Ashley Bates's Reviews
Early on in the game, you're told that Kiwami means “Extreme”. While this isn't an extreme makeover, Yakuza Kiwami is an extremely good retelling of an underrated PS2 gem.
Though it's not a perfect game, Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom will find its way into your heart with its endless charm and uplifting story. A fantastic JRPG with bags of positivity to boot, this game is an uplifting experience that the world could do with more of right now.
Onrush is a lot of things. It's brash, bold, experimental, but most importantly, really good fun to play. Its success will be determined by how well the team based concept catches on with gamers at large, but we've got high hopes for it.
A truly fantastic beat 'em up that's been brought back from the dead, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game - Complete Edition is utterly sublime.
Demon Turf's few flaws do little to detract from an excellent 3D platforming experience that's worth checking out, whether you're a casual player or potential speedrunner.
A Plague Tale: Requiem is a brilliant follow-up to 2019's cult hit, and could be a real contender for a lot of people's Game of the Year lists.
Not exactly a huge advancement on last year, but WWE 2K23 didn't need to be, instead offering smart improvements on an already great formula.
A sophomore cyberpunk slasher, Ghostrunner 2 successfully builds on the foundation of the original game with new abilities and gimmicks.
Dragon's Dogma 2 is a kitchen sink sequel to the original sleeper hit from 2012, building on what worked about the first game to create an RPG experience that's still unlike any other.
What Forza Horizon 4 might lack in terms of an overarching structure, it gains in amazing gameplay and a sheer amount of content.
A brutal, bloody and brilliant multiplayer brawler.
An audiovisual tour-de-force and a lesson on how to fuse the shoot 'em up and beat 'em up genres, Furi is a must have game for any fans of challenging beat 'em ups. The difficulty and precision required will put some casual gamers off, but Furi sets out to please the hardcore crowd and over-achieves.
The meagre selection of modes and underwhelming story in Tekken 7 might put off the lonesome player, but if you've got two controllers and a friend/sibling/partner to play with, Tekken 7 will keep you occupied forever. Besides, where else are you going to see a bear smack seven shades out of a vampire wearing a Bullet Club t-shirt?
Though not a perfect experience, Way of the Passive Fist offers an interesting take on a tried and tested genre, creating something beautiful in the process.
A strong start for the latest in a long wave of episodic narrative adventure games, The Council sets its stall out from the beginning as something unique, inventive and deserving of your attention.
Glossing over the irony of including "sight" in the name when the camera is sub-standard, Omensight offers both an absorbing murder mystery and enjoyable gameplay. Definitely worth checking out.
Shape of the World bills itself as a way to unwind and escape the stress and pressures of real life by immersing yourself in a beautiful world, and in that regard, it succeeds.
While Wreckfest is technically a simulation racer, it isn't concerned with accurate engine tweaking or proper racing lines, and it's all the better for it. Glitches aside, the focus on vehicular carnage makes for a fulfilling racing experience.
A must have for any beat ‘em up fan, Speed Brawl's unique take on the classic genre is well worth checking out.
Though it feels less developed than the more recent Yakuza offerings, Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise still provides plenty of head exploding bang for your buck.