Tag: Mini Reviews
Mini Review Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game (PS5) - Solid Foundation Bending to Greatness
Korra, blimey
There have been plenty of video game adaptations of multimedia franchise Avatar: The Last Airbender, but Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is the first to show any genuine promise. Designed by Mike Zaimont of Skullgirls fame, this is a hand animated Street Fighter-esque one-on-one fighter with a more technical gameplay loop than you...
Mini Review Kusan: City of Wolves (PS5) - Fast-Paced Carnage in This Tough Hotline Miami-Like
The fast and the furriest
Kusan: City of Wolves' biggest inspiration, Hotline Miami, is evident from the moment I load into the game's prologue, which introduces fast-paced combat that feels like the 2012 classic. Most of my time in Kusan is spent slicing my way through rooms of enemies, gradually unlocking new abilities and upgrades for the main...
Mini Review 70's-style Robot Anime Geppy-X (PS5) - Zany PS1 Shooter Is a Real Treat
Retro oddity
70’s-style Robot Anime Geppy-X has simply got to be the best kind of retro re-release. I’d never heard of this Japan-only PS1 scrolling shooter from 1999, but I had an absolute blast playing through its enhanced PS5 version, lovingly repackaged by Implicit Conversions – the studio behind PS Plus Premium’s emulated catalogue...
Mini Review Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (PS5) - Overcharged for a Multiplayer Classic
Rip-ops
If you haven’t already read my Call of Duty: Black Ops PS5 review, here’s the TL;DR: it’s a rip-off. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 on PS5 is also a rip-off, carrying the exact same issues and drawbacks. It’s completely overpriced, the DLC is a separate purchase, and it’s a straight port of a 14-year-old game — you don’t get any...
Mini Review Dead or Alive 6: Last Round (PS5) - Dead on Arrival
Looks aren't everything
I truly do not understand Dead or Alive 6: Last Round. The Koei Tecmo fighter already attracted a poor response when it launched on the PS4 in 2019 – I think my colleague Rob was quite generous with his 6/10 assessment at the time – but this repackaged next-gen re-release represented an opportunity to restore the...
Mini Review Monster Crown: Sin Eater (PS5) - So Much More Than Your Typical Pokémon Clone
Sintillating
Monster Crown: Sin Eater surpassed our expectations — but then our expectations were misguided to begin with. We went into this one expecting a somewhat cutesy, nostalgia-infused, Pokémon-style retro RPG — but what we got was a shockingly mature, story-driven adventure with more mechanical depth than most creature-taming titles...
See things from a new perspective
Little Nightmares always felt like a perfect fit for VR. The adventures of Six in the creepy, larger-than-life environments of this world are ripe for first-person exploration. And, at long last, after three mainline entries, developer Iconik has seen fit to grant that wish. You play as Dark Six (Six’s spectral...
Mini Review Vampire Crawlers (PS5) - Just as Fiendishly Compelling as Vampire Survivors
Cardfax
Vampire Crawlers is unusual; it's simultaneously just like Vampire Survivors and completely different from it. It's similar because it's effortlessly compelling to play, time evaporates while you do, and it shares many items, characters, and presentational cues. It's different because, well, it's a whole other genre. The magic is in...
What a horrible night to have a curse
While there are no shortage of Metroidvanias flooding the PS Store these days, Castlevania’s side-scrolling era is a well that remains largely untapped. Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege unashamedly draws inspiration from Konami’s 1987 NES classic, delivering a mostly delightful action platformer with fun...
Mini Review Mouse: P.I. for Hire (PS5) - Elite Art with FPS Action to Match
Simply brie-lliant
It's efforts like Cuphead, and now MOUSE: P.I. for Hire, that provide the video game indie scene an everlasting attraction and curiosity: you'd never see a big-budget game dare go near such a striking art style. Polish studio Fumi Games has taken the rubber hose animation style of the 1930s and made a shooter out of it, placing...
