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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.
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes – Definitive Edition adds a strategic twist to the match-three formula that makes it a blast to play. Whether battling through the meaty single player campaign, facing off against friends and strangers online, or having a quick battle alone, there’s plenty of fun to be had as you use your robust roster of units to dismantle your enemy’s defences. It adds a deceptively deep amount of strategy to the otherwise straight-forward match-three formula, but in doing so offers one heck of a satisfying puzzle experience that’s easy to pick up and play, but very, VERY hard to put down.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie acts as an excellent finale that long-time fans of the series will find themselves fully engrossed in until the very end. It brings together so many characters, locales, and events from the games that came before it in a meaningful and satisfying manner, whilst the core gameplay mechanics remain as engaging as ever. Add to that the brilliant Reverie Corridor that really fleshes out the experience and it’ll be clear that this is a triumphant conclusion for the long-running story.
My Friendly Neighborhood offers a unique horror experience that’s a lot of fun to play thanks to its clever yet unconventional children’s TV show setup. It’s all very ‘family-friendly’ in design and doesn’t always necessarily feel like a horror game, but that’s what makes the whole experience so unnerving – especially since it’s full of moments that’ll leave you unsettled and on the edge of your seat. It’s just good fun to play and manages to nail the balance of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat perfectly. Sure, a lot of its gameplay mechanics have been seen and done plenty of times before, but they complement the refreshing concept and ensure that My Friendly Neighborhood stands out as a unique treat for horror fans.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons marks a fun return for the series that changes up the formula in a simple yet rewarding manner. It is guilty of keeping things a little simple in places and it won’t demand much strategy from the player, but there’s plenty of excitement to be found as you beat up countless baddies in this revamped take on a classic.
Viewfinder is a wonderfully unique puzzling experience that’ll keep players bedazzled with its world-altering gameplay mechanics. I was constantly left in awe when I saw these 2D images manifest into the 3D world, whilst the puzzles are meticulously designed to creatively embrace the changes you make in some ridiculously clever ways (even IF it is possible to exploit a few of them). And with plenty of new ideas introduced as you progress, there’s always SOMETHING different to do to alter the imaginatively designed world. It’s just an excellent puzzler and one that feels wholly unique in what it does, because believe me, there’s nothing out there quite like Viewfinder.
Testament: The Order of High Human is just a bit dull, with the game’s combat and puzzling proving repetitive and uninspired throughout. Nothing about the game is awful, but it was rare that I found myself buzzing when facing a challenging encounter or satisfied after solving a drawn-out enigma. It’s just all a bit meh, with nothing about the game feeling interesting enough to make it stand out when compared to all of the other (and far better) first-person fantasy adventures out there.
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals offers a captivating sci-fi escapade that certainly manages to match the highs seen in the original game. It has a different tone (something that I personally think comes down to its more mature cast), but it still feels equally engrossing when it comes to its storytelling and its unnerving sense of presence that’ll leave players on the edge of their seats. Those seeking a gameplay-heavy experience will want to look elsewhere, but if you’re looking for a gripping story that you can help shape, some wonderful visual and audio design, and an ominous atmosphere that’s more subtle with its spooky moments, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals will DEFINITELY tick a lot of the right boxes for you.
Crime O’Clock adds a clever time-bending twist to the hidden object genre, with the neat investigative elements ensuring the game remains a lot of fun to play. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll be doing a lot of the same things over and over again (and the samey aesthetic can make the maps lack visual differentiations), but there’s enough creativity to be found within the crimes that players will be kept entertained as they play. Does it do enough to convert fans who don’t enjoy the hidden object genre? Probably not, but if you’re looking for a hidden object game that does something a little different, you should look no further than Crime O’Clock.
Final Fantasy XVI doesn’t feel like a traditional Final Fantasy experience, but that doesn’t stop it from being a masterpiece. There has been a big leap in the evolution of the gameplay as the series moves into action RPG territory, but the results are astounding, with the game offering some of the best combat I’ve seen in any action title. Add to that the gripping narrative, the astounding visuals, the wonderful soundtrack, and the sheer scale of the epic adventure, and it’ll be hard not to be wowed by just how magnificent it feels to play. I have no doubt it won’t be for everyone (there’ll be those that crave to see the series return to its roots) and there are some things the game could do better. As it stands, though? Final Fantasy XVI is simply magnificent. It might not feel like the Final Fantasy titles of yesteryear, but it still has the epic sense of scope and phenomenal production values that have made the franchise so beloved by fans.