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The Crew Motorfest is packed full of thrills, with the varied event types and enthralling island of O’ahu ensuring the racing action is always a lot of fun. Whether speeding through the assortment of events on offer, grabbing a photo-op to show off your ride, or spicing things up by taking to the sea or skies, there’s ALWAYS a good time to be had in the game. The arcade-like driving feels slick too, whilst the fact you can almost always rely on a nitrous boost means you’ll never be stuck behind your rivals for too long. It does have some issues here and there, with the overwhelming HUD and confusion with ghost vehicles being the most obvious, but they don’t stop The Crew Motorfest from being a great racing experience that takes the series in a very exciting yet effectively streamlined direction.
Moonstone Island is a delight to play, with its blend of farming, monster-collecting, and deck-building proving to be a real treat for fans of the life-sim genre. It didn’t take me long before I found myself completely invested in the lives of the townsfolk I met during my time on the island, whilst collecting all the Spirits and building up my homestead felt equally engaging. There’s so much to see, do, and discover, with every moment I spent with the game feeling full of joy. It could be argued that the game doesn’t necessarily do anything to evolve upon the varying ideas that it embraces, but it didn’t really need to – especially since everything it offers is just a whole lot of fun and all complement each other. It’s just a fantastic little experience and one that I’m looking forward to spending even more time with over the coming months.
No Sun To Worship is a short experience, but it packs plenty of cool ideas into its levels to ensure that its stealth action is a lot of fun. There are plenty of little intricacies on offer such as absorbing enemy bodies for health, approaching enemies in different ways, or balancing your health when hiding your footsteps, whilst the varied levels each bring something different to the fray to change up the way you play. It’s a versatile experience, and whilst it is simple in design, there are a lot of cool things going on to keep players hooked in. There are some instances where it can feel a little slow-paced and formulaic, whilst re-playing levels when you die can be a pain (especially when you were SO close to completion the first time around). It didn’t stop me from having a really good time with the game though, so much so that I wish it was a more fleshed out experience that really let me dive into its intriguingly dark world.
Gunbrella might keep things simple, but its brilliant gunbrella, creative level design and set pieces, and enticing visuals ensure that it’s a blast to play. I found myself surprisingly invested in the hero’s plight for revenge too, with the colourful characters he meets on his journey proving to be a comical bunch – even if the game can be equally dark in places. It’s just a lot of fun to play and doesn’t try to overcomplicate the 2D platforming-shooter formula. You’re just a man with a gunbrella, and sometimes, that’s all you need to have a f*****g good time.
Starfield might have imperfections, but it more than lives up to the hype with its wonderful sci-fi world that gives players full control of their journey. The storytelling is rich with intricacies and depth, the quest design is brilliant and lets players approach each objective in their own way, there’s a vast universe to explore that’s full of surprises, and, most importantly, it gets all of the basics right to make for a very, VERY fun experience. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find space exploration a little disappointing with its automated sense of discovery, but it didn’t stop me from being fully invested in this sci-fi spectacle. And best of all? You can play it on Game Pass. Xbox players have been waiting for that killer, unmissable AAA hit for a while, but in Starfield, they finally have it.
Sea of Stars is an unmissable RPG that blends together wonderful storytelling, captivating gameplay, and dazzling audio and visuals into one masterful package. Honestly, I was utterly enthralled by the whole experience from start to end, with every aspect of the game’s design perfectly crafted to ensure it keeps the player completely hooked in. Whether you’re encountering one of the game’s charming characters for the first time, fighting through a challenging boss battle that puts your skills to the test, or simply admiring one of the many majestic sights of the world whilst some beautiful music plays in the background, it’s hard not to be blown away by the wonders of Sea of Stars.
WrestleQuest is a wonderful love letter to the world of wrestling, but some repetitive combat and awkward mechanics hold it back from stardom. It’s a shame because there are some really cool ideas on show that give a greater emphasis to the wrestling aspects of the RPG adventure, but the execution doesn’t always hit the mark – especially when you’ve got to complete awkward objectives in what can already be challenging combat scenarios. It's certainly not a bad game and it’ll definitely keep a big jolly smile on the faces of wrestling fans, but I can’t help but to feel like WrestleQuest is more of a mid-card showdown as opposed to a main event spectacle.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a thrilling experience that blends together destructive mech combat and with deep customisation options in a rewarding manner. Combat feels great and offers plenty of strategic options thanks to the depth offered when putting together your mech build, whilst the missions are perfectly designed to cater for some epic set pieces and battles with your enemies. And sure, there can be a bit of a learning curve (especially when dealing with the tougher boss encounters), but nothing in the game ever feels overwhelming. Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is simply a triumphant return for the series – here’s hoping we won’t have to wait another ten years for the next entry…
Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy offers a wonderful world to explore and some clever puzzles, but it might feel a bit too familiar for those who’ve experienced the previous games in the series. Don’t get me wrong, it does introduce some new ideas here and there, but it still follows the same formula players would’ve seen four times already. Still, a bit of familiarity certainly doesn’t make Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy a bad game, and it didn’t stop me from having a ton of fun playing either. It might be more of what you’ve done before, but this latest escapade with the trio of heroes still offers plenty of brain-teasing amusement across its beautiful world.
