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Bloodborne meets Legend of Zelda worked out much better than I would’ve ever hoped. The bosses can have quite the malicious edge to them, especially a supremely sadistic second boss, and the platforming can be, quite literally, hit or miss. Nonetheless, the combat is so fluid but focused that it’s hard not to fall in love with how it handles. Cleaving apart zombies, then immediately whipping around to pistol-snipe a wolf all set to a firm and punchy soundtrack is just icing on the cake, especially with the added flavor the better bosses bring to the table.
There was a time when Gorn’s over-the-top melees were pretty amusing. However, six years since it first slugged its way onto headsets, the physics-based brawler genre has seen numerous impressive offerings that vastly improve upon the foundation it laid, making its addition to the PSVR2 library seem mostly unnecessary. Hobbled by a disappointing lack of variety and questionable design choices that feel rooted in the early days of home VR, Gorn’s gladiators fail to entertain.
Despite launching in a state that could really use an injection of some new content already, Deceive Inc. is a genuinely fresh and fun take on the asymmetrical multiplayer space. The tension and paranoia of the opening stages of each match are unlike anything else offered by the genre right now, and even though the tension of those initial moments is belittled slightly by the frequently chaotic endings, the gameplay hook remains strong enough that I’m keen to keep playing and getting familiar with the rest of the roster of agents. If you can look past the cash shop and are okay with buying a product on the basis that it serves as a strong foundation for something that could become pretty special, then Deceive Inc. might just be worth your time.
Ghostwire Tokyo’s Xbox release is a triumph. Not content to rest on their laurels, the hardworking developers over at Tango Gameworks have taken a year to evaluate what didn’t work with the original release, and in turn, have done a commendable job that not only adds a substantial amount of new content but also fixes a lot of the issues that dragged the 2022 release down. Ghostwire: Tokyo may still suffer from a couple of legacy issues with regards to the pacing and overall movement, but they’re small blemishes on an otherwise impeccable re-release that’s absolutely worth investing in, regardless of whether you’re stepping into Akito’s shoes for the first time, or intending on making a return trip to the demonic streets of Tokyo.
If you think about what Frogwares had to go through this past year in Ukraine, it’s an amazing feat that Sherlock Holmes The Awakened came to fruition. Sure, the game doesn’t break any new ground, but the team did it, and it just works! This crossover between Lovecraft and Sherlock is a dream come true for a detective and horror fan like myself. Even though The Awakened re-uses many of the same assets and engine and suffers from some of the same frustrations as Chapter One, it still remains a compelling detective experience from start to finish. There’s plenty of madness to lose your sanity to and lots of cases waiting to be solved!
Overall, Remnant: From The Ashes is a perfect entry point for those who are wanting to take their first steps in dabbling in the soulslike genre. Gunfire Games took me by surprise with this one. I was skeptical going in and doubted the third-person shooter mechanics would blend so seamlessly with the genre. Remnant 2 is due to be released later this year, and frankly, I can’t wait.
In games of Guns N’ Runs’ ilk, it’s ok to fight against the odds. But the major difference that separates this game from similar titles is that time and time again, Guns N’ Runs proves itself able to entertain for a few minutes, before devolving into a gnawingly rote annoyance that constantly battles against players with its terrible tutorials, minimal health bar, lack of power-ups, dearth of weaponry, paint-by-numbers design and a chugging framerate. There is clearly a love for the retro classics, which the presentation and soundtrack evoke lovingly, but the frustrations inherent in the gameplay are a bit too much to ignore. Give Guns N’ Runs a try and you may like it for a spell; just be warned that you will likely grow bored of it sooner rather than later.
EA Sports PGA Tour lays the foundation for what could be a really strong golf game, with a lot of content, deep mechanics, and excellent presentation. Its UI issues, though, are a significant problem that shouldn’t have made it into the final release, and its swing mechanics, while easy to pick up, never feel particularly comfortable. In future years there’s definitely potential to win the tour, but for the moment, I still think the competition offers a more compelling experience.
Sixtar Gate: StarTrail does an incredible job of bringing IIDX-like scaling note rhythm gameplay to the Switch while injecting some unique tweaks to give this game a feel all its own. Having been passed over by the likes of PM Studio’s DJ Max series, it feels great to finally have this style of rhythm game available for playing on the go. The songlist, while not as robust as the Steam version, is still superb and bares room for growth by way of DLC and future software updates, of which at least some of them will be free, according to the developer’s Twitter page. I’ve been having an absolute blast with this title and will likely continue to do so for months to come. I may never manage to reach the high-end difficulty levels, but when it comes to rhythm games, it isn’t so much the destination as it is the journey. So long as you can accept that mantra into your playstyle and appreciate some subjectively great music, then I believe you will find much to love on this musical voyage into the cosmos as well.
Despite releasing in 2023, playing Lunark feels like opening a perfectly preserved time capsule. It’s unashamedly old-school in its approach and attempts to recreate an experience that we just don’t see enough of these days, and for that reason, I absolutely adore what Canari Games has created here. The art style may be a little too busy at times, which can actually be gameplay-impacting, but it’s easy to forgive when it looks this good, especially when given a chance to shine on the Switch OLED. Lunark is absolutely a game that won’t be for everyone, but it doesn’t need to be. Canari Games’ mission was clearly never to create something that appeals to a huge audience. The mission statement was obviously to deliver a passion project that speaks to fans of cinematic platformers, and Flashback more specifically. On that front, they can consider this a job very well done.
