Mel Hawthorne

Mel Hawthorne

Mel is a London-based copywriter that has been writing about video games for a few years now. After growing up in Vienna, Austria she followed her dreams and moved to London. Said dreams took her through a few different jobs (which included working as a web developer, shopkeeper and translator) before she settled on what she really wanted to do – periodically anger video game fans by expressing her opinions on games through various online publications. When she’s not writing about video games, she’s probably playing them... or walking her dog in a park. Since that depends largely on the English weather, Mel has plenty of time to indulge in her favourite games. These include but are not limited to Ark: Survival Evolved, Skyrim, GTA V, and oddly enough, Amnesia: Memories. She loves Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. She thinks Star Trek is way better than Star Wars and isn’t afraid to admit it – Live long and prosper!

Wednesday, 18 March 2020 03:30

One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows Review

Though this arena fighter starts off fun, repetitive missions, boring arenas, and randomized fight elements cause that entertainment to wear off quickly.

With interesting characters, this RPG is a fun way to pass time, but the overall gameplay is not immersive enough to provide an involved experience.

Tuesday, 08 October 2019 05:55

Greedfall Review

Stellar storytelling and an immersive world design makes Greedfall fun to play, but disappointing character customization, poor graphics, and bad animation prevent the title from truly shining.

Friday, 23 August 2019 03:00

Age of Wonders: Planetfall Review

Despite issues with AI and a level of complexity that will likely frustrate new players, Age of Wonders: Planetfall is a well-rounded experience with stunning visuals and extensive replay value. 

Tuesday, 30 July 2019 07:00

Godhood Early Access Review

Godhood isn’t perfect — the complete lack of interactive combat is quite annoying, but the strategy and planning elements are superb.

Monday, 29 July 2019 09:00

Sea of Solitude Review

A title that aims high, but is severely undermined by clunky controls, painful camera movements, and  confusing, cartoonishly over-the-top story elements.

Thursday, 11 July 2019 05:28

Esports Life Tycoon Early Access Review

In its current state, nobody could really enjoy Esports Life Tycoon. Here’s to hoping that, as it moves through Early Access, things change.

Wednesday, 10 July 2019 08:32

The Sinking City Early Access Review

A challenging detective experience with interesting gameplay mechanics that will appeal to horror fans, but is hindered by wonky controls, loading screens, and an empty world.

Tuesday, 04 June 2019 06:08

Team Sonic Racing Review

A visually stunning and entertaining way to pass the time. As far as arcade racers go, this is definitely a solid one, though it isn’t entirely without flaws.

Tuesday, 14 May 2019 16:52

Xenon Racer Review

Ideal for casual players or arcade racing fans not looking for too much of a challenge, Xenon Racer has pretty environments, futuristic cars, and varied tracks.

Thursday, 09 May 2019 05:27

Volcanoids Early Access Review

With more things to do around the map, clear guidance through the storyline and quests, and perhaps a more comprehensive tutorial, Volcanoids could turn out to be a star on the stage of survival titles.

A successful PC port with exceptional storytelling that lacks important control options and falls short of expectations in certain technical areas.

Monday, 06 May 2019 12:58

UBOAT Early Access Review

This unique simulation still suffers from certain aches and pains that we have all come to know and loathe from Early Access titles, but it’s a solid concept paired with great attention to detail and a surprisingly in-depth simulation make for a stunning (if currently unpolished) submarine simulator.

Friday, 29 March 2019 05:22

ONE PIECE World Seeker Review

While swinging around with Luffy is a lot of fun, gameplay is far too repetitive.

Thursday, 14 March 2019 16:53

DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Review

It looks better than its predecessor, but content-wise its rather stingy and the story needs work, dampening excitement for this title.

Monday, 31 December 2018 11:31

Treasure Hunter Simulator Review

This slightly peculiar game has a surprising amount of appeal, despite a few small flaws. Pretty environments paired with decent replayability provides a fun, relaxing few hours, at the very least.

Monday, 17 December 2018 09:00

RIDE 3 Review

Create exactly the motorcycle you want, then ride it on an impressive number of tracks, with great visuals and awesome sounds for an experience that feels realistic.

Monday, 10 December 2018 19:05

Cities: Skylines - Industries Review

This exciting addition to an in-depth city-building simulator introduces a level of granularity players have been hoping for. Whether you want to run a bustling mining company or introduce rolling plains and farmlands, this latest addition gives you plenty to look forward to.

Wednesday, 21 November 2018 09:00

MY HERO ONE'S JUSTICE Review

Though it is not without its flaws, MHOJ has plenty of appeal both for fans of My Hero Academia and for fans of the genre. All in all well-rounded, the characters and abilities encountered during play compliment each other well and though there are some notably stronger and weaker characters, the fact that you can almost always choose from a selection makes it easy to avoid the not-so-great ones.

