Fear Effect Sedna may not be the true sequel fans were looking for, but it still delivers an enjoyable story along with creative puzzles and detailed environments. If you take the time to learn how to fully utilise the tactical mode, or you just love micro-managing things, then the combat may work out better for yourself than it did for me. If you don't mind the issues the game currently has and you are a fan of the original games then you may want to try the game out in order to see Hana and friends on their new adventure, however gamers new to the series may not enjoy the story and the setting as much as the fans.
The Inpatient's opening hour will require you to keep a change of pants with you as you encounter more jump scares and intense moments than you can shake a Move controller at. However, the final hour feels rushed and creates a very different atmosphere very quickly. There are plenty of different paths which unlock various trophies so replaying the game is a must but the question is, would you want too?
Maria the Witch is a decent mobile to console port, it works just like the mobile and the Steam version and holds up well with the enlarged graphics. The game can get challenging and be frustrating at times but that's all part of the package - with it's quick respawns and fast gameplay, the game wants you to give it 'just one more try'!
Eventide 2: Sorcerer's Mirror is an enjoyable casual game which will appeal to people of all ages (My mum loves these games and are literally the only games she plays on the PS4 I gave her). It sticks to the tried and tested formula of previous PS4 releases by Artifex Mundi, whilst innovating by changing things around and adding some new mechanics.
The LEGO NINJAGO Movie Video Game is a really good addition to the series. The improved combat mechanics and additional features really help this game stand above the more popular licence based LEGO titles. The story started as a familiar one I've heard a million times yet evolved into one which had me hooked, wanting to watch the next cut scene for the humour and great voice acting.
Hello Neighbor is a rather interesting puzzle game with stealth and ‘horror’ mechanics present. This is another game where I’m on the fence when it comes to recommending it. It looks okay but still feels like an Early Access title with its controls and overall presentation. However, I did get enjoyment out of figuring out what I needed to do and pissing off the neighbour by throwing things at his face over, and over again. I think the game may be a bit mild for hardcore fans of the survival horror genre, but also a bit too reliant on stealth and running away for the casual gamer.
Through the Woods is a decent indie game built around Norse folklore/mythology that has been slightly integrated within the story of a mother and her estranged son. Throughout your journey to recover your child, you will encounter creatures which you must stealthily bypass and uncover things about yourself and the woods which may be a little uncomfortable for some people. The two main downsides to the game lie within its integration of the two stories and the length. With more time, we would have had more development on the characters and gave me a reason to care about them, with more integration then we could have seen how the random occurrences linked to the mother.
The Girl and the Robot is a charming, speechless indie title which has had great success since it's Kickstarter campaign. The story is interesting and the puzzles are fun enough to keep you entertained. If you can see past the issues with the combat then I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.
If you're looking for a logic-based puzzle game to eat up a few hours of your time, Access Denied is perfect for you. Although it lacks instructions or exposition on what you're doing and how to do it, as long as you're good at problem-solving, you'll have no issues working out the solution to each of the puzzles presented before you. Don't let the low number of puzzles put you off either, some of them will take 30-60 seconds and some may take upwards of ten minutes due to their complexity and crypticness. I do believe the game would most likely control better on a device with mouse or touch though, such as the PC and/or the Switch/Vita.
Jack n’ Jill DX is a super addictive single-button game in which you can’t stop until you find your partner. Spread over 140 levels and seven different ‘worlds’, if you’re aiming to complete the entire game and get all the in-game trophies then expect to be playing for a decent amount of time. If you’re only here for the PSN trophies, you’ll have the platinum within 25 minutes and the game is fully Cross-buy supported with the PS4 and PS Vita. Utilising the in-game coins, you can dress up your character and even change the screen tint from Gameboy green to Pokemon red/blue tints – which all look great.
Salary Man Escape is a fun puzzle game with a very catchy soundtrack. The game does have its flaws with its controls and the physics, but once you’ve got used to them and you know how the game works, there are many hours of entertainment to have here as you aim to save all 60 employees. Every time you successfully complete the later levels you get an immense feeling of satisfaction and joy, especially if it’s a level which has had you stuck for quite a while.
Detached is a full 360 degrees rotational VR game set in deep space. The comfort levels (blinders) can be adjusted in order to make the game more accessible for VR players but I feel those who are new to VR should probably stay away from this one until they gain their VR stomach! The game looks great with the lighting effects as the suns emit God-rays over the floating derelicts and meteorites, with a matching soundtrack which creates a fully immersive atmosphere and experience.