Honoring the legacy of the Stars
Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection continues Capcom’s streak of remasters, this time bringing attention to a somewhat overlooked era of Mega Man. The collection bundles together a trilogy of Nintendo DS RPGs: Mega Man Star Force, Mega Man Star Force 2, and (for the first time in some territories) Mega Man Star...
Mini Review Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers (PS5) - Revival Turf
Final delight
Even in its compromised home console format, few would disagree that Final Fight was the king of Super Nintendo brawlers. But the 16-bit system was bursting with beat-’em-ups, and we’ll always harbour a fondness for Jaleco’s kooky 1992 effort, Rival Turf – or Rushing Beat, as it was known in Japan. The title spawned two...
Mini Review 1348 Ex Voto (PS5) - An Intriguing But Disappointing PS5 Console Exclusive
Broken vow
With Kingdom Come: Deliverance and its stellar sequel gathering a legion of fans, and the Plague Tale games offering epic dark fantasy on a double-A budget, the medieval genre has found fresh momentum. 1348 Ex Voto (from the Latin ex voto suscepto, meaning "from the vow made") rides that wave with a tale of revenge sweeping across the...
Mini Review WWE 2K26 (PS5) - Grappling Sim's Championship Reign Holds Strong
It's clobbering time
13 years since he last graced the cover of a WWE video game, the controversial "Best In The World" is back on top, with World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk lending both his face to the box, and story to WWE 2K26's Showcase mode. Accompanied by video from the man himself, players are once again immersed in a playable documentary,...
Mini Review Scott Pilgrim EX (PS5) - Fans Will Be in Lesbians with This Fun-Filled Brawler
Greatest hits
You probably already know if this is a game for you. If you enjoyed Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game back in the day, you'll absolutely love Scott Pilgrim EX, as it's simply a new and improved version of that same idea. When most of Scott's band, Sex Bob-omb, goes missing — along with all their instruments — it's down to him,...
Mini Review Tokyo Xtreme Racer (PS5) - Unapologetically Old School for Better and Worse
Back to the old grind
If you're weary of modern racing titles that are overstuffed or overcomplicated, Tokyo Xtreme Racer serves as a great reminder of simpler times. It feels like a relic of a bygone era, and we mean that as a compliment; Tokyo Xtreme Racer emanates old school energy to such a degree, you'll wonder if developer Genki was frozen in...
Tings for the memories
Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition was expected from Ubisoft after leaking just days prior, but its contents weren't. This is a retro collection from Digital Eclipse, most recently known for their well-received Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection. The collection won't cost you an arm and a leg at just £17.99, but it's a strange...
Mini Review Dark Auction (PS5) - Compelling Visual Novel Makes Some Generative AI Missteps
X marks the trauma
In Dark Auction, it’s been three days since Noah last saw his dad His father is obsessed with collecting objects related to a World War 2 tyrant named Dictator X, and after setting off to take part in a mysterious auction he hasn’t been seen since. So, Noah decides to head to the castle where he was last seen only to get...
Mini Review Aces of Thunder (PSVR2) - Immersive Spectacle Throws You to the Wolves
Chin up, you'll get the hang of it
If you’re familiar with War Thunder, you’ve got a good frame of reference for what to expect out of Aces of Thunder. In the broadest sense, this is a trimmed-down War Thunder, but in VR. Being a full-on simulation title, Aces of Thunder expects you to have a fairly thorough understanding of simulation aerial...
Mini Review Yakuza 0 Director's Cut (PS5) - A Questionable Cash Grab of a Classic
Hero to 0
Yakuza 0 remains one of the series' best games, and so you'd think that a PS5 re-release would be something to celebrate — but the circumstances surrounding the Director's Cut, and the new content that it actually adds, are questionable at best. Let's start with the objectively good stuff: Director's Cut enjoys a noticeable boost in...
Mini Review Milano's Odd Job Collection (PS5) - A Quirky PS1 Time Capsule Reopened
All work, all play
We don’t know what we’ve done to deserve it, but we’re living in charmed times for retro re-releases. Case in point: PS1 minigame compilation Milano’s Odd Job Collection – better known as Mirano no Arubaito Collection in Japan – has arrived on Western shores for the first time, having debuted over 26 years ago...
