Latest Reviews
Review Goodbye Volcano High (PS5) - Wonderfully Written, But Stumbles on the Rhythm
Not the mama?
Canadian developer KO_OP has been away from Sony's ecosystem for quite a while. Its first game, GNOG, launched on PS4 back in 2017 and is a fun, colourful puzzler that works great in PSVR. Fast forward a number of years, and they’ve returned to PlayStation with Goodbye Volcano High, a visual novel about the hardships of discovering...
Grey area
A prequel to Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception, the verbosely named Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten is a fairly typical Japanese RPG. It follows the story of a young warrior named Oshtor, who, after a strange meeting with a mysterious girl, sets off on a grand adventure to uncover the secrets of his family's history. So far,...
Mini Review Chants of Sennaar (PS4) - A Terrific Translator Puzzler
Get lost in translation
Chants of Sennaar is a language translation-focused, puzzle adventure title from Toulouse, France-based developer Rundisc. You take on the role of a lone traveller that has been foretold will reunite the people of the Tower by translating their dialects and breaking down their language barriers. For eight to 12 hours,...
Review Baldur's Gate 3 (PS5) - One of the Greatest RPGs of Our Time
Larian siezes the RPG crown at swords-point
If any video game truly deserves the mildly ludicrous 'AAAA' moniker, it's Baldur's Gate 3. Larian Studios' latest is a roleplaying experience of the first order, a work of vanishing beauty made in the old ways to modern specifications. This third instalment in the long-dormant series effortlessly makes...
Mini Review Anonymous;Code (PS4) - Exciting Visual Novel, But Lacks Character Depth
Hacker's paradise
Anonymous;Code is the latest visual novel in the Science Adventure series. It takes place in 2037 Tokyo and focuses on Pollon Takaoka, a young hacker who's part of a group called Nakano Symphonies. Pollon doesn’t particularly enjoy being a hacker and isn’t even that skilled at it, but he does it along with his friend Cross to...
Mini Review Tenebris Pictura (PS5) - A Supernatural World That Kicks You Down With Its Combat
We can paint over this work of art
Starting Tenebris Pictura will have you scratching your head early on. You awake in a painting world, where you learn that you have the power to jump into paintings and walk around those areas. You can also split your spirit from your body, where most of the game is focused. As you continue, you will face various...
Mini Review The Making of Karateka (PS5) - A Wonderful Interactive Documentary for Gaming Historians
Kick! Punch! It's all in the mind
The Making of Karateka is a rare treat. It's part documentary, part archive, part collection of old games, and part remaster. It's also a wonderful example of just how far we can go with game preservation if we put the work in, and the gold standard for how we should approach collections of classic games going...
Mini Review Somerville (PS5) - An Atmospheric Adventure Lacking Depth
Hello darkness, my old friend
Somerville is an atmospheric, 2.5D, narrative adventure game from indie developer Jumpship. Created partly by co-founder of Playdead, Dino Patti, it’s clear this title’s inspiration came from the likes of Limbo, Inside, and Little Nightmares. Somerville takes on silent storytelling through gorgeous environments and...
Clockwork conundrums
Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is the fifth entry in the one-to-four player, puzzle platforming adventure series, from Finland based developer, Frozenbyte. After attending a celebration at Astral Academy and being framed for destroying the village, our three heroes, Amedeus the wizard, Zoya the thief, and Pontius the knight,...
Mini Review Lost Eidolons (PS5) - Solid Fire Emblem-Esque Strategy Is Rough Around the Edges
Mire Emblem
Lost Eidolons is an uncommon sight in the current RPG landscape. It's a strategy title that takes clear inspiration from games like Fire Emblem, but it forgoes a stylised art direction for realistic-looking characters who, at a glance, wouldn't appear out of place in a AAA, blockbuster production. And that's an important point to make,...
Review Firewall Ultra (PSVR2) - Flawed VR Shooter Misses the Mark
Tactical tedium
It felt a little strange booting up Firewall Ultra for the first time. It's a game that simultaneously straddles the line of reboot, remake, and sequel, all whilst selling the best features that the PSVR2 has to offer. As a result, it has steadily become synonymous with Sony’s headset, even though we knew very little about it prior...
Review Sea of Stars (PS5) - PS Plus Extra's Retro-Inspired RPG Is the Whole Package
Total eclipse of the (pixel) art
Sea of Stars aims to do for turn-based RPGs what The Messenger did for side-scrolling action platformers — modernise a classic gaming genre while honouring its traditions. From where we're sitting, that's mission accomplished for Sabotage Studio. The developer's second game pays homage to numerous classic RPGs of...
Review Madden NFL 24 (PS5) - Another Five Yards Forward for EA Sports' Football Sim
Moving the chains
It’s hard not to feel a pinch of sympathy for the Madden NFL 24 team. Despite what the most exasperated online pundits claim, you can tell EA Tiburon cares deeply about its officially licensed American football game. Unfortunately, a challenging annual release cadence – paired with an overreliance on the oft-criticised but...
Mini Review Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles (PS5) - Musical JRPG Hits a Bum Note
Doesn't quite strike a chord
Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles is the combination release of Rhapsody II: Ballad of the Little Princess and Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom. Originally released in 1999 and 2000 respectively, both games are now available for the first time in the west. Rhapsody II kicks into action by following the titular...
Mini Review The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (PS5) - A Bare Bones Asymmetrical Multiplayer Experience
Dead by chainsaw
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a third-person asymmetrical multiplayer horror title from Gun Interactive and Sumo Digital Nottingham. Based on the true story and iconic 1974 movie of the same name, you’ll take on the role of one of the Slaughter Family or one of their victims in three versus four multiplayer matchups. Similar in...
