Tag: Reviews - Page 5
Mini Review Golf Club Wasteland - A Brilliant Birdie From The Rough
Yes, there is life on Mars
We were drawn to Golf Club: Wasteland from minute one. A golf game in which Earth is now a course for the ultra rich and the remains of civilization live on Mars? It's a great concept, and while the golf itself is nothing to write home about, it's the combination of everything else that makes Golf Club: Wasteland a...
Mini Review The Big Con - A Charming Xbox Console Exclusive
90s road trip, anyone?
There's something about the atmosphere of the 90s that just resonates with so many people - even those who weren't even alive during the time period. From the classic dial-up tone when you connected to the internet to taking home your favourite movie from Blockbuster, it's a timeless period that many feel nostalgic towards...
Review Aliens: Fireteam Elite - A Survival Shooter That's All About The Action
A mostly great squad-based Xeno shooter. Mostly.
Diving into Cold Iron Studios' Aliens: Fireteam Elite for the very first time - especially if your last videogame experience of this universe was Alien: Isolation - it's probably best to adjust your expectations ever so slightly. This isn't some slow-burn horror effort, tension-filled corridor crawler...
Review Psychonauts 2 - Bigger, Better And Crazier, Another GOTY Contender
Absolutely mental
Replaying the first Psychonauts this year felt as though we'd slipped back into our younger selves, sat in front of the TV on a Saturday morning watching cartoons. It has such a wonderful atmosphere, with characters we love, a world that's a delight to explore, and a beautiful insight into mental health that's portrayed with ease...
Review Twelve Minutes - The Game Pass Thriller With A Hollywood Cast
If I could turn back time
It's impossible to not at least be intrigued by Twelve Minutes. An interactive top-down thriller, launching into Xbox Game Pass on day one, and starring a Hollywood cast the likes of which games are almost never treated to, especially in the case of indie titles. The question is, can it live up to the hype? Fortunately, the...
Mini Review Button City - All Style, No Substance
Defunctland
From the outside, Button City looks as though it should be a wholesome recipe for success. It has a wonderful visual style, cute characters and boasts a ton of arcade games to lose yourself in. All of this is set to be wrapped in a beautifully told story that pulls on those nostalgic heartstrings of sitting in the arcades when you were...
Review Hades - The Genre-Defining Roguelike Strikes Again
A roguelike for people who hate roguelikes
What can we say about Hades that hasn't already been said? It's a genre-defining title that captured the hearts of millions of players around the world last year and went on to win many awards. Now, after almost an entire year since its full release, Xbox players can finally get their hands on the huge hit...
Mini Review The Krispy Kreme Xbox Donut - A Series-ly X-cellent Treat
Sooooo good
It's here. After months of waiting - the donut to end all other donuts. Krispy Kreme has launched The Nexus Level donut, an Xbox style treat which is sure to tickle your taste buds. As with any big release, we've been on the ground day one to check it out, give it a taste, and share our thoughts. While we're not quite donut connoisseurs,...
Review Microsoft Flight Simulator - Taking The Xbox Series X To New Heights
Come fly with me
Updated review (Xbox Series X version, July 2021): Microsoft Flight Simulator has finally arrived on Xbox Series X|S, and following on from our review of the PC version last year, we've had a chance (thanks to Xbox Game Pass) to get hands-on with the Xbox Series X edition over the past few days. Simply put, Flight Sim makes a...
Mini Review Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 - The Official Video Game - A Worthy Competitor
Included with Free Play Days this weekend
Update: With the Olympics beginning in real life today, and Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 included with this weekend's batch of Free Play Days titles, we're republishing this review to help you decide if you fancy trying it! Original story: Whether you should consider picking up the official game of this year's...
Mini Review Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance - It's Dangerous To Go Alone, So Bring Some Friends
Transforming the classic fantasy series into an action-brawler
Updated Review (pre-patch): Dark Alliance’s multiplayer did not match our solo playthrough and considering it's one of the key features of this game, we’re docking a point from the final score. When playing online there were delays between button inputs and the action that occurs on...
Mini Review Wreckfest For Xbox Series X - A Visually Impressive, Messily Executed Upgrade
Racing to the symphony of destruction
Oh boy, where do you even start with this one? You might remember that back in March, destructive Xbox Game Pass racer Wreckfest received a very generous free 4K, 60FPS patch for Xbox Series X, making it run better than ever on next-gen consoles. It was a genuinely fantastic addition to the game, but the...
