As for the extras, players are most likely to run through ‘Blood Ties’ only once or twice, (depending on whether you have a shiny new PSVR), while ‘Lara’s Nightmare’ has limited appeal, and co-op Endurance mode, while great, may force you reconsider some long-standing friendships if you play it for too long. However, this all just icing…Wait, no, the DLC is the icing. This 20 Year Celebration is the cherry on an already delicious birthday cake for one of gaming’s most iconic, enduring, and beloved series. Happy Birthday, Lara! Here’s hoping you don’t have to reinvent yourself again for your 30th anniversary!
Could be one of PSVR2s best shooters, but is held back by some baffling design decisions.
Short, simple, and rough around the edges, Last Days of Lazarus is redeemed by a strange and surprisingly engaging narrative.
Is Front Mission 1st: Remake as good as Advance Wars? Well no, but it is still a lovingly crafted remake and a decent strategy game with a compelling narrative and fun mech customisation. I just wish Forever Entertainment had spent more time modernising and refining the gameplay experience, rather than just the presentation.
Pixel Ripped 1978 is a fun look back to a special time in the world of gaming that is as irreverent as it is entertaining.
A campy open world adventure with old school sensibilities and buckets of charm.
7th Guest VR is a nice surprise, a remake of a cult classic, that out shines the original in almost every way.
Paleo Pines is a simple but effective farming sim with a fantastic hook.
Forgive Me Father is a frantic and fun horror FPS packed full of twisted enemies, inventive weapons and just enough mystery to keep you hooked.
Ghost Song is a haunting trip to a dying world worth taking.
At the core of AEW Fight Forever is the No Mercy Successor wrestling fans have been waiting for. The question is whether you want that. I know I do.
For those that clamour for the modern world of over-the-shoulder shooting and action horror, Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a hard sell. Your character moves at a glacial pace and the small bursts of action are broken up by a lot of backtracking, puzzles and hunting for shiny objects in dark rooms. Ghost fights can also become an exercise in tedium, especially on higher-difficulty settings.
Solid platforming and brilliant boss encounters more than make up for this Metroidvania's minor irritations.
Turok 3 is a blast for both shooter fans and anyone interested in games history.
As a complete package Sonic Origins Plus is a decent collection for series fans and newcomers alike. But as a DLC its merely a collection of curios you can probably do without.
Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality is a great adaptation, bringing the twisted humor and fantastical world of Rick and Morty to life in a unique way that only VR is capable of. It’s short enough that you can get through it in a single sitting. However, other than a few surprises for hardcore fans, and puzzle enthusiasts, there’s little reason to come back to C 147 after the credits roll. (It’s gone to hell since the Cronenburgs took over anyway)
A perfect introduction to the stealth horror genre for younger gamers and a great time for those who already love it.
Idiosyncratic, compelling and creative, Whateverland is a one trip this stranger in strange land would heartily recommend.
Double Dragon Gaiden is another solid addition to a year of excellent brawlers.
Kaiju Wars is a slick satirical strategy game that fans of a good monster movie marathon are bound to enjoy