Mini Review Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate (PS5) - Roguelike Chess Is a Neat Novelty
Chekhov's Gambit
Chess with a shotgun works better than you think. While it sounds absurd on paper, Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate is a simple yet tightly designed roguelike strategy title that turns the measured, tactical board game into something novel and unique. However, just because you're given a firearm, that doesn't mean you can switch...
Review Fort Solis (PS5) - Glitzy Walking Sim Disappoints
In space no one can here you snooze
There is something calming about a clichéd sci-fi horror, isn’t there? Abandoned space stations, eerie corridors, and the endless possibilities of danger make up a genre that has successfully infiltrated just about every format of entertainment. Fort Solis is just the latest, bringing with it a subdued sci-fi...
Mini Review Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew (PS5) - Pirate Strategy Will Shiver Your Timbers
Y'arrrrrr 8'y
What really elevates Mimimi's Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew compared to its previous titles, like Desperados III, is the complete abandonment of reality. Functionally, it's pretty much the same as those spiritual predecessors; you control a team from a top-down view, and stealthily make your way across a map disposing of guards on...
Review Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon (PS5) - Great Mecha Action at Times Feels Stunted
Earth to Raven
Swapping swords and spells for mechs and missiles probably wasn't the first thing a FromSoftware accountant suggested following the absurd success of Elden Ring, but then the Japanese developer doesn't do things by the books. Having sold more than 20 million copies of the open world masterpiece, the studio has returned to a series it...
Mini Review Red Dead Redemption (PS4) - Classic Open World Western Deserves Better
There's always a choice
Red Dead Redemption. What a classic. The treacherous tale of former outlaw John Marston helped define the PS3 generation, and the game's storytelling, complete with crazy characters and typically tense western vibes, still holds up today. From the dusty beginnings of Armadillo to the bear-infested forests of Tall Trees, this...
Review Immortals of Aveum (PS5) - Fantasy FPS Lacks the Magic Touch
Jak of all fades
You have to admire Ascendant Studios for confidently diving head first with its debut game, Immortals of Aveum. The fantasy flavoured, magic-based first-person shooter has the appearance of a big summer blockbuster, and in some ways it backs that up, but unfortunately it doesn't quite hold true when you examine it more closely. It's...
Mini Review Quake II (PS5) - A Remastered Classic with Real Bang for Your Buck
Quaking in our boots
The updated re-release of Quake was a rousing success, so there was no shortage of excitement when an updated version of Quake II suddenly dropped during QuakeCon 2023. And much like the first title, it's quite an impressive package. The first thing to note is the sheer amount of content you get. You get the base game of Quake...
Review Blasphemous 2 (PS5) - A Marvellously Macabre Metroidvania
The bigger the better
Since Elden Ring secured its position as one of 2022's best games, Soulslikes have seen another huge spike in popularity, with a plethora of titles already released or in the pipeline for this year. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Remnant 2, Lies of P, The Lords of the Fallen, Hollow Knight: Silksong, The Last Faith — the list goes...
Mini Review Moving Out 2 (PS5) - Chaotic Co-Op Capers in Safe But Solid Sequel
F.A.R.T.ing around
Moving Out 2 is your typical sequel — a bit bigger, a bit better, but ultimately quite familiar. Taking the act of moving belongings in and out of buildings and turning that into a chaotic co-op game, this is largely the same as the original Moving Out, but mixes things up in some fun ways. The gameplay is super approachable...
Mini Review Marble It Up! Ultra (PS5) - Colourful Arcade Game Is a Marble Blast
It’s marblin’ time
Marble It Up! Ultra can trace its lineage all the way to the classic Marble Blast titles from the turn of the century. A sequel to Marble It Up!, this new entry follows the old adage of "bigger is better" by expanding the amount of content on offer. Marble games normally offer a fairly standard mix of momentum and...
Review Atlas Fallen (PS5) - The Surge Dev's Best Game Yet
Arrakis uprising
While it was The Surge that put Deck13 Interactive's name on the map, it's Atlas Fallen that will henceforth be considered the studio's best game to date. Switching the Souls-like structure of its past titles for a more traditional open world adventure with difficulty options, it boasts of excellent traversal and a fun combat system...
Mini Review VR Skater (PSVR2) - Practice Makes Perfect in Challenging Skateboard Sim
Virtually a superman
VR Skater is tough. This PSVR2 skateboarding game's unique controls produce some seriously cool first-person action, but in our experience, it takes some time and effort to find the fun. While patience and practice is required, the result is a super satisfying skateboarding experience. Essentially, you skate with your arms...
Mini Review The Room VR: A Dark Matter (PSVR2) - Exquisite VR Escape Room Beckons You to the Past
Pricey but nice
Escape rooms are a great fit for VR. You can craft fantastical scenarios and achieve more convincing environments, all while allowing the experience to take place at home. And this is an idea developer Fireproof Games has taken to heart, as the fifth title in The Room series is VR-only. The Room VR: A Dark Matter was previously...
Mini Review Venba (PS5) - A Moving Tale of Love, Loss, Family, and Food
The Venba bus is coming
Venba is a delightful video game. What it accomplishes in a little over an hour is impressive, both in terms of introducing and authentically portraying a culture that most Western gamers will have limited familiarity with, and in presenting a moving story of love, loss, family, and the important role that food plays in tying...
Mini Review LISA: Definitive Edition (PS5) - Joyful and Painful in Equal Measure
It’s the end of the world as we know it
LISA: Definitive Edition is the updated collection of LISA: The Painful, originally released in 2014 via RPG Maker, and its sequel, LISA: The Joyful. These new releases are extended with new quests, bosses, and secrets. There’s even a new difficulty mode alongside Normal and Painful; Painless, for those...
