Latest Previews
November2015
First Impressions Need for Speed Fails to Hit First Gear on PS4
Sick
When you're forced to recycle old subtitles, you know that it's time that your brand got a reboot. EA Games' long running Need for Speed series has been securing podium finishes for almost as long as we can remember, but despite there being a movie in the interim, the publisher resisted the temptation to churn out a 2014 sequel to PlayStation 4...
Preview Just Cause 3 Blows Us Away on PS4
We can't wait to burn it to the ground
It feels good to welcome back Rico Rodriguez – a regime change specialist extraordinaire with a grapple, an attitude, and a huge arsenal of destructive possibilities which will be unleashed on the PlayStation 4 in December. Just Cause 3 is a game that we've have been anticipating ever since finishing 2010's...
October2015
First Impressions Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare Continues to Grow with a Sequel on PS4
Green hill zone
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 focuses on expanding the original title, which was already such a great success. For those living under a rock, Garden Warfare is a third-person shooter where the plants and zombies from the popular mobile game go head-to-head in order to defend their homelands from each other. We gave the first...
First Impressions Forcing Our Way to the Front Line in Star Wars Battlefront on PS4
Everything is proceeding as foreseen
Fans of sci-fi video games have been waiting for a new Star Wars Battlefront ever since the outstanding previous instalment in the series, Battlefront 2, was released all the way back in 2005. For loyal followers of the franchise this previous title feels like it deployed "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far...
First Impressions Just Cause 3 Grapples for Glory on PS4
Scorpio strikes again
The sequel to popular open world action title Just Cause 2, creatively named Just Cause 3, brings Rico Rodriguez – codenamed Scorpio – to an entirely new fictional setting: the Mediterranean archipelago of Medici. The new map is the exact same size as the previous instalment's gigantic world, clocking in at a massive 400...
First Impressions Shadow of the Beast Is Bloody Brilliant on PS4
Stepping out of the shadows
One of the quieter demo stations that we saw this year at EGX was for the reboot of eighties gaming classic, Shadow of the Beast. Now, this wasn't much of a surprise, especially since its announcement a couple of years ago at Gamescom was met with a resounding "huh, never heard of it" from anyone under the age of...
September2015
First Impressions Dragon Quest Heroes PS4 Is a Monster Masher That Shows a Lot of Promise
It's looking goo-d
Square Enix has been somewhat adamant in proving that Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below isn't just another Warriors game. Developed by Omega Force - the Japanese studio behind just about every musou title in existence - this hack and slasher definitely bares similarities to Koei Tecmo's franchises and...
First Impressions Breaching the Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege Beta on PS4
Breaking down barriers
Here at Push Square we've been checking out the closed beta for Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege on the PlayStation 4 – and boy has this game been kept under a rock since its first announcement at E3 last year. There's been a distinct lack of interest in the title since its reveal, but it finally appears to have found its feet...
First Impressions Ratchet & Clank PS4 Is a Pixar Movie Brought to Life
Lookin' nuts
Remember when Sony famously said that the PlayStation 2 would be capable of powering Toy Story-esque visuals in realtime? We've been waiting a long time for it to deliver on that statement. But with Ratchet & Clank on the PlayStation 4, developer Insomniac Games may have finally succeeded, as this is one of the most visually...
First Impressions How Well Does Assassin's Creed Syndicate Run on PS4?
London's not quite burning
After Assassin's Creed Unity launched in shameful condition on the PlayStation 4 last year, there's been much discussion over how 2015's follow up, Assassin's Creed Syndicate, will run on Sony's home console. After the beating that Unity took, you'd assume that Ubisoft would do its best to ensure that Syndicate performs...
First Impressions Reflecting on Mirror’s Edge Catalyst PS4
Smooth round the edges
Mirror's Edge Catalyst is a reimagined story set before the events of the first title and has built upon the free running and combat system of the original to bring a totally fresh and more fluid experience. With upgraded visuals that look stunning on the next generation consoles and are especially sharp on the PlayStation 4,...
