Reviews by Kyle Ellis

Warning: Spoilers
Usually when "Grand Theft Auto" comes out, it takes a good week or two for the initial "WOW!" factor to wear off. I purposely put off reviewing this until I had completed the entire game, because by then I knew I'd have some time to take it all in and form a more objective opinion.

First of all, early criticisms included accusations that the game was "too short." Yes, perhaps - if you rush through it over the course of a caffeine-enhanced weekend. For those of us with modest social lives and jobs who can't devote 12 hours a day to a video game, it'll take a while. I played about 35 hours before beating the "basic" single player missions - and I say "basic" because there's a lot more to do in the game once you've completed the main structure. I can still get in a cop car and chase down criminals if I want to, or perform assassinations, or find all the stunt jumps, or street race cars. It's quite limitless.

But anyway, like I said - it took about 35 hours to beat the main structure of gameplay, which translated into a solid two weeks. It may be a tad bit shorter than "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" but I had so much fun I wasn't counting.

The pros of the game are: better graphics, more realistic graphics engine and physics, better on-foot fighting/gunplay controls, more attention paid to the storyline and characters, and an overall more expansive universe.

The downsides are: even though the controls for fighting are better, they still need drastic improvement; the whole "duck/dodge" thing is quite lame and doesn't work half the time. If you lock onto someone and try to lock onto somebody else instead, it doesn't work correctly - or fast enough. Sometimes during missions I'd try to lock onto the villain and end up locking onto a pedestrian further away. The "free aim" pressure sensitivity is also confusing.

I do think there's a bit of contrivance towards the end of the game as well. I won't put any spoilers in, but suffice to say you're playing a fairly ruthless thug who has a heart compared to past GTA characters but nonetheless has no qualms with kidnapping a girl and referring to her in derogatory terms, or killing countless people, but is then expected to show more depth towards the end for a female character that is underdeveloped to begin with. I can understand what they were TRYING to do and I admire that, but they should have expanded the relationship between Nico and Kate before attempting to pull that off. Nico ends up coming across as something of a self-absorbed person at the end, because you have to wonder if the motivation for revenge is really because he cared about this other person or whether it's just because he wants to prove to himself that he has room to care about someone.

Really, though, that's the only fault. The overall mechanics of the plot and the expansiveness of it all is cinematic and deeper than any other GTA game.

The physics are far better than previous games which has caused some people to complain because they can't flip their cars a hundred times and keep driving, but I liked it. Liberty City is totally revamped and looks and feels like a real, living city - it's amazing. The attention to detail is quite impressive - non-characters walking down the street just start smoking cigarettes or drinking coffee. Sometimes as you pass by someone too fast they'll drop their bag of groceries or stumble over. I can't wait to see what a GTA game will look like in ten years' time.

Too much has already been said about this game for me to add anything new or insightful, really, but I will end this by saying I disagree that it's "by far" the best game of the series. I love it about as much as I loved "Vice City," which was probably my favourite. It's hard to compare them because each has their strengths. I didn't like San Andreas quite as much as Vice City but even "San Andreas" had the benefit of planes and skydiving and bicycles which have been removed from GTA IV. But basically I think this fits in well with the others; it has enough advancements to be truly "fresh" while still providing the same dark humour and basic gameplay attributes of previous games. It's a solid addition to an already excellent franchise and just a lot of fun.

'Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)' is, as of now, the final main instalment in its series. Although it isn't quite as good as 'Batman: Arkham City (2011)', it ends the story on a solid note and is a fantastic game from the second it begins. Its narrative picks up after the gloomy end of its predecessor, taking things in a somewhat new direction when Scarecrow - one of the highlights of the first game in the series - rolls into Gotham with a plan to bring it to its knees. There are some really interesting characterisations here and the title does quite a bit of exploration when it comes to Batman's innermost fears and anxieties. Of course, it also has a couple of less successful moments. However, the overall thing is compelling and entertaining right the way through. The gameplay is probably the most refined it has ever been, tightening up series-staple mechanics while introducing several new gadgets and abilities. The combat is as deep and fluid as you'd expect, while the predator encounters are as challenging and suspenseful as ever. It's all really exciting and often contextualised within its wider world. That's because this time the entire city is explorable, from its highest rooftops to its shabbiest alleys. Soaring over the rain-soaked city as searchlights blaze their circles into the sky is simply stunning. Beneath its grimy aesthetic, the game really is gorgeous; the jump in generation between this title and the last is evident. The thing's most major new mechanic is the Batmobile, which has proven controversial among fans. Personally, I think it's a great addition. The car mode provokes an intense feeling of speed and the tank mode satisfyingly allows you to deal out some heavy damage. Perhaps it is leaned on a little too heavily in some scripted segments and in some of the Riddler's puzzles, but it's an enjoyable element of the experience that never truly feels cumbersome. Besides, it can launch you into the air, which is indescribably fulfilling. The city itself is peppered with stuff to do, all of which progresses side-plots than can result in you apprehending several well-known villains. This is great because it means that there is no busywork. It really is a treat to see your progress in real time, as Gotham PD fills up with the likes of Two-Face and the Penguin. Of course, there's also the elusive Riddler to contend with. He's put his trophies all over the place yet again and given you another set of lore-based riddles to solve. They're all tied to a series of 'Saw (2004)'-like traps and, this time, the completion of thse bring you one step closer to freeing Catwoman (who has been captured by the rogue and assists you in her own escape). This a great way of making the Riddler stuff seem even more urgent than it has before, as it directly impacts a playable character who is an important part of the series. The game, as a whole, has a strong sense of urgency to it. It supposedly plays out in real time and it pushes the Dark Knight to his limits. It's filled with effective storytelling, engaging characters and exciting gameplay. It's an extremely enjoyable experience. 10/10

