Rapid Reviews UK
HomepageRapid Reviews UK's Reviews
The question this game really poses is, can Konami still successfully make a Metal Gear Solid game in 2025. The answer being unequivocally yes. There is absolutely talent at work here, and although the brief was clearly, protect the legacy and don’t upset the fans. The bigger question I have, with now the Master Collection and MGS Delta out there, where could Konami go next with the series, and do they have the drive or ambition to break the mould, be creative and create something truly new.
Beautiful, infuriating, engaging, melancholic. Hollow Knight Silksong lives up to its promise. It’s a sequel to a smash hit indie that stole hearts back in 2017, and it’s quite simply a masterpiece of a platforming 2D metroidvania video game. It excels in every possible area and improves on its predecessor in every way, except perhaps in difficulty… maybe that’s me though? This might actually be the game that convinces me to ‘get good’.
I really want to love Descenders Next. The vibe and feeling of snowboarding and mountainboarding has been nailed through great music choices and UI, some solid gameplay, and its game structure builds off the core of what worked in Descenders, while adding mechanics that fit very well. However, there’s just not enough there, and while the game is in early access, for £25, I think you should get it on a price drop, stick to the old Descenders for now if you don’t mind bikes, or wait a bit till they have added more.
Overall, DOOM: The Dark Ages is the kind of sequel that doesn’t rest on its past – it expands its future. Here, id Software have taken everything that worked in DOOM Eternal and wrapped it in a new, darker skin that feels both brutal and beautiful. It’s a beautiful testament to id Software’s craft that nearly 30 years after the original DOOM redefined FPS gaming, the series is still finding new ways to innovate, while staying relevant.
The Book of Aaru is a game that had a fair amount on paper to pull me in. I love a good rogue-like, I’ve poured endless hours into games like Hades and Diablo. The general rule is that the words, “ Indie” and “ isometric,” are enough alone to grab me. Add a relatively original Egyptian world and theme to the mix and I went in hoping that I had a little bit of a hidden gem on my hands. Unfortunately, convoluted skill trees, perk systems, and crafting options, coupled with largely uninteresting gameplay and frustrating technical issues, made for a less than enjoyable time.
As a whole, I am glad I played Through the Nightmares. It certainly is not the best game I have played this year, but there are a decent number of solid components. The Sandman’s movement is fun, there are unique components relating to his size augmenting abilities, and the artistic design has some standout pieces. However, the primary gameplay loop had me waiting more than I would have liked, and I had some issues deciphering the on-screen information sometimes. It is a fun game, but there are other platformers I would recommend first.
I found myself very conflicted about what I feel about Amber Isle, as the ambition is there for a great game, but I found my experience to be more mediocre to good. I think there is some good in the concept, the way characters speak, getting to hang out with the characters in this game is a joy, and I’m not annoyed by the main gameplay of running the shop. However, it feels like this game needed something more with its basic-ish story, slightly frustrating exploration game, and generally lacking features that would help my enjoyment of this game quite a bit. £25 isn’t too bad a price for this, but I would personally look elsewhere, or wait for a price before considering this.
I would say, if you’re a Tony Hawks fan, as long as you can get over a few weird design and sound decisions, you will enjoy this pair of remakes. I don’t fully understand the lack of original music but I do understand the change in the mission structure for THPS4. A few fans will be put off by minor changes. I personally, after a little re-adjustment, did not mind so much. Some of the new music is awesome, I just missed a few of the old classics.
Overall, while there are some decent downsides, the core gameplay loop of Card en Ciel certainly is fun. I liked building decks of cards to take out enemies and experimenting with the different card attributes. Though the story and design were nothing special, this game does still offer some fun gameplay.
As a whole, Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream is a good game. The story is cute and tells a nice tale of exploring through dreams alongside friends. The gameplay, while bogged down by some nuisances, is largely neat, and I enjoyed mastering the turn-based combat. I did not resonate with the alchemy much, and I thought as a whole many parts of the game were sluggish, but I did enjoy my time and can recommend it if what I mentioned above sounds interesting.
There were moments in the middle I felt like DK Bananza was a very good game. Sure at times things felt a little flat and the story a little thin. However after the closing 5 hours…. I felt a shift and have to say it’s an utterly superb game. DK Bananza truly lives up to the responsibility as the flagship launch(ish) title for the Switch 2 and if you own the console, it’s an absolutely must buy to own this game!
This is a tough one to recommend. On the surface, it’s great: fun gameplay, solid visuals, and an energetic soundtrack. Puzzle fans will have a blast. However, there’s little to distinguish this from the version already available on the original Nintendo Switch. Since that version is fully playable on Switch 2, it’s arguably the smarter buy. Sure, you’ll miss out on doubles mode, camera features, and slightly faster loading times – but you’ll also save money and have a larger online player base.
I think that Tennis Fighters has a lot of potential honestly, because under all the problems I mentioned, there is some fun here, with good character designs, nice environment designs, and a good baseline for the tennis gameplay. However, I think the game could use some more work, as some glitches show and I think a visual overhaul if possible could really help the game stand out.
Spirit of the North 2 is a beautifully put-together, minimalistic adventure. It let me explore a beautifully realised world and discover its tragedies on my own terms and at my own pace, with a freedom that feels rare for video games in 2025. A few technical itches aside, I adored my time with chunky little fox and their various wildlife companions and found myself a little disappointed to go when it was time to wrap up this review.
I think this remaster is brilliant. Bugs and performance aside, it’s nearly everything I wanted. I do, however, feel that new players may still feel the age of some of the mechanics and the game’s overall composition. If you love Oblivion and this kind of RPGs in general, you will adore this remaster. It’s the best version of Oblivion to play and it will only get better with patches and time. A great job was done to drag it into the modern era while keeping some of the game’s original feel intact.
Xenoblade Chronicles X is a sprawling, deeply immersive experience that is familiar and comforting in its execution. It’s vast and lush and only limited by the fact that so much was learned across the last 10 years as the Xenoblade series has matured and improved over time. I would absolutely recommend JRPG fans alike take a look. It’s a really interesting spring board in the series, and with Switch 2 on its way this may well get some free enhancements to make it even prettier in the months ahead.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is probably my favourite in the series. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a ‘pure’ Assassin’s Creed fan but I really gelled with the mixture of great combat, fun exploration and an engaging narrative. That, paired with a great UI, toned down map and lack of hand-holding objectives and you have a ‘sure-fire’ winner.
I did not enjoy the Rose & Camellia Collection very much. The gameplay was not universally interesting, and while the concept is fairly novel, there is little depth here, either in the story or the combat. This would be fine for a cheaper experience, but coming in at such an expensive price point seriously hinders my ability to recommend it. While there are some decent pieces here, I do not recommend checking this one out.
Atomfall, for all its charm, is on the shallow side in terms of gameplay but that doesn’t mean it’s poor. We have been spoiled by intricate systems and high octane games recently. The slower overall pace is welcome and when the dial does go up it more than satisfies. Atomfall is fun and engaging from the first moment. A beautiful, atmospheric adventure awaits you when you boot up the game and it keeps going along pleasantly with each and every choice you make.
After many hours of gameplay, we can say that Sniper Elite: Resistance is an enjoyable addition to its franchise. With its combination of tactical action, realism and a well-constructed historical narrative, Sniper Elite is an essential title for fans. However, for any other audience it may be a game of little relevance or lack of importance. This is largely due to how feels as it is has been made for existing followers of the franchise.