Use a Potion
HomepageUse a Potion's Reviews
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake succeeds in honouring one of the greatest RPGs of all time whilst making it accessible to a new generation of players. Its jaw-dropping visual upgrade, the re-recorded take on memorable music, and accessible quality-of-life updates help breathe fresh life into a beloved classic, and whilst some old-school elements such as persistent grinding and clunky menus won’t be for everyone, they don’t stop Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake from being an outstanding RPG that truly has stood the test of time.
With its slick sci-fi narrative and enjoyable tactical gameplay, Augmented Empire is still worth your time six-years on from its initial release. Sure, the gameplay can run out of steam in the later hours and it’s a shame that the world doesn’t offer more interactivity, but it still brings a beautiful cyberpunk world to uncover and some engaging strategic combat that utilises mixed reality in an immersive and entertaining fashion.
Maestro is brilliant, offering an innovative and immersive conducting experience that’s unlike any other rhythm game that I’ve played. Between its diverse and familiar soundtrack, its impressive on-stage visuals, and its clever and fitting implementation of hand-tracking, it offers an exciting and rewarding experience that will certainly help you appreciate the fine art of conducting an orchestra. Whether you’re a fan of rhythm games, a lover of classical music, or simply someone looking for something fresh to enjoy in virtual reality, Maestro is a must-play. It successfully redefines the genre, turning what might have been a niche concept into an engaging and exciting experience that will leave you waving your hands for more.
Metro Awakening succeeds in translating the Metro series to virtual reality by focusing on its strengths: immersive storytelling, atmospheric exploration, and visceral combat. While it doesn’t reinvent the formula, it adapts it thoughtfully, shedding complexity where necessary to make for an immersive and engrossing experience. The result is a game that feels both familiar and fresh – a poignant, tense, and visually stunning journey through one of gaming’s most harrowing post-apocalyptic worlds. It does have some minor flaws and can grow a little repetitive at times, but still manages to offer a captivating virtual reality experience that both long-time Metro fans and those new to the series are sure to enjoy.
LEGO Horizon Adventures successfully brings the action-packed world of Horizon into a lighter, more accessible form without losing the essence of what makes it so special. The game’s writing adds to the experience with well-crafted humour, with the narrative packed with plenty of comical moments that make the world and characters all the more endearing. For those who have followed Aloy’s journey since the beginning, there are plenty of subtle nods and winks to discover too, and believe me, the game isn’t shy at poking fun at itself. It can be guilty of being a bit simple in places and the IP doesn’t offer the same depth of characters that you might see in similar LEGO titles, but there’s no doubting that LEGO Horizon Adventures achieves what it sets out to do: offer a fun, visually stunning, and humour-filled adventure that draws players into Aloy’s world in a whole new way.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a thrilling, action-packed RPG that feels fresh and exciting while staying true to the franchise’s roots. The combat system is dynamic and addictive, the world is rich and detailed, and the characters stand out as the star of the show. BioWare has crafted an experience that balances the old and the new, and the result is an experience that stands as one of the finest action-RPGs of 2024. Whether you’re an old-timer looking to revitalise their love for the Dragon Age series or someone completely new to BioWare’s epic fantasy RPG series, you’re going to have a fantastic time playing through Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is outrageously fun, with Garcia’s romp through hell as good now as it was back in 2011. Don’t get me wrong, it can show its age in places and I have no doubt that the crude and outdated humour won’t be for everyone, but for me? It was an absolute blast to play, with the game looking and feeling better than ever with the remaster’s improvements.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is an all-out spectacle, with the fantastic campaign, frantically reinvigorated multiplayer, and classic take on Zombies ensuring this is the best entry we’ve seen in the series in years. From the breath-taking campaign to the fast-paced, omni-movement-enabled multiplayer, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 brings an abundance of content that will satisfy both long-time fans and newcomers. Whether you’re diving into Zombies with friends, climbing the multiplayer ranks, or immersing yourself in the campaign’s gripping narrative, Black Ops 6 offers something for every type of player.
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered may not have been an essential release, but it successfully revitalizes one of the PlayStation 4’s standout titles, bringing it in line with modern standards and allowing it to sit comfortably alongside its sequel. The visual improvements, character model updates, refined animations, and DualSense support combine to make this an incredibly polished remaster that will delight both newcomers and returning fans.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate is an enjoyable and accessible roguelike that caters to both fans of the genre and TMNT fanatics. It doesn’t break new ground with its simple yet effective roguelike mechanics (and its VERY clear where its inspirations lie), but it still offers plenty of fun with its satisfying combat, deep character variety, and co-op multiplayer action. If you’re looking for an in-depth roguelike with intricate progression or complex gameplay mechanics, Splintered Fate might be a bit too simple. But if you’re a TMNT fan seeking an action-packed and addictive game that’s packed with shell-tastic charm, this will definitely tick a lot of the right boxes for you.
