Playing Lost Sphear was like re-visiting the classic RPGs of yesteryear that hooked me in with their enjoyable combat mechanics, impressive world design, and incredibly evil (though somewhat predictable) villains. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and whilst I’ll certainly admit that it had a few flaws, I was completely absorbed by it throughout the entirety of my twenty hour-plus adventure. Believe me, if you’re an RPG fan you need to buy it. It acts as the perfect reminder that RPGs don’t need to have super fancy visuals, overly intricate combat mechanics, or a convoluted plotline to grip players in – they’ve just got to have heart, and that’s something Lost Sphear has in abundance. Here’s to the next fascinating adventure that Tokyo RPG Factory send us on…
Between its dark tale, its stellar visuals, and its fun and varied gameplay mechanics, there’s plenty to keep you totally absorbed in INMOST’s emotional adventure. I really enjoyed playing as the trio of unique characters and seeing their tale through to its conclusion, whilst their journey along the way was enjoyably perilous as you look to vanquish the darkness around them. There were a few aspects of the game that didn’t always hit the mark, such as the trial-and-error gameplay of the Hero and the occasional bouts of clunkiness when platforming, but these are minor hindrances in what is otherwise a gripping and entertaining adventure.
NUTS offers a unique and memorable experience that kept me completely hooked in from the get-go – who would have thought that tracking squirrels would be so fun? Whilst I have no doubt that its peculiar gameplay premise and slow pace probably won’t be for everyone, those who like to play something a little DIFFERENT really ought to give it a try. With its intriguing story, impressive visuals, and cute squirrel-tracking antics, it’s clear that NUTS is a special little game.
Darknet is another great addition to the Playstation VR catalogue, with the game offering hours of enjoyment hacking your way through countless networks. Whilst it doesn’t really utilise virtual reality in an overly complicated way, the immersion it offers by simply corresponding with the theme of the game is fantastic; the ‘cyber’ vibe is perfectly portrayed when you’ve got this whole network feeling like it’s actually spread out around you. Whether you’re a fan of puzzling or you just want to try something a bit fresh on Playstation VR, I’d definitely recommend giving Darknet a purchase.
I absolutely love The Lost Bear; it’s just an utterly delightful experience that utilises virtual reality in a variety of clever ways, with the gameplay mechanics perfectly mixed together with a stunning and immersive world. It really is unique and unlike anything I’ve played in a VR headset so far. The only real downside is just how short the game it is. It has launched with a low price point which I feel is justified, but some players might be disappointed to see that they could easily beat the game in well under an hour with very little on offer to really justify a second playthrough. Still, I had a great time with The Lost Bear and it’s certainly something I can see myself adventuring through again when I want to have a pleasant little journey. It might not be very challenging and is over too soon, but don’t let that put you off giving it a try.
Bomberman has always been a series that I’ve held close to my heart, and whilst it might have got off to a rocky start on the Nintendo Switch, the commitment Konami has shown in releasing free updates has been commendable. Everything has been packaged together nicely in Super Bomberman R: Shiny Edition, and it’s helped make it a genuinely worthwhile title in the series that’s an absolute blast to play (both figuratively and literally). Whilst Super Bomberman R’s original release on the Nintendo Switch might have left gamers feeling a bit short-changed, the new ‘shiny’ edition is simply jam-packed with enough content to keep you bombing your friends and online foes for a long time.
Wolfenstein: Youngblood offers an enjoyable co-operative take on the famed Nazi-killing series that introduces some clever new ideas to go along with the traditional (and satisfying) first-person shooting set pieces. Admittedly, some of those ideas do miss the mark a bit, especially when they leave some weapons feeling unsatisfying to use on occasions – there’s a little bit too much of a focus on having to upgrade weapons, which can slow down your progress during the game’s trickier sections. However, with the typically brilliant gunplay, intuitive levelling up mechanics, and fun co-op gameplay, there’s a hell of a lot more good than bad in MachineGames’ latest release and it’s an essential purchase for fans of the first-person shooting series.
