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Ereban: Shadow Legacy is an enjoyable stealth-adventure that has enough interesting ideas to ensure it’ll keep fans of the genre entertained. Don’t get me wrong, it has its problems – especially with the iffy enemy AI and some of its technical issues – but I’d still say my experience with it was positive, even if it falls short when compared to some of the greats of the genre.
Children of the Sun is a fantastic experience that blends together time-bending shooting with clever puzzling mechanics in a uniquely creative fashion. Plotting out my kills across each level was always satisfying, whilst the introduction of new mechanics and enemy types as I progressed ensured that the experience never seemed to run out of ideas. It is a bit on the short side and it’s a shame there aren’t any unlockables to incentivise score-chasing, but these issues don’t stop Children of the Sun from being one of the more unique and exciting shooters that I’ve played in a long time.
Pepper Grinder is a platforming treat, with the unique drilling mechanic and brilliant level design making it stand out as a must-play release of the genre. It has plenty of clever ideas in play that build upon the simple nature of the drilling perfectly, whilst the charming visuals and collectibles are the cherry on top. It is a little disappointing that the game wasn’t a bit longer, but given the quality of what you get, it’s hard to complain too much. It’s just a really finely crafted experience that plays into its strengths perfectly, and believe me, platforming fans won’t want to miss out on Pepper Grinder.
Buckshot Roulette is simple in design, but its dark and unsettling premise is executed perfectly to ensure each game you play is full of thrills. It might not take long to find success, but the surprisingly strategic gameplay and endless replayability offered in the Double or Nothing mode will ensure you’ll get plenty of bang for your buck (literally) when playing. It is a shame that the narrative isn’t built upon and some unlockables in the Double or Nothing mode would go a long way in adding to the replayability, but it’s hard to complain too much with the low-price of the game. If you’re a fan of shorter experiences that offer a unique and clever premise, you’ll definitely want to check Buckshot Roulette out – ESPECIALLY since multiplayer should be coming in the future.
The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered has some neat ideas, but the repetitive gameplay loop and lack of engaging storytelling holds it back. It’s not that I’d say that anything in the game is bad at all, but rather that the systems it has didn’t offer enough to keep me invested in the meaty adventure. Whilst I enjoyed toying about with the formation system, loved the visuals, and found the gameplay loop engaging early on, there are a few too many flaws for it to stand out as an essential release of the genre.
Rise of the Ronin’s blend of thrilling strategic combat and intriguing player-driven storytelling ensures it stands out as another hit for the PlayStation 5. It can be a bit guilty of being by the numbers with its open world design, but at the same time offers a satisfying sense of discovery as well as plenty of excitement to ensure it doesn’t grow tiring for the player. And come on, who doesn’t want to use a grappling hook or glider to get around? It’s definitely not as pretty to look at as some of the other big PlayStation 5 console exclusives, but it always delivers where it matters most: the gameplay. The combat is some of the best we’ve seen from Team Ninja, the world is enthralling to uncover, whilst the decisions you make will genuinely shape how your journey unfolds in satisfying ways.
Alone in the Dark puts the series in the right direction following some mishaps over the past eighteen years, with the unnerving storytelling, clever puzzling, and intriguing setting making for a genuinely enthralling horror experience. Sure, it has some missteps here and there with the combat sequences and it does play things very safe, but the intense atmosphere and flurry of surprises ensure that this marks a return to form for the old-school survival horror series.
South Park: Snow Day isn’t the best co-op hack ‘n slash PvE that you’ll play, but it’s still fun and captures the anarchic humour of the TV show PERFECTLY. I just wish it had a few more levels, more varied locales, and the combat was a bit more fine-tuned, because the ingredients are there for the game to be a success… it just needs a bit more content and fine-tuning to keep me coming back for more. There are some clever ideas in play with the likes of the Bullshit Cards, playing with friends is a real treat, and the South Park vibe is present in both the storytelling and presentation, so the game is in no way a disaster. It just might be a little bit too repetitive right now to keep players invested for the long term.
Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection could have been an old-school treat, but a botched launch has made it hard to recommend to even the most die-hard of Star Wars fans. Don’t get me wrong, it has been a lot of fun to re-visit the single player modes and the technical improvements really do enhance the experience, but the issues that have plagued multiplayer are an absolute nightmare. Whilst it has been easier to get into matches since launch, the fact that they still bring with them a myriad of bugs really does sour the collection as a whole. I do believe that Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection is going to be fixed over the coming weeks and the single player modes certainly offers enough enjoyable content to keep players busy, but if you’re hoping to re-live the multiplayer battles of yesteryear, you’ll want to hold off on purchasing for now. My score mostly reflects on the single player experience and the rare success I had with online play, but you can take two points off if you’re only interested in the multiplayer.
The Outlast Trials is a fun multiplayer fright-fest that’ll keep players on the edge of their seat, but it doesn’t always play to the strengths of the Outlast series. Don’t get me wrong, it still offers a bloody scary good time, but the more predictable gameplay loop and iffy enemy AI can make the experience feel a bit tame when compared to the horrific thrills seen in the mainline titles. But hey, with six trials to play through, plenty of challenges to conquer, and a whole host of gruesome tasks to complete, there’s plenty here to keep fans invested in The Outlast Trials’ multiplayer scares.
Contra: Operation Galuga is a return to form for the series, with the satisfying run ‘n gun action undoubtedly standing the test of time over the years (and complemented by some neat modern features this time around). I had a lot of fun playing through the Story Mode and seeing the re-imagined take on some classic levels from the original game, but the manic four-player action of Arcade Mode and the unique trials of the Challenge Mode probably stood out as a highlight for me. It’s more accessible than ever too, with the added features helping it make for an easier experience that newcomers to the series are sure to appreciate. It’s just a really, really fun game and one that shows there’s still plenty of life left in Contra. Here’s hoping Konami ensure the same amount of love and care is put into their other classic franchises in the future.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a masterpiece, with the re-imagined storytelling, world design, and combat even bettering that found in its predecessor. It’s absolutely massive too, with the world packed full of exciting showdowns with enemies, intriguing side quests to complete, fun mini games to indulge in, and secrets to uncover. Add to that the riveting narrative that delves into the world and its characters deeper than before, the stunning visuals that bring so many familiar locales to life, and a soundtrack that easily stands out as one of Square Enix’s best, and you’ll quickly find that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is simply one of the greatest RPGs that has ever been released.
WWE 2K24 is a brilliant experience that offers an authentic take on the wonderful, wild, and wacky world of the WWE. The wrestling itself feels better than ever, there’s a fantastic roster spanning current superstars and legends that’s only going to get bigger, whilst the new match types and refinements go a long way in making this the most fleshed out entry in the series so far. Whether you want to play as a GM, re-live some of the most iconic moments from across forty years of WrestleMania, take your created superstars on a path to stardom in their own story, or build a deck of WWE superstars and earn bonuses along the way, WWE 2K24 has you covered. And hey, you might not be able to play as Edge anymore, but you’ve got Mankind, Dude Love AND Cactus Jack all together here… what more could you want?
Balatro has taken a simple concept and turned it into one of the most tantalising and addictive deck builders that I’ve ever played. Playing the perfect combination of Jokers to pull off a victorious hand is always rewarding, whilst seeing your deck build up with each successful blind gives a satisfying sense of progression that makes the puzzle-like gameplay all the more captivating. And when you do fail? It’s hard not to just dive into another playthrough, with Balatro taking that ‘one more game’ concept and turning it into the cancellation of your plans for the rest of the day just so you can keep playing. It’s that damn good. It can have some sharp difficulty spikes and losing can be frustrating when you feel you’ve built up a special deck, but that’s par for the course as far as the roguelike genre is concerned. It certainly won’t stop you having a blast with the game, and believe me, once Balatro pulls you in, you’ll find it hard to stop playing.
