Paul Hunter's Reviews
OlliOlli World is skateboarding bliss. I've already plunked a few dozen hours into the game and it's a game I'm going to keep coming back to, whether that's to expand on my trick skills or to simply chill out for an hour and while having a blast. I love the new cel-shaded graphics and kudos to Roll7 for making this iteration a lot easier to get into. If you're a fan of Skate or Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and are craving your next skateboarding fix, this game absolutely delivers.
I'm having a blast playing Dying Light 2 and could easily see myself breaking the hundred hour mark, or more.
There's no question that PlayStation fans need to check out Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy so I highly recommend getting the Legacy of Thieves Collection for the definitive editions on PS5. Even if you've beat the games on PS4, the three graphical modes, DualSense features, 3D Audio, and faster loading enhancement are more than enough reason to revisit these classics.
Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain is a real blast, especially Ghost Clash mode and the Party multiplayer mode. I really enjoyed all 20 activities and their inherent fun-factor encourages me to come back daily to see if I can beat my high score.
Whether you're an older gamer like me that grew up with the Smurfs or are looking for your next family-friendly gaming adventure, The Smurfs - Mission Vileaf is a good game to check out.
WRC 10 is my new pick for best game in the series with its new and enhanced game modes, livery editor, better graphics and improved physics. It's a nice celebration of 50 years of WRC rallies and I particularly thought the anniversary mode was an excellent touch. It's sad to see Kylotonn will soon pass over the torch to Codemasters, but great to see them wrapping up the series with the best entry yet.
Hot Wheels Unleashed was way more fun than I'd expected it to be. It's also accessible enough for young players while deep and challenging for seasoned racers. It's easily the most fun I've had playing an arcade racing since Mario Kart 8 on Wii U and that's saying a lot. Whether it's for nostalgia, for competition or purely just for fun, this is a game arcade racing fans don't want to miss.
All in all, I had a bubble-blasting good time with Puzzle Bobble 3D Vacation Odyssey. It was fun to rethink my Bust-a-Move strategies in 3D, and while the third perspective does create some camera issues, I still really enjoyed this fresh new take on the classic series.
Centipede Recharged takes a beloved classic and reinvents it for the modern era with exceptional graphics and inspired gameplay upgrades. This is the perfect game to unwind to when you've got an hour to spare or a great bite-size game to play between those all-consuming AAA titles. I'm hooked on this game and it's making me excited for the next Recharged titles Atari is cooking up, like Black Widow Recharged and Breakout Recharged. It would have been nice for the game to ship with more modes, but with it's incredibly satisfying gameplay loop and $9.99 price point, retro fans shouldn't hesitate to pick this game up.
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon is an exceptional entry in this iconic vampire-slaying franchise and certainly a must play for fans. Considering the entire Castlevania Advance Collection is only $24.99 US, just this game is worth a good chunk of that value alone. I really enjoyed how fresh this game is given the unique RPG elements and the DSS card system. After playing Metroid Dread and F.I.S.T. this year, I have to say that Circle of the Moon holds up nicely compared to both of them. An easy recommend from me!
Carrion is a devilishly enjoyable horror experience where you can swoop up enemies in your tentacles and rip them apart with a smile on your face. It's a short adventure lasting around 6-7 hours, but it's worth it for the gameplay alone. The awesome reverse-horror story is icing on the cake. It's too bad there's no in-game map as that would have eliminated getting lost and made this an even better game. Still, with what's on offer it's an easy recommend for anyone wanting their next juicy horror experience.
Diablo II Resurrected is an impressive remake of the classic game that manages to elevate the beloved experience of the original in virtually every way. The game's improvements in graphics and sound design, combined with its cross-progression feature, make it a must-play title for fans of action RPGs. While it does have its shortcomings, such as its outdated design elements, it still delivers a captivating and satisfying experience that is sure to keep veterans and newcomers coming back for more.
Games of this caliber are exceedingly rare. Death Stranding Director's Cut is a masterpiece, without question the definitive version for one of the best games I've played in the last few years. Whether you've played the PS4 version or are thinking of checking it out for the first time, don't pass up your chance to play this gem on PS5.
Deathloop is a superb adventure that rivals the best from Arkane Studios. If you’re a fan of their games or action-adventure titles in general, don’t miss your chance to break the loop and end the cycle for good. While the bugs were frustrating, I still had an amazing time playing the game and I'm already looking forward to my next attempt to plan the perfect assassination.
I thoroughly enjoyed F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch and highly recommend this game to all fans of Metroidvania games like Ori and the Blind Forest or Dead Cells. This game really does have it all: incredible graphics, exceptional gameplay, a deep and involved story, and a huge interconnected map to explore. It's one of the best PS5/PS4 games of the year so definitely check this one out.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite is pure joy to play when all the stars line up. By that I mean when playing with friends or when you're lucky enough to get matchmaking online to work. There's a lot to like here, from the intense moment-to-moment combat, to the deep class system and the exceptional weapon variety. It's really too bad the game is severely lacking on the matchmaking front so here's hoping this gets addressed quickly. If it does get resolved, I can see this being my main go-to online multiplayer game for many months to come.
The Director's Cut is so incredible it's a shame DLC typically is never considered for end of the year awards. Because this expansion is easily making my list of best game experiences of the year, it's that good. PlayStation fans are used to getting a steady flow of quality titles, but even by Sony's high standards, Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut ranks among their best of all time.
I'm having such a great time playing Samurai Warriors 5. I've already beat all six chapters, completed all the Citadel missions and have put in over 60 hours so far, and I still have interest to keep on playing more. The bottom line is that if you're a musou fan you absolutely don't want to miss this gem of a game. The revamped graphics alone are enough reason to dive in but the refined gameplay and plethora of modes are just icing on the cake.
Song of Horror isn't the most graphically-impressive horror game I've played in recent years, but it does deliver where it matters most: intense, unrelenting terror. I'm a big fan of classic third-person horror titles so this game definitely spoke to me and made me pine for more retro titles in the same vein. If you like Resident Evil or Silent Hill don't hesitate to check out this Lovecraftian nightmare.
I've had a lot of fun playing Habroxia 2 on PS5. At only $10 it's a steal and certainly a must-play game for shoot 'em fans on every platform. You can get the Platinum trophy in about ten hours, so it's great for achievement hunters as well. I play a lot of longer games, so whenever I get fatigued and need a break it's great to know that Habroxia 2 will be there to jump into for some quick and fun arcade shmup action.