Battletoads manages to stay true to the source material, all whilst offering an array of varied and fun gameplay mechanics that really spice up the experience. I had a good time battling through each level, whether that was when fighting in classic beat ‘em up action, racing through on a jet-bike, or sliding my way away from a big monstrous threat. Sure, a few mini-games can fall short of the mark at times and the difficulty could feel a bit forced, but it didn’t stop Battletoads from being a really enjoyable experience. It’s just a shame that there isn’t any online multiplayer included, with Battletoads really lending itself perfectly to playthroughs with friends. Of course, local play is possible, but with the game included in Xbox Game Pass it would have been perfect for online romps with other players. Hopefully, it’s something the developers might patch in sometime in the future because it feels like a missed opportunity right now…
The freedom and easy going nature that LEGO Worlds offers has kept me coming back for more, and I can easily see myself playing the game for a long time to come in the future. Whilst new releases come and go, there’s something about the charming world building and sense of discover that LEGO Worlds offers that I simply can’t get enough of. It’s certainly no ‘Minecraft’ clone, but rather its own enjoyable entity that really manages to embrace the creativity of the LEGO brand. I spent endless hours playing with LEGO as a kid and LEGO Worlds ultimately proves that the bricks still have that strong appeal to me even as an adult. It’s certainly got its fair share of flaws with the repetitive nature of objectives, awkward controls, and sketchy camera, but behind all of those is a great game that’ll certain provide some relief for any gamer’s creative itch.
I’ve got a lot of love for 88 Heroes and the diverse gameplay experience it constantly delivers. You really never know what to expect each time a new character enters the fray – the game constantly switches up how you have to play, but without sacrificing the enjoyment of the player in the process. As much as I want to give the game an 8.8 score though, there are a few things that hold it back. It’s a fairly short experience and there isn’t a whole lot to come back to after completing it, whilst I did encounter one moment where I wasn’t able to progress because of my hero’s power. Sure, it wasn’t a constant problem, but the one occasion was enough to frustrate. Still, none of those issues stops 88 Heroes offering a great platforming experience. If you want some zany fun with a cast of some of the most anarchic heroes you’ll ever come across, you really need to check it out.
There’s only one way to really describe Life is Strange: Before the Storm – Awake – it’s more of the same, for better or worse. If you were a fan of the original game then you’re going to really enjoy what’s on offer here, with the whole angsty yet touching vibe carrying over this time around too. There are a few differences, most notably with the time-bending powers replaced with Chloe’s Backchat, but in general it all feels the same. If you weren’t a fan of the original game though, nothing on offer here is going to change your mind. I was a massive fan of the original game though and in turn really enjoyed playing through Life is Strange: Before the Storm – Awake. It has set up a story that I want to see more of, and whilst I might already know the fate of both characters, I’m still intrigued to see how their relationship blossoms and what issues they face going forward. Life is Strange: Before the Storm has got off to a great start, so hopefully there’ll be more of the same in the next two episodes.
Whilst there are plenty of multiplayer titles on Playstation VR at the moment, none of them capture the vibe of competitive sport quite like Sparc does. The focus on quick-paced one on one action makes for some virtual reality showdowns that aren’t only incredibly tense but also a hell of a lot of fun too. There isn’t a whole lot on offer outside of the online multiplayer options, though it’s understandable seeing as Sparc is at its very best when played with other players. Still, it does mean it’s going to live or die by its community, so hopefully there’ll be plenty of people playing Sparc for a long time. I don’t see why there won’t be though – it’s bloody great.
Mass Effect: Andromeda delivered exactly what I hoped it would – an epic sci-fi adventure with fantastic combat mechanics, stunning alien worlds to explore, and a narrative that’s full to the brim with side-quests and sub-plots. However, there’s no denying that it’s severely lacking polish. You’ve just got to look at the character’s faces, animations, occasional framerate drops, and jaunty menus to realise that it might’ve benefited with a bit longer in the oven. Do these flaws make it a broken, terrible game though? Certainly not. The positives of Mass Effect: Andromeda outweigh the negatives and it certainly lives up to the series’ high standards in almost all facets of design. I have no doubt that it’ll probably be one of the most divisive titles released this generation, but for me it certainly delivered on its promise of providing a compelling, action-packed adventure.
FATED: The Silent Oath’s blending of a deep narrative with enjoyable yet simple moments of interaction helps the game deliver a thought provoking tale that the player manages to feel a part of throughout. It’s beautiful to look at too, with the game world full of colour and plenty of enticing sights to see. It’s far from perfect with the short length slightly disappointing, whilst the story wraps up in an unsatisfying manner too. There is hope of a follow up though, so hopefully we might see a more thorough conclusion to the Viking family’s tale in the future… These flaws don’t stop FATED: The Silent Oath providing an enjoyable virtual reality experience though, and one I’d recommend to all Playstation VR owners. If you’re looking for an enjoyable title to play through that’ll tug at your heart strings, it’s definitely worth giving FATED: The Silent Oath a look.
