Latest Reviews
Review Bear With Me: The Complete Collection - Surprisingly Deep Film Noir Point & Click Action
Paw-fully good
On the surface, Bear With Me appears to be little more than an amusing, story-driven, point and click adventure, infused with the tone and style of noir classics like The Maltese Falcon. However, there's much more at play within this clever episodic tale. The plights of Amber, Flint, and (collective sigh) Ted. E Bear amidst the...
Review Tetsumo Party - An Unusual Party Game That's Shorter Than a Sumo Wrestler's Mawashi
Bring on the wall
If you've ever watched Hole in the Wall, the game show based on the Japanese phenomenon, you'll know roughly what to expect in Tetsumo Party. This odd little game sees up to four players surviving for as long as possible against a constant wave of panels with sumo wrester-shaped holes in them. It's your job to get your character in...
Review Metal Wolf Chaos XD - Former Xbox Exclusive Brings Its Bonkers Plot to PS4
"The beauty of me is that I'm very rich"
Who would have thought that after Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, From Software’s next project would have you sitting in the driver’s seat of a mech in an attempt to rescue the United States of America from the wrath of the vice president? We’re only half-joking: Metal Wolf Chaos XD is an updated version of...
Review Forager - A Refreshingly Simple and Fiendishly Addictive Adventure
Living off the land
Forager is a wonderfully apt name for this curious adventure game. Not only does it tell you immediately what you'll be doing - foraging for resources with which to build up the world - it also hints at the game's many borrowed elements. It's a potent mix of classic action games and the gathering/crafting/farming trend that's...
Review The Church in the Darkness - Cult Simulator Devoid of Depth
Not so holy
It feels like The Church in the Darkness has bitten off a little bit more than it can chew. Packed full of ideas, themes, and a handful of mechanics on top, it’s the infiltration of a cult whose ocean spreads far and wide but only goes a couple of inches deep. There are things to like in Paranoid Productions’ latest effort, but...
Review Doughlings: Invasion - Fun But Forgettable Space Invaders-esque Action
Dough and steady wins the race
In a surprising shift in genre, Doughlings: Invasion, the sequel to last year’s Doughlings Arcade, moves past its brick-breaking routes, now acting as the indie scene’s answer to Space Invaders. Though at a glance its seemingly rudimentary gameplay appears to match its unappealing visuals, there’s a surprising...
Review Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot - An Unexpectedly Impressive PSVR Excursion
I, robot
Machine Games and Arkane Studios’ Wolfenstein collaboration spans two titles, but much of the emphasis during marketing was on the cooperative shooting of Wolfenstein: Youngblood. The PlayStation VR title, Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot, has hardly gotten any attention. It was shown – briefly – at this year’s E3, and apart from the odd...
Review Sniper Elite 4 - Yet Another Ball-Busting Sniper Adventure
Italia snipey
Republished on Wednesday 31st July 2019: We're bringing this review back from the archives following the announcement of August's PlayStation Plus lineup. The original text follows. Elite operative Karl Fairburne has busted more balls than Sasha Grey during a particularly intense bukkake session, and he's back to scope out more in...
Review WipEout Omega Collection - An Ultra Slick Update to the PlayStation Racing Icon
Need for speed
Republished on Wednesday 31st July 2019: We're bringing this review back from the archives following the announcement of August's PlayStation Plus lineup. The original text follows. One of PlayStation’s most iconic brands also happens to be one of its poorest commercial performers – it’s for that reason series creator Studio...
Review Wargroove - Pixel Art Turn-Based Tactics Finally Invade PS4
Beware the groove
Like a pikeman deployed long after a battle gets underway, it feels like the arrival of Wargroove on PlayStation 4 is more than a little late. Launching nearly six months after its initial release on PC and Nintendo Switch, the cutesy strategy game is here at last, but we can't shake the feeling the war is already over. That's not...
Review Kill la Kill - If - Stunning Visuals Can't Mask a Sloppy Anime Fighter
Fan serviceable
If there's one thing Kill la Kill - If gets right, it's capturing the relentlessness of the source material. Even outside of combat, well made cutscenes do a great job of replicating the madness of the anime, right down to the completely over the top facial expressions of its crazy characters. From the word go, the story mode is a...
Review Wolfenstein: Youngblood - What Happened Bethesda?
Daddy issues
A few years back, Bethesda couldn’t stop boasting about its line-up of purely single player titles. The space for solo players was never in any real danger of disappearing completely, but in the age of online looter shooters and the rise of the games as a service concept, the commitment was appreciated. Fast forward to 2019, however,...
Review Telefrag VR - A Slight But Slick PSVR Arena Shooter
Quake-ing in our boots
When a shooter is at its best, everything just feels right. Controls are snappy, shooting is satisfying, the environments are fun, and getting a “frag” is appropriately rewarding. Keep each of these elements in mind, and then toss PlayStation VR into the mix, and that’s how it feels to dive into Telefrag VR. Telefrag VR...
Review Etherborn - Admirable Environmental Puzzler That's Over Too Quickly
Living it up
It can’t get much better than making an impact with your very first title as a studio. Etherborn, from developer Altered Matter, is an environmental puzzler that makes impressive use of its simplicity while looking good in the process thanks to a neat visual aesthetic. It’s a great example of our initial statement, and so we can’t...
Death from above
With this third and final episode in Assassin's Creed Odyssey's The Fate of Atlantis saga, the story of Alexios or Kassandra comes full circle. Judgment of Atlantis ties everything together more effectively than we thought it would, and although we can't say the same for the modern day stuff -- more on that later -- this is a...
