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Review: Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Director’s Cut

deus ex human revolution directors cutBack in 2011, Deus Ex: Human Revolution was an impressive game with plenty of ambition. It mixed together elements from several different genres, and gave the player the ability to complete each level in a number of different ways. It mostly worked, but on reflection the game is also remembered for a few of its flaws. The Director’s Cut, originally a Wii U exclusive that ended up multi-platform, fixes the game’s most noted problems, adds all of the DLC content, and refines some of the mechanics. The result is a finely tuned version of a modern classic.

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Review: Sonic Lost World

sonic lost worldWhilst once a series with the force to rival Super Mario, Sonic’s fall from grace isn’t exactly new news. I still remember when the game now known as Sonic 2006 was being hailed as the title that would revive the blue hedgehog to his former glory. But this (obviously) never worked out, and since then we’ve had eight years of SEGA throwing a random assortment of ideas at a wall and seeing what sticks. Sonic Lost World might not epitomise the last few years worth of slow progress, but it’s not inherently broken, and is really quite fun to play.

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Review: Re-Volt

titleHailing from an age of intense arcade racers, Re-Volt is a fast and exciting game. Often hailed as a classic multiplayer title, its substantial selection of cars and tracks makes for a game that’s great fun solo, but even with better with friends. With tight controls, a cool soundtrack, and addictive gameplay, it succeeds in providing a retro racing experience that has stood the test of time incredibly well.

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Review: Beyond: Two Souls

titleIn 2010 Heavy Rain rewrote the rules of how we could interact with a videogame, and Quantic Dream’s first title was a unique and thrilling adventure. Three years later and their next game, Beyond: Two Souls, has an even greater level of innovation, whilst also refining what came before it. The result is a polished, detailed experience that merges a gripping, cinematic story with original and involving gameplay.

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Review: Pokémon X & Y

titlePokémon X & Y marks a notable step forwards for the series. After a few too many years perfecting an ageing formula, Game Freak has finally implemented the changes that many have been dying to see for a long time. It might not be the best Pokémon game ever made, but there’s enough here to warrant embarking on its familiar journey once again.

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Review: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

titleThere’s certainly a case for arguing that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is the best Zelda game ever made. Back in 2003 it was a bit of a dark horse for the series, although personally I never really understood why people had a problem with the game’s unique art direction. Still, everyone seemed to get over it, and the game has aged unbelievably well. This HD remake only makes a few small tweaks, but helps perfect an already brilliant experience that is just as enjoyable today as it was 10 years ago.

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Review: Street Fighter X Tekken

TitleWas I the only person who saw this fighting game crossover coming? I mean if we can have Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games then we can have Street Fighter X Tekken. Still, you’ll only be playing five minutes before realising that this Capcom developed game is essentially Street Fighter IV with Tekken characters, and we’ll have to wait until next year to see Namco’s take on the series.

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Review: Arcadias no Ikusahime (Import)

titleAre you looking for a game that’s like Dragon’s Crown but makes no sense because it’s entirely in Japanese? If this is the case then Arcadias no Ikusahime might actually appeal to you, but otherwise the language barrier could be a problem. So is it worth trawling through incomprehensible menus and tutorials to reach the action underneath? Arcadias no Ikusahime isn’t a terrible game, but the short answer is probably not.

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Review: Persona 4 Golden

titlePersona 4 Golden isn’t like other RPG games. In fact, I can’t think of anything that comes close to matching the levels of depth and accessibility that are perfectly blended together in Atlus’ masterpiece. Part highschool murder mystery, and part dungeon crawler, Persona 4 sets you out on an unforgettable adventure where you must stop a serial killer and uncover the truth behind a supernatural television channel.

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Review: Phantom Breaker Extra (Import)

titlePhantom Breaker Extra is a 2D fighter by Japanese developer 5pb. Whilst at a glance similar to the likes of BlazBlue and Guilty Gear, it doesn’t take long to realise that this game fails to match the quality I’d almost began to expect as a standard for the genre. In fact, 5pb’s latest title reminds us that Arc System Works have been spoiling us with fighting games these last few years, and Phantom Breaker Extra is both underwhelming and unenjoyable.

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