First Impressions Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection Is PS4 Gold
Greatness from not-so small beginnings
You didn't think that Sony was going to treat its flagship franchise poorly, did you? A lot's been said and written about the PlayStation 4's exclusive lineup this Christmas, but Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection is no slouch. The remastered compilation of Naughty Dog's iconic adventuring trilogy looks and...
First Impressions Destiny: The Taken King PS4 Marks a Clear Improvement
Taking us back
Year two of Destiny is well and truly under way with the release of The Taken King – the shooter's largest piece of downloadable content to date. We still struggle to call The Dark Below and House of Wolves 'expansions', but there's no denying that this newest add-on fits the bill. You'd expect this, of course, from an expensive...
August2015
First Impressions Is Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain on PS4 the Best Entry Yet?
Tactical espionage excellence
It's night in Afghanistan, as the soldier known as Big Boss surveys a Russian outpost from afar. Soldiers, searchlights, and machine gun emplacements pepper the settlement, making his mission to rescue a prisoner held there even more difficult. The question is: what approach should the legendary soldier take? Should he...
First Impressions Bashing Our Brainnns Against PS4's Zombie Vikings
Thor you should know a little more about this title
Arriving digitally next week is hack-'n'-slash adventure Zombie Vikings – unsurprisingly a game about undead vikings slicing their way through numerous enemies in a side-scrolling quest. We were lucky enough to play a short preview build prior to release to see how this comical adventure is...
First Impressions Call of Duty: Black Ops III Embraces the Past As It Focuses on the Future
Lean, mean, cybernetic machine
With Call of Duty being the most successful multiplayer shooter franchise in video game history, you would think that betas would've been the norm by now. Instead, each instalment has had infamous issues. Annoying perks such as Juggernaut in Modern Warfare, overpowered weapons like the FAMAS and AK74u in Black Ops,...
First Impressions Eyes-On with PS4's Virtual Reality Headset Project Morpheus
An early look at exclusives London Heist and RIGS
We've known about Project Morpheus – the PlayStation 4's proprietary virtual reality headset – for what feels like an eternity now, so we're definitely reaching that point where it's time for Sony to stop talking about the possibilities for the peripheral, and start proving why it's so important...
July2015
First Impressions Trading Blows in the Street Fighter V PS4 Beta
Execution, revolution, evolution
Street Fighter IV had a good run. Released in Japanese arcades in 2008 and home consoles in 2009, Capcom's flagship fighter received four paid iterations over six years, ended with a character roster of 44, and the Street Fighter finals of EVO 2015 were watched by very nearly a quarter of a million fans. This may...
June2015
First Impressions Our First 50 Hours With The Elder Scrolls Online on PS4
Taming Tamriel
That's right, we've played The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited for just a little over 50 hours now, so we thought that it was about time to get some impressions published. Being a massively multiplayer online game, it's safe to say that there's an absolute ton of things to see and do in ZeniMax Online Studios' huge adventure -...
First Impressions Batman: Arkham Knight PS4 Sure Is Fighting Fit
Alright on the Knight
Holy awkward release date, Batman – you contrary cowl connoisseur. There's probably a metaphor that Warner Bros was trying to convey to the games media when it dated Batman: Arkham Knight just days after E3 2015 – like, y'know how Bruce Wayne has to keep fighting to ensure that Gotham City's safe... Yeah, the public...
First Impressions How Much of an Improvement Is Final Fantasy XV Episode Duscae 2.0?
Bromance evolved
We live in strange times when a demo can get a hefty patch, but it's well worth downloading Episode Duscae's several gigabytes 2.0 update. In our first, pre-patch look at this early glimpse of Final Fantasy XV, we noted that it's clear that the game has huge potential: the open map is quite absorbing, the title's sense of style and...
First Impressions How Does Pokémon Maker Game Freak's PS4 Debut Fare?
We take Tembo the Badass Elephant for a ride
Side-scrollers are dime a dozen in this current digital age. The old-school genre may have fallen out of favour following the PSone's introduction of new-fangled polygons, but the vibrant indie development scene has ensured that 2D platformers are fashionable again – even if they tend to rival Early...
