Charlie Braithwaite
Editor/Co-owner
State of Decay 2 review: State of okay
Reviewed on Xbox One, copy supplied by publisher. It’s a given that a zombie apocalypse is going to be a bleak time, but that doesn’t mean it should be a tedious time. Unfortunately this is a memo that seems to have been missed in State of Decay 2. There’s an awful lot of milling around one location being upset, with the admittedly fun core of the game becoming lost in the depressing cocoon that s...[Read More]
Sea of Thieves review: Buried content
Reviewed on Xbox One and PC, copy supplied by publisher. Who would have thought setting sail on the high seas could be some of the most exciting gameplay we’ve had in a long time, but also some of the blandest. Sea of Thieves is a bit of a double edged cutlass, doing a lot right and doing a lot wrong. From the get go the free-form approach Sea of Thieves takes is evident. Once you’ve selected your...[Read More]
Far Cry 5 review: Playing the trump card
Reviewed on PlayStation 4, copy supplied by Ubisoft. Kicking things off with a tense and often horrifying tone, Far Cry 5 is a familiar departure for the series. If that sounds contradictory, it is. It’s hard to look at Far Cry 5’s gameplay and not see Far Cry 4 set in the United States – albeit with a nicer feel. Whilst the game’s narrative is up there with the darkest in the series, it also sti...[Read More]
A.O.T. 2 review: More of the same, but still good
Reviewed on PlayStation 4, copy supplied by publisher. Offering up some of the smoothest anime action you can get your hands on, Koei Tecmo’s take on Attack on Titan is not only faithful to the series, but a dream to play. This sequel seems like it snuck up quickly, with the first installment only coming out at the tail end of 2016 in western markets, but it’s still a welcome addition...[Read More]
Kingdom Come Deliverance review: A historically accurate moron simulator
Reviewed on PlayStation 4, copy supplied by publisher. I really wanted to like Kingdom Come Deliverance, on paper it sounds like my kind of game – however in execution I found myself sitting on the couch with glassy eyes and a wandering mind. What should have been an engrossing RPG turned out to be a questionable and often times baffling exploration into the mundane. Set in the Bohemia (whi...[Read More]
Prepare for more realistic titans: We talk A.O.T. 2 with game producer Hisashi Koinuma
Having personally adored the first Attack on Titan hack and slash game – you can read my review here – I’m looking forward to swinging around slashing giant idiots on the back of the neck in Attack on Titan 2. Gearing up for launch we discussed the upcoming game with Attack on Titan 2‘s producer, Hisashi Koinuma, who has worked with Koei Tecmo as a director and producer on ...[Read More]
Civilization VI: Rise and Fall review: A golden age for existing fans
Reviewed on PC, copy supplied by publisher. Civilization VI has been one of my guilty pleasures for some time now. Not guilty in the sense that it’s something to be ashamed of, but due to the sheer number of hours that are sunk into it at the expense of sleep. The latest expansion for Civilization VI, Rise and Fall has reignited a passion in the game for me, but it’s still kind of har...[Read More]
Dragon Ball FighterZ review: Pretty super if you know what we’re saiyan
Reviewed on PlayStation 4, copy supplied by publisher. Dragon Ball FighterZ has done something that I feared would never happen, it made me like fighting games again. Aside from some fun with endless Street Fighter II ports, I’d kinda given up on the prospect of sinking into that genre again. The healthy dose of Dragon Ball that comes with Dragon Ball FighterZ sure helps things along, but th...[Read More]
Monster Hunter World review: The best animal murdering game on the market
Reviewed on PS4, copy supplied by publisher. For the uninitiated, Monster Hunter World can be an overwhelming game. It turns out that hunting monsters isn’t as simple as it says on the tin. As my first Monster Hunter title, it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting – it was far better. Jumping into the game it’s clear the level of detail Capcom have put into this title is imme...[Read More]
Sea of Thieves lets you weaponize vomit
Forget cutlasses, cannons and pistols – it’s all about buckets of vomit when it comes to pirate warfare. Over the past few days I’ve been sailing around the world of Sea of Thieves, throwing stomach pulp on people. I’ll break this majestic move down for you; if you smash back a couple tankards of grog in Sea of Thieves you’ll start to go a bit woozy. Eventually after getting some...[Read More]
Skyrim VR review: I wanted to vomit on Alduin, but it’s still a great game
Reviewed on PlayStation 4, copy supplied by publisher. If you thought the only thing Skyrim was lacking was blurry visuals and an overwhelming sense of nausea, then you will be so stoked with Skyrim VR. Okay, maybe that sounds bad, but in reality, Skyrim VR is a pretty solid game. Sure, you’ve probably played it a million times already, but the world does benfit from the new perspective, eve...[Read More]
Rumu review: Suck up those tears
Reviewed on PC, copy supplied by publisher. Putting you in control of a sentient vacuum cleaner, Rumu is a game that wasn’t exactly on my radar last year, and to say I was surprised by what I experienced is an understatement. What I thought would be a fun little mini-game of vacuuming up after your messy owners turned out to be an emotional and poignant experience that knows how to place so...[Read More]