Review Stranger Things 3: The Game - Just Watch the Show
Stranger danger
We're pretty big fans of Stranger Things, the hit Netflix series about spooky shenanigans in small town America. The sumptuous visuals, wonderful characters, and compelling story keep us hooked, and we're always left wanting more. However, as much as we enjoy spending time in Hawkins with Dustin, Eleven, and the whole gang, the game...
Review Dragon Quest Builders 2 - A Rock Solid Sequel That's Every Bit as Addictive
Build it higher
Dragon Quest Builders 2 is a delightful sequel that -- pardon the pun -- builds on its predecessor in a lot of welcome ways. This isn't a huge leap forward by any stretch, but if you enjoyed the first Dragon Quest Builders, then you're probably going to love this. Right off the bat, Builders 2 does a great job of easing you into...
Review Sea of Solitude - Gorgeous Graphics, Generic Gameplay
Message in a bottle
The EA Originals program has been going strong these past couple of years. As its most high profile release, A Way Out was a fairly major success thanks to its unique take on co-operative gameplay, while smaller titles such as Fe and Unravel have helped to somewhat diversify EA’s portfolio beyond sports titles and Battlefield...
Review Sairento - A Fun, Kinetic Ninja Action Game for PSVR
Be a slicer and dicer while wearing your visor
PlayStation VR is seeing quite the resurgence recently; it seems like every month in 2019 we’ve been treated to an excellent new game or experience to enjoy when we put on our headset. Sairento looks to continue that hot streak, and offers a short but sweet burst of ninja justice on PSVR. Do you...
Review Heavy Rain - Moody Narrative Thriller Loses Its Edge in PS4 Release
Rain dunce
Republished on Tuesday 2nd July 2019: We're bringing this review back from the archives following the announcement of July's PlayStation Plus lineup. The original text follows. Love it or loathe it, Heavy Rain is an important game. The drizzly depression session certainly didn't invent the idea of interactive drama – developer Quantic...
Review Detroit: Become Human - Quantic Dream's Android Adventure Is Its Finest Yet
Cage against the machine
Republished on Tuesday 2nd July 2019: We're bringing this review back from the archives following the announcement of July's PlayStation Plus lineup. The original text follows. Despite its all-new setting and story, Detroit: Become Human’s unlikely to surprise Quantic Dream fans. While this interactive adventure sticks...
Review PES 2019: Pro Evolution Soccer - A Good But Safe Update on Konami's Football Sim
Sean Dyche-mann
Republished on Wednesday 26th June 2019: We're bringing this review back from the archives following the announcement of July's PlayStation Plus lineup. The original text follows. Before even releasing to the public, PES 2019: Pro Evolution Soccer is at a severe disadvantage when compared to last year’s iteration. Konami has...
Review Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night - The Finest Castlevania Game Never Made
Oh what a night
And breathe. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night – the long-awaited Koji Igarashi-helmed spiritual successor to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night – is finally here. After a worryingly long gestation period, some Kickstarter troubles, and numerous delays, we were concerned that Bloodstained was destined to disappoint. Fortunately,...
Review The Sinking City - Detective Dealings Shine Alongside Classic Lovecraftian Horror
Care for some afternoon tea, Reed?
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments is one of the most underrated games of the PlayStation 4’s early days. Its blend of personality, detective work, and hard-hitting conclusions should have taken the title much further than it did during a lacklustre 2014. That magic touch was most definitely lost on its open...
Review Judgment - Top Tier Yakuza Spin-Off Is a Superb Detective Thriller
The truth and nothing but the truth
SEGA's Yakuza Studio has done it again. The Japanese developer has been on a roll this generation, and it's apparently not stopping anytime soon. Judgment is an entirely standalone Yakuza spin-off that attempts to freshen up the formula by adding detective and courtroom elements to an already rich action...
Review Vacation Simulator - It's a Jolly Holiday with You, Bot
Trip Ad-visor
We're sure the irony of taking a fake holiday within the confines of virtual reality isn't lost on Owlchemy Labs, a studio that revels in the absurdity of what it's making. Job Simulator was one of PlayStation VR's first games, a series of silly sandboxes stuffed with interactive objects and madcap characters. It's about as far from...
Review Samurai Shodown - SNK Delivers the PS4's Most Gripping Fighting Game
Blink and you'll miss it
Two masters of the sword stand face to face in a field, blades unsheathed and eyes unblinking. A blood red moon hangs in the air, and the silence is deadly. The tension is palpable, and as you feel that bead of sweat slowly trickle down the side of your head, you decide to make your move. With one quick step, you go for the...
Review F1 2019 - Solid But Evolutionary Formula One Driving Sim
The old F1-F2
F1 2019 is the next instalment in Codemasters’ hugely popular Formula One racing franchise, and it’s arriving nearly two months earlier in the calendar than the previous games. But with the addition of F2, a couple of racing legends, and a visual polish, does this entry take franchise pole position? Fire up a race in F1 2019 as a...
Review Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled - An Unapologetically Retro Racing Revival
Resolution wump
On a lot of levels, Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is a resounding success. This Beenox recreation of the 20-year-old original looks and sounds fantastic, and it plays just like it did back in the day. For fans, it's about as good a remake as you could hope for, but we're not quite convinced that a prettified retread is enough of a...
Review Luna - A Sweet, Meditative PSVR Excursion
By the light of the silvery moon
Every now and again, it's nice to just play a game that makes you smile. In between all the games about shooting and killing and gore, there are games that are just so unabashedly sweet that you can't help but grin as you play them. Enter Funomena's Luna, a PlayStation VR puzzler that tells a tale about connectedness...
