NextPlay's Reviews
Sand Land falls victim to some pretty dull combat and level design but is uplifted by the entertaining cast, charming Borderlands-like graphics, and a decent vehicle upgrading system.
Stellar Blade is more than just a pretty face. It’s a grand entrance to what could be PlayStation’s next hugely successful IP. What the game lacks in story is made up for by its exhilarating combat and entertaining gameplay. Whatever is next for the Stellar Blade universe, I will be there on day one.
Dave the Diver is full of heart, with a charming lead character, and a cast of memorable characters. The gameplay loop of catching fish and then serving them to paying customers is truly addictive, and as the game constantly introduces new mechanics and abilities, nothing ever feels stale. Developer Mintrocket has introduced a plethora of gameplay mechanics, options, and side activities to enjoy, so many in fact that I feel I barely scratched the surface of what players can experience. Dave the Diver is a jack of all trades, and a master of most.
The TopSpin franchise has been spoiled in its first game in 13 years, thanks to 2K’s modern day splash of paint. TopSpin 2K25 provides the best tennis experience we’ve seen in gaming so far, but is slightly held back by the need to grind to access certain content.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU tells a powerful story of loss, that despite some predictable moments, leaves an impactful and lasting impression. The voice acting throughout the adventure is sublime, with uniquely epic music, and some gorgeous environments. Tales of Kenzera: ZAU does show glimpses of platforming potential, but an inconsistent camera hinders the experience from rivaling the great platformers it is obviously inspired by. Combat also has brief flourishes of excellence, before shielded enemies arrive and cause issues during chaotic battles.
The Rising Tide is the grand finale that Final Fantasy XVI deserves, reminding us of the legacy this entry into the franchise will leave. Exploring Mysidia and its surrounds, stacked on top of quality-of-life updates and new Eikonic abilities to be used, this is a must-play for anyone who enjoyed the original Final Fantasy XVI experience last year.
Princess Peach: Showtime! is a great return for Princess Peach as the main protagonist. Even though the game has some performance issues, the different costumes and genres the game explores will easily sustain most gamers’ interest throughout the 8-hour journey.
Square Enix transcends the Final Fantasy VII trilogy to new heights, providing a deeply captivating story and robust combat mechanics. These qualities, paired with entertaining main and side content, cements Final Fantasy VII Rebirth as one of the best RPGs of all time.
Rise of the Ronin is a game created from a concoction of our favourite Samurai-inspired games. While it can give you a sense of déjà vu during your playtime, the game ultimately carves its own path and follows its own direction in the soulslike genre. The game is held back graphically but is redeemed through its enjoyable story and gameplay.
Alone in the Dark’s reimagining remains faithful to the original game but is not afraid to take some traits from its modern counterparts in the survival horror genre. Be prepared to become heavily immersed in the Decerto Mansion once more, but don’t expect much variety in the co-existing stories or puzzles.
Nostalgia is best served hot, and Tomb Raider I-III is serving it hot. Aspyr has done a great job in balancing respect for the original Tomb Raider trilogy while adding additional detail to areas and enhancing the context of scenes and ambience. While some aspects of the games have aged poorly to today’s standards, Aspyr’s fresh coat of paint and polish remedies these shortfalls.
Contra: Operation Galuga brings the Contra series back to its former glory. This run-and-gun shooter is best enjoyed with friends; however, newcomers to the series may struggle to be drawn in.
Pentiment was developed by only 16 members of the Obsidian Entertainment team, which is truly mind-blowing, especially when considering the incredible amount of depth found within its world and cast of characters. Pentiment’s main selling point is its story, and, in this regard, it absolutely delivers. This is a fantastic story with brilliant twists, historically relevant themes, and great writing across the entire 15-hour journey. Pentiment is also very pleasing on the eyes, with a truly gorgeous hand-painted 2D style. However, Pentiment lacks in many other areas, with a lack of gameplay features and a mostly silent audio experience.
WWE 2K24 doesn’t add a lot to the existing formula but refines what already works. With a roster of over 200 WWE Superstars, including homegrown Aussie Rhea Ripley, WWE fans will find endless hours of entertainment playing the latest title in the series. This is the best the franchise has looked on console.
The Brothers Remake allows new players to experience an incredible story, one that will stay with you for many years to come. It also gives fans of the original release an excuse to re-play Brothers with improved visuals, additional tracks, and for many, their first chance to experience this adventure cooperatively. However, this is not a Remake that updates or alters any other elements. The story (thankfully) and gameplay mechanics are faithful to the original release, but the major selling point of this Remake, is the visual upgrade. For me, I was satisfied with the visual upgrade, but other fans may find the lack of extensive changes disappointing.
Another Code: Recollection is a good remake package that cosy gamers will love. While Two Memories was engaging with its well-crafted storyline, Journey Into Lost Memories loses that spark with a less endearing protagonist and magic lost from the capabilities of the Nintendo Wii.
The Outlast Trials is completely messed up in the best way. From crazed ideas of torture to obscene amounts of guts and gore, any fans of the previous Outlast titles or the psychological horror genre will love this game. If you’re after something that steps it up compared to Resident Evil or the newly released Silent Hill: A Short Message games, then The Outlast Trials is a game you need to check out! Just remember to have a spare set of underwear close by.
P3R is an incredible game in its own right, and it is an experience that has encouraged me to venture back to the original release to truly appreciate all the quality-of-life improvements this remake offers. It contains a phenomenal soundtrack, a memorable story with a brilliant cast of characters, as well as the fantastic side stories provided by the Social Links on offer. The turn-based combat delivers high-quality fun to both Persona ventures and new players alike, but exploring Tartarus eventually does become an extremely repetitive task.
Mario Vs. Donkey Kong is a brilliant remake of a beloved classic. The vibrant reimagined levels are short and nostalgic but still encapsulates the standard of Mario games we see today. The 5-8 hour game may not provide as much satisfaction to veteran gamers, but younger and casual gamers are sure to love this.
Justice League: Kill the Suicide Squad started as a divisive game out there in the gaming community but I truly think that once people give this a go, they will enjoy the single-player aspects and potentially be won over by its continued support as a live service game. There are a few annoyances that are remedied by variety, but with a few side missions getting stale by the end, the long load times are to be rewarded after each mission. But this was not enough to spoil my fun time with the game.