Evil West is an incredibly fun game, with many ways to dismember enemies or electrocute them with gusto. The story flows very well from mission to mission and the boss battles are incredibly engaging. The world also looks stunning, being drenched in a gothic/steampunk atmosphere that’s highly rewarding to play.
Sifu is a great game for those who love fighting games. Lots of combos to learn, and some awesome finishers to go with it. However, the story is a basic revenge story and the levels are very linear. If this doesn't sound like your kind of thing, don't bother. However, if it does, maybe get it on something other than a switch, just a suggestion.
Gordian Quest is not just a common deck builder, as it features some awesome DND-inspired elements that’ll make fans of the classic tabletop RPG feel right at home. The art design is spectacular and the gameplay is incredibly fun, even if it’s a little easy. The one downfall is the story, which can be quite basic—only serving the purpose of moving the game forward. But all in all, Gordian Quest is immensely rewarding… unless you’re looking for a well-woven tale.
Sniper Elite 5 is a perfect example of a game that is just good. There are no real glitches or screen tearing and the game plays really well on the PS5. The graphics look fine, even if the character designs are a little questionable. The problem arises with the game becoming predictable and boring. However, the devs saw this coming – hence half the game being online. So even though playing through the campaign with a friend is fun, it’s not worth the price, in my opinion.
The full release of King Arthur: Knight’s Tale impresses in almost every area, despite being in Early Access for quite some time. The game expands dramatically, offering an incredible story, fun tactical gameplay and great visuals. Not to mention there is a lot to do once completing the game, whether that’s taking on bosses or playing PVP. Even though it can feel slightly unfinished, the game is still incredible and should continue to improve with more time and dedication from the developers.
Weird West is exactly that, a weird yet interesting adventure set in the wild west. Featuring many supernatural creatures to hunt and many stories to uncover, it has an immense world to explore and many characters to talk to. The abilities and perks system help dramatically as well – especially when not playing on PC – and the game looks absolutely incredible. A 20-hour experience that could easily take 50 hours to complete.
Tunic initially looks incredible. Featuring a top-down attack and dodge style, it immediately gives off a Death’s Door vibe with an abundance of colour. Upon entering the game though, it becomes very clear that Tunic is just an empty shell of a game. With basically no story, basic combat, and a world that looks amazing but leaves the player wondering where to go. It becomes very stale very quickly.
If you enjoy top-down real-time strategy games, then Total War: Warhammer 3 is a must-play. The story is intriguing and stock full of lore. The gameplay is reminiscent of other great real-time strategy titles with it’s own flare. And the art design looks incredible.
Serious Sam Siberian Mayhem is simply a good run and gun game. There really isn’t much emphasis on story, and honestly, there really isn’t much other than exactly that – running and shooting. This doesn’t make it a bad game, it just makes it fun for a particular audience. For those that love getting chased, shooting countless bad guys, and being under pressure, this game does a great job!
Chorus is an exceptional space shooter, especially when it comes to the gameplay. It has such tight controls it’s ridiculous. Once you add in the superhuman powers and an incredible universe to explore, then there is even more fun to be had here. The one problem however, is the narrative. Even though it’s a lot of fun to play, there just isn’t enough story content to drive you on, leaving the player feeling empty well before the credits roll.
Death’s Door is a prime example of what a dedicated indie team can achieve. It flows incredibly well with incredible combat mixed with some breathtaking visuals. The contrast between the colourful attacks and the bland world works fantastically well, and the controls are crisp and precise. Death’s Door has to be in contention for not only one of the best indie games, but one of the best titles this year in general.
Relic Entertainment have outdone themselves with Age of Empires IV. They’ve dramatically improved the visuals and world-building of the series whilst keeping most of the tried-and-true Age of Empires gameplay intact; throwing in an incredible amount of historical content to not only play, but also learn from as well. Ultimately, their main ambition was to modernise the Age of Empires formula – and they’ve absolutely nailed it here.
The Caligula Effect 2 is another great JRPG. From investigating several different locations to exploring the challenging yet rewarding dungeons, there’s heaps of content here to keep you going for a long while. The combat system is brilliant, especially with its preview system and how it deliberately lets you take on tougher enemies. And to top it all off, the game’s backed up by one exceptional soundtrack featuring both outstanding instrumentals and vocals alike.
Hot Wheels Unleashed has a well-constructed base, as each aspect Milestone has implemented functions exactly the way it should. However, given that there are too many obvious similarities to a certain other track-building racer, it ultimately doesn’t do enough to set itself apart. Couple that with a serious lack of variety and a litany of added “gimmicks” that serve no real function, and there’s very little incentive to play continuously.
Aragami 2 improves on many aspects of the original. Listen mode enhances the flow of gameplay, moveable bodies grant the player additional stratagems and the modernised controls feel much better overall. Even though the combat mechanics are absolutely horrendous and the story/characters are as basic as it gets, Aragami 2 is still a great time for action and stealth game fans alike.
Psychonauts 2 is a game for everyone. Because of the recap about what happened in the last two titles, newcomers and returning players will be able to slip seamlessly into this game. The story is incredibly awesome with a lot of the issues in the gameplay being fixed. Double Fine has lived up to their high standards and made a world just as incredible as the first game. If your fan of the series or never played the original before, this is definitely a game to pick up.