Firewall Ultra is a thrilling multiplayer experience that just needs a little bit more content to stand out as a must-play PlayStation VR 2 title. The core gameplay itself is great, whilst the visuals are fantastic and the use of PlayStation VR 2’s more unique features is VERY cool – it’s just a shame that progression in-game is VERY slow and that there isn’t more variety offered with additional game modes. It’s also worth noting that it’s a lot less immersive than similar titles in virtual reality, with a lot of the actions you perform automated by a button press. It isn’t a deal-breaker (and can actually make the game a lot more accessible), but it might feel a bit jarring for those who are more familiar with the genre in virtual reality.
Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle improves over the original game and has some cool ideas, but it still has some issues that stop it from being a must-play release in the genre.
Virgo Versus The Zodiac’s combat can feel a little repetitive in places, but the quirky narrative and creative presentation ensure it’s still good fun to play. I was a big fan of the storytelling and it was always a treat to explore the world, whilst there were plenty of silly little situations to find yourself in that keep the adventure strange (and I mean that in a good way).
En Garde is a very pleasant surprise, with it standing out as a really fun and charming action-adventure that packs plenty of finesse into its combat. The comical storytelling helps make Adelia a heroine you can really root for, whilst the robust combat mechanics that focus as much on playing defensively as they do on unloading swashbuckling combos ensure that there’s plenty of strategy to be found in each showdown. It’s just a really fun game and one that fans of the genre definitely won’t want to skip on.
Blasphemous 2 is absolutely brilliant, with the game maintaining the core mechanics that made its predecessor so good whilst evolving upon the combat in a deep and strategic way. Alternating between weapons always feels satisfying, whether that’s when strategically switching up when facing off against a hulking enemy or utilising their unique traversal methods, whilst simply exploring the beautiful yet haunting world and discovering all of its secrets is just as tantalising as before. It’s a case of ‘why fix what isn’t broken’, with Blasphemous 2 introducing plentiful changes to make it feel fresh, but also offering the same sense of familiarity that players would’ve loved the first time around. Just play it, seriously, it’s THAT damn good.
Hammerwatch II is very old school in design, but it offers a captivating adventure to embark on that’s great to play with friends. There’s plenty to see and do across the world, building up your character’s abilities is rewarding, and combat is surprisingly strategic and tense, with plenty on offer to ensure your journey is an exciting one. And sure, it does let itself down with a lack of map markers and fast-travel (something owed to its old-school design), but these issues don’t stop Hammerwatch II from being a blast to play if you’re looking for some nostalgic dungeon-crawling thrills.
Lifeless Moon is an intriguing sci-fi escapade that has some cool ideas, but the lacking gameplay mechanics and overall simplicity let it down. It’s not that anything in the game is bad at all, but rather that it doesn’t do anything that feels exciting – exploration is limited and linear despite the open environments, the puzzles are unusual but lack any challenge, whilst the story can feel a little convoluted despite its many moments of intrigue. I’m glad I played the game and there was certainly more that I liked about Lifeless Moon than I disliked, but it just needed a bit more oomph to stand out in the very crowded narrative-driven puzzler genre. It has been a long time since I played the first game so it’s hard to say how it compares exactly, but with so many years since its original release, it’s disappointing that Lifeless Moon doesn’t feel like it has built upon that game’s successful formula in a more meaningful manner.
Atlas Fallen isn’t the best hack-and-slasher you’ll play, but the enjoyable combat mechanics and fun co-op ensure it still delivers an entertaining escapade. Players will definitely have fun bashing up enemies with their slick and diverse combat capabilities, whilst the world can be intriguing to explore (even if some of its activities can be a little dull in design). And surfing through the sand with my powers? I loved it. It just lacks the consistency to stand out as a great of the genre. The story is a little bland, the visuals don’t always shine, there are a few little issues with the camera and controls, whilst there’s not much here that you wouldn’t have seen before elsewhere. These problems don’t make Atlas Fallen a bad game by any means, but they are the difference between it being a game that’s fun to play and one that you HAVE to play.
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm offers an enjoyable adventure that will certainly be appreciated by fans of the Legend of Zelda series. Whilst there’s no denying that it wears it inspirations like a big badge of honour, it also has some of its own unique ideas on show that ensures it isn’t just a carbon copy of Nintendo’s famed franchise. I’d even go as far as saying the more streamlined approach that Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm embraces can feel more accessible for players than it does in The Legend of Zelda, which is always a big plus.
Dragon Quest Treasures offers a charming and rewarding experience that’ll keep players entertained as they embark on a treasure hunting escapade. It keeps things relatively simple across both its exploration and combat, but has enough going on with its monster recruiting, treasure hunting, and base building to keep players entertained for hours on end. You can enjoy it at your own pace too, with it certainly standing out as one of the cozier RPGs you can sink your teeth into. It’s just a whole lot of fun to play, and whilst Dragon Quest Treasures doesn’t have the high stakes or depth seen in the one of the mainline entries, it still manages to offer an adventure that lives up to the series’ high standards.
Remnant II improves upon the original game in every way, with the frantic action, deep character-building, and impressive visuals all brilliant to experience. There’s a lot more depth and creativity found across the board, and whilst I’ll admit the narrative doesn’t feel as interesting this time around, it’s easy to find yourself fully immersed in the dark and tantalising world. It’s an absolute blast and has quickly established itself as one of the best co-op titles I’ve played this gen. If you’ve got a couple of buddies to play with, believe me, you won’t want to miss out on Remnant II.