Sniper Ghost Warrior 3
PC, PS4, Xbox One, CI Games, rating: ★★★
Innovation in lifelike military shooters is a tricky business. The conflict between sticking to the conventions dictated by realism and breaking new ground has, arguably, stifled variety.
The Sniper Ghost Warrior series has tried to distinguish itself by focusing on long-range firearms and the third instalment in the series also differs from the previous releases’ linear offerings, presenting instead an open world. It’s full of decent enough missions that often require a more tactical approach than those seen in more gung-ho shooters.
But too much of Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 feels too generic. The narrative is weighed down with archetypes, the settings overfamiliar, and the sniping gunplay doesn’t quite do enough to make this feel distinct. It is certainly a pretty game, and those who enjoy sniping sections in other titles will likely take pleasure from it. But with so many military shooters on offer, there is still not quite enough here to make it stand out.
Puyo Puyo Tetris PS4, Switch, Sega, rating:★★★
Despite being one of the most enduringly successful puzzle games in Japan, Puyo Puyo has had little impact in the west. A shame, as its blob-clearing mechanics and massive chain combos showcase the genre at its addictive best.
Merging it with Tetris proves a good way to bring it to wider attention, but how appealing the result is depends on one’s tolerance for Japanese kitsch, with a lengthy – and irritatingly daft – storyline explaining the gameplay fusion.
Wisely leading with standard Tetris rounds, Puyo Puyo matches are slowly introduced and eventually mesh into one game mode. Matches escalate, alternating between each rule set, or switching between both styles mid-match.
Disappointingly, the joint mode with Puyos and Tetriminos falling on the same field is the least polished, resulting in a confusing hybrid that lacks the charm of either parent. However, the ability to create multiplayer matches with bespoke hybrid rules, or play traditional versions of both base titles, makes this a great party pleaser. 
PaRappa the Rapper Remastered PS4, Sony, rating: ★★★★
Comedy hip-hop and a bounty of silliness made PaRappa the Rapper an instant classic at launch some 20 years ago, and it’s just as charming and original now as it was in the original PlayStation era. An early example of the rhythm action genre, here the gameplay boils down to pressing buttons in time with music, a simplicity that makes things extremely accessible.
PaRappa is a talking dog who has to rap his way to romantic success by spitting bars with a host of anthropomorphic animals. This remaster updates many of the visuals, and provides a few extra functions, the most useful being optional controller vibration on the beat, making it a little easier to connect with the music.
Some of the game’s eccentricities have not aged well, and away from the core gameplay things are a little clunky, but anyone who enjoyed the original will be delighted that the pooch is back on the mic.
Innovation in lifelike military shooters is a tricky business. The conflict between sticking to the conventions dictated by realism and breaking new ground has, arguably, stifled variety.
The Sniper Ghost Warrior series has tried to distinguish itself by focusing on long-range firearms and the third instalment in the series also differs from the previous releases’ linear offerings, presenting instead an open world. It’s full of decent enough missions that often require a more tactical approach than those seen in more gung-ho shooters.
But too much of Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 feels too generic. The narrative is weighed down with archetypes, the settings overfamiliar, and the sniping gunplay doesn’t quite do enough to make this feel distinct. It is certainly a pretty game, and those who enjoy sniping sections in other titles will likely take pleasure from it. But with so many military shooters on offer, there is still not quite enough here to make it stand out.
Puyo Puyo Tetris PS4, Switch, Sega, rating:★★★
Despite being one of the most enduringly successful puzzle games in Japan, Puyo Puyo has had little impact in the west. A shame, as its blob-clearing mechanics and massive chain combos showcase the genre at its addictive best.
Merging it with Tetris proves a good way to bring it to wider attention, but how appealing the result is depends on one’s tolerance for Japanese kitsch, with a lengthy – and irritatingly daft – storyline explaining the gameplay fusion.
Wisely leading with standard Tetris rounds, Puyo Puyo matches are slowly introduced and eventually mesh into one game mode. Matches escalate, alternating between each rule set, or switching between both styles mid-match.
Disappointingly, the joint mode with Puyos and Tetriminos falling on the same field is the least polished, resulting in a confusing hybrid that lacks the charm of either parent. However, the ability to create multiplayer matches with bespoke hybrid rules, or play traditional versions of both base titles, makes this a great party pleaser. 
PaRappa the Rapper Remastered PS4, Sony, rating: ★★★★
Comedy hip-hop and a bounty of silliness made PaRappa the Rapper an instant classic at launch some 20 years ago, and it’s just as charming and original now as it was in the original PlayStation era. An early example of the rhythm action genre, here the gameplay boils down to pressing buttons in time with music, a simplicity that makes things extremely accessible.
PaRappa is a talking dog who has to rap his way to romantic success by spitting bars with a host of anthropomorphic animals. This remaster updates many of the visuals, and provides a few extra functions, the most useful being optional controller vibration on the beat, making it a little easier to connect with the music.
Some of the game’s eccentricities have not aged well, and away from the core gameplay things are a little clunky, but anyone who enjoyed the original will be delighted that the pooch is back on the mic.
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