May2015
First Impressions Just How Bad Is Ultra Street Fighter IV on PS4?
Shoryuken handle the truth?
The hotly anticipated PlayStation 4 port of Ultra Street Fighter IV has been chastised by the fighting game community ever since its release earlier in the week. This has resulted in the release being pulled from both the Capcom Pro Tour and Evo 2015 –
First Impressions The Witcher 3 May Be One of the Best Games on PS4
Itchin' for a witchin'
It's as simple as the headline makes it seem: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is something special. Although we're not quite ready to forge our final opinion on the game, we've put together this relatively quick impressions piece for you, and hopefully, it'll give you a decent idea of what to expect from CD Projekt Red's open world...
April2015
First Impressions How Does The Elder Scrolls Online Beta Look and Run on PS4?
Plus, our final thoughts
After absolutely hammering The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited PlayStation 4 beta virtually all weekend, we're actually a bit sad to see it go. Our jaunt back into Tamriel has been an enjoyable one, despite the fact that it never truly wowed us. Perhaps this is another case of keeping expectations relatively low, and...
First Impressions How Brutal Is The Elder Scrolls Online's Combat in Its PS4 Beta?
Plus, we take a look at character progression
Combat in The Elder Scrolls series has never been brilliant, despite the fact that it's been integral to each title's design. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion introduced a more action-based system, while The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim built upon that formula, keeping the basics in place, while refining the...
First Impressions Letting the Team Down in Rocket League on PS4
Crash and grab
Like a Jose Mourinho managed football team in its second season, you get the feeling that this is Rocket League's time to shine. The sequel to the obnoxiously named Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars, this RC car-cross-soccer experience is a shining example of a simple concept done well – it's just outstanding fun...
First Impressions Exploring Bleakrock Isle in The Elder Scrolls Online PS4 Beta
We examine exploration, environments, and quests
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim fans would feel right at home on Bleakrock Isle, a relatively small and snowy island that we've been busy traipsing across during our first day of taking part in The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited beta on the PlayStation 4. It's not just the white stuff that's on...
First Impressions Scratching Our Heads Through Soul Axiom on PS4
Axiom verge
What do you get when you mix Tron with BioShock Infinite and Antichamber – and sprinkle a helping of Indiana Jones on top? The answer is, er, Soul Axiom. At least, that's the vibe that we got during a hands-on session with an early build of the game. The follow-up title from Master Reboot developer Wales Interactive, this is shaping up...
First Impressions Taking One on the Chin in Mortal Kombat X on PS4
You make me larrrf, Kitana
Mortal Kombat X is genuinely funny. You can bombard us with Johnny Cage-esque green orbs in the comments all you like, but there's no way that developer NetherRealm built this game with a straight face. And that's a good thing. The amount of tomfoolery on display at times is outrageous – and it's bettered only by the...
First Impressions PlayStation Home Has Already Arrived on PS4, and It's Called Atom Universe
Home alone
Sometimes the best surprises in life are the ones that you don't expect – but we'd give pause before describing Atom Universe as a pleasant shock. Suspiciously dropped onto the European PlayStation Store today with virtually zero fanfare, this is the next-gen social hovel that you've been yearning for ever since PlayStation Home...
March2015
First Impressions Final Fantasy XV Has Massive Potential
Don't screw this up
To be totally honest, we're still having trouble coming to terms with the fact that we've actually played something related to Final Fantasy XV. If you've been keeping up with the game's development, all the way back since it was announced almost ten years ago, then we imagine that you'll feel the same. Episode Duscae, the...
First Impressions Bringing the Beat Back with Amplitude on PS4
Music to our ears
We'll forever remember the original Amplitude on the PlayStation 2 for one major reason: it forced us to listen to Slipknot, Papa Roach, and pseudo-religious group P.O.D. While they may not be the happiest memories, however, Harmonix's mix of WipEout and bad licensed music does still hold a special place in this author's heart, to...