Review Biomutant - An Ambitious Game Weighed Down By Its Own Ideas
A missed opportunity
There was a moment ten hours into Biomutant where we had to pause and collect our thoughts. Not because the game was particularly challenging or intense, but from the overwhelming amount of systems being thrown at us. The marketing up until its release has heavily focused on the creativity inside the game, and its definitely...
Ethan's Hunt
Set just three years after the events of 2017's superlative Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil Village rejoins perennial whiner Ethan Winters and his wife Mia as they struggle to come to terms with the ordeal they suffered at the hands of the hillbilly Bakers in the Mold-infested swamps of Louisiana. Although the family has now been whisked...
Mini Review Judgment - A Fantastic Yakuza Spin-Off That Looks Better Than Ever On Xbox Series X
I hereby find you, excellent!
Right out of the gate - if you've ever been interested in the Yakuza series but turned off by the number of entries, then Judgment is the game for you. It's a fantastic insight into the world that the franchise has built, but under the guise of a new eye. The game sets itself as a perfect starting point for newcomers,...
Review MLB The Show 21 - Xbox Fans, It's Finally Time To Play Ball
Welcome to The Show
Baseball fans never thought they'd see this moment arrive, but it's finally here! MLB The Show 21 is officially an Xbox game, not to mention a day one Xbox Game Pass addition, and seeing the little PlayStation intro sequence as you boot it up definitely takes some getting used to! Full disclaimer, we're not hardcore veterans of...
We're pretending we're Supermen again
We comprehensively reviewed Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 back at launch and found it to be a superb return to form for the Birdman, but now we're doing things a little different with its upcoming Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S upgrade, as there are quite a few things to talk about in regards to the improvements...
Mini Review RetroMania Wrestling - An Enjoyable Old School Alternative To WWE 2K
A non-WWE game on Xbox? What a rush!
We've definitely been starved for good wrestling games on Xbox over the past decade, but if you're looking for something a bit more old school, RetroMania Wrestling finally has you covered. The game is an official sequel to 1991's arcade classic, WWF WrestleFest, boasting a highly detailed style of 2D...
Hardware Review Xbox Wireless Headset - Our Final Verdict
It's time to face the music
Microsoft's brand new Xbox Wireless Headset arrived in stores this week, so what is Pure Xbox's final verdict? Following on from our initial early impressions, we've now been able to give this new set of wireless cans a real workout and while they might not necessarily appeal to audiophiles out there, we're confident...
Feature Early Impressions: We Take The Xbox Wireless Headset For A Road Test
"I'm hearing sounds I haven't heard before"
By no means am I an expert when it comes to sound and audio, but I can at least provide some early (and much more basic) impressions about Microsoft's new Xbox Wireless Headset while we wait on our official Pure Xbox review. At the time of writing, I've done about six hours of testing with this headset,...
Review Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time - Platforming Bliss On Xbox Series X
Grandmaster Crash
Updated Xbox Series X Review (by Fraser Gilbert): It hasn't even been six months since Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time first launched for Xbox One, and the game has already received an updated version for Xbox Series X and S. We've checked out the Xbox Series X version, and while it already played really well through backwards...
Mini Review Pacer - The Closest Thing To Wipeout On Xbox
On your marks, get set, Wipeout!
If you're of a certain age and you've owned a PlayStation at some point in your life, you probably have some fond memories of the futuristic racing series Wipeout. And while it's never made the crossover to Xbox over the years, R8 Games has created a faithful and enjoyable spiritual successor in the form of Pacer,...
Mini Review Football Manager 2021: Xbox Edition - Say Goodbye To Your Spare Time
But prepare for some awkward controls
Football Manager 2021: Xbox Edition joins Xbox Game Pass this week, so we've put together this little mini review so you know what to expect. The Xbox Edition is playable on Xbox consoles and PC with Xbox Play Anywhere. We're willing to bet if you're reading this review, you've know at least something about...
Mini Review Taxi Chaos - Competent Enough, But Lacking That 'Crazy' Factor
Let's take a trip back to 1999
Here's the thing about Taxi Chaos; it unapologetically borrows the formula from SEGA's popular Crazy Taxi series in almost every single way, and if you enjoyed that game back in the day, you'll probably get at least a few kicks out of this one. It handles well, the city is well realised and brimming with colour, and...
Review Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood - Feels Dated, But Enjoyable Nonetheless
Rage against the machine
It's hard to get away from the feeling while you're playing Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood that it would have been more suited for the original Xbox or Xbox 360 generation. That might sound like a criticism, but while the game certainly feels a little dated and overly simplistic in certain ways, it's also a experience...
Review The Medium - A Stunning Xbox Series X Showpiece, Let Down By Uninspired Gameplay
Hello from the other side!
