Mark Isaacson
This isn’t the PlatinumGames experience I expected, and that’s the most depressing part of it all. An absolute waste of potential that should have been far greater than this mess of a release that will quickly be forgotten.
Gargoyles Remastered feels very much stuck in its roots, a curse that sadly can't be broken by a new layer of animation, never mind the moonlight.
The Sacred Acorn does a lot of things right, an enjoyable hand-drawn world and some fun ideas within its squirrel-led adventure, but the fun is lost between a sea of familiarity and an ocean of awkwardness, leading to an okay journey that needed that extra spark to truly shine.
It’s just disappointing that a lack of polish and modern sensibilities hinder the product at all turns, leaving what could have been a chunky and ambitious slice of indie action horror down a path forgotten and overshadowed.
As a fan of the Turtle's arcade roots, I'd happily recommend TMNT Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants for a run or two, but despite the new levels the lack of online support and barebones presentation spoils this pizza party.
There are more polished, quality roguelites out there that will engage you for a longer period than Death or Treat, but that says less about its own achievements and more about the incredibly high bar set by its predecessors.
Despite some moments of genuine enjoyment, with a combat system that does its best to entertain, Forspoken never makes the most of its potential. Ultimately, there are bigger, bolder and more inventive action games both already out there and soon to be upon us in an already stacked 2023 release schedule.
Sports Story doesn't hit the heights of its predecessor, overstuffed with new ideas and sports that probably should have been left on the cutting-room floor. There's still plenty here to enjoy, both golf and tennis fans will find something to like and fans of the original likewise, but the trophy could have used a polish.
Lego Horizon Adventures will find an audience in its target demographic of young kids wanting something easy to pick up and play. But a short campaign and a lack of originality hurts the finished product for everyone else.
A solid strategy experience isn't quite enough to elevate Days of Doom past its more varied competition on the indie market, but there's just enough meat on the zombie bones.
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE could have used its inventiveness more concisely, but what's here is still an enjoyable first entry for a new IP that holds plenty of promise now and hopefully into the future.
Rose is a fascinating character that deserves her own, full-blown sequel, but for now Shadows of Rose is a worthwhile adventure for those looking for a little more from an already brilliant Resident Evil tale.
I really did want to enjoy Ann’s story, it’s visually beautiful and has some clever little in-game tricks to its aesthetics. It’s just a damn shame the narrative couldn’t quite keep up, leaving ANNO: Mutationem a visually stunning but muddled, confusing game.
If a challenge is what you’re after, you’ll find it within Aeterna Noctis. There’s still plenty to appreciate and enjoy if that’s up your alley, but it doesn’t do enough to allow its concept to stand out from the competition.
Tiny Metal is an admirable return to the traditional turn-based strategy genre. There's enough of a challenge both in the campaign and skirmish mode to keep players happy for a good while, but the lack of any sort of multiplayer at launch hurts its overall score.
Carmen Sandiego is a welcome addition to a franchise that continues to educate in all the right ways. For better or worse it doesn't mix the formula up too much, but any young one should find much to like. Just be sure to stick with a portable platform to enjoy it best.
Sniper Elite: Resistance is a reasonable continuation of the franchise, its sniping highs remain as amusing as ever thanks to some neat environmental gameplay, but much of its content rehashes what came before instead of evolving the series concept for a true next-gen sequel.
An engaging cast drives this short but ultimately sweet journey down a well-worn emotional road, though the chance to spend more time with Tess and Opal Devine on some detours would have been welcome.
Penny's Big Breakaway is an enjoyable audition, clogged by the usual 3D platform trappings but fun and colourful enough to get away with it. Hopefully this is the first of many adventures to come.
Your experience with The Tomorrow Children will vary, especially if you don't get any players visiting your space. But when everything clicks like a well-oiled machine, there's a strange sense of appeal here that makes it intriguing enough.