February2015
First Impressions Is Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Rotten or Ripe on PS4?
Claire's accessories
Resident Evil: Revelations faced a tough test when we reviewed it on the PlayStation 3 a couple of years ago. At the time of its release in May 2013, this author had already played a meaty chunk of The Last of Us, and Jill Valentine's oceanic romp failed to really live up. In hindsight, it was perhaps a little unfair to expect...
Preview The PS4 Exclusives of 2015 - Tearaway Unfolded
Cut from the same sheet
Tearaway should have been the PlayStation Vita's signature game. Designed from the ground up for Sony's pocketable platform, Media Molecule's chirpy platformer not only made use of every single input on the system – but it also ensured that they actually added something to the experience. This is something of a rarity –...
Preview The PS4 Exclusives of 2015 - Until Dawn
#Hilarious
We all have our guilty pleasures, and Until Dawn is fast becoming this author's. Supermassive Games' slasher title has been in production for what feels like an eternity, with its roots dating all the way back to the PlayStation Move boom of 2012. At the time, the platform holder promised that the title would offer a teen horror twist on...
January2015
Preview The PS4 Exclusives of 2015 - The Order: 1886
History in the making?
Your insatiable appetite for exclusives led to dismay at the tail end of last year. While the first half of 2014 promised plenty between inFAMOUS: Second Son and MLB 14: The Show, there's no denying that Sony's first-party software roster seemed to fizzle out around Christmas, with DriveClub and LittleBigPlanet 3 being the...
December2014
Preview Is PS4 Exclusive The Order: 1886 a Revolution or a Relic?
Lycan it
The Order: 1886 may be set in the late 19th century, but its presentation is anything but ancient. Ready at Dawn’s inaugural home console escapade is not only the best looking game on the PlayStation 4, but we’d argue that it’s some way ahead of the best looking PC titles, too. Granted, it’s not running in 4K resolution, and has...
November2014
First Impressions Enlisting in The Tomorrow Children, PS4's Great Social Experiment
Off to work we go
The Tomorrow Children is the type of title that you’d only ever find on PlayStation. We’re not referring to the fact that Sony’s footing the bill of this Q-Games developed curiosity – or the vaguely disingenuous PR sound bites that tend to filter out of first-party outfits from time-to-time – but the mere notion that this...
First Impressions Coming Home to Grand Theft Auto V on PS4
The city of sinners
There’s nothing quite like coming home – or so they say. In truth, this editor has spent the last couple of decades living in the exact same sleepy city, so wouldn’t really know what it’s like to return after several years away – but we imagine that it’s a little like playing Grand Theft Auto V on the PlayStation 4...
First Impressions How Well Does Assassin's Creed Unity Actually Run on PS4?
Not quite a revolution
We're still working on our full review of Assassin's Creed Unity, but with all of this speculation as to how the game actually looks and runs on the PlayStation 4, we thought that it'd be a good idea to put forward a report on the matter. We're a reasonable way into the sandbox adventure, and by this point, we reckon that...
First Impressions What Does Dying Light Do to Resurrect the Zombie Apocalypse on PS4?
The freewheelin' mob killing
Dying Light finds itself in an odd position. With its last-gen version recently cancelled, and developer Techland touting a renewed focus on fluidity and polish, the parkour-‘em-up’s future feels slightly unclear. We recently went hands on with the title at PAX Australia, and – after being ushered
October2014
First Impressions Take a Minute to Learn About One of PS4's Hidden Gems
60 second smash
Without meaning to sound like a jaded so-and-so, the one problem with reporting on video games is that they rarely have the ability to surprise. As an infant, this particular editor used to relish trips to underground game stores where shelves of import titles gazed gleefully back – every single one of them a mysterious entity with...
First Impressions Does WWE 2K15 on PS4 Have Heavyweight Pedigree?
Yes! Yes! Yes!
If you heard loud screaming coming from the back corner of Earls Court, it may have been us. Yes, 2K Sports brought the PlayStation 4 version of WWE 2K15 to the UK’s biggest video game fair this year, EGX London, and throwing ourselves at a free demo unit, it became all too apparent why our fellow revellers were yelling at full tilt...
