John-Paul Jones's Reviews
Though the somewhat ho-hum resource management and survival mechanics are a little shop-worn at this point, Song in the Smoke: Rekindled nonetheless soars as the best survival adventure on PSVR2, thanks in no small part to its evocative world, endlessly clever procedural design and stunning improvements made possible by Sony's latest lump of VR tech. If you missed Song in the Smoke the first time round, this is your chance to right that mistake definitively.
Generously awash in heart-warming whimsy and charm, together with puzzles that encourage the sort of playful ingenuity that really captures the imagination, Tentacular is simply great fun that anybody, regardless of skill or age, can easily get stuck into. Tentacular is a true PSVR2 indie gem and a feel-good VR experience that everybody should play.
The definitive version of After The Fall thanks in no small part to the impressive capabilities leveraged by the PSVR2 hardware, After The Fall: Complete Edition still makes its mark as a roundly enjoyable VR shooter, albeit one that comes slightly unstuck thanks to some dodgy AI and not quite enough maps or unique modes for players to get their teeth into over the long-term.
In the end, Demeo does that most unexpected of things - it provides a deep and highly enjoyable tabletop RPG experience for folks who are typically put off by the notion of setting up a board, potentially losing important figures, worrying about missing dice and all that other nonsense. Absent such tedious administrative concerns and with clear design, tactile physical feedback and easily grasped mechanics that ensure everyone can play, Demeo is a shining example of how to translate one of the most socially beloved hobbies into an all new digital realm.
While younger folks might still get a kick from its occasional scares and familiar locations, Jurassic World Aftermath Collection is a desperately linear adventure that struggles to break free of its humble technical origins and fails to both do proper justice to the setting of its source material and the PSVR2 hardware itself.
As much as Returnal carved a niche of its own on PS5 as a stunning third-person shooter that had been masterfully blended with roguelike design, so too does it manage to inhabit a similarly unique place for PC gamers in 2023. One of the best PlayStation exclusives of 2021 has ended up being one of the best and most glossy PC shooters of 2023. Long may PlayStation Studios incredible run of PC ports continue.
With its relaxed nautical paddling beats, accurate kayak physics and photorealistic locations, Kayak VR: Mirage is my go-to PSVR2 game after a particularly stressful day or as a palette cleanser after playing more intense PSVR2 titles. Though its content offering could be broader, the simple fact remains that Kayak VR: Mirage effortlessly commends itself as one of the highlights of the PSVR2 launch line-up and is a VR experience that everybody should play.
Able to be entirely completed in just a few hours, it's certainly fair to say that Star Wars: Tales From The Galaxy's Edge Enhanced Edition is more of a morsel than a banquet and yet, it still feels compelling because of how lovingly authentic the universe of Star Wars has been replicated here. Though folks who aren't fans of Star Wars won't quite get quite so much from it, Star Wars: Tales From The Galaxy's Edge Enhanced Edition nonetheless earns its keep as an attractive showcase of what PSVR2 can do, all wrapped up in the delectable veneer of a galaxy far, far away.
Pistol Whip on PSVR2 is nothing less than a masterpiece of sensory excess, exhilaration and expertly paced challenge. An essential PSVR2 launch title that crafts a masterful mixture of visceral excess, classic arcade score chasing, a bountiful content offering and effortless style, there's only one score that will do for Pistol Whip's PSVR2 debut and it happens to rhyme with 'ten'. Oops.
Though a significant amount of time has passed since its original release resulting it not being quite as fresh as it was and its relatively brief five hour or so duration might frustrate those looking for a more substantial morsel, Moss nevertheless enthrals thanks to its extremely likeable heroine, superbly judged platforming adventure gameplay and sublime VR presentation. If you've yet to hop on the Moss train, now is the time to address that.
Despite its linear nature, Horizon Call of the Mountain remains a truly stellar showcase of the PSVR2's capabilities. From the retina-searing 4K HDR visuals that are generously bleeding with detail and fidelity, through to the deft use of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in the PSVR2 Sense controllers which ensure that players are utterly immersed in the climbing, exploration and combat within its world, Horizon Call of the Mountain is a highly enjoyable action adventure that fans of both the series and great VR games in general can effortlessly enjoy.
The Legend of Tianding is a highly enjoyable take on the Metroidvania genre that augments its smooth and satisfying action platforming beats with an uniquely historical setting that at once feels both refreshing and genuinely interesting. Though The Legend of Tianding could certainly do with a better hub area, a longer duration and maybe some more homegrown innovations, it nonetheless represents enticing morsel of polished and entertaining Metroidvania goodness that dependably enthrals for as long as it lasts.
With its bewitching fairy-tale presentation, satisfying combat, enticing exploration of a beautiful world and a narrative that is lovingly inspired by dark Slavic fables, I really enjoyed my time with Blacktail. Though the various gameplay systems are very much inspired from what we've seen in similar games already and the platforming side of things isn't quite as polished as I might like, Blacktail nonetheless is a thoroughly enjoyable action RPG that serves as a stellar debut effort for Polish developer The Parasight. I can't wait to see what they come up with next.
Visually astounding with a weighty handling model and some super clever design, Need for Speed Unbound is easily the best Need for Speed in years. Though the single-player story campaign is a little less inspiring than it needs to be both in terms of its plot and content, Need for Speed Unbound nonetheless sets a resoundingly solid foundation for the Need for Speed franchise to evolve into the future and is essential for fans of both the series and the street racing genre at large.
On PS4 and PS5 Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales was better in just about every way when compared to its immediate predecessor and that notion still holds true in its leap to PC. Buoyed by a raft of PC exclusive technical upgrades and its inherently improved combat, better story and trimmed open-world, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales effortlessly cements its place and supplants its predecessor as the best superhero game on PC.
Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration is an absolute masterclass in how to fashion a retro compilation, all the while providing both contemporary and older gamers with an immediately accessible and immaculately produced window into the halcyon days of one of the video game industry's most prolific pioneers. This is the preservation of video game history done right and Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration is the best retro compilation ever made, bar none.
Though I still remain surprised that Return to Monkey Island even exists, I can't contest what Ron Gilbert and developer Terrible Toybox have wrought here. By masterfully combining the witty and thoughtful point and click escapades of the series past with a newfound warmth and charming aesthetic, Return to Monkey Island is by and large the series return that fans have long been waiting for and is a roaring success in the process.
The marriage of Arkanoid with the Battle Royale concept is a welcome one and equally warmly received is the inclusion of the classic Arkanoid for older gamers or those who are inquisitive enough to reach back far into those halcyon days of arcade gaming. However, a distinct lack of modes and a seemingly lukewarm player base effectively cut the legs out from under Arkanoid: Eternal Battle's titular and marquee mode.
God of War: Ragnarok is the perfect sequel. A carefully iterative offering that beautifully maintains the essence of 2018's Game of the Year while making meaningful improvements to augment its already stellar combat and progression systems, God of War: Ragnarok is a meaty and deeply emotional epic that effortlessly secures its place as one of the best games on PS5 and a sure-fire Game of the Year candidate.
A warmly feel-good and highly accomplished 3D platformer filled with wonderous worlds and delightful characters, though Sackboy: A Big Adventure might lack the bombastic profile of other offerings such as Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered and God of War, it's certainly no less essential than its PlayStation Studios brethren. Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a great big hug in videogame form and I cannot recommend it highly enough. PC owners are in for a treat.