Paul Hunter's Reviews
Lords of the Fallen far exceeded my expectations and has instantly jumped to be among my favourite Soulikes franchises alongside hits like Nioh and Remnant. The huge interconnected world was a joy to explore and the huge variety of weapons, armour and stats lets you really customize your character to your liking. If it wasn't for the performance issues this would be a near flawless experience.
Spider-Man 2 is hands down the best superhero game I've played yet and is the pinnacle of Insomniac's work. Every facet is better than the previous games, from the elevated story, acting, gameplay, visuals, fluidity, and more. This is the Spider-Man game I've always wanted, and then some.
Paw Patrol World is my favourite Paw Patrol game yet. It's bigger, better looking and more interesting than any prior installment I've played in this series. Children will have a blast getting lost in the game's warm and inviting open-world hubs, playing as their favourite pup and enjoying a lighthearted story full of funny moments.
Recommending this game is straightforward: If your family likes the Baby Shark song then you're sure to have hours of enjoyment from Sing & Swim Party. It offers fun, interactive versions of the hit shark songs and with well over a hundred collectibles there's a ton of replayability. My family had a fin-nominal time with this game!
Lies of P exceeded all my expectations and has instantly become one of my top games of the year. The story and lore drew me in, but it was the superb combat and eye-popping bosses that really cinched it for me. The lush gothic visuals and wonderful soundtrack merely seal the deal.
If you enjoyed the first Blasphemous then you will definitely enjoy the sequel as there's a lot to love here. From the nice variety in weapons, abilities and loadouts to the well-designed map to the pristine presentation, everything here is on point.
WrestleQuest delivered exactly what I was hoping for: a charming adventure mixing the best parts of wrestling with classic RPG exploration and combat.
Double Dragon Gaiden is the breath of fresh air this franchise needed. It does just enough to modernize the graphics and gameplay while preserving many of the best elements that make Double Dragon the revered fighting game series it is today.
I'm having a blast playing Mr. Run and Jump even though it's totally kicking my butt. The challenge is supremely steep, but players who love hard platformers or speedrunning will surely enjoy this polished gameplay experience.
I'm really glad that Gimmick! Special Edition exists as it's such a fantastic game and deserves a wider release. With its physics-based gameplay and wealth of secrets, it was ahead of its time and really is one of the all-time best NES platformers.
Greyhill Incident really excels at creating an eerie, nostalgic alien-invasion aesthetic that generally drew me in. The neighbourhood genuinely looks great and the aliens are just as creepy as I'd hope they be. Unfortunately, the gameplay, mission structure and story all stumble, which turns what could have been a thrilling retro alien horror game into a clunky mess that doesn't respect your time.
I'm totally blown away by the bold, brave new approach this game has taken, which will surely shake up the Final Fantasy formula for years to come. It has some of the best boss fights I've ever seen in gaming, along with a bonkers story that left my mouth open in disbelief. It is truly an epic experience that every role-playing fan deserves to experience for themselves.
Layers of Fear is easily Blooper Team's crowning jewel and the best way to experience these games. Leveraging the power of Unreal Engine 5, the team has delivered their true vision of psychological horror without compromise.
I wanted The Lord of the Rings: Gollum to be a slam dunk given how fantastic the source material is. Unfortunately though, the game suffers from a wide range of issues from the janky platforming and stealth mechanics to the underwhelming visuals. Thankfully, Gollum himself is nicely animated and voice-acted, but it's not enough to overcome the game's faults.
You know the old question 'if you were stranded on a deserted island and could bring one game with you, what would you bring'? If that choice was posed to me today, I'd likely respond with Diablo IV. This is a game I feel like I could easily sink 500 hours into without ever getting tired of the rewarding gameplay loop.
Street Fighter 6 has completely reinvigorated my interest in the Street Fighter series and fighting games in general. I can easily see myself hitting 60 or 70 hours in the World Tour mode alone, and that's on top of already putting dozens of hours into Fighting Ground and Battle Hub. This is the most feature-complete fighting game I've ever played and sets a new high bar for Capcom's legendary series.
Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! is a worthy new addition to this venerable series, offering a plethora of modes and a well-rounded package. From a lengthy Story mode to robust Versus modes to lots of bonus content, there's something here for everyone. Bub and Bob are back and better than ever, and as a longtime fan, I couldn't be happier.
Live A Live is an incredibly fun turn-based RPG that holds up well after nearly three decades. The Octopath Traveler type HD-2D graphics look superb, but it's the eight heroes with different mechanics that really hooked me. Whether on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch or PC, anyone with even a cursory interest in RPGs needs to check out this game.
While not the showpiece for Xbox Series X fans were likely hoping for, it's a nice Game Pass addition that I've happily plunked 20+ hours into and will definitely continue playing to secure the 1000/1000 Achievements.
Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is essential gaming for all fans of the series. This game is such a classic, and now looks, sounds and plays much more like a modern RPG. Going back to re-experience the timeless original game that spawned a global mega-franchise was just the dose of nostalgia I needed before Final Fantasy XVI hits this summer.