Aspyr Media Game Reviews
Gods, angels, and mummies
Storied developer Aspyr has been knocking it out of the park recently. It followed the first three Tomb Raider remasters with an update of the beloved Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver games. More recently, the studio threw a satisfying curve ball with Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles, a remaster nobody knew they needed. It now...
The soul remains
When you think back on the Soul Reaver games, you think about their atmosphere, their tone, and that often immaculate voice acting. What you don't necessarily think about, is how awkward and clumsy they were to actually play — and ultimately, those same ups and downs apply to Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered. To...
Review Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered Starring Lara Croft (PS5) - The New Standard for PS1 Re-Releases
A Lara love has gone into these
Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered Starring Lara Croft may just set the new standard for PS1 re-releases. Aspyr, a developer which has a long history with the iconic platforming property, has done an outstanding job reimagining these 90s classics for a new audience, without losing any of the magic that made them iconic to...
Back from the dead
At its most basic level, Stubbs the Zombie is a relatively simple game. You play the titular monster, and you need to eat your way through the art deco utopia of Punchbowl. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, after the first couple of levels, you’ve been introduced to all the abilities and powers that Stubbs has at his disposal...
Mini Review Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy - A Wonderful Treasure from Star Wars' Glory Days
Jedi business
Coming hot off the heels of the acclaimed Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, Jedi Academy is a surprisingly robust experience given its short development cycle. Stepping into the boots of Jaden Korr rather than the series’ usual protagonist Kyle Katarn makes for an interesting change of pace. You play as a student, learning...
Holding out for a hero
Death in video games is so frequent that it has virtually lost all meaning. Any slip up is instantly forgiven, and the player is often respawned perfectly alive and well almost instantly. Next Up Hero twists this dynamic on its head, turning game death into a playable mechanic. Next Up Hero is an isometric dungeon crawler...
Debut voyage
Ever since its release in 2012, a multitude of indie developers have tried to emulate the experience provided by Journey. The likes of ABZÛ and AER: Memories of Old have come close to replicating what made the PlayStation 3 release so special, but then there are other imitators that miss the mark completely. InnerSpace, the debut title...
Either a benefit or a hazard
Bloober Team is a fascinating developer. The Polish outfit has released a couple of games this generation: its first, Basement Crawl, was so poorly received that it had to be remade, and was reborn as Brawl. Its follow-up to this was Layers of Fear, a Victorian-themed horror title about painting, and it remains one of...