Mini Review Skate Story (PS5) - The Most Unique, Most Stylish Skateboarding Game to Date
Hell is a halfpipe
We've played many great skateboarding games, but none have ever looked or felt like Skate Story. This isn't about chasing massive scores or finding crazy lines; it's a single-player journey through the underworld, playing as a crystalline demon on a mission to save himself. The Devil says he'll return the demon's soul if he can...
Mini Review Old School Rally (PS5) - Don't Cut This Retro Rally Throwback
Smooth ride
Old School Rally does what it says on the tin, and it does it well. Mimicking the look and feel of a PS1 rally racing game, it combines retro presentation and design with some modern touches for a fun, nostalgic drive. The visuals intentionally ape the original PlayStation's jaggedy, polygonal look very well, and coupled with some music...
Mini Review POOLS (PSVR2) - Niche Horror Is a PSVR2 Showcase
There's something in the water
POOLS is more of an experience than a game. You can technically see it through to completion in about an hour. But amid the brevity of our time with it, there's a palpable sense of atmosphere that'll leave you on edge. POOLS is an off-kilter horror walking simulator where you must navigate complex mazes of tiled...
Mini Review Morsels (PS5) - This Gross Little Roguelike Is Tastier Than It Looks
Pet food
Morsels is one of those roguelike action games that feels impenetrable at first, but once you start learning its obscure language, it becomes more and more rewarding. You play as a mouse trying to fight back against the tyranny of feline overlords, and you do so with mysterious cards that transform you into various strange creatures...
Mini Review R-Type Delta: HD Boosted (PS5) - Glow-Up of PS1 Classic Shmup Still Has the Sauce
Don't let go of that trigger
R-Type Delta is a PS1 classic. One of the greatest shmups of its age, the title hasn’t received a port since 2009 on the PS3, so this has been a long time coming. As the first R-Type with 3D graphics, we were worried the title might not look great with proper HD graphics. This era of 3D gaming tends to look pretty...
Mini Review Neon Inferno (PS5) - Beautiful Layers, Chaotic Bullets
Bullet hell
Some games embrace their inspirations in an obvious display of affection, which is exactly what developer Zenovia Interactive has done with Neon Inferno. This 2D run-and-gun platformer has a ton of similarities to classics such as Contra, yet manages to achieve its own identity with an interesting narrative and engaging gameplay...
Nice town, I'll take it
Age of Empires 4: Anniversary Edition is another excellent real-time strategy game from the now venerable series that popularised the subgenre back in the late 90s and early 2000s (with 'popular' being a relative term). Developed by Relic Entertainment and initially published by Xbox Game Studios in 2021, it's now the turn...
Mini Review Rennsport (PS5) - A Sim Racer That Just Can't Match the Competition
Shifting down
As long as Polyphony Digital continues to release and refine Gran Turismo titles, simulation racers will always have a hard time competing on a Sony console. With Rennsport, developer Competition Company is looking to separate itself from the leader of the pack by creating a cross-platform sim experience that’s geared heavily...
Mini Review Once Upon a Katamari (PS5) - An Eccentric, Joyful Time Capsule
All hail the Prince
Once Upon a Katamari brings back Bandai Namco's cult classic franchise with an all-new game that feels ripped straight from its PS2 prime. By and large, this is the same Katamari Damacy madness we all fell in love with 20 years ago — roll a ball around each stage, gathering up myriad objects to make it as big as you can. With...
Hey Jude
Having been shackled to the PS3 ever since its release all the way back in 2011, it's great to see Tales of Xillia make a deserved comeback through Tales of Xillia Remastered. Part of Bandai Namco's ongoing mission to re-release just about every Tales title on as many platforms as possible, Xillia Remastered is a predictably solid...
Mini Review 1000xRESIST (PS5) - Story-First Experience Is a Marvel
Fall of mankind
With one of the most fascinating narratives on PS5 backing it, 1000xRESIST is more of an experience than something you traditionally play. It’s more involved than a visual novel, as exploration and light platforming break up cutscenes and conversations. For all intents and purposes, however, everything the game does is in service...