The Medium often feels like a theme park attraction. I'm not talking about the thrilling adventure of Space Mountain at Disneyland, but something more in line with a slower dark ride attraction such as The Haunted Mansion. Bloober Team's latest title, one that aims to utilise the Xbox Series X|S' horsepower to a large...
Review Hitman 3 - A Fitting End To A Magnificent Trilogy
47th Heaven
The final entry in IO Interactive's incredible World of Assassination trilogy, Hitman 3 sees everyone's favourite follicly challenged freak return for one more round of slick and addictive assassination action, and what a way to wind up Agent 47's story this is. From its glitzy, glamourous opening in a Dubai skyscraper, a fully-fledged...
Review Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition - A Cracking Comeback
"Hey! You totally came!"
When Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game was removed from digital storefronts in 2014, it was a massive blow. A game franchise which celebrated gaming as a medium was cruelly snatched from us. Since then it’s garnered a massive cult following, and over the years has since become a relic from the Xbox 360 era. Then, last...
Review Cyberpunk 2077 - Packed With Potential, But Desperately In Need Of Some TLC
Soulkiller?
Disclaimer: This review has been updated to include our verdict based on the initial 1.04 hotfix update for Cyberpunk 2077 on Xbox One, and also now includes a score to represent that version of the game. We're not sure we've ever before played through a fully released AAA title while constantly thinking to ourselves "this is going to...
Review Gears Tactics - Top-Notch Tactical Action On Xbox Series X
Let slip the cogs of war
Just over six months since it originally released on PC back in April, Gears Tactics finally makes its way to both the Xbox One and Microsoft's brand new Series X/S consoles. This really is an excellent - and very well-timed - addition to the console's Game Pass offerings, a thrilling top-down tactical effort that manages to...
Review Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War - Par For The Course, But Undeniably Fun
Jingo all the way.
Call of Duty: Black Ops returns with a brash and bombastic Cold War campaign that hammers home the series' usual heavy-handed jingoism as it funnels you through shooting galleries full of dim-witted enemies and bashes you over the head with OTT set pieces. This is Black Ops returning to its roots somewhat, steering mercifully...
Review Halo: The Master Chief Collection - Another Chance To Revisit The Classics On Series X
What once was old...
While we wait for Halo Infinite to land on Xbox Series X, at least we have a Series X|S optimised version of Halo: The Master Chief Collection now. Players with compatible displays will be able to experience up to 120 FPS at 4K on Series X and 1080p on Series S. This update also includes some graphic enhancements to the game...
Review NBA 2K21 Next-Gen - A Surprisingly Feature-Packed Upgrade For Series X
A net gain on next-gen
It’s an unwritten rule of next-gen gaming that a console must launch alongside at least one sports game, and that everyone must fawn over how it’s the best that sport has ever looked in video game form, but then acknowledge that the race to get it on next-gen invariably means modes have had to be dropped in the process...
Review Watch Dogs: Legion - Visually Impressive On Series X, But Repetitive And Clunky
Ded On Arrival?
The hacky-smacky members of Watch Dogs' DedSec return for a third outing in the series that sees the hacktivist gang on the run, framed for a terrorist attack they didn't commit and looking to clear their name as they strike back against shadowy figures across a truly impressive vision of a dystopian near-future London. There are...
Review FIFA 21 - The Slightly More Beautiful Game
Heading in the right direction
It's that time of year again, as EA's never-ending FIFA franchise dribbles down the tunnel and out onto the pitch for another brand new season. It's an incremental update for the most part this time around, there are no really big marquee additions or modes to speak of here, beyond Volta's new story "Debut", but the...
Review Star Wars: Squadrons - The Force Is Strong With This One
Use the Force, LukeSkyWLKR1991
There's an indestructibly attractive core at the heart of the Star Wars franchise that manages to remain forever untarnished no matter how many godawful Christmas Specials, Battles for Endor, butt-clenchingly dull Trade Agreements or "I don't like sand" moments are thrown at it. We're talking about the wonderfully...
Hands On What's Different About eFootball PES 2021 Season Update?
It's still a great footie game, but what's changed?
If this were any normal year, we'd be going fully in-depth on the last entry in Konami's long-running Pro Evolution Soccer series, giving you the lowdown on all the gameplay changes, new modes and more. This time around, however, Konami is doing things a little differently - instead of dropping a...
Review Marvel's Avengers - Undeniably Fun, But A Bit Rough Around The Edges
A solid start for the Avengers
Marvel's Avengers, much like the most recent cinematic interpretations of the MCU, is at once a spectacular, bloated, messy and undeniably fun experience. It nails the characterisations of its central superheroes, provides a surprisingly entertaining and lengthy campaign full of bombastic action and addictive combat,...
