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Xbox One: Launch Reviews
All the scores of the launch games right here.
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The Xbox One review embargoes have started lifting, so to keep things manageable, we're rounding them up all in once place.
The embargoes are staggered throughout this week. Today we've got the first verdicts on Dead Rising 3, Killer Instinct, Crimson Dragon and Zoo Tycoon arriving at 2pm. Forza Motorsport 5's review is due 2pm GMT on Wednesday 20th, and Ryse: Son of Rome at 11am GMT on Thursday 21st. Reviews on Lococyle and Powerstar Golf will be appearing in the near future as well.
We'll also have an overview of the Xbox One hardware itself, taking in the console, controller, Kinect and mostly importantly the new Dashboard and its bag of tricks from 5am GMT tomorrow.
So keep this page bookmarked, and keep checking back with us. While we wait for the full review roundup, check out our Xbox One: Everything You Need to Know feature, for a comprehensive roundup of the console, past, present and future.
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Dead Rising 3: Review
"For those seeking a return to the comedy thrills of past iterations, there's enough of that original spirit here for that to still be possible, despite the grittier tone. Some won't appreciate the new save system and relaxed emphasis on timekeeping, but the remedy for that is to go straight to Nightmare mode as it's more inline with what's come before. If you're new to the series and are just after a decent zombie-fest and an open-world to explore on your new console, you'll find that here too. If you can forgive the fact that it's not the perfect advert for next-gen gaming, there's plenty of reasons to take a trip to Los Perdidos." 8/10
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Killer Instinct: Review
"It'll definitely appeal to the more hardcore genre fans out there, who'll no doubt benefit from using the arcade stick (which is also set to be released at the same time as the game). For casual fighters there's a significant barrier to entry. If you can overcome the complexity and get to grips with the myriad of combos, breakers and special moves, there's a really good fighting game waiting for you, but it's a big ‘if'." 8/10
Crimson Dragon: Review
"As it stands, you get a bunch of straightforward achievements for holding down the trigger and barrel-rolling left and right for seven to eight hours. That's not a great sell by any means. There's better launch titles out there for your money, offering depth alongside the spectacle we expect from the Xbox One." 4/10
Zoo Tycoon: Review
"There are plenty of features but it's rarely a hefty challenge. It's a game to be enjoyed at a relaxed pace, an experience to celebrate and share because it's so refreshingly pleasant." 8/10
Forza Motorsport 5: Review
"It needs more content: more cars and, in an ideal world, the same again number of tracks. But that doesn't stop it from being an absolutely brilliant racing game. It takes full advantage of the additional horsepower of Xbox One, and the introduction of Drivatars gives new life to the career mode. There's plenty of options to sink your teeth into, it's visually stunning, and the car handling is first rate. If you're still not sure which launch title to pick up when you get your new Xbox One at the end of the week, put this right at the top of the list." 9/10
Ryse: Son of Rome: Review
"The main problem here is that while the combat system works fine, and is suitably gory, it doesn't continue to engage for very long and after a while you're just going through the motions. There's just not enough depth there, and in just one run through the campaign you'll have sliced off enough identical barbarian arms to last a lifetime. The story was not to my tastes at all, wallowing as it did in historical inaccuracy and cliched elements (although I'm sure some people won't mind that at all). Yes it's very pretty, but it's also pretty dumb. It might be a great advert for what Xbox One can do from a technical perspective, but it's also likely going to be one of those launch titles that nobody remembers in a couple of years time." 5/10
Lococycle: Review
"It's trying to do homage to B-movies, the kind of films that revel in their low-budget origins and flirt with viewers via tongue-in-check humour and ropey visuals. It didn't work - in trying to ape something that's beautifully bad, Twisted Pixel has inadvertently made something that's not very good." 4/10
Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Review
"A lot of Lego games feel overly familiar after a while, but to be honest, their familiarity has become something of a strength over time. If you have never had much time for them before now, this one won't change your mind. But if you know the difference between Dormammu and Deadpool, you'll be right at home here." 8/10
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag: Review
"The combination of the now classic Assassin's Creed brand of gameplay and the great sense of freedom and adventure when out on the open seas is just as awesome as it sounds. It's not innovative or revolutionary, we've seen it all before to varying degrees, but Ubisoft has become a well-oiled Assassin's Creed making machine over the years. It's not just a brilliant Assassin's Creed, but Black Flag also managed to eclipse every other pirate themed game I've ever played." 9/10
Battlefield 4: Review
"Battlefield 4 delivers the most immersive and polished experience in the franchise's history. No one will leave this game disappointed, unless your focus is the single-player mode." 9/10
Call of Duty: Ghosts: Review
"As far as Call of Duty: Ghosts goes, from our time with the game, it's hard to find something else that offers so much to the player. Ghosts is the complete package." 9/10
FIFA 14: Review
Bit of a tricky one, as we felt FIFA 14 on current-gen wasn't up to scratch this year as they were holding back for the next-gen version of the game. We've not had a chance to sit down with the Xbox One version for long enough to write up a full review, but we have played a few games...