As a huge fan of modern From Software games, I am often searching for that next Souls-like hit. While Lords of the Fallen has a few interesting ideas, unfortunately it does not come close to the quality of its inspirations. One of the reasons for this is that it does not seem to learn from the mistakes of other genre titles by making some frustrating design decisions such as cutscenes playing every time you retry a boss or annoying 'runbacks' from sparse checkpoints.

Part of the problem here is the vestige seed system, which allows you to set up your own checkpoint locations sporadically throughout the world. While on the surface this seems like an innovative mechanic to force the player to be more considerate and strategic about placements, it often feels stingy with the amount it provides you and leads to vast stretches of levels where you cannot rest or recover. The game's areas often blend into one, which makes navigation and exploration difficult. Combine this with a terrible map and you have an experience that feels much more like you're fumbling around in the dark than actively learning the world layout.

One thing that all good souls-like games need is balance and Lords of the Fallen fails to execute on this. Enemies and bosses often deal far too much damage, with plenty of enemies with ranged attacked pestering you while you're trying to engage with multiple foes at a time. Many fans of this genre would argue that the bosses make these games and Lords of the Fallen again under-delivers on this front. They often have slow and telegraphed attacks, with only a few moves up their sleeves, leading to an experience that feels quite simple.

Despite some of the negative points I raised above, there are a number of things that Lords of the Fallen does well. The dual-world system is quite novel and allows for some awe-inspiring moments of discovery. The build variety is also incredibly satisfying, with many different armor sets, weapons and spells. The combat feels decent and there are a decent variety of moves, with throwable being particularly well implemented. Visually, I find the game to be a mixed bag at times but the lighting and grand vistas are stunning.

Overall, Lords of the Fallen is an improvement over its predecessor but it still feels like a missed opportunity to cement its place as a genre great.

Alan wake II is a weird, wild and wonderful survival horror game that elevates the concepts of the first game to whole new levels. Whether you're solving mind-bending puzzles as the titular writer or piecing together a mystery as FBI agent Saga, there is always a compelling narrative thread driving you forward.

The visuals are absolutely stunning, alongside highly detailed character models and realistic animations that culminate in one of the best looking games I've ever played. The way that light interacts with the environments and plays on your mind as you shift between realities was particularly awe-inspiring.

Combat is much better this time around but I do think the balance between narrative sections and action sequences is not struck as well as it could have been, particularly in the first half and toward the end. It is also fairly challenging at times, with some portions of the game where ammunition felt scarce enough to keep you on edge.

I absolutely loved the pulpy neo-noir vibe of the story and world, brought to life by the exceptional character performances.

We all knew that Remedy were one of the most talented developers operating today, but Alan Wake II solidifies their place as one of the all-time greats through perhaps their best game yet.

Jusant is a meditative game experience where you play as a boy and a small creature who are tasked with climbing an enormous mountain on a mysterious world. Presented with a charming graphics style, you engage in simple ascendant puzzles with occasional moments of respite where you find notes that begin to shed some light on the world you're playing in.

The controls are straightforward, which I think ends up being detrimental to the experience but the game does introduce you to new mechanics at an even pace throughout the roughly 3 hour climb.

I mentioned those moments of respite and that is what Jusant feels like to me - a pleasant and reflective glade in a year of more intense gaming experiences.

The first game in one of my favorite franchises, remastered with great visuals and smooth gameplay.

While this entry is a little lighter on story than some of the future games, it lays the groundwork nicely for the overarching plot and provides plenty of laughs through the banter between Delta squad.

Movement is satisfyingly weighty, making you really feel like a heavily armored COG soldier as you stomp your way through the relatively short campaign. Combat is nice and crunchy, with gore and sound effects making up for the slightly repetitive nature of the encounters.

Excited to continue my replay through this series in Co-op, which is where they really shine.

Capcom clearly tried to jump on the co-op cover shooter bandwagon with a game that feels like 'the greatest hits of Resident Evil' by pitting you and three squad-mates against familiar franchises heroes and villains.

Over the course of 7 short missions, you play as one of several characters with their own unique weaponry, abilities and perks as you blast your way through hordes of enemies.

Unfortunately the game feels clunky, with terrible AI enemies and team-mates that lead to many annoying moments. For example, you cannot switch weapons while running, certain enemies can stun lock you with melee hits and grenades are absolutely rubbish.

There is no discernible art style, with very flat graphics, poor character models and very bad lighting.

As a massive fan of Resident Evil, this was potentially the worst game I've played in this franchise. Everything here is under-baked, from the barely existent story to the shoddy game-play.

I remembered Gears of War 2 very fondly and I am delighted to say that it still held up beautifully today after a much needed replay.

Taking the excellent formula established in the first game, the second entry cranks up the action, gore and emotion to whole new levels. With new weapons, enemy types and locations, it was a blast to fight off the locus horde once again with the iconic cast of characters quipping hilarious lines along the way.

Not only is Gears of War 2 funny and exciting, it also tugs on the heartstrings through some intense plot moments that make it a truly unforgettable experience.

I liked this game, but I really wanted to love it. Positives and negatives below:

+Great movement mechanics
+Incredible graphics
+Varied flora and fauna
+Smooth performance
+Decent combat

-Bad main story
-Absent, forgettable villain and other characters
-Terrible main character voice acting
-Repetitive, boring side missions and activities
-Tedious resource gathering/crafting

Would love to see more Avatar games in the future, although I'm not sure I'd want Ubisoft to tackle them.