Review Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 - Returns The Series To Its Former Glory
The Birdman is back
It's hard to believe we've reached this point. It's been well over a decade since Tony Hawk fans were last treated to a standout title in the long-running series, and even a past attempt at remastering the original two games didn't come close to hitting the mark back in 2012 with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD. But this time,...
Review Tell Me Why - A Memorable And Thought-Provoking Mystery
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
It appears as though the creative masterminds behind Life is Strange took the criticism about the second game's widely spaced out episodes to heart. This time around, Dontnod Entertainment is releasing all three chapters of its brand-new IP Tell Me Why across a three-week period (published by Xbox Game Studios) from...
Review Battletoads - A Hilarious And Hugely Entertaining Adventure
Grip it and ribbit
We’ll be the first to admit that the trailers for Dlala Studios’ reboot of Battletoads didn’t fill every member of the Pure Xbox team with confidence. Battletoads is an iconic series for many generations: older gamers remember playing it back in the day and enjoying it because of (or despite) its extreme difficulty, while...
Review Minecraft Dungeons - A Delightfully Breezy Action-RPG
Diablocks
It may seem like a somewhat risky move to make a Minecraft game that strips out Mojang's signature gameplay loops of digging, building and crafting endlessly in an infinite open world, but Minecraft Dungeons' shift to a Diablo-esque focus on looting and hack-and-slash combat against the many mobs that roam its blocky lands pays off...
Review Formula Retro Racing - The Next Best Thing To Virtua Racing On Xbox One
Virtua Tracing
Sega’s seminal 1992 arcade game Virtua Racing has aged like a fine wine. As one of the first ever polygonal racing games, until recently it was considered a bit visually basic by today’s standards. All that changed when Sega re-released the game on Switch with a 1080p and 60fps polish, and suddenly it looked like a cool, stylised,...
Review Bleeding Edge - Lacking Content, But Packed With Potential
A good idea in Theory
Given that Ninja Theory has established itself as a studio with a pedigree for fantastic single-player games, it’s interesting that its latest title is a strictly online multiplayer affair. With the outstanding Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice still lingering in the minds of many gamers and its sequel on the way, Bleeding Edge...
Review Assassin's Creed Odyssey - The Best Assassin's Creed Has Ever Been
By The Beard Of Zeus!
Assassin's Creed Odyssey continues down the exciting new path forged by its predecessor Origins, refining the reworked combat introduced in the ancient Egyptian epic and bolstering the RPG elements which saw that title heralded as something of a grand rebirth for the franchise. This is a huge adventure set in a stunning...
Review Resident Evil 3 - A Disappointing Follow-Up To Last Year's Brilliant Resident Evil 2
Raccoon City Rancour
Perhaps it was somewhat foolish to expect that a Resident Evil 3 remake, no matter how radical, could manage to reach the heady heights of last year's sublime Resident Evil 2. With much weaker source material to work from – there ain't no Raccoon City Police Department here – this one was always likely to be an uphill...
Review Resident Evil 2 - A Stellar Remake Of A Stone-Cold Classic
Raccoon City Redux
Ask anyone who played the original release of Resident Evil 2 back in 1998 what they remember most fondly about their time with the game and we reckon a lot of folk will gravitate towards the Raccoon City Police Department. Easily the best setting in a Resident Evil to date – although Resident Evil 7's hillbilly hellhouse runs...
Review DOOM Eternal - One Of The Best First-Person Shooters Ever Made
DOOM! Shake the room
We've just blasted and beaten our way into a remote cultist facility deep in the Artic Tundra, hot on the heels of the hell priest Deag Ranak. As we enter this towering death complex its tannoy speakers squeal to life – "The slayer has arrived. All mortally-challenged personnel please be advised." Ahead of us lies a bloody...
Review Cuphead - Difficult But Downright Delightful
Studio MDHR gambles and wins
There are very few games that so completely achieve what they set out to be. Studio MDHR’s Cuphead is one of them, a game that feels like a singular, focused vision come to life – as though it jumped out of its creator’s imaginations without compromise and without having to be made to fit a framework. It’s...
Review Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare - A Fresh Take On A Stale Formula
Breach and clear
Coming after the mixed reception to 2018’s Call Of Duty: Black Ops 4, Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare already has one plus on its side from the off: a fully-fledged story campaign. While many might argue whether narrative modes have much of a place in an era of battle passes and games as a service, Modern Warfare proves a story mode...