Elden Ring has quickly become 2022's greatest pop-cultural phenomenon; in these unpredictable times it's games like this (let alone immersive narrative experiences) that give us new appreciation for fantasy storytelling as a whole.

Elden Ring has everything: horseback travel, fast-travel, interesting characters encouraging you to keep digging into the world to know more about its history, punchy swordplay, scale and scope to remember, and boss-battles that leave you feeling extra fulfilled when you've won after God-knows-how-many-attempts. The fantasy genre has always been ripe for video games to explore thanks to their emphasis on exploration and overcoming challenges, and Elden Ring feels like it's a summation of everything JRR Tolkien, George RR Martin (obviously), Zelda, Skyrim and the Souls games (Bloodborne too) to make up an experience that's something else.

This is an example of gaming and storytelling coming hand-in-hand where the progression of the player progresses the story in turn. Elden Ring is challenging yet rewarding, expansive yet not too overwhelming in its scope, hard yet adaptable, and fun yet immersive that the world ceases to be fake in the eyes (and minds) of the player.

Elden Ring gets 5/5 stars. It's a great time to be had for gamers everywhere.

Alan Turing was a fascinating, complex person who deserves to be better known to the world. Likewise his story is important and deserves to be told rather than forgotten. Had high hopes for 'The Imitation Game', after hearing so many good things about it, and it ended up being one of my favourite films of 2014.

That 'The Imitation Game' is historically inaccurate and has distortions didn't offend me as much as some reviewers, biographical dramas are notorious for this so it's come to be expected by me (not that that is meant to be an excuse). All that was wanted was a film that made me think, moved me, was well made and well acted. 'The Imitation Game' was all those things and more.

It isn't perfect, the political elements are on the preachy side and there are a few strands that could have gone into more detail, Turing's sexuality should have gotten into more depth than it was.

However, 'The Imitation Game' is exceptionally well made. It's immaculately photographed and has some of the best production design of its best, especially in the costumes. The direction allows the film to be absorbing, while the music score is often hauntingly beautiful and never intrusive.

In terms of the script, 'The Imitation Game' does a wonderful job in provoking thought and providing emotional impact and nuances and fleshes the characters out with remarkable complexity. What could have been potentially dry treatment of the subject matter turned out to be fascinating, thrilling and very moving.

Benedict Cumberbatch gives his best performance of a very solid career, an outstanding portrayal that won't be forgotten for years to come. Keira Knightley is a sympathetic confidante and Charles Dance is excellent as always as his superior. The supporting cast are without complaint.

Overall, wonderful film and its acclaim is a long way from an enigma. 9/10 Bethany Cox

No scratch that. Chinatown is actually my personal favourite of Roman Polanski's movies. It is a wonderful movie, as well as an affectionate and inspired homage to film noir, with a lot to love about it.

Roman Polanski's direction is superb. He always directs with such precision in this movie and it shows loud and clear.


The production values are terrific. Chinatown does look ravishing, the costumes, detail, scenery and cinematography are all exemplary.


I am a big Jerry Goldsmith fan, since seeing The Wind and the Lion and hearing his amazing score for that. His music score up here is up there with his best, it doesn't feel hackneyed or generic in any way, it really shows a master at work.


The script is brilliantly organised. In fact along with Casablanca, Shawshank Redemption and All About Eve I think Chinatown has one of the best screenplays ever written.


The story is never less than compelling. It is a wonderful story thet has just the right amount of intensity without being too convoluted and paced really well.


The acting I also can't fault. Jack Nicholson gives one of his best performances and he is terrifically supported by a ravishingly beautiful Faye Dunnaway and a truly terrific John Huston.


Overall, a wonderful movie and one of the best of the 70s. 10/10 Bethany Cox