I was left surprised by A King’s Tale: Final Fantasy XV. Whilst I didn’t think the game would be bad by any means, I wasn’t expecting it to have as much depth nor be as enjoyable as it was. I really had a lot of fun with it. With its deep combat mechanics, fantastic pixel art, and the bulk of extra content it gives you upon completion, King’s Tale: Final Fantasy XV really has a lot going for it. Whilst it could get a little repetitive over time and the omission of multiplayer is a strange one, the fact that this is a free title more than makes up for it – if it was a paid release though this might’ve been more of a sour point. It probably won’t be for everyone, but those who want an extra dose of ‘Final Fantasy XV’ action ahead of the game’s upcoming DLC release should look no further than A King’s Tale: Final Fantasy XV. It’s a delightful beat ’em up and one that actually has potential to hold its own as a full release with a bit more fleshing out – maybe Square Enix could use this as a starting point for potential ideas with the series in the future… (please release a ‘Final Fantasy VII’ version… please…)
Smashbox Arena offers incredibly fun multiplayer action, with its dodgeball antics proving to be a blast to play in virtual reality. Wiping out your opponents with a mixture of balls and brutal weapons was really satisfying, whilst the interactive moments in between matches where you could goad opposing players was a bit of a guilty pleasure. You’re just guaranteed to have a good time – even if it does have a fair few bugs that need ironing out. The only concern I have is whether or not the game will have a thriving community or not. If people keep playing the game, I could see myself hooked to Smashbox Arena for a long, long time. If not though, I’m not sure how long I’ll stick with it. For now though, it’s a hell of a lot of fun and most certainly the most enjoyable multiplayer experience I’ve had in Playstation VR.
Snake Pass offers a charming and intuitive adventure that feels unlike any platformer I’ve ever played before. When slithering through the world as Noodle it really feels like you’re controlling this cute little snake – it has such an unorthodox approach in comparison to your typical platformer, but it ensures that gameplay feels uniquely enjoyable. It’s also incredibly beautiful too, with a luscious vibrant world that’s a pleasure to explore. There are a few frustrating moments along the way though, such as with the awkward camera controls and the fact that the gameplay never diversifies itself too much; I hope you like climbing because you’ll be doing a lot of it in Snake Pass! These flaws don’t stop Snake Pass being a really fun game though and one I can see myself coming back to time and time again in the future. Gotta’ get all those collectibles, right?!
Whilst Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada doesn’t really do enough to completely reinvigorate the series, the focus on providing a more story-driven experience along with the introduction of the hub town and smaller side-missions is certainly a step in the right direction. Musou titles are known for being pretty repetitive, but the implementation of these RPG style ideas ensured I had more of a personal investment in the game and kept me hooked in for longer. I didn’t see Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada as something I’d play for a bit of mindless fun, but instead as game that I actually wanted to see through to completion. Whilst I’m sure some of the changes won’t be for everyone, it made Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada a much more unique experience. Not only has it proven that Koei Tecmo have got plenty of neat ideas as far as innovating the musou genre goes, but it’s got me excited to see what they do with the ‘Warriors’ series next.
I’ve played plenty of the different survival games that are available at the moment, yet it’s The Long Dark that has hooked me in the most. The desolate wintery setting just appealed to me from the get go, whilst the tense ‘risk vs reward’ gameplay kept me entertained from start to end. Plus, I can always appreciate a story mode in a game like this – even if it’s not quite finished it… It’s not without its flaws, but overall I’d easily recommend The Long Dark to survival fans. It’s tough as nails and you’re going to die a lot, but it’s so intensely enjoyable that you won’t be able to help but to keep coming back for more.
Archangel offers everything you’d expect from piloting a giant Mech thanks to its incredibly satisfying combat mechanics and well designed levels, whilst the competent narrative that comes along with it ensures that you’re kept motivated to vanquish the evil HUMANX scum. There’s this sense of scale on offer that’s simply not possible outside of virtual reality and it makes for some terrific showdowns with your enemies in-game. The short length of the campaign and occasional graphical oddities do hold it back a little, but overall it’s easy to recommend Archangel to anyone who enjoys an action-packed virtual reality shooter.