First Impressions Squeezing the Cheeks of LittleBigPlanet 3 on PS4
Sack joy
Like a cuddly toy that’s slipped down the side of a forgetful infant’s bed, there’s a sense that LittleBigPlanet 3 is getting overlooked. Caught among the onslaught of holiday releases, Sackboy and his band of burlap buddies have failed to catch the interest of the robotic hordes fawning over annualised outings such as Call of Duty:...
September2014
First Impressions Is Pretty PS4 Exclusive The Order: 1886 a Victorian Victory?
Antique action
Insomniac Games may have taken a half-step outside of the House of PlayStation, but Sony may have already found the studio’s replacement in Ready at Dawn. Much of the conversation surrounding Victorian adventure The Order: 1886 has centred on its storyline and steampunk art style, but after a short hands-on demo, we came away more...
First Impressions What New Tricks does Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition Learn on PS4?
Yes Wei
Many would argue that the original Sleeping Dogs was the overlooked sandbox gem of the last generation. The title's setting of Hong Kong had a quirky feel to it, and gameplay mixed exploration, kung-fu combat, and a surprisingly enjoyable story. It certainly wasn't as polished or as vast in scope as something like Grand Theft Auto V, but...
First Impressions PS4 Teen Horror Until Dawn Is So Bad That It's Scarily Good
#Dead
David Cage makes games that aren’t supposed to be funny, but sometimes wander into the realm of comedy anyway. The Parisian auteur, who’s perhaps best known for PlayStation 3 exclusive Heavy Rain, tends to discuss Quantic Dream’s ‘emotional’ output in a very self-serious manner – and yet, scenes such as ‘Jason, Jason’ often...
First Impressions OlliOlli 2: Welcome to Olliwood Is Raily Good
Grinding cheers
British indie Roll7 knows how to make a game feel good. The studio's inaugural outing OlliOlli felt fantastic, ensuring that you experienced the satisfaction of every single landed trick. With a hit already on its hands, the teensy company is not exactly reinventing the wheel with the pun-tastic PlayStation 4 and Vita sequel OlliOlli...
First Impressions What's Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare's Frontline of the Future Like on PS4?
Time to respawn
The Call of Duty series is perhaps one of the most popular yet widely criticised franchises in the modern era of gaming. Fans of the brand adore the game to its core, playing every iteration for countless hours on a quest to reach the maximum prestige; others feel quite opposed to the series and the impact that it has made on the...
June2014
First Impressions Testing the Hype in Destiny's Exclusive PS4 Alpha
We say jump, you say how high
Over the last four days, we've spent 26 hours exploring Destiny's surprise First Look Alpha. Announced during Sony's E3 2014 press conference, the 6.6GB download offers a shockingly robust early look at the upcoming sci-fi epic, sporting an impressively vast map full of enemies, a player-versus-player mode, a lengthy...
Hands On Playing Hide and Seek with PS4's Alien: Isolation
Fresh undies encouraged
From the ashes of Gearbox’s dismal Aliens: Colonial Marines rises an experience that promises not only to reinvigorate its parent property but also the entire survival horror genre. Alien: Isolation bleeds with the key components of Ridley Scott’s blockbuster, and weaves it into a thrilling fight for your life that never...
May2014
First Impressions Burning Bodies in The Evil Within on PS4
You're Mikami crazy
When legendary developer and horror game kingpin Shinji Mikami first unleashed the T-Virus onto the PSone in 1996, he not only managed to popularise the genre with mainstream audiences, but also founded a blockbuster franchise that would go on to sell millions. Some 18 years later, it could be argued that the long running...
First Impressions PS4 Puzzler The Swapper Is a Ridley Scott Meets Metroid Masterclass
Do the old switcheroo
Games are the perfect medium for escapism, transporting us anywhere from the depths of the ocean to the furthest reaches of the universe. The Swapper depicts an unnerving return to the desolate realm of space, as you’re whisked away to the apparently abandoned Theseus Space Station. Using an experimental device, can you...