Friday, 16 November 2018 05:51

STARDROP Early Access Review

STARDROP is a lovingly crafted, first-person exploration title. If you enjoy a bit of mystery and like the idea of discovering the unknown in the depths of space then this is definitely the title for you.

New maps, new puzzles, and the beginning of more adventures makes this content DLC worth checking out.

Wednesday, 24 October 2018 04:00

WARRIORS OROCHI 4 Review

Strong mechanics, fun combat, and a lot of replay value are brought down by so-so graphics and a story that’s impossible to follow, yet you’ll still have fun mowing down scores of enemies.

Thursday, 18 October 2018 09:00

Assassin's Creed Odyssey Review

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey takes us on yet another action-and-adventure-filled ride through history. Choose from one of two unique perspectives, prepare for your decisions to have life-changing impact, and take in the beauty of Ancient Greece.

Monday, 15 October 2018 16:06

The Ballad Singer Early Access Review

The Ballad Singer is a fully illustrated, narrative adventure created by Curtel Games. It’s a text-focused storytelling experience based on classic RPGs, role-playing tabletop games, and other epic adventures. The story takes place in the fantasy world of Hesperia and is told through the eyes and experiences of four different but connected heroes (or, rather, “adventurers,” as some of them aren't all that heroic).

Wednesday, 10 October 2018 09:00

Deliver Us The Moon: Fortuna Review

Deliver us the Moon: Fortuna is a story-driven exploration puzzler just released by KeokeN Interactive. Explore space, uncover the history of a lunar base, and restore power to Earth. Mankind has once again gotten itself into a bit of trouble, and it’s up to you to save it!

Monday, 24 September 2018 14:25

Megaquarium Review

There are plenty of fish, yes, but there are also too many menus, along with repetitive music and odd sound effects. The devs have some upward swimming to do to reach the surface of the title’s potential.

Tuesday, 11 September 2018 11:55

NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER Review

Meta: Bandai Namco’s newest fighting title, developed by Soleil Ltd., is quite a bit different from previous Naruto titles—the Ultimate Ninja Storm series is, of course, beloved by many fans of both the game genre and the Naruto franchise. With Shinobi Striker, Bandai Namco has stepped away from the tried and true recipe, with (relatively) great success.

Friday, 07 September 2018 09:00

Green Hell Early Access Review

Green Hell is a brand new, single-player survival game from Creepy Jar. Its title does it justice. The game is extremely challenging and the struggle for survival is ever-present as you navigate the seemingly endless Amazon jungle.

Wednesday, 05 September 2018 09:00

Strange Brigade Review

Strange Brigade is Rebellion’s much anticipated multiplayer-adventure – and what an adventure it is! Built for 1-4 player co-op, this title doesn’t do thing by halves. Mysterious dungeons, strange cats and huge, tough enemies are the norm here.

This puzzler (with good-but-not-great puzzles) has a storyline that will make you curious about what the future holds for the crew aboard the Beaufort, as it heads ever closer toward a dangerous, albeit necessary destination.

Wednesday, 01 August 2018 20:24

Sonic Mania - Encore DLC Review

Though not without flaws, if you want to experience the original magic of Sonic without having to dig out an old Sega Genesis console (yet also be treated to a dash of newness) this is definitely a title to pick up.

Wednesday, 25 July 2018 09:00

Defiance 2050 Review

Defiance 2050 is a co-op, open world shooter from Trion Worlds. With customisable characters, classes designed to interplay well, and an expansive, immersive world, it makes for a solid entry in the free-to-play market.

Tuesday, 03 July 2018 11:08

Wreckfest Review

Wreckfest is a demolition derby-style racer with stunning physics and a hint of absurdity. Whether your vehicle of choice is a Pontiac Firebird or a lawn mower, the title is less about racing and more about the spectacular collisions.

Tuesday, 26 June 2018 09:00

MEMORIES OF MARS Early Access Review

MEMORIES OF MARS (MoM) is an early access action/survival game by Limbic Entertainment and 505 Games. MoM is a relatively new addition to the Steam Store and is currently receiving regular updates. As the name suggests, the title is set in outer space and has the player explore and colonize the Red Planet.

Friday, 22 June 2018 11:00

Gray Dawn Review

Interactive Stone’s debut, Gray Dawn, is a beautifully designed horror title with broad appeal, a compelling atmosphere, and a few minor flaws.

Thursday, 14 June 2018 07:51

MotoGP 18 Review

A true motorbike simulation, MotoGP18 provides a gritty, realistic experience for the most part, apart from flaws in braking, a wheelie ban, and some twitchy animations for the crowd.