For a game called The Quiet Man, it sure did make a lot of noise upon release! Launching as only half of the game, with the full-audio mode coming a week after release, many people were tainted by the muted version of the game and instantly put off, which I feel is a bit unfair as the game doesn’t have the best first impression. You have to play the game twice in order to understand the truth of what’s going on around you, this means reliving the unskippable narrative segments and the awkward combat moments twice over! If you can deal with the clunky combat, be open to interpreting things the first time around so the second time surprises you, and have a thirst for an interesting experimental gameplay mechanic, then The Quiet Man will most likely surprise you. I went into it expecting to come away disappointed and in tears, yet I actually enjoyed the game and loved how different the story is when you’re finally given context.
Murder Mystery Machine is a thought-provoking puzzle game that requires you to think outside of the box if you wish to obtain the best grade. Rather than having you solve the crimes committed by simply talking to and arresting the suspects, you must piece together the who, why, where, and how through the use of the initiative crime board mechanic. However, in order to get the best result, you must leave no stone left unturned and ensure you link every possible clue and conclusion to the correct reason and motive – which is very hard, even for veteran puzzle gamers. It delivers an interesting story over eight cases, full of suspects, clues, red herrings, beautiful dioramas, and victims, but can a rookie solve one of the biggest cases of her career?
Protocol is frustrating, annoying, and anger-inducing – I loved it! Despite the brutal and unforgiving insane A.I., who constantly kills you if you so much as look at her funny, I thought the story was interesting, the dialogue was ‘colourful’, and the combination of many different gameplay mechanics was very creative. My only negative, besides the difficulty spike in the final chapter, has to be the ‘long’ loading times – these wouldn’t usually be an issue, but in a game where you’re bound to die over and over, I would have liked a faster reload. I personally preferred the first half of the game over the second, due to how the focus shifted more onto combat over exploration and puzzles, but it didn’t stop me from wanting to unlock all seven endings – which I will do, someday…
Poison Control is a very addictive third-person shooter which combines quirky Japanese humour with engaging gameplay. Although a lot of the Belles Hells you’ll venture through are very similar, making use of both the ‘human’ and Poisonette allows the gameplay to remain fresh and varied as you complete the set objectives, find the golden chests, and obtain your five golden tickets. The game is best played on the PlayStation 5, with only a single issue post-launch (which has a work-around), yet it does look and feel like it originated as a Switch or Vita title. Regardless, once you start playing Poison Control, on any platform, you’ll quickly become addicted and find it hard to put down until you’ve cleansed everyone’s hearts!
For the developer’s first dabble into the interactive FMV adventure genre, I Saw Black Clouds delivered a dark, spooky, and immersive experience, enhanced by the interesting narrative and multiple diverse story pathways. The acting and cinematography were great, pulling you into the story as it puts you in the seat of the director, choosing what to say and how to react to certain situations. There were a few continuity issues and missing emotions, but they may have been intentional due to the multi-pathway aspect of the game. If you like psychological thriller movies and FMV interactive experiences, you’ll love trying to discover all the secrets within I Saw Black Clouds.
In terms of the games themselves, the Turrican Flashback collection is a great way to replay the classic series, with or without the rewind and saving mechanics. However, in terms of a collection that is celebrating the 30th anniversary, it once again falls short by offering no bonus features or additional content for the player to enjoy and educate themselves with. The trophies are disabled unless you play the game old-school, so only the most patient, skilful, and those with quick reflexes will be the ones who obtain the platinum – showcasing just how good they are at brutal retro games. For the rest of us, the provided cheats and rewind mechanic means we can casually enjoy each game and finally see the end credits – even if we had to cheat to do so!
Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse is a modernised re-release of the 2005 hilarious cult classic, complete with 60fps and a nice sharp resolution. Although the game doesn’t really boast many improvements over the original, the game has a lot of charm within its simplistic gameplay and mindless combat (literally). The co-op mode means you can bring a friend along with you (locally) as well as some very time-consuming and tricky trophies to keep you occupied for a while, ensuring replayability if going for the platinum. I wish it was more colourful and that the cutscenes were actually 16:9, but overall the game reminded me of the games of yesteryear, simplistic yet lots of fun to play.
Doodle Devil: 3volution is a very addictive and unique puzzle game, it requires a lot of patience and thinking outside of the box in order to discover all of the hidden elements. Although the Demon slots seems a little too much in favour of the house, in terms of giving you a big payout, this mini-game and the Demon Battle one are both fun distractions when you need a break from trying to figure out the hundreds of solutions in the main game. I don’t believe the game will be for everyone, but if you like casual puzzle games which you can pick up and play in short bursts at a time, check it out.