Games of the week – Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Marvel’s Avengers, Necromunda: Underhive Wars and No Straight Roads
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Super Mario 3D All-Stars
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Genre: Adventure/Platformer
Price: £49.99
It’sa me…
Who can resist the charm of Mario, even if it’s a repackage of previous games? This time round you get three classics that have been optimised for the Nintendo Switch experience. This includes Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy, having received impressive HD graphic upgrades that don’t take the retro shine away from the Mario we all love. Where Sunshine and Galaxy are concerned, this is the first time they’ve been available as a handheld, and it works well. The co-star mode on Galaxy – previously seen on the Wii – allows a second player to manipulate the environment using a Joy-Con, which also translates well here. Fans also get the added treat of a music player featuring soundtracks from all three titles.
Skip to the end: £50 might be a big ask for a rehash of old games, but the fact you get three, alongside the soundtracks and enhanced graphics, sweetens the deal somewhat, as well as the alternative handheld experience this time round.
Score: 8/10
Marvel’s Avengers
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia
Genre: Role player game
Price: £49.99
No superhero…
Marvel’s Avengers doesn’t quite pack the punch of its starring superheroes in this muddled action mix that borrows heavily from the cinematic Marvel Universe, but without the same polish. Each hero has its own progression path but the story is disjointed, letting down a welcome breath of diversity in the form of Pakistani-American Kamala Khan – aka Ms Marvel – who is Muslim. A strong start for this live service title soon becomes repetitive and rewards for the progress you make are not that exciting. The multiplayer mode does provide some great added shared action to the experience, but isn’t enough to carry the entire game. There are also microtransactions, though these are mostly cosmetic, leaving you wondering if it’s worth spending more actual money.
Skip to the end: Marvel’s Avengers gets stuck trying to be a bit of everything, losing sight of a compelling character lead, though this won’t deter loyal Marvel fans.
Score: 6/10
Necromunda: Underhive Wars
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Genre: Tactical role player game
Price: £32.99
Warhammer hits the small screen
Games Workshop tabletop war game Necromunda makes its way onto computer screens while staying true to its strategic roots – and is rewarding too. Those unaware of the backstory, it sees you take on the role of one of several gangs, fighting for survival against others in an ominous, dark city. Gameplay is exciting with varying levels and missions, graphics are edgy, but it is the deep level of customisation that scores Necromunda: Underhive Wars the most points, allowing you to choose the finest of details on each member of your gang.
Skip to the end: A well-rounded adaption of the tabletop war game, filled with tactical elements and lots of customisation to keep things fresh.
Score: 7/10
No Straight Roads
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Genre: Third-person combat
Price: £34.99
Down beat
A slick-styled, neon-bold No Straight Roads features a quirky, music-filled story that sees a rock duo take on an EDM empire to free Vinyl City from their control. The game pits you against bosses of districts within the city one at a time through the power of music, switching between Mayday or Zuke utilising each one’s strengths, as well as using rhythm to dodge attacks. While each boss scene appears exciting to the eye, the fights themselves fall flat on actual action. The ability to collect items and upgrade your abilities adds some extra zing along the way.
Skip to the end: Loud, stylish and bold on the outlook, but actual combat scenes don’t match up to the same excitement.
Score: 7/10
