PlayStation Universe
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Deliver Us Mars, the latest Deetman brothers project, channels the same heart that started beating in Deliver Us The Moon, even if it takes a great deal more effort to get to it. You need to slog through some cumbersome and at times downright frustrating gameplay, but I promise you the premise and ending make it worth your while.
It gets off to a slow start, but Fashion Police Squad ends up being a refreshing take on the retro shooter with many of the qualities first-person shooters of the 90s brought to the table.
SpongeBob Squarepants: The Cosmic Shake makes for an inconsistent start, but grows into the kind of fun-filled platformer its star deserves.
Forspoken lacks the kind of refinement expected of a AAA title. If the concepts had received more attention, then the entire package would have been more cohesive. Still, despite its issues, there's definitely something here to enjoy if you can focus in on what the game does well: narrative, accessibility, and writing.
Season: A Letter to the Future is a poetic, melancholy rite of passage experience like no other. Its take on facing the end of the world is about preserving what was rather than trying to survive what will be, and is all the better for it.
With this remake, Motive has managed to treat the original Dead Space with the utmost respect whilst rebuilding it to be perfect for today. Almost every improvement serves to enhance the reputation of a horror classic. Dead Space should be the blueprint for creating a truly exceptional remake.
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.
While its mixture of Arthurian legend and the more flesh and blood trail of destruction left by Jack the Ripper is a great hook, Du Lac and Fey: Dance of Death's technical misfires prevent it from being something more meaningful.
Mojiken's well crafted, charming small town, and it's handling of delicate subject matter, combined with its captivating narrative, carry you through to its bittersweet end, despite some pacing issues, and gameplay elements that feel out of place.
Neptunia Sisters vs. Sisters channels the same cheeky humor and simplistic gameplay that fans have grown to expect. At the same time, some of the creative choices implemented here don't mesh well enough to make a complete concept. It all works and has its own kind of fun, but the game misses out on a more cohesive product that a more broad RPG fan base might have wanted to try.
Now and again you will want a game that while not being 'flashy' is warm, unique and entertaining. Sail Forth is all of these and will keep you interested for hours. There's boat-loads to do with its many activities and wacky characters. The navigation is rewarding, the combat never gets old and everything looks so wholesome.
Chasing Static creates a strong sense of nostalgia as the appreciation of late 90's era horror games shines through. The game works well as a throwback, but it doesn't work as well as a horror game in its own right. More than that however it is ultimately let down by an abundance of overly familiar narrative choices. Minding that, fans of PlayStation 1 style horror should still find something to love.
While not as technically impressive as its predecessor, Monster Hunter Rise succeeds as a follow-up by focusing on getting players into the hunt quickly and comfortably without compromising on challenge.
A compelling murder mystery plot, a cast of likeable characters, and key refinements to the original game make sure that your stay in the rural town of Inaba is a comfortable one in this 2023 version of Persona 4 Golden.
Persona 3 Portable on PS4 doesn't do much at all to enhance what was already there to begin with, looking like a sharpened version of its former self. Regardless, there's a strong entry here, exploring some darker concepts than the modern mainline games. It may not have the same style as the newer entries, but it sure delivers on concepts.
It's not every day you get to play a video game based on an anime or manga designed to utilize every aspect of the source material to make a great game, rather than simply cashing in on its popularity of it for a quick buck. One Piece: Odyssey tells a good story that spawns many of the franchise's various arcs allowing you to experience the vast One Piece lore in a brand new way. Its turn-based combat is simple but addicting and fun, utilizing each and every member of the Straw Hat crew to the best of their abilities.
Children of Silentown doesn't have the best pacing for a point-n-click game, but it does have an enthralling world filled with interesting characters that help push you through its foibles. Using folklore and the perspective of children to amplify its horror credentials allows it to stand out.
As far as visual novels go, Witch On The Holy Night stands among the best in the genre. Strong writing, great characters, and stellar world-building make this a memorable experience. While chapter length is all over the place and some plot points feel a bit forced, Witch on The Holy Night keeps you well-invested and rewards you with a strong body of work from beginning to end.
Firefighting Simulator: The Squad has significant flaws with the single player AI who are practically useless at anything other than menial tasks, and there's a distinct lack of urgency involved in the missions once you realise the people inside can't die and the building never razes itself to the ground. Despite these glaring issues, it's actually a really enjoyable and rewarding experience with a zen-like quality akin to vacuuming a filthy carpet. There's a great deal of satisfaction to be had in extinguishing the wide variety of different fires across the city map, and completing the objectives with friends (or strangers) online only enhances the sense of achievement.
Gris on PS5 is an absolute marvel, because it truly delivers an experience that cannot be had anywhere else. Nomada Studio's excellent incorporation of the DualSense's feature-set amps up what is already an emotionally charged time to new heights, and made my first experience of Gris even more beautiful than it could have been on any other platform. Whether you've played it a hundred times or not at all, PS5 is the place to best experience Gris.