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Island Time VR's best attributes – the visuals and the voice acting – are unfortunately overshadowed by some very major flaws in repetitive gameplay, a very short running-time, and game-breaking bugs. If you are looking for a new friend, Carl the Crab will certainly suffice, but if you're looking for a top-notch VR survival title, we'd suggest you swimming the other way.
Minit is a lighthearted and cleverly designed adventure that successfully builds a game around a peculiar premise. Playing in 60-second bursts can initially be frustrating, but once you wrap your head around the game's structure, it becomes an addictive and memorable little title that doesn't outstay its welcome. The abundance of secrets makes the game much deeper than it may seem, too.
MLB The Show 18 is, for our money, the best sports game on console right now. Whether you love baseball or not, this is a flexible simulation that can appeal to both beginners and veterans alike, with some of the best presentation you'll find on the PS4. On paper this may not sound like a substantial step forward for the series, but the under-the-hood improvements mean that it's the best playing, best looking version yet. We're not sure where Sony San Diego goes next with this series, but we say that every year, and it continues to smash our expectations out of the park.
There's little to get here that you can't get from a mobile game, except you wouldn't sit in front of a 55-inch screen to play something like Temple Run. Assault Gunners HD Edition doesn't benefit from being on PS4 at all; if anything, it's worse off. With little to no depth or nuance, Assault Gunners HD Edition is a mindless action game that offers very little in return for your dedicated time in front of the TV.
For a series that's defined by its tardiness, Pure Farming 2018 leans a little too heavily on the slow side for our liking. This is a perfect first choice for newcomers, though, as its campaign walks you through every single element of agricultural “action” – and there's a helluva lot to wrap your head around. The various environments could do with a little more visual identity, but they offer unique challenges that make them worth playing. And while the quick-fix challenge mode won't keep purists occupied for long, we certainly appreciate the attempt at distilling the title's gameplay into short session bursts.
Atelier Lydie & Suelle isn't as innovative as its predecessors, but that doesn't mean you should write it off entirely - it tells a charming and captivating story that ends up being the best tale in the whole Mysterious trilogy. There are plenty of enchanting areas to explore as well, and as always, there's a deep alchemy system for you to master.
A strong finale to another quality series, we've really enjoyed getting up close and personal with Gotham's goons.
The best thing we can say about Far Cry 5 is that it's competent, and the worst that it's far too safe. Ubisoft is clearly more interested in making an experience that appeals to everyone to satisfy the bottom line. That's a real shame, because there's the makings of a highly entertaining sandbox survival adventure here. Sadly, you won't see any of it, because there's no encouragement to experiment when running and gunning is as effective as it is.
A Way Out is a successful experiment in co-operative play with some excellent presentation and varied gameplay. The story may be predictable, but you'll be surprised how attached you become to Leo and Vincent, and you'll be compelled to see their journey through to the end regardless.
R.B.I. Baseball 18 doesn't really need to exist on the PS4, which is an issue. While it's competent enough to register a clean hit, The Show runs laps around the title in virtually every department. Yes, it's cheaper and more accessible than Sony's vastly superior alternative – but we still wouldn't recommend pinch hitting San Diego's effort for this.
John Doe's unpredictability continues to be the highlight in a season that's seen Bruce Wayne's role become ever more important than the titular Dark Knight. While short, this is a solid episode that puts plenty of interesting plot threads into play, but with the finale around the corner, there's very little resolution – merely setup for that all-important fifth episode.
Floor Plan is a short but adequate puzzle game for PSVR, with an interesting elevator-based premise. That said, it's rather forgettable, has some irritating bugs, and a few of the puzzles don't make any logical sense. If you're looking for a game with lots of ups and downs, then Floor Plan certainly has you covered – however we'd recommend you wait for a sale before hopping in.
Between being a relatively traditional Japanese RPG, a kingdom management sim, and an advocate of real-time strategy, Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom could have easily stretched itself too thin, but developer Level-5 somehow manages to pull everything together and make it all seem worthwhile. This is a robust but accessible adventure that's stuffed with charm and character. A really fun combat system and gorgeous visuals top things off, making the sequel a joy to play. In a word, Ni no Kuni II is delightful.
Assassin's Creed Rogue Remastered sits in a bit of an odd place. It's a good game on its own, but after the release of Assassin's Creed Origins and the major improvements it brought to the series, Shay Patrick Cormac's trek across the ocean feels outdated only four years after its original release. If you can stomach a return to the franchise's original formula, then the experience will be worth your while thanks to a compelling plot and excellent naval mechanics. But if you've grown tired of that recipe, Assassin's Creed Rogue Remastered won't do anything to draw you back in.
Assassin's Creed Origins: Curse of the Pharaohs is a great expansion that does a fantastic job of bringing ancient Egypt's spiritual side to life. Channelling the creativity of a clearly talented team, the DLC breaks the series' historical shackles and provides a memorable adventure packed with cool boss encounters. Curse of the Pharaohs is right up there with the best that Ubisoft's franchise has to offer.
For newcomers to the mystery genre, The Raven Remastered is a fantastic game to whet your appetite. It'll take around 12 hours to complete - more if you want to be thorough and sit through its lengthy dialogue options. It comes bundled with a well-crafted story, delightfully bizarre characters to interact with, and just the right amount of puzzle solving to keep you satiated, though it's not the prettiest of games to endure. Its faithful marriage to 1960s crime dramas is apparent, and we had fun unravelling its mysteries from start to finish, twists 'n' turns alike.
On the title's tenth anniversary, Burnout Paradise Remastered is a timely reminder that – like Avril Lavigne – this arcade racer can still do it better than all of its contemporaries. Seriously, there's no other like it, so when's it going to sink in? The only real downside is that the pricing's stupid – what the hell is EA thinkin'?
Octahedron is an unconventional 2D platformer with clever level design centred around an innovative core idea. The controls are very simple but can take some adjusting, especially when your allowance of platforms changes from level to level. However, the stages introduce some great mechanics that make you use your platforms for more than just makeshift floors. If you're looking for a platformer with a difference, Octahedron offers up an accessible, intelligent, and challenging game with more ups than downs.
A relentlessly entertaining experience with energy to spare, Tesla vs Lovecraft takes a comedic premise and crafts an addictive ride, filled with variety. Despite some sporadic difficulty spikes, this stands shoulder to shoulder with PS4s best arcade shooters.
The Devil May Cry HD Collection on PS4 may essentially be a straight port of the PS3 version that released in 2012, but ultimately, that doesn't detract from the overall experience. The original Devil May Cry and Devil May Cry 3 still stand strong, and while the second game is easily the weakest of the three, there's still some enjoyment to be had at the very least. If you've already played through the collection on PS3 then the value of this port is undoubtedly diminished, but for everyone else - newcomers included - this is a fine way to get acquainted with Dante.