Khara: The Game is a fun puzzle platformer which will take you around three hours to complete. Some sections will have you frustrated due to the controls, and some bosses will anger you the first time you stumble upon them. However, once you have adapted to the mechanics and learnt the bosses patterns and weaknesses, you realise that Khara: The Game isn't that bad. With your new abilities you gain throughout the course of the game, and the introduction of new enemies and puzzles – things are kept fresh and interesting right until the end credits.
MachiaVillain is a fun sandbox style open-ended building and resource management game which can get as complicated as you want it to. There isn't a massive amount of variety but what it does have, it does really well. Micro-management is the key here, if you would rather set a task and ignore your minion from then on, then this probably isn't for you. You must always stay on top of whats happening if you wish to run a successful dead-and-breakfast venue.
Omensight is a great Action-RPG time-manipulation indie game set within the same universe as Stories: The Path of Destinies. As you reset time and replay the same day over and over with different companions, you will gain new insight into who was behind the untimely death of the Priestess. Yet, every day feels different, the same environments feel new and the same enemies create unknown obstacles. As you level up and gain new skills and attacks, the game gets more interesting and exciting. Graphically, the game is beautiful, with its simplistic design yet bold and colourful art style which will have you questioning if you're playing a game or looking at some Modern Art.
The Council – Episode 2: Hide and Seek is yet another brilliant episode which delves deeper into the mysteries and madness which are happening at Lord Mortimer's mansion. Starting out with 30-60 minutes of new content which is based on how you ended the first episode, the game continues to embrace the various paths and choices which you have as a player as you play the way you want to play. Episode Two isn't as deep or exciting as the first episode, but there is a lot of set-up and secrets to uncover which will no doubt crop up in future episodes.
Death Road to Canada is a very, very fun game. You can experience it either in single player or in co-op with various different game modes and a deep character creation mechanic. No two playthroughs will be the same and each time you die you will want to spend your Zombo Points and jump straight back in for more. I honestly can't think of any reason why you shouldn't pick this game up.
Grim Legends 3: The Dark City is a great Hidden Object Game from Artifex Mundi. I love their commitment to bringing their popular franchises to us on console along with simple, yet effective controls and mechanics. This game was a little easier than some of the previous titles, yet it has a great selection of new puzzles, a new battle mechanic, great stained glass windows puzzles, and a great balance of HoPs as well. The voice acting is great, the music fits it really well and the artwork is top-notch. If you liked any previous HoGs from Artifex Mundi or you're looking for a casual game then these are a no-brainer.
Tacoma is a carefully put together piece of art in the narrative-story driven genre of games. The team at Fullbright have taken everything they learnt from Gone Home and improved on everything from the pacing to the delivery of the story, only without such an emotional ending this time. The majority of your time will be investigating spirit-like reconstructions as you look into the crew members lives and create a bond with each of these people who are no longer aboard the ship. Tacoma isn't a long game, but it's a game which will stick with you and make you want to go back for more, even if it's just to listen to the director's commentary.
Floor Plan was a joy and a delight to play. The environments are creative, the characters are adorable and the inventory puzzles are clever, if not a little cryptic at times. Your first playthrough will take you around 30-40 minutes with subsequent ones being much faster as you now know the solutions – this does impact on the replayability but for the price, I believe it's worth it. If you enjoy point-and-click puzzle games or you just want a short game to play for a great price, then I can't recommend it enough.
I've only played a few of the Megadimension Neptunia games on PS3 and Vita but Megadimension Neptunia VIIR is by far my favourite of the bunch, it's the best looking and the most accessible. The issue is, will existing owners find anything new in picking it up? Other than the improved graphics, revamp of the controls and menu systems, and the added (VR) interaction segments – not really. The game seems easier, there is no New Game+ and my colleague who has fully completed the game has informed me that there is only one ending this time around instead of two. I would still highly recommend fans of the series and newcomers to pick it up, just be aware that this isn't a new game, it's just a very good remake of a game from 2015.
Rememoried is an artistic game which revolves around simple puzzles and exploration of small environments. Technically there isn't a 'story' which I could piece together, but rather a combination of various different thoughts and dreams all combined into a beautiful looking experience. The core mechanic revolves around seeking a way out of each instance and platforming, platforming which can get frustrating and seem impossible at times yet also therapeutic and relaxing in other places. Visually the game is gorgeous, the music is perfectly suited to each situation, and the voice-over work fits in really well with the 'dream' aesthetic.
Super Amazeballs is amazeballs… It looks and feels perfect in VR, like you're really there controlling the giant orb with your own hands. It will entertain you, frustrate you, test your patience, and keep you coming back for more with its addictive gameplay. You have an online cross-platform leaderboard which gives you an indication of how well you are doing compared to other players and the hardcore mode will really put you to the test. This is a perfect example of how to reimagine a puzzle game in VR in a way which isn't possible in any other format.
