Sam Brooke

Push Square

Sam Brooke·Dec 3, 2015

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Despite the technical problems – which need to be sorted out quickly, really – we've had a terrifying amount of fun with Just Cause 3. The freedom enabled by this game is second to none, and the island of Medici offers plenty of opportunities for creativity – or, of course, explosions. The campaign may have some low points, but attacking bases and liberating towns is some of the best fun that you'll find on the PS4 this year.

Push Square

Sam Brooke·Nov 23, 2015

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Let's Sing 2016 is practically the same game as Now That's What I Call Sing adapted for the North American audience, which means that it's a pretty solid singing game. The wide range of modes makes it fun to play with others, and the songs are varied enough to keep things fresh, whoever you're playing with. All in all, this game certainly isn't rudimental.

Push Square

Sam Brooke·Nov 9, 2015

Critic80/100

Agreement—

The sheer length of this review should tell you that Call of Duty: Black Ops III is filled to the brim with content. While there are some low points and pacing issues, the campaign's customisation, freedom, and verticality make it excellent to play with friends. Meanwhile, mutliplayer has more customisation and replayability than ever before, and Zombies is brilliant in its complexity and difficulty. While Ghosts may have bitten the bullet, Black Ops III reloads the franchise into a new, brighter era.

Push Square

Sam Brooke·Oct 29, 2015

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Just Dance 2016 is great fun for people of all ages, and is an excellent game among friends. The tracklist is diverse and the dances are crazy, and the addition of using a phone as a controller is the best idea that the franchise has had in a while. It's got replayability, variation, and – most importantly – fun in spades. We don't think that we can make this any more clear – this game Derules.

Push Square

Sam Brooke·Oct 26, 2015

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Guitar Hero Live surpasses Rock Band 4 in terms of track list and replayability, but sadly lacks the party appeal that Harmonix's latest provides. Though Guitar Hero TV is an excellent addition to the series that really makes the game, the microtransactions ruin it for us. There's no kidding that Guitar Hero Live is a very fun game, it just feels like it cares more about the money than it does about the fans.

Push Square

Sam Brooke·Oct 11, 2015

Critic70/100

Agreement—

While its setlist does underwhelm in some areas, and the online multiplayer mode is not ready yet, Rock Band 4 still feels like the music platform that Harmonix set out to make. Career mode is deep, fun, and customisable, Freestyle Solos is an excellent addition, and the general gameplay maintains the awesome feel of the originals. The revival of this much-missed franchise may not be revolutionary, but it definitely hits a high note.

Push Square

Sam Brooke·Sep 28, 2015

Critic90/100

Agreement—

PES 2016, while not being perfect, feels true to its title - it's an evolution. Master League has been revamped and fine-tuned into an excellent mode that only suffers thanks to the lack of licenses, MyClub is growing well and differs enough from Ultimate Team, and the gameplay feels refined and balanced enough to make every game a challenge but not a chore. Thanks to all of these factors, PES 2016 currently feels like it's in a league of its own.

Push Square

Sam Brooke·Sep 8, 2015

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Madden NFL 16 is a fine addition to the series that started way back in 1989. Draft Champions adds a lot of replayability to a game already jam-packed with content, the new in-match mechanics give you a greater sense of control than ever before, and Madden Ultimate Team is steadily growing bigger and better. Sure, loading times are long, but the presentation and the way that the crowd reacts to every move is well worth it. All in all, it seems as though Madden as a series won't be deflating any time soon.

Push Square

Sam Brooke·Jul 5, 2015

Critic70/100

Agreement—

With fantastic dialogue, beautiful graphics, and some truly innovative puzzles, Pneuma: Breath of Life is a great buy, even for a short game. Though it does have some boring and frustrating moments - as well as some framerate issues - it's all worth it for the incredible ending. Pneuma may not breathe life into the puzzle genre, but it certainly gives you a new perspective on it.