Vendetta Forever is a glorious blend of action-packed showdowns and puzzling that feels fantastic to play in virtual reality. The mix of frantic gunplay and careful planning will keep players completely hooked in, whilst the wide variety of locales and weaponry means you’re always experimenting with something a little different as you meticulously plot your way through each cleverly crafted mission. And sure, there can be a few moments of frustration along the way, but there’s never anything so problematic that it stops Vendetta Forever from being an absolute blast to play. It’s just f*****g brilliant and has quickly established itself as one of my favourite Meta Quest titles.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a wonderful return to Max Caulfield’s story, balancing suspense, nostalgia, and emotional depth with some clever dual-timeline puzzling. The game explores Max’s new chapter in life whilst still honouring her emotional turmoil in the past, giving players a gripping mystery to solve that’ll have them fully invested right until the very end. It’s all complemented by the creative dual-timeline elements of the game, which make for some genuinely clever scenarios that’ll have players feeling like they’re doing some real detective work. I’d be lying if I said certain story elements didn’t feel a bit too exaggerated for my liking, but with the game’s engaging storytelling, creative puzzling, and wonderfully crafted world, it’s easy to find yourself wholly invested in this brilliant new chapter in the Life is Strange universe.
Amanda the Adventurer 2 is an enjoyable sequel that maintains the eerie charm of the original game, even if some puzzles could be frustrating to solve. It’s bigger in scope, it offers more puzzles, and it maintains the clever sense of creativity from the first game, whilst I found myself more invested in both Riley’s investigation and the unsettling origins of the show with each new revelation revealed. It’s just a shame that there are a couple of frustrating puzzles in the mix, with the game giving a bad first impression with its first cryptic conundrum. When you get past that, though? Amanda the Adventurer 2 has plenty of creepy charm and is the perfect puzzler to play this Halloween season.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a mesmerising RPG experience that further establishes the team at Atlus as the kings of the genre. Between the fascinating storytelling, the deep and strategic combat, the engrossing time-management, and the wonderful presentation, Metaphor: ReFantazio really does have it all. I simply loved my time with the game, and even after beating it, I’m ready to get stuck in for another run and see what changes I can bring to my playthrough. It’s simply an unmissable experience, and you know what? I wouldn’t be surprised if you see Metaphor: ReFantazio topping a LOT of ‘Game of the Year’ lists for 2024.
Kong: Survivor Instinct is a pleasant surprise, with the action-packed set pieces and chaotic encounters with Titans ensuring it makes for an enjoyable adventure. Don’t get me wrong, there are better 2.5D adventures out there and the weak combat does let it down, but exploring your destroyed surroundings, surviving through destructive set pieces where the Titans wreak havoc, and simply seeing the story unfold kept me hooked in from start to end. It’s not perfect, but after the disaster that was Skull Island: Rise of Kong, this feels like redemption for everyone’s favourite giant primate.
A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is an intense and exciting horror experience that captures the unsettling vibe of the movie series perfectly. Simply exploring your eerie surroundings whilst making as little noise as possible makes for an engrossing experience, and whilst the slower pace won’t be for everyone, I found myself completely hooked into the high-stakes at play. It’s dramatic, it’s unnerving, and it’s packed with sequences that’ll leave you on the edge of your seat as you try to make as little noise as possible… what else could you ask for from a video game set in the world of A Quiet Place?
RetroRealms Arcade offers two exciting 2D adventures that use the Halloween and Ash vs The Evil Dead worlds in creative and compelling ways. I loved playing through each unique adventure, but mixing-and-matching characters afterwards? It was brilliant and re-enforces the potential that RetroRealms has. Add to that the lovely visuals, the satisfying gameplay, and the additional content found in the arcade environment, and you’ll quickly find that there’s something REALLY special on offer here. It’s just a shame that it’s so expensive, with players having to fork out £41.98 to get both titles (and an extra £8.58 if they want the extra characters). It’s a lot to pay, and with plenty of similar titles available for cheaper, I’m not sure if the wonderful use of the licences will be enough to inspire gamers to part with their cash. It’s disappointing, especially given that the games themselves are so damn fun… here’s hoping that everything works out and RetroRealms Arcade continues to evolve and expand with time.
Fear the Spotlight is an engrossing horror escapade that’ll keep players hooked in with its intriguing storytelling, clever puzzles, and atmospheric world. I genuinely found myself on the edge of my seat whilst dealing with the foreboding spotlight-head creature, and whilst it would’ve been nice to see the stealth mechanics expanded upon, they did a good job of ramping up the tension across the game. It’s just a really eerie and enjoyable experience, and if Blumhouse Games continue to help release titles as absorbing as Fear the Spotlight, it won’t take long before they’re just as synonymous with horror video games as they are with horror movies.
Arizona Sunshine Remake isn’t as good as its sequel, but the improved visuals and refined mechanics ensure that it’s still a blast to play. The core experience still holds up really well, and whilst it can show its age in some elements of its design, blasting away at zombies in dangerous and varied scenarios is ALWAYS satisfying. Add to that the horrifying visual upgrade that’s gorier than ever, the refined reloading mechanics that makes for a more immersive and tense experience, and the fact that you get all of the DLC included in the package, and it’ll be clear that this is a worthwhile remake of one of virtual reality’s original greats.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero has a steep learning curve that’ll take a few hours to get to grips with, but its exhilarating combat and gorgeous visuals make the time investment worthwhile. There’s plenty of depth and strategy to combat to ensure that battles are authentic and action-packed – and sure, it takes some time to figure each mechanic out, but it makes for a frantic and super fun experience when you do. Add to that the cool game modes, the wealth of content, and the beautiful visuals, and it’ll be clear that Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a real hit for both Dragon Ball and fighting game fans.