Enriched lovingly with scenic qualities and bolstered by the delightful day/night contrast to which it excels at evoking a juicily contradictive atmosphere, Dredge may not look like a meaty steamboat-empowered expedition, but when you find yourself supplementing your vessel with new hulls and boosts, as well as interacting with the various personalities sequestered on each of the islands you visit, Dredge may look like shallow waters, but it’ll surprise at how quickly it can submerge you in its depths. No, Dredge did not need the horrors of the nighttime, and banging into suddenly-appearing rocks can prove a hassle, but Dredge is otherwise a splendid offering that’s certainly worth checking out.
Overall, I absolutely loved The Pillars of the Earth. With its beautiful score, deeply developed cast of characters, excellent voice acting, and stunning artwork, this massive work of historical fiction has been brought to life in incredible, addictive detail. While slow at times, it’s nowhere near as slow as the several decades the story encompasses, and the slow burn is more than worth it. Trust me. I’m a historical fiction convert now. In fact, I have to head off now to finish reading the novel. And then on to the rest of the trilogy.
While The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution doesn’t squash all the bugs that festered within the Meta Quest 2 release last year, it’s a significant improvement that fans of the series should check out; just don’t go in expecting a full-on sequel. With its fantastic, physics-based brawls that make excellent use of the PSVR2’s Sense controllers, sending the undead back to the grave has never felt better. If you’re a fan of the series or survival horror games (with an emphasis on survival) in general, this one’s worth adding to your PSVR2 library.
Despite the shallow narrative and somewhat redundant progression systems giving rise to doubts about the overall mass-market appeal, there’s no denying that Behaviour Interactive Inc. has absolutely stuck the landing here with Meet Your Maker. The tension fuelled raiding, accessible base building, and a steady stream of new content coming in via the user-generated levels result in a package that’s fiendishly addictive and incredibly difficult to put down. If you aren’t someone who needs a constantly dangling carrot on a stick to chase, and, like myself, still find gameplay to be king, then this is one trip to the wastelands you certainly won’t want to miss.
Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories is reminiscent of the wacky RPGs of yesteryear that captured our hearts as children with its cute aesthetics and humorous writing, but it also surprisingly delves into some more serious material. Although I wish I had been able to better grasp the intricacies of its storyline, the overall picture was painted in well enough and the throwaway NPC lines were entertaining enough in their own right. If you miss the silliness of retro RPGs and need a dose of nostalgia juice, Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories invites you to take a melon-flavored sip.
Road 96 Mile 0 takes familiar elements from Road 96 and Lost in Harmony and impressively incorporates them fairly seamlessly. Although I did feel that the exploration portions could have benefitted from some variety in gameplay, the music-running portions definitely picked up the slack. If anything, Road 96 Mile 0 excels in its ability to showcase two best friends struggling against an unfair world while still trying to be regular teenagers. Whether or not they remain friends is for players to decide.
Loretta is dark, gritty, and depressing. It’s a tale of a woman repeatedly failed and betrayed by those she should have been able to trust, her back to the wall with limited options. Depending on decisions made, Loretta is also a tale of hope, even if its best ending still delivers noir notes. My only regret with Loretta is not playing it sooner, so if you find this game calling your name, don’t wait a moment longer.
In all my years of gaming, I struggle to think of ever feeling a sense of disappointment as profound as I do when playing Redfall. Sure, you can increase the fun factor by adding a few buddies into the equation, the varied classes lending themselves well to group play, and there are glimpses of something great when you’re afforded the opportunity to slow down in one of the more tightly scripted missions, but these positives merely serve as momentary distractions from the multitude of issues that plague Arkane Austin’s latest effort. Between the half-baked gameplay loops, repetitive open-world busy work, and shockingly poor optimization, Redfall feels like a title that’s still in alpha, never mind a product that’s supposed to represent a flagship release for Microsoft’s premium subscription service.
Despite my many gripes, I think there is still an audience out there for Curse of the Sea Rats. Sure, it’s packed to the rafters with frustrating design choices that should have been made to walk the plank, but it’s also a title that has clearly had a ton of love and passion poured into its development. That I felt compelled to stick with Curse of the Sea Rats despite the uneven gameplay is a testament to the art direction and light-hearted narrative, both of which instantly brought me back to a happy place; sitting in front of the TV on a Saturday morning, feasting on whatever sugar-laced cereal was trendy at the time, all while enjoying my favorite cartoons. While it’s not an easy sell due to its gameplay fumbles, I do still think Curse of the Sea Rats is worth a playthrough for anyone who can look past its flaws and focus on the product as a whole, which ends up being a serviceable videogame, elevated greatly by a wonderful sense of style and charm.
Terminal Velocity’s gameplay is a little dated after two and a half decades in the hangar, even with a fresh coat of paint, and isn’t going to win in a dogfight with today’s premier flight sims or space shooters. Nonetheless, the developers have done a great job of polishing it up and making it work perfectly on modern systems. I enjoyed playing it again for its high-octane tunnel-traversing, radical soundtrack and bombastic alien blasting, and I think others could too provided they’re primed for a nostalgic blast from the past.