Rabbbbiidddddssss!
In the second year—2017—of writing video game reviews, Akhil Arora played as a young footballer, a queer teenager, and a Rabbid Princess Peach.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm
“[The] real beauty of the prequel story … is in its writing, be it the emotional depth it affords all its characters (even the supporting cast), the rushed yet touching portrayal of queer teenage romance, as two girls open up about their feelings, or the way it talks about grief over losing a loved one, and exploring how it embeds itself in nearly everything you face.”
Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2
“Each level is highly imaginative, and looks different from the previous one, ensuring that your kid—all Lego games are targeted towards co-op, especially for parents and children—will enjoy them as whole-heartedly as you do. Add to that the banter provided by the Marvel characters, featuring original voice-acting unlike the reused lines in Lego Avengers, and you get a sequel that’s showing significant improvement.”
Super Lucky’s Tale
“A game that was either rushed out or was never given the development time it needed. There’s nothing memorable about Super Lucky’s Tale, be it the fairy-tale story about talking foxes taking on varying cats, or the platforming bits that make up most of its gameplay.”
This Is the Police
“[Still] a lot to admire here, especially the attention to sound design—from the satisfying clink of the cuffs every time you apprehend an offender, the patter of rain on windows and the windows themselves being drawn, and the jazz offering that accompanies and soothes you as you try to put an end to gruesome happenings. Unfortunately, once those turn into background wallpaper, the omissions only hurt more.”
FIFA 18: The Journey
“Even as The Journey has progressed in many ways—the narrative and player choice being the clear winners—it’s obvious that EA still needs to take a critical look at a lot of other aspects. […] But by continuing the [Alex] Hunter story … it’s created its own playable TV show of sorts, one you keep coming back to because you want to know more about the characters.”
Pro Evolution Soccer 2018
“The end-to-end gameplay of Pro Evolution Soccer is a double-edged sword. It’s the reason it’s so exciting to play—goal fests are, by their very nature—but it also contributes to making a game that feels unrealistic at best. And then there’s Konami and its licensing troubles, which seem to further deteriorate each year.”
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
“Don’t let the pretty family-friendly exterior of Mario + Rabbids fool you, this is a game that will have you pondering on how to best execute every turn without putting your characters in harm’s way, or risk having to restart all over again a dozen turns in.”
DiRT 4
“[A] new Dirt chapter that doesn’t share the ethos of its numbered predecessors, and it doesn’t feel right for the game to be called Dirt 4. That’s not to say the game isn’t good; fans of Dirt Rally, Project Cars, and other simulation titles will find enough to enjoy here. But if you’re getting into Dirt 4 to relive the joys of the earlier hits, this is the wrong game.”
Thimbleweed Park
“[An] appealing, and effective love letter to the movement they started back in the day. If you loved growing up with those titles, your decision has most likely already been made. For everyone else, Thimbleweed Park’s darkly humorous and self-referential approach, in combination with its oddball bunch of characters—everyone will have a different favourite—makes it an adventure well worth pointing your cursor at.”
For Honor
“[A] truly engaging experience when you’re out on the battlefield, and playing mind-games with your opponents. It goes beyond its contemporaries by adding depth to combat in a way that feels true to reality. But all of its niceties threaten to be overshadowed by the poor taste of the non-playable elements, which seem to be becoming a bit of a norm with top-tier video games.”