Berserk Boy is an old-school platforming treat that’s a lot of fun to play through thanks to its stylish quick-paced action. It’s super satisfying to flick between your abilities and utilise them to smash through enemies or conquer the game’s platforming challenges, whilst the slick level design ensures the experience is varied as you battle through each level. There’s even a Metroidvania-style aspect to the gameplay when re-visiting previous levels to get all of the collectibles, so there’s plenty of replay value on offer if you want to get everything. It does have some underwhelming boss battles, some levels go on longer than they need to, and the upgrades are overpriced, but they’re small issues in what is otherwise a very impressive 2D platforming release. It’s a bit of a crowded genre these days, but believe me, Berserk Boy is certainly worth your attention.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake offers a fantastic way to experience the bedazzling 2013 puzzler all over again. The unique twin-stick approach to controlling characters feels as intuitive now as it did back then, the creative puzzles are still a treat to solve, whilst the world looks better than ever thanks to the facelift the remake has been given. And the storytelling? It’s still top notch and tells an emotional tale that’ll stick with you long after playing. It is a bit on the short side and the main characters’ faces look a little weird, but they’re minor issues in what is otherwise a wonderful and memorable experience.
Skull and Bones is an enjoyable sea-faring romp that has thrilling naval combat, but the grind-heavy gameplay loop can get a little tiring over time. It’d be something if there was a bit more to do on land to give the gameplay loop more variety, but with most of your progression based upon your antics at sea and grinding for resources, it doesn’t take long before you find yourself doing a lot of the same things over and over again. Did it make Skull and Bones a bad experience? Definitely not, with the naval battles offering plenty of thrills and exploration across the seas proving to be a real treat. Progression is rewarding too, whilst playing with friends makes a lot of the flaws a lot more forgivable. It just needs that little something extra to make the grind a bit less repetitive right now – hopefully it’s something Ubisoft can work on with the upcoming Year One content, because the foundations are in place for Skull and Bones to stand out as a mighty impressive pirate experience.
Penny’s Big Breakaway is a wonderful 3D platformer that captures the vibe of the classics of the genre perfectly with its creative level design and vibrant visuals. It manages to feel really unique thanks to its clever yo-yo mechanics too, which certainly help set it apart from similar modern releases – even IF it can make for some clumsy situations, especially with the lack of camera control. It’s just a really fun game that has a lot going for it, with the wealth of collectibles, bonus levels, and additional challenges ensuring it’ll keep players hooked in for some time. Some of the team at developer Evening Star are best known for their work on Sonic Mania, but their first original platforming release proves that they don’t need to rely on a recognisable mascot to show off their platforming prowess.
Ultros is a slick Metroidvania-style experience that doesn’t only introduce plenty of unique ideas but also looks absolutely breath-taking with its surreal visual style. It does a good job of getting all of the basics of the genre right, whilst the looping, eating, and gardening mechanics each add their own unique twist to the formula. Sure, these mechanics don’t always hit the mark (especially with the focus on eating GOOD body parts getting repetitive over time), but they never stop the game from being a lot of fun to play. With so many Metroidvania-style releases available, it’s nice to play one that does something that feels genuinely different to the norm – and believe me, Ultros is a game that isn’t afraid to be different.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is a nostalgic treat, with the remastered adventures of Lara Croft standing the test of time over the last twenty-plus years. Of course, it helps that Aspyr have done an absolutely fantastic job of bringing the classic adventures into a modern light, with the revamped visuals, cool gameplay additions, and inclusion of all expansions ensuring this is the definitive way to experience three of the most iconic video games of the 90s. There’s no doubting that the old-school gameplay won’t be for everyone and the modern control scheme does feel like a misstep, but Tomb Raider I-III Remastered still stands out as one of the most impressive remastered releases that I’ve ever played.