First Impressions PS4 Puzzler MouseCraft Whiffs of Tetris, Lemmings, and Mature Cheddar
Dairy glee
Freed from the shackles of financially motivated businessmen, the indie space is awash with bonkers ideas, and Crunching Koala’s upcoming MouseCraft is no exception. The lovechild of Tetris and Lemmings, the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and Vita titles puts you in the steampunk shoes of a crazy cat scientist – aptly named...
April2014
First Impressions Taking a Toll Free Tour of Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number on PS4
So wrong but so right
Did you like hurting other people? If so, then you were no doubt very happy when a new Hotline Miami game was revealed to be in the works. The critical and commercial success of the original made the sequel a virtual certainty, and with Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number due for release later this year, we got the chance to take the...
First Impressions Beating Up Siblings in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle
Keep it in the family
For the uninitiated, the constant wave of previously Japanese-only titles getting a Western release can be extremely daunting. Despite the recent successes of Persona 4 Golden, Catherine, and even the likes of Demon’s Souls, there still exists a barrier that very few people are willing to cross in the name of newer, more...
First Impressions Sliding Down the Slipway with Short Peace: Ranko Tsukigime's Longest Day
Ranko's Creed
In case you're unaware, Short Peace: Ranko Tsukigime's Longest Day is not technically a game in the normal sense of the word. Instead, it's a rather big bundle of delight, featuring four short anime movies from acclaimed directors who brought you cult classics such as the 1988 blockbuster Akira, and a rather quirky gameplay segment...
First Impressions Murdered: Soul Suspect Makes a Compelling Case on PS4
Ghost crimebuster
A plunge from a fourth floor window to the street below isn’t quite enough to kill hard as nails detective Ronan O’Connor. The seven bullets that follow are. The introduction to our hands-on with the PlayStation 4 version of Murdered: Soul Suspect was certainly arresting, and made us eager to find out more about this upcoming...
First Impressions Rolling with the PS4 Port of Skating Smash OlliOlli
Deck the mall
We won’t need to expend too many sentences to summarise the PlayStation 4 port of Roll7’s surprisingly strong skateboarding sim OlliOlli: it’s the PlayStation Vita game amplified to the size of your television screen. Rather than develop the title in-house, the British-based studio has offloaded the heavy lifting to BlitWorks,...
First Impressions Is the PS Vita Dragging Murasaki Baby Back?
Who loves ya, baby?
Murasaki Baby is a gobstoppingly gorgeous title – but it’s yet to prove that it’s an entertaining one. The inaugural escapade by Italian outfit Ovosonico shares similarities with creative director Massimo Guarini’s previous outing Shadows of the Damned, in that it provides an inviting aesthetic, but not enough immediate...
Hands On Ubisoft Abandons Weapons for Watercolours in Child of Light on PS4
Sweet child o' mine
Female protagonists are a rare sight. Most games lean towards a male lead, allowing women to – at most – occupy the role of a sidekick. Child of Light, however, sees a young girl take centre stage in an intriguing PlayStation 4 production. Elaborately named Aurora, the protagonist is a princess, and although her crown slips...
March2014
First Impressions Staying Alive in Alien: Isolation, the Tensest Title on PS4 So Far
Ripley's believe it
That we’ve already sneaked through a short sample of upcoming PlayStation 4 survival horror Alien: Isolation says a lot about the game and its developer. Knowing that it could have easily been haunted by the spectre of Gearbox’s atrocious Aliens: Colonial Marines, The Creative Assembly has instead punctured any scepticism...
Hands On Scouting Out Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes on PS4
Looking foxy
You’re no doubt sick and tired of reading about Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes’ running time, so we thought that we’d give you a break from that line of discussion, and focus on the actual game for a change. Having recently had a chance to go hands-on with Hideo Kojima’s gorgeous next-gen debut, we’ve compiled our...
