that perfectly balances every single aspect of its action to create one of the most challenging, exhausting, and consistently fun shooters in years.
With Need for Speed (2015) and Payback, EA seemed to lose grasp of what fans looked for from the series. Awkward Fast & Furious style stories, slot machine upgrades, and live-action segments were not what was needed to make Need for Speed the biggest name in racing again.