thecou..toolkit

There’s a lot to be said for style over substance. Obviously, a complete lack of substance is bad, but the same is often true for a complete lack of style. Call of Duty: Warzone attempts to balance the two.  The battle royale genre started with fairly drab beginnings in PUBG, or at least that was the first one to get noticed, but quickly found...

It’s almost cathartic to be playing Half-Life again. After a frankly agonising cliffhanger at the end of Episode Two way back in 2007, the franchise had fallen into obscurity. It remains a cultural phenomenon with fan projects, memes and discussion being omnipresent, but Valve had seemingly forgotten its existence, making the arrival of Half-Life:...

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is everything I wanted it to be. This also means it’s hardly changed at all, maintaining the charmingly simple formula that made previous games so iconic. It’s an adorable experience that constantly surprises, euphoric in the satisfaction it provides with each mechanic, no matter how big or small. The second I arrived...

Editor’s note: Due to performance issues for the Xbox One S version, we will not be giving Ori and the Will of a Wisps a final score until we test it with the day one patch.  Ori and the Will of the Wisps could have easily played it safe and stuck ardently to the blueprint of its acclaimed predecessor. But while the roots of this 2D platformer...

It’s hard to look at Bleeding Edge without immediately drawing comparisons to the likes of Overwatch. Both of them take place in a bright, colourful universe where each playable character is a distinctive misfit with their own lovable personality. What makes Bleeding Edge stand out is the esteemed studio behind it. Ninja Theory has built a reputation...

For many, the name Granblue Fantasy won’t mean much. Overseas, though, the series has gathered an incredible fanbase, stemming from the mobile game that was originally released in 2014 yet never saw the light of day in the UK or US. Now the series is looking to branch out with various Granblue-related projects in the works. The first spin-off from...

Pokemon is no stranger to spin-off experiences. Outside of the main series, developers around the world have found ample reasons to explore this franchise beyond its turn-based origins, and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon is one such excursion. Acting as a remake of 2005’s Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team, Nintendo has done a commendable job adapting them...

Back when it was first announced, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake felt like a miracle; a dream project that would never find its feet in the modern landscape. Reimagining such an iconic, beloved and recognisable staple of gaming history felt impossible, too ambitious in its vision to ever live up to expectations. Now, it’s become a reality, with Square...