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Bloober Team have triumphantly maintained the essence of Silent Hill 2, all while adapting its gameplay and graphics for today’s audience. With its expanded exploration, tense combat, great puzzles, gripping story, music and atmosphere, this remake has fully realised the original’s true potential.
Despite FC 25 introducing a host of few new features, it still mostly feels like a retread of last year’s entry. That being said, the gameplay remains incredibly solid both online and off, with added realism to make passing and shielding truer to real life. Albeit, you will occasionally stumble upon issues like erratic goalkeeper behaviour and glitching/crashing on PC.
Even with the help of three Square Enix vets, Reynatis has regrettably fallen short. Its dated PS2-like graphics, copy-paste environments, blatantly reused boss fights and annoying mechanics inevitably damper this 12-hour action RPG. While Shibuya looks lovely, the combat is flash and the narrative about wizards overcoming oppression is intriguing, the gameplay, story and certain characters could’ve been fleshed out further. The drama does have its moments and the Japanese voice-acting is high quality, it’s just a shame that the experience leaves much to be desired.
The Plucky Squire features a beautifully charming aesthetic, blending a children’s storybook style with inventive, varied gameplay inspired by Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions has bolted down the formula with an exciting game of broomstick ball, featuring a diverse cast of Harry Potter characters, various positions to play, and simple-to-pick-up, hard-to-master controls. However, it severely lacks major gameplay modes and a dedicated story, while also suffering from highly repetitive commentary and a required internet connection just to start the game. Blimey!
Astro Bot is a delightful platformer that excels in delivering a fun, nostalgia-filled experience for PlayStation fans. The intuitive controls, immersive DualSense features, and visually stunning levels make it a joy to play. While the challenge might be lighter than some platformers, it more than makes up for it with its charm, creativity, and heart-warming nods to PlayStation’s history. If you’re a PS5 owner looking for a feel-good adventure, Astro Bot is an absolute must-play.
Age of Mythology Retold is an awesome remake of a classic RTS, staying true to its roots with a bunch of modern enhancements
Concord's story isn’t particularly intriguing, the characters aren’t memorable, half of the game modes don’t exactly fit and the progression is lacking at best. Does this sound like a live-service that has staying power? Probably not.
Hellblade II is an unequivocally bland game, with repetitive combat and puzzles that lack any overarching sense of excitement.
Stellar Blade is a fun hack-and-slash that leaves a little to be desired. The story is decent, the combat is challenging, but traversal and some mechanics bring the experience down. There is a lot to enjoy here, and despite its flaws, it should keep you entertained for a while.
Being a homage to the classic Suikoden series, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes contains a PS1-like nostalgic appeal, a decent story and varied dungeon designs throughout. However, it’s held back by tedious recruitment processes, lacklustre battle systems and pacing issues that drag down the potential level of enjoyment.
While my sentiments about this title may seem overly negative, the core gameplay of TopSpin 2K25 is nothing but addictive. Seeing those timing metres land in the ‘Perfect’ zone, as you smack a winner down the line after an intense rally really gets the blood pumping. It’s practically everything else around 2K25 that stops it from being amazing. Whether it be the bland MyCAREER mode, clay-looking graphics or completely missing matchday commentary, these aspects inherently diminish the overall package.
Becoming a bullet and strategically eliminating targets across the map is a blast in Children of the Sun. The levels are challenging and dynamic, and will surely entice players to keep improving their scores. It's a shame that the story isn't anywhere near as good, but it doesn't take away from the addictive puzzle-shooting action.
Ereban: Shadow Legacy is a fun stealth adventure with innovative shadow mechanics and a captivating world. Despite some bugs, the core gameplay and cleverly designed levels create a rewarding stealth experience.
While it may not be as riveting as its turn-based contemporaries, South Park: Snow Day! showcases an enjoyable 3D action battle system built for 4 players online, combined with the iconic comedic writing of Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
Rise of the Ronin is a fantastic adventure with a branching story, challenging combat that rewards mastery, and a beautiful open world. The stunning visuals, entertaining characters and world filled to the brim with engaging quests will keep you hooked, but beware the uneven voice acting and overflowing loot!
Alone in the Dark is an impressive take on the 1992 classic. Featuring solid survival horror mechanics inspired by the latest Resident Evils, a strong selection of puzzles and a narrative that returning fans and newcomers alike can enjoy.
Has the 25-year wait been worth it? Well, it depends on what players are looking for. Fans of the first game will most likely be impressed if they’re hunting for a more modern take on the Outcast formula. In contrast, open-world vets might see this as a decent, yet generic outing on an Avatar-like planet.
Winter Survival is honestly a complete waste of time. The story might give you some initial intrigue. However, the stiff gameplay mixed with unreasonable survival mechanics leads to a frustrating experience that will deter you from being able to make significant progress. Do yourself a favour and pass on this one!
WWE 2K24 continues to improve on the 2K series wrestling formula whilst offering a host of new features for players to enjoy. This year’s MyRise storylines are the best ones yet, and the showcase mode is great fun! Unfortunately, Universe mode and GM Mode still seem to be underserved with 2K focusing on MyFaction instead.