Hands On Smoking Out Seattle in inFAMOUS: Second Son on PS4
Burning down the house
Holy smokes, it’s less than two weeks until you’ll be playing inFAMOUS: Second Son. A cynic may argue that the PlayStation 4’s first few months on the market have been dryer than the Sahara Desert, but Sucker Punch is aiming to finally light up your system with a showering of neon and smoke powers later this month. And...
February2014
Hands On Traversing the Trenches of PS4 Shooter Wolfenstein: The New Order
Führious
1981 saw the release of Castle Wolfenstein, a very early Commodore 64 top-down stealth action title that found you angrily taking down the entire Nazi war machine singlehandedly via a series of small, pixelated rooms. Now, some thirty years after the series’ inception, Swedish studio MachineGames is looking to continue the veteran...
Hands On A Fresh Spawn's Journey Through the First Few Hours of Dark Souls II
Soul sister
The Souls series is not for the faint-hearted. Constant deaths, insane difficulty spikes, and an ever present sense of doom are just a handful of reasons behind the brand’s success among a growing niche of brave gamers. Somehow, developer From Software has managed to make its once masochistic franchise a bit of a blockbuster, and with...
First Impressions Turtle Rock Is Transforming Co-Op with Evolve on PS4
Evolve or die
Boss battles are quite common in games. Usually equipped with a sequence of rules, they give you the opportunity to face a gargantuan challenge in search of closure or progression. So what happens when you open this ideology up and create a game that’s a constant non-scripted, unpredictable, and intense boss fight? Well, Turtle Rock...
January2014
First Impressions Toukiden Looks to Forge a Strong Handheld Slay-'Em-Up
Face your demons
From the developers of Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors comes Toukiden: The Age of Demons, a monster-slaying, loot-grinding, Eastern-styled action RPG that seems tailored to portable play. Publisher Tecmo Koei's dedication to Sony's troubled handheld console is admirable – but does its newest creation shine like a beacon of...
December2013
First Impressions Shining a Spotlight on Free PS4 Shooter Blacklight: Retribution
No cost CoD
Blacklight: Retribution has never been subtle about its similarities to Call of Duty. The popular Kill Confirmed mode, which first appeared in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, took only a short time to appear in the Zombie Studios developed shooter, and supposed leaked screenshots of Call of Duty: Black Ops II tu
October2013
First Impressions Tearaway Is Cut Out to Be One of the Vita's Best Titles
No glue required
There comes a point when playing Tearaway where it's near impossible to remove yourself from the delightful world that developer Media Molecule has crafted. Indeed, if there was one word we could use to describe the papercraft platformer, it would be 'delightful'. Like LittleBigPlanet before it, the game doesn't appeal to just a...
First Impressions Switching Genres on the Fly in Velocity 2X on Vita and PS4
Oh Kai
During its short spell at the forefront of PlayStation production, FuturLab has profited from its ability to surprise. Straightforward concepts are at the core of the company’s ethos, but the award-winning developer always manages to marry them with clever twists. That commitment to reinvention resulted in the firm refreshing the entire...
First Impressions Defying Death in Dark Souls II
Bonfire rewire
Our stamina bar drained slowly, as engulfed by utter darkness, the ominous sound of a huge armoured tortoise’s footsteps refused to fade into the black. This is the moment that it suddenly became clear that Dark Souls II would live up to every bit of its gruelling reputation – and not only in terms of difficulty, but also in its...
First Impressions Unmasking Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate on PlayStation Vita
Holy handheld, Batman
There’s some serious pedigree behind Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate. The portable spin-off is being assembled by Armature, the Texas-based game production workshop founded by a trio of ex-Retro Studios employees, and is attempting to piggy-back off the success of Rocksteady’s wildly popular Arkham escapades, only on a...
First Impressions Taking Gran Turismo 6 for a Test Drive on PS3
Round the bend
With the next generation of consoles looming, Gran Turismo 6 feels like a title out of time for many. Launching after the PlayStation 4 hits stores worldwide, the PlayStation 3 racer will attempt to go head-to-head with Forza 5 on the Xbox One. It’s a bold move from Sony to forgo its futuristic console, as it would have been a...