Sam Brooke

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Sam Brooke·Nov 9, 2016

Critic60/100

Agreement—

If there's ever been a polarising game, then it's Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. The campaign is a whopping amount of fun, and the addition of space combat is a large part of that. Still, there's a distinct lack of progress in both Zombies (as fun as it can be) and Multiplayer that damages the game's replay value, and then there's the unacceptable implementation of microtransactions. The single player may be stellar, but the multiplayer has come crashing down.

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Sam Brooke·Nov 6, 2016

Critic60/100

Agreement—

Just Dance 2017 may be a good dancing game for anyone who doesn't take themselves too seriously or wants to have a good time with friends, but if you bought 2016, then don't bother. The new Just Dance Machine mode is fun, but it's hard to justify a purchase unless you're a big Just Dance fan.

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Sam Brooke·Nov 2, 2016

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Hokkaido may not be the perfect grand ending that many Hitman fans wanted, but it's a nice swansong to signal the end of a successful experiment. Episode 6 is the most atmospheric and creative of the bunch, and is right up there with Sapienza as one of the game's best levels thanks to its design.

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Sam Brooke·Oct 30, 2016

Critic50/100

Agreement—

Mark McMorris Infinite Air gets the fundamentals roughly right and has quite a bit of customisation, but that's about all there is to it. It's a blank, newly laid sheet of snow – fresh and clean, but nothing exciting comes of it.

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Sam Brooke·Oct 24, 2016

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Batman: Return to Arkham isn't the greatest ever remaster, but the price offers excellent value and the gameplay of both Asylum and City still hold up. Couple two of the greatest superhero games of all time with their DLC, and you get a lot of bang for your buck here.

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Sam Brooke·Oct 14, 2016

Critic70/100

Agreement—

NOW That's What I Call Sing 2 isn't anything special, but it's a decent karaoke game that you'll have fun playing with friends. The tracklist may only appeal to a certain audience, but singing along to cheesy pop songs is part of the fun, and the variety of modes does just enough to prevent it from getting boring.

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Sam Brooke·Oct 2, 2016

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Hitman: Episode 5 - Colorado may not be as impressive or vibrant as Sapienza or Bangkok, but it brings its own new take to the game. With a newfound focus on stealth, sniping, and uniforms, this latest mission does well to bring back memories of the sneakier Hitman of old, but some frustrations and annoyances due to the difficulty are present.

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Sam Brooke·Sep 26, 2016

Critic80/100

Agreement—

The NBA 2K series has always been a hard one to improve upon since the revolutionary 2K14, but 2K17 still manages to better its predecessors, vastly improving the MyGM and MyLeague modes while refusing to tamper with a winning formula. MyCareer is once again a very enjoyable story, and general gameplay is as strong as ever. Simply put, NBA 2K17 is a trailblazer.

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Sam Brooke·Sep 13, 2016

Critic90/100

Agreement—

PES 2017: Pro Evolution Soccer is an excellent football game in which fun and realism are balanced. Every pass, every tackle, every goal feels like it has meaning, and Konami has done a great job of creating the ultimate matchday atmosphere. Master League, with its new improvements, is more fun than ever and oozes personality, while the wide array of customisation makes the game personal and prevents the game from suffering too much from its lack of licensing.

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Sam Brooke·Aug 29, 2016

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Once again, Madden NFL 17 has maintained the classic Madden gameplay while also evolving it and making games feel more open and exciting. The new kick meter and ability to block kicks and punts makes comebacks and upsets feel possible, while the presentation is as excellent as ever thanks to the new commentary team. Franchise mode is the standout star here, though, with new trading features and the Play the Moments mode ensuring that the game doesn't chew the clock.

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Sam Brooke·Aug 22, 2016

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Hitman: Episode 4 - Bangkok may be weaker than Sapienza, but by no means is it a bad addition. While the setting does feel a missed opportunity, the Himmapan Hotel is ripe with plenty of different kills, and the clandestine nature and harder difficulty makes it all the more interesting. The humour and comedy is excellent as always, and while it's not the strongest level, everything feels organic, and there are plenty of hidden kills. All in all, Bangkok puts Hitman one step closer to gaming Nirvana.

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Sam Brooke·Aug 22, 2016

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Worms W.M.D brings back the classic 2D joy of Worms Armageddon, yet mixes it with new and interesting ideas that keep you on your worm tail. Though some may wince at the price, it's hard not to love the chaotic multiplayer and extensive customisation, and the addition of crafting adds a new lease of life to an already timeless formula. Forget the series going stale – this is one of the freshest cans of Worms to date.

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Sam Brooke·Jul 29, 2016

Critic90/100

Agreement—

It's a testament to the excellence of Headlander that it can only be faulted for its slight technical flaws. Everything about it is so finely tuned, from its gunplay to its platforming to its puzzles, and it doesn't just stay true to classic Metroidvanias – it also builds upon the foundations that they laid. The story is well told, the characters are entertaining, the environments are fleshed out, and the humour is as brilliant as always. Headlander's one of the best games that Double Fine has ever produced.

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Sam Brooke·Jul 27, 2016

Critic60/100

Agreement—

Tricky Towers is a good romp when playing local multiplayer with friends – the floppy physics add tension (both literally and metaphorically) and the spells make the gameplay interesting and dynamic. The gameplay suffers quite a bit in single player, though, and even though the price is cheap, the game does wear thin eventually.

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Sam Brooke·Jul 15, 2016

Critic80/100

Agreement—

While two of the multiplayer maps ultimately let it down, Descent is Black Ops III's best DLC so far, thanks to the sheer madness and fun-factor of Gorod Krovi, one of the series' best Zombies maps. Empire and Berserk are also great additions to the multiplayer, adding their own individual styles to a once-monotonous selection of maps. Contrary to the expansion's title, Descent has ascended to the top of the Season Pass' pile.