PlayStation Universe
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Eidos Montreal has crafted one of the best superhero games to date. Their attention to world-building and characterization should be followed by many studios to come. The Exciting combat, which blends action RPG elements with strategic player commands, and breathtaking visuals and animations, is something to behold. But what truly sets this title apart is the fantastic writing, not just for the Guardians themselves, but for every character you come across. If you weren't a fan of the franchise before, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy might just change your mind.
Fancy working as a game developer, learning on the job? In VR, Probe just about succeeds as an educational experience which may slowly grind you down with its frustrating and time-wasting controls. Non-VR players should give it a wide berth as those control problems kill it stone dead.
The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes is the best entry in the series yet, packed with gripping storytelling, compelling characters, and solid performances. Your choices feel impactful, and seeing your relationships grow or fall apart based on your decisions carries a lot of weight. With tons of collectibles, an improved camera, and solid pacing, House of Ashes will keep you glued to the screen until the credits roll.
Sheepo shows a ton of potential and executes rather well. The two brothers who worked on this game should be proud of what they created. While the map and controls need a little more streamlining, Sheepo offers up a cool, passive option to the Metroidvania formula.
I found joy in Ghostrunner where some would find frustration. The precision that is needed to meander through waves of enemies and platforming challenges sometimes seems overwhelming. However, when you finally overcome that tricky section you have been dying over and over on for a while, the feeling is magnificent. The PlayStation 5 updates really enhance Ghostrunner, especially the Dualsense controller, I do feel this is the best place to play this unique title.
Between all three games, the Crysis Remastered Trilogy effectively provides something of a microcosm of how the first person shooter genre has evolved over the years, with the completely freeform open world beats of the first game soon being replaced by the linear opulence of the final game in the trio. That said, if you're a fan of the genre in general or have been hankering to play Crytek's impressive trio of shooter offerings for sometime now, there really is no better place to jump in than with the Crysis Remastered Trilogy.
Though well-intentioned as an interactive educational documentary about the spectacular lives of sugar gliders, AWAY: The Survival Series simply isn't sufficiently sophisticated or well designed enough to pass muster as a videogame that will keep you coming back. As it is, AWAY: The Survival Series is an attractive, if clunky edutainment title that only the youngest and most inexperienced PlayStation gamers will truly enjoy.
With a delectable coat of contemporary sheen applied, Crysis 2 Remastered is a stunning way for PlayStation gamers to experience one of the most spectacle stuffed and surprisingly ingenious shooters of the last ten years that manages to strike a fine balance between bombast and clever open world design.
A compact and distinctly linear shooter, though Crysis 3 Remastered has been fashioned into a spectacular looking effort that stands proudly alongside other recent blasters from a technical standpoint, its overly linear trappings will likely disappoint those who appreciate the more open world approaches that the previous two Crysis games employed. All the same, fans of more prescribed genre efforts will still find a lot to like here nonetheless.
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles is an experience that never overstays its welcome. While the map may be simplistic and outdated, the combat, visuals, voice acting, and story more than make up for anything the game lacks. New and old fans will find something to enjoy here, while the versus mode will keep players engaged long after the credits roll.
Nickelodeon All-Stars is an obvious yet forgivable clone the manages to squeeze tiny sprinkles of originality in to its mix. However, the chasm left by what is missing from the game at the moment is almost irredeemable. Whilst the actual fighting mechanics of the core gameplay are well worked for competitive play, the lack of voice acting, game modes and general party utility leaves much to be desired. The general zaniness of Nickelodeon carries reasonably in the game, but certainly not enough to warrant purchase by casual players who are fans of the franchise.
Back 4 Blood stands as a new standard in co-op shooters. With vibrant, intricate level design, solid gunplay, and intense moments brought on by a variety of dizzying enemy types balanced through a deep card system, it stands as a great achievement. The difficulty wall is annoying and other in game choices feel odd, to say the least, but that doesn't stop you from having an absolute blast, especially playing with friends.
A unique and highly original survival adventure inhabited by a host of outlandish creatures in which you constantly struggle to guide your hapless Trebhums to safety and away from The Cylinder. While the design and concept can't be faulted, the lack of direction and excessive busywork bog down the gameplay and detract from the experience to the point of patience testing. If you can handle a fiddly challenge which rewards a great deal of patience with some outstanding originality, it's recommended.
Certianly it's great to see an all time classic enshrined and restored for modern day use. Additionally it opens up the game to exclusively console players that never played the original Diablo 2 on PC. There's no denying its significance in gaming history, and looks wonderfully sharp in 4k, but the age of the source code is evident. Diablo faithfuls will get a great nostalgic kick on the clunky ever-grind that is Diablo 2: Resurrected, but it would be a difficult recommendation for any series newcomers.
BPM: Bullets Per Minute is a fast-paced and intense shooter stripped down to only the very basics, all of which is meant to focus you in on the core mechanic of staying on beat. Fortunately, it works beautifully well and creates a fun and addicting gameplay experience that stands above some minor flaws.
Familiar, entertaining and with a cast of wacky characters, Far Cry 6 is a lot of fun. It is not novel, new or groundbreaking in any way but we are here to play Far Cry after all, and Far Cry 6 is certainly that.
There aren't many games that can carry charm and charisma on its back throughout its entire duration, but Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan managed to keep my interest from start to finish. Its charm is undeniable, and developer ManaVoid Entertainment managed to create an experience that held a smile on my face from start to finish. The game can get repetitive quickly, but the delightful exploration and innovative combat kept me intrigued long enough to see the credits roll.
Phoenix Point manages to blend the very numbers-based approach of classic X-Com with some of modern XCOM's streamlining. The result is a colossal, cavernous tactical strategy game that struggles to hold its shape at times. Its wealth of information and systems requires patience, but if you can persevere, it's very much worth the time.
Despite a few ageing visuals and dodgy mechanics, Alan Wake is just as captivating and memorable as it was 11 years ago. With satisfying combat, a brilliantly-paced story, and fantastic setting, Remedy's horror-thriller is absolutely worth the punt if you're a fan of the studio's more recent output or just have a curious interest in horror.
JETT: The Far Shore is home to a compelling cast of characters and a narrative worth playing and paying attention to, but it ultimately misses its mark and the less than compelling gameplay only further drags it down to an experience that overall feels just okay, and potentially downright boring if you're not gripped by the narrative.