Mini Review Reach (PSVR2) - Great VR Parkour Let Down by Dull Story
Greatness out of reach
Reach is the latest VR adventure from nDreams, the developer of the excellent VR shooter, Synapse. With that in mind, we had high hopes going into its latest outing. But can Reach capture that VR magic found in Synapse, while delivering on its cinematic promise? Well, sort of. In Reach, you play as Rosa, a movie stunt...
Mini Review Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake (PS5) - A Comforting Couple of Classic JRPGs
No two ways about it
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake bundles two classic JRPGs together that, somewhat confusingly, are linked to but set chronologically after Square Enix's 2024 revival, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. Together, they comprise the Erdrick trilogy and continue the series' consistently high quality, offering traditional turn-based...
Mini Review Halls of Torment (PS5) - Proof That Vampire Survivors Wasn't a Fluke
Walk the walk
To call Halls of Torment a Vampire Survivors clone would be overly reductive, but it's probably the easiest way to start describing what it is. It's very similar in terms of its structure and flow, but introduces some interesting wrinkles that give it a pretty unique feel. For starters, its aesthetic is a pitch-perfect recreation of...
Mini Review Fast & Furious: Arcade Edition (PS5) - An Overpriced Racer That Loses Its Grip
Family can't fix this
We’ve never wanted to recommend a racer more than Fast & Furious: Arcade Edition. This scrappy PS5 port of a 2022 arcade cabinet hails from Raw Thrills, the US-based dev founded by coin-op royalty Eugene Jarvis. If you’ve not stepped foot in a sticky arcade for several years, you may know the studio best for its...
Mini Review PowerWash Simulator 2 (PS5) - A Bigger, Better, Squeaky Clean Sequel
Lather, rinse, repeat
PowerWash Simulator 2 is a pretty straightforward sequel. It sticks to the core of what made the first game such a cult hit, but builds on it just enough with a few smart revisions and new features. Broadly, this is more of the same, but so strong is the satisfying clean-'em-up gameplay that we don't mind one bit. Each level...
Mini Review Tekken 3 (PS1) - PlayStation's Definitive Fighter Is Still King
Enter the Tekken
Tekken was already a big deal before Tekken 3 came along, but the third instalment rocketed Bandai Namco's series to truly awesome heights. It was both a revolutionary 3D fighting game and a commercial juggernaut, helping define an entire console generation. But perhaps the most impressive thing about Tekken 3 is that, over three...
Mini Review Ball X Pit (PS5) - A Fiendishly Compelling Mix of Vampire Survivors and Breakout
What a load of balls
Ball X Pit is one of those dangerous games you'll intend to play for 30 minutes, only to lose hours to it instead. A heady combination of Vampire Survivors and Breakout (with some bullet hell sprinkled in), this roguelite arcade action title is incredibly hard to put down. It's a game of two halves. You select a character and...
Mini Review Yooka-Replaylee (PS5) - A Second Draft Worthy of the Banjo-Kazooie Comparisons
Turn the pagie
When Yooka-Laylee was released in 2017, it was a fine game. Many came in extremely excited for it but were largely let down overall; it turned out to be pretty middling at best. With that said, Yooka-Replaylee brings in a second draft that improves on almost everything. This isn’t a mere remaster — this is a revitalization that...
Mini Review Dreams of Another (PS5) - A Disjointed, Abstract Curio and Little More
No creation without destruction
In Dreams of Another, you use multiple weapons intended to inflict harm, but in this realm they instead bring order to the world around you. This unusual new title from the team behind the PixelJunk series feels desperate to present its ideas about life, death, and the human condition, and while it certainly has a...
Mini Review Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac (PS5) - Fine Remake Won't Set the World on Fire
The Pac is back... again
While best known for his arcade roots, Pac-Man's PlayStation history is arguably best defined by the Pac-Man World trilogy. Following the 2022 remake of the original Pