Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is a true masterpiece, showcasing uncompromising art direction and stunning cinematics. It takes everything from the first game and elevates it, making the original feel like just a tech demo. With breathtaking visuals and an incredible soundtrack, it stands out as the definitive next-gen experience we’ve been eagerly anticipating for the PlayStation 5.
Trident’s Tale delivers a colorful and whimsical pirate adventure that’s perfect for younger audiences, but it stumbles in execution. While its vibrant world and lighthearted storytelling are charming, the predictable narrative and repetitive quests lack substance. The stiff sailing mechanics, lackluster combat, and forgettable characters make it less appealing to seasoned players. Although it performs well technically, the world feels barren, limiting exploration and immersion. In the end, it fails to measure up to iconic pirate games like Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag or The Wind Waker.
Japanese Drift Master captures the essence of drifting through Japan’s scenic streets, which are beautifully modeled after their real-world counterparts. However, technical issues significantly hold it back, leaving room for improvement as outlined in the game’s promising future roadmap.
Despite its flawed presentation and dated visuals, Blades of Fire remains an engaging experience, thanks to bold new ideas of combat, wide-enemy variety, and progression. If you're tired of the same old hack-and-slash titles, give this one a try.
Mandragora: Whispiers of the Witch Tree isn’t just another entry in the action RPG genre—it’s a living, breathing world that challenges you to be smarter, faster, and more resourceful with everything at your disposal. It’s highly polished with responsive controls that make every encounter challenging yet fair.
Promise Mascot Agency is one of the most hilarious and engaging indie management sims ever. Despite its limited scope, it pushes ahead of its comfort and has hours of hilarious content engrained into its city of Kaso-machi. It is undoubtedly the most fun and relaxing game we have had this year.
Despite its limited gameplay mechanics, Karma: The Dark World manages to elevate its experience with its atmospheric storytelling and stunning visuals. It is a thought-provoking journey that challenges perceptions and leaves a lasting impression. For fans of psychological horror and dystopian narratives, Karma: The Dark World is a must-play.
Monster Hunter Wilds is Monster Hunter at its best. With its changing terrains and environmental physics, it pushes the envelope of its unique genre in unprecedented ways. Its campaign makes up for a great tutorial, one that showcases all the in-game mechanics and feels great even while playing single-player mode.
Despite its somewhat rocky inception, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage manages to find its fitting during its pivotal moments. Tape 1 of this adventure does a great job of capturing the ’90s picturesque corners of Michigan and the nostalgia of the lost teens’ era. I can’t wait to see the remainder of Swann’s adventure in Tape 2. However, given the number of technical issues one might run into, I would only recommend picking it up if you have a 2060 or a better GPU. Given its thoughtful regional pricing, it’s worth picking up if you’ve got the specs. On the consoles, a 60 fps mode would greatly help.
Goat Simulator Remastered successfully captures the essence of the original game, providing a polished and enjoyable experience. Its intuitive controls, humorous gameplay, and nostalgic feel make it a delightful addition to any gamer’s library. However, with Goat Simulator 3 priced similarly, the upgrades may not justify a purchase for those who own the first game, creating a quandary for loyal enthusiasts. Moreover, investing your money elsewhere might be advisable considering its wild and disorderly campaign.
Crow Country skillfully blends the nostalgic allure of classic survival horror with modern game design advancements. The game’s atmospheric environment, captivating puzzles, and user-friendly controls render it an essential experience for both long-time fans and new players. Still, given its challenging nature and fixed camera angle perspectives, it’s not something that may appeal to everyone.
“Thalassa: Edge of the Abyss” delivers a beautifully crafted narrative that excels in storytelling and atmosphere. While it may not satisfy those in search of high-octane action, its emotional depth and enthralling world set it apart in its genre. It’s a must-try for enthusiasts of narrative-driven exploration games that focus on emotional storytelling. Yet, players should brace themselves for its measured pacing, repetitive gameplay elements, and potential frustration due to extensive backtracking and trial-and-error puzzles.
Copycat stands out as a beautifully crafted narrative experience, notable for its emotional storytelling and enchanting presentation. Although the gameplay may not be the most intricate, its capacity to resonate emotionally with players renders it an unforgettable adventure.
The PS4 port of Star Wars: Jedi Survivor is an impressive achievement. It succeeds in preserving most of the outstanding qualities of its PS5 version while occupying less than one-third of the storage size. Despite some technical hiccups, the ability to maintain a good frame rate and crisp imagery on 11-year-old hardware is quite an accomplishment.
Terra Memoria epitomizes the core appeal of RPGs. The narrative is functional yet captivating, the characters are charming, and the world is intricately crafted. Although the combat might seem monotonous to some, and the third act appears somewhat hurried, the total experience is highly rewarding for RPG enthusiasts.
Indika is a bold take on a memorable story that feels original to its core. Via unconventional story elements, it challenges players to question faith, authority, and the nature of good and evil. However, it struggles in gameplay due to uninspired puzzles which are partly redeemed by its sweet yet short 8-bit platformer sequences.
Ereban Shadow Legacy ambitiously attempts to juggle multiple elements and succeeds in most areas, yet it is ultimately hindered by its lack of refinement. With its prominent features, it leans more toward a 3D platformer rather than a game rooted in the Stealth genre. Nonetheless, its emphasis on level design and a variety of unique gameplay mechanics, despite a lackluster plot, renders it an enjoyable experience.
Stellar Blade is not just a great hack-and-slash game, it's a culmination of a great fashion designer's wardrobe and a 'souls-like' veteran's wildest fantasies. Thanks to its satisfying combat, varied enemy designs, and stellar presentation, it really lives up to its name despite some occasional hiccups involving lackluster platforming and repetitive side requests.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth outshines its predecessor in every aspect by providing a vast world to explore, numerous mini-games to master, and an expansive story free of filler content. However, it falls short of replicating the emotional resonance of the original’s pivotal climax. Nevertheless, it excels in developing relationships, delving deeper into character exploration, and introducing new, unforgettable story elements.
Let’s School is a fun and engaging video game that allows players to experience the joys and challenges of running a school. However, given limitations and the given genre, it may not live up to most people’s expectations. Still, considering its fair pricing model and a free demo, it is worth trying out.