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On the face of it, Peppa Pig: World Adventures looks the part, immersing your little one in their beloved world from the TV show with loads of countries to visit. But then the black screens appear. And the aural scrapings. Oh the scrapings. And the inexplicable loading times. And the curious audio mix which buries the dialogue. And the strange appearing and disappearing characters. So on the flip-side of the face of it, it's time to bring home the bacon and NOT Peppa Pig: World Adventures.
Curse of the Sea Rats is a perfectly fine Metroidvania effort. The hand-drawn art is gorgeous for the most part and the combat together with the platforming are both well executed and ultimately satisfying. However coupled with the absence of some odd quality of life features, a general lack of polish and a lack of any real ambition, Curse of the Sea Rats arguably struggles to elevate itself in an increasingly competitive genre filled with top-tier efforts.
Hot Wheels Rift Rally brings a lot of interesting ideas to the mixed reality formula, maximizing its potential despite its limitations. Nonetheless, the cost involved coupled with camera spatial issues and real world demands for playing the game all come together to create a deeply niche product.
One of PSVR's best games is comfortably one of the best games on PSVR 2. The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners remains as intense, panic-inducing, and blood-splattered as ever.
Absolutely overflowing with evocative characters, situations and stunning world building, Citizen Sleeper effortlessly punches its ticket as one of the best narrative adventures on PS5. Sure enough, the lo-fi presentation and plodding tabletop mechanics won't be for everyone, but for everyone else Citizen Sleeper is a beautifully written, often emotional cyberpunk adventure that will linger long in the mind long after completion.
As solid as ever from San Diego Studio, but a few tweaks and a superb Storylines mode make MLB The Show 23 an even more worthwhile purchase than recent editions
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is easily one of the best entries in the franchise. A compelling heart-wrenching story is made better with excellent character writing and world-building, while the fun combat system keeps the best elements from its predecessor and improves it to make it stand out as much as possible. If you have to only play one of the Trails of titles, make sure you play Azure.
Any roguelike fan needs to get their hands on Post Void. Quite frankly, if you have any remote curiosity in trying out the game, just do it. Apart from floor jumping not as refined as the rest of the game, the complete package offers up something special, hectic, and engaging. Take it from someone who hates roguelikes: Post Void is a fun roguelike, complete with fever dream.
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and The Secret Key bids a fond farewell to arguably the franchise's most beloved alchemist. With it comes a series-encompassing narrative and engaging yet imperfect combat. To boot, you can dig into the systems as much or as little as you want and still succeed. Ryza 3 truly sets the bar for the Atelier franchise.
Dredge is a dreadfully enticing horror experience draped in the skin of a fishing game. The way Black Salt Games executes its terrors of the deep should be respected because the developer has created a slow-burn dread that utilizes the best aspects of Lovecraft's cosmic horror.
A fine second chapter to one of the original PSVR's brightest spots.The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners - Chapter 2: Retribution breathes fresh life into the Saints & Sinners formula without straying too far from where it began.
WWE 2K23 sits at the head of the table as the best sports simulation game on the market. Fine tuning last year's entry to an impressive level of detail, and adding a layer of realism that is needed in a simulation game. With an array of modes, including the highly addictive MyGM, the introspective MyRise, the improved Showcase, and an extensive creation suite, wrestling fans will find themselves spoilt with WWE 2K23's offerings.
Less a continuation of the Postal series and more of a congealed glob of memories from it dumped into a lifeless sandbox litter tray. The biggest crimes Postal 4 commits are being boring and bland.
Some persistent technical issues that prove frustrating, an uneven campaign, and a formulaic open world can bog down an otherwise wonderful exploration of culture. Nonetheless, Tchia's unique gameplay elements, euphonious music, and often vibrant world make it worth checking out.
Resident Evil 4 Remake is a masterclass in action-horror. The game not only maintains the spirit and gripping gameplay of the original, but expands on it with some meaningful mechanics and fleshes out areas that were previously lacking. Even if you haven't played the original version, Resident Evil 4 is easily one of the best horror games on PS5 right now and a must-have for your collection.
Anno 1800 is a fine addition to PS5's roster of city builders. It takes aspects of several prominent sim titles and mixes them together to make something fresh and exciting. Fittingly, Anno 1800 rules.
Supermassive Games has nailed the thrill of funfair rides and amplified it with a healthy dose of horror. The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR utilizes the PSVR 2 toolset to great and grisly effect. It can be counted among the most consistently entertaining PSVR 2 experiences you can have.
Before Your Eyes delivers a touching story that leans into the PSVR2 hardware to do so. You can play the game while sitting, but the unabated way to play is while standing. It may not sell PSVR2 units on its own, but all PSVR2 owners absolutely need to own Before Your Eyes.
DC's Justice League: Cosmic Chaos took me by surprise. It's one of those games you go into without expecting much and coming away with a lot of fun and entering moments. There is a lot to like about Cosmic Chaos including the excellent writing, animated cut-scenes and fun yet simple combat. Don't be discouraged by its cartoony look. There is plenty here for everyone to enjoy from children to adults.
Drums Rock is generally a delightful rhythm game with a classic feel to it. It does suffer somewhat for a limited tracklist with little star power, but they do at least work just right for a drum-focused game.