Sammy Barker

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Sammy Barker·Nov 9, 2018

Critic90/100

Agreement—

Tetris Effect takes you on an emotional rollercoaster through oceans and to other worlds. While its striking audiovisual achievements sing on a standard screen, virtual reality elevates the experience to euphoric new levels. And yet, for all the chatter of spiritual awakenings, there's a damn good game of Tetris here, bursting with inventive modes and beautiful visuals which will keep you hooked for potentially hundreds of hours.

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Sammy Barker·Sep 11, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

The Golf Club 2019 Featuring PGA Tour's foundations are built upon a rock-solid simulation, with tight swinging and tough greens making for a stern challenge that's difficult but fair. The addition of licensed courses means that this year's game has a much better campaign, but it doesn't feel like HB Studios has had quite enough time to capture the sense of occasion that real TPC events can have. As such, with 2K Sports now also on board as publisher, we reckon it's the next instalment that's really going to impress. The building blocks are all in place, though, and if you're in need of a serious golf game on your PS4 right now, then this edition very much finds the green.

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Sammy Barker·Aug 27, 2018

Critic60/100

Agreement—

Pizza Titan Ultra has a strong identity and a delicious gameplay loop, but the title actively works against you in later levels, sapping your momentum in a desperate attempt to inject some difficulty. It's a frustrating flaw, because between its high-octane arcade action and punchy personality, there's a slice of something nice here – you've just got to pick off all of the bits you don't like before you can truly enjoy it.

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Sammy Barker·Aug 14, 2018

Critic50/100

Agreement—

Wailing Heights' presentation is perfectly in-tune, but its gameplay is out of time. While it neatly repurposes some old point-and-click tropes, it doesn't quite have enough quality to match the ambition of the classics it's so clearly inspired by. There are some laugh out loud moments and some real ear-worm audio, but it's not quite enough to demand front-row seats for The Deadbeats' reunion tour.

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Sammy Barker·Aug 13, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

It's practically impossible to make any firm conclusions about The Walking Dead: The Final Season in its first episode, but the engine improvements have really helped step up the storytelling, while the new cast of characters seem interesting at this early stage. While we could take or leave the gameplay tweaks, particularly in the combat department, it's already clear that the stakes are going to be much higher in this concluding season than the series' previous disappointing outing – and for now, that's enough for us.

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Sammy Barker·Aug 11, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Electronauts' slickly presented, highly interactive sound stage makes for a thoroughly entertaining musical application. It's so easy to get into the groove as you remix songs in virtual reality, and while you probably won't recognise a lot of the artists included, the songs are solid and easy to manipulate. Veteran musicians may long for a little more control, but by emphasising accessibility, this is a game that everyone can enjoy.

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Sammy Barker·Aug 6, 2018

Critic80/100

Agreement—

You're right to be sceptical of EA Sports' buzzwords by now, but Madden NFL 19's headline Real Player Motion really does result in a more fluid game of football. The presentation may be familiar, but the game feels great on the field, and that consequently enhances all of its headline modes. Longshot: Homecoming may be short, but Tiburon's teen drama is well-presented and well written, while Franchise mode includes some oft-requested features, like draft classes. Ultimate Team, meanwhile, continues to be a grind – but it's an addictive one that's made all the more compulsive by the roster of gameplay improvements made elsewhere.

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Sammy Barker·Jul 24, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Games like Train Sim World will always benefit from a greater array of content: more trains, more routes, and more services. That said, learning how each of the trains in this title work and mastering the three main disciplines will take you hours at a time, and while it's very much an acquired taste, we derived a mixture of satisfaction and relaxation from our new role as a railway operator.

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Sammy Barker·Jul 17, 2018

Critic60/100

Agreement—

Look, it's a fun game, filled with flashing lights and so much digital detritus you'll need a shower after one run. But the thing is, you've played this before – not in this form in 4K on this particular format, but Tempest is Tempest and Tempest 4000 doesn't really try to be anything else.

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Sammy Barker·Jun 25, 2018

Critic60/100

Agreement—

The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit thoughtfully examines a troubled childhood through the eyes of the 10-year-old living it. This non-linear episode encourages you to explore, refraining from beating you over the head with its difficult subject matter. It's building into something, and it's hard to determine exactly what that is with DONTNOD being so coy about its plans for the sequel. You need to really dig into this to get anything out of it, and while we found the backstories of the small cast to be well thought out, it's hard to know what purpose they will serve yet.

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Sammy Barker·Jun 5, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Onrush is a chaotic arcade game that surprisingly comes together – even if there are question marks regarding its longevity. This brash vehicular experience draws inspiration from several different areas of the industry, but it reassembles them into something unusual and entertaining. A great online infrastructure means you can be in and out of the action in seconds, but the package could do with a little more meat on its bones to fully justify its price tag.

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Sammy Barker·May 24, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Detroit: Become Human is vintage Quantic Dream, delivering a multifaceted choose-your-own-adventure that's both ambitious and somewhat of an acquired taste.

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Sammy Barker·May 8, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

2MD VR Football works so well because it has the best throwing mechanic we've experienced with PlayStation VR to date. The game's relatively simplistic, tasking you with executing a series of successful two-minute drills, but the ability to design your own playbook paired with the implementation of recognised NFL rules mean that there's some strategy to this arcade affair. The art style's not going to appeal to everyone and it's unlikely to keep you occupied forever, but fans of American football are sure to have a blast doing their best Tom Brady impression in virtual reality.

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Sammy Barker·May 8, 2018

Critic40/100

Agreement—

AO International Tennis went wide with its first service, and double faults at second attempt.

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Sammy Barker·May 6, 2018

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Super Mega Baseball 2 looks like a straightforward arcade game and it can be if you want it to be – but there's a surprising amount of depth to this colourful sequel that will keep you coming back. The game's vibrant presentation and frenetic flow set it apart from MLB The Show, and its raft of customisation options mean that you can tailor it to your tastes. Some cumbersome controls can grate, but if you're looking for a baseball game a little less serious than Sony's, then this is a great alternative.