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Final Fantasy VII Remake was already an outstanding release, but Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade SOMEHOW makes it even better. Whether it’s with the improved visuals, the smoother performance, the faster load times, or the additional content that fleshes out the Final Fantasy VII Remake universe further, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade offers something to please everyone. I don’t care if you poured hundred of hours into the base game already… this is one PlayStation 5 port that you simply should NOT ignore. And by the way, Square Enix… I’ll NEVER stop pronouncing Yuffie’s name as yuff-ee.
Wave Break is a whole lotta fun, with its zany Tony Hawk’s and boating mash-up making for a unique and enjoyable experience. It’ll just take a fair bit of practice to master, with the tricky controls, challenging objectives, and sometimes awkward camera making for a rough time at first. When you finally nail it though? A good time is DEFINITELY to be had. It does have a few missteps here and there, but I would happily recommend Wave Break – especially for gamers who enjoy the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series (or maybe just want to listen to some Weezer).
Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection offers a selection of games that still feel spectacular to play today thanks to their brutal hack-and-slash action. With the satisfyingly fast-paced combat, the frantic boss encounters, and some slick level design, there’s plenty on offer in Ryu Hayabusa’s ultra-violent adventures to keep wannabe ninjas hooked in until the very end – even if the camera angles are a bit sketchy here and there. And hey, even Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge might not be as bad as you remember. It’s not great, sure, but it’s still fun to play and compliments the sheer brilliance of the first two titles.
Pecaminosa isn’t the best action-RPG you’ll play, but it is one that certainly feels unique thanks to its slick setting and intriguing narrative. The levelling system and gunplay are neat too, though it can feel a bit sluggish in other elements of its design – especially when it comes to hand-to-hand combat or some of the repetitive objectives. Still, I enjoyed my time with the game and was kept invested right until the very end. Whilst it’s a long way from perfect, Pecaminosa is certainly worth a look if you like action-RPGs that take a different approach to the norm.
Whilst Necromunda: Hired Gun has the potential to be a decent game, some technical issues and lacking design choices see it fall short of the mark. It’s a shame too, because it has some real stand-out moments that were a lot of fun to play through; they were just hindered by a sketchy frame rate and some shooting mechanics that were inconsistent and lacked bite. I’d be interested to come back to the game again when all of the problems are fixed because it’s clear that it has potential. As it stands though, it’s pretty difficult to recommend playing Necromunda: Hired Gun on the PlayStation 5.
Guilty Gear Strive looks absolutely stunning and feels great to play, with the slick ‘easy to learn, difficult to master’ combat perfect for both newbies and series veterans. The only thing that really lets the game down is a lack of meat on its bones as far as single player modes are concerned, with the Arcade Mode lacking depth and the Story Mode offering no gameplay at all. Those who are looking forward to competitive play will be happy to see that the netcode is solid throughout though, whilst the online lobbies can actually be pretty charming – even if the cutesy avatars won’t be for everyone. Overall, it’s just a really impressive fighting package and one that I’m looking forward to coming back to for more brutal beatdowns in the future.
Wreckfest offers a mighty impressive next-gen upgrade, with almost all facets of the PlayStation 5 taken advantage of to make the game better. It looks slicker, it plays smoother, it’s packed to the brim with extra detail, whilst the faster load times make it easier to dive right into the action. It also just so happens to be a whole lot of fun to play… what more could you want from a chaotic and destruction-filled racer?
Astalon: Tears of the Earth is a REALLY good old-school adventure, with its character-switching mechanic certainly proving to be a highlight. The level design is complimented by the varied abilities at your disposal, and knowing which character to use to overcome each challenge adds to the fun. Add to that a neat upgrade system and a brilliant chiptune soundtrack that fits the vibe of the game perfectly, and it becomes clear that Astalon: Tears of the Earth offers a heck of a lot more than might initially meets the eye.
Song of Horror’s atmospheric and frightening adventure certainly kept me entertained as I solved puzzles and faced off against the vicious Presence. Its balance of exploration, puzzle-solving, and showdowns with the malevolent being made for plenty of intense moments, with the sense of helplessness strengthening the game’s horror vibes. It does fall short of the mark with some aspects of its design, with the permadeath proving to be a bit of a hindrance and the character models looking a little weird throughout. But hey, at least permadeath can be turned off, even IF the developers don’t recommend it. In all, it’s easy to recommend Song of Horror to fans of the genre. It’s unnerving, it’s intense, and it’s genuinely scary, but most importantly it’s fun to play.
There’s fun to be had playing Battle Axe, but it can feel like a case of style over substance at times thanks to some repetitive gameplay. There’s just not a whole lot of variety to be found in the game, which is something that becomes more apparent after re-playing the levels of its short campaign – something you’ll do a lot of thanks to how tough the game can be. Still, there are moments where Battle Axe can shine, especially in multiplayer where it feels a bit more thrilling clearing levels. It looks absolutely outstanding too, with the 16-bit style visuals some of the best I’ve seen for some time. I just wish that the game did a little bit more to keep me invested in the adventure. It’s not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination, but Battle Axe doesn’t offer enough to make it feel like essential playing.
Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance does feel its age in places, but that doesn’t stop it from offering an entertaining and exciting dungeon-crawling romp. It definitely felt special re-playing it in HD and with a silky smooth frame rate for me, especially since it’s a title I’ve come back to on a regular basis ever since its initial release back in 2001… I’m happy to report that it is just as fun for me to play now as it was then. It’s a bit of a shame that more wasn’t added to this re-release and the £29.99 price point does feel a bit steep, but it doesn’t stop Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance from offering a good time. Whilst returning gamers will probably appreciate it the most, newbies looking for a satisfying co-op quest should enjoy its adventure too.
I didn’t expect to love Earth Defense Force: World Brothers quite as much as I did, but I’m completely hooked to its absurd action-packed adventure. There’s something so satisfying about taking down its onslaught of giant monsters, whilst the varied nature of the characters you unlock allows for plenty of flexibility when putting together your team of heroes. Add online co-op with friends to the mix and you’ll just find yourself completely addicted… I know I am. Well done, Earth Defense Force – you’ve made a new fan out of me.
Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection marks a great revival for the series, with the steep learning curve complimented by some fun and varied gameplay. Whilst there’s no doubting that most players will end up as a heap of bones more times than they would like to mention, the satisfaction of pushing on and persevering through each challenge makes the whole experience all the more rewarding. With the revamped visuals, the varied arsenal at Arthur’s disposal, and the replayability that comes with unlocking the true ending, Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection is an entertaining old-school title that has stood the test of time – just expect a bit of a tough time fighting your way through the Demon Lord’s minions.
With its clever puzzle design and stunning visuals, Call of the Sea stands out as one of the more impressive puzzle-adventures that I’ve played. I had a good time solving its strong variety of enigmas, whilst the intriguing narrative kept me invested too – especially with all of the documents and recordings you can find which flesh out the tale. There were some overly elaborate puzzles that could break the pace of the experience and there were some minor annoyances to be found with some aspect of the game’s design, but Call of the Sea is otherwise a very entertaining experience that kept me hooked in from start to end.
The TakeOver is a thoroughly enjoyable beat ‘em up romp that’s slick, stylish, and full of variety across its levels. It doesn’t do too much to re-invent the genre (outside of the fun mini-games) and some of its mechanics can be easily exploited, but that won’t stop players from having a good time clearing the mean streets of Steel Haven.
The Mass Effect titles were magnificent back when they originally released, but the Legendary Edition makes them even better and more fitting for modern consoles. There really hasn’t been a better way to experience Bioware’s epic sci-fi trilogy, with the original game’s refinements particularly standing out as being something special. There’s more consistency than before and it makes all of the decisions you make more impactful by the time you reach the third game’s finale. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is simply an outstanding experience and one that returning gamers are sure to love. Never played the series before? Now is the perfect time to jump in and see why it’s so fondly remembered by gamers worldwide.
Capcom Arcade Stadium offers a neat way to re-live some genuinely great arcade classics, whilst it was a treat discovering titles I’d never heard of before. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few that fall short of the mark and it is a bit of a shame you can’t purchase them individually, especially since not every title in a bundle will appeal to everyone. Thankfully, the relatively cheap price of each bundle means you won’t be breaking the bank too much to get an awesome selection of games – even IF you might not touch some of them again after trying them once. There’s no doubting that Capcom Arcade Stadium won’t be for everyone, but those who want a trip down memory lane or the opportunity to discover an arcade classic they never played before are in for a treat. Not every title delivers an exciting experience, but those that have stood the test of time still feel great to play decades on from their initial release.
Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield’s auto-running gameplay makes for an exciting time, whilst the slick audio and visuals are top notch throughout. It is a little lacking on replayability after you beat the relatively short campaign, but at the same time the length ensures the gameplay doesn’t get too repetitive. Still, it’d be nice to see online leaderboards or some form of scoring system added in the future, if only to keep players coming back for more. As it stands though, Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield is certainly one of the more impressive auto-runners I’ve played, with the futuristic adventure offering plenty of running, jumping, and sliding thrills… just don’t expect to spend too long with it.
Shin Megami Tensei III’s intriguing narrative and strategic combat are just as good as I remember, though it does feel a bit dated in other facets of its design. The visuals feel a little janky throughout for example, whilst the dungeon design is bland when compared to modern RPGs. It’s a bit overpriced too, especially since there haven’t been too many new features or refinements added to justify the price tag. Despite its flaws, there’s still a special RPG here that did, in many ways, feel ahead of its time. It might not be as gripping to play now as it was in 2003, but that doesn’t stop Shin Megami Tensei III from offering an entertaining RPG experience that just has some age-related missteps here and there.
It’s rare for a strategy title that doesn’t have some element of conflict in it to provide a satisfying challenge, but Before We Leave shines despite it. Its mixture of charming gameplay and resource management provides an enjoyable experience to scratch that civilization building itch, and I found myself spending HOURS setting up a thriving resource chain between planets and islands. Believe me, a good time was had. Perhaps some players would argue that it’s a bit more basic in comparison to heavier games in the genre, but Before We Leave shows that you don’t need complexity to have fun. It’s definitely the most fun I’ve had with a civilization builder in a while. Give it a chance, and you won’t be disappointed… just watch out for the Space Whales.