Devious Dungeon is a rogue-lite-lite game. It has many traits from other rouge-lite games, such as Rogue Legacy, but some of the mechanics are watered down to a point where the game feels easy and more accessible for players new to the genre. With it's great attention to detail as your character changes his look as you buy new gear, to the randomly generated levels which are full of secrets and fiendish beings, every level feels fresh and new – even if you replay the same level. You must be warned though, Devious Dungeon is super addictive so you may end up playing for hours and not even realising it!
Code51: Mecha Arena is a fun multiplayer focused Free-for-all combat simulator with big guns! The game will auto-generate bots to play against whilst online until they are replaced by other PSVR owners which means you get into matches super quick and experience hardly any wait times. The gameplay is slow and steady, just like you would expect, yet it's also exciting and very entertaining once you really get into it. I would love some customisation options, but as it is, you have access to a decent selection of Mechas – all with strengths and weaknesses – which keeps the gameplay fresh and entertaining.
CoolPaintr VR isn't a game, neither is it an experience – it's a very cool application presented in VR. Artists and people who like to doodle will love this application as they can immerse themselves in VR as they effectively create a virtual sculpture whilst looking at their own pictured references and listening to their own music. Also, people who work with 3d models on PC in the Collada format (.dae) will also be able to export and utilise their creations outside of the PSVR. There are plenty of different tools at your disposal which will enable you to create whatever your imagination comes up with. If you own a PSVR, why not treat yourself and unleash the hidden artist within you via this essential PSVR application!
Dead Secret Circle is a great sequel to an immersive and unique game. It's taken the formula of things which worked, the exploration, interaction, horror, and supernatural elements, and improved on almost every aspect in order to deliver yet another truly disturbing adventure game. As you investigate The Laughing Man, the tenants and the apartment building, you will discover more about the situation and the people involved than you could ever wish to know. The game doesn't require you to find every last secret and piece of information, but upon playing the game, you'll want to go out of your way to find everything as it's such an interesting world. With it's improved controls, new mechanics and bigger environments, Dead Secret Circle is a great game for those who enjoyed the first title and people who like adventure games in general.
Bleed 2 is a brilliant platformer which a lot of people may not have heard of. It's core mechanics as a side-scrolling action arcade game are pulled off perfectly and the balancing of the various difficulties have been implemented with just the right amount of challenge and skill. The game never gets boring or repetitive, it's always keeping you on your toes and if you do ever tire of the well constructed seven levels, you have the random endless mode to try and master. Not to mention the inclusion of the co-op mode and the 'just for fun' unbalanced boss arenas, there is more content here than a lot of the major AAA games out there.
Pic-a-Pix is a very challenging and casual puzzle game which is playable by everyone. It will test your logic skills as well as keep you entertained for hours via both the PS4 and PS Vita via cross-buy. Don't worry if you've never done a Picross style puzzle before, the game gives you a full introduction and will gradually get you into the bigger puzzles without dropping you in the deep end. With its simplistic design, charming music, and the plethora of puzzles on offer – Pic-a-Pix has easily become my favourite logic-based puzzle game on Sony's platform.
Dead Secret is a really well thought out and executed VR game with many different genres all combined in order to deliver a memorable experience. Whether you enjoy exploring for backstory, running away from unknown beings, solving mysteries, or encountering jump scares, there is something for everyone. Not to mention the fact that you can play it in or out of VR all the way through from the start. Dead Secret delivers an intriguing and immersive story which had me gripped from the moment I started playing.
Turmoil is the kind of game I can put on when I have some free time and then realise I have just spent the last two-three hours playing and it only seemed like a few minutes. It's very addictive and all the mechanics work perfectly in tandem with each other to deliver a very enjoyable and satisfying management sim. The base game itself offers a lot of challenge, many hours of fun, and it also requires a strategic mind in order to take full advantage of everything it has on offer and emerge the victor. The game also does something which a lot of management sims don't do – it made a mundane task entertaining, fun, and a joy to play.
Reverie is a great game for the Vita with a playtime of around 6-8 hours if you don't follow a guide and explore at your own pace as you seek out everything it has to offer. The combat can be a little simplistic at times but the puzzles more than make up for this as it offers a few really tricky dungeons along with some straightforward ones. The game emphasises on talking to the NPCs and finding your own way around the map as you aren't handheld or guided every step of the way – you must become Tai and live out his adventure for yourself. I would go as far as to say that this game is essential if you are looking for something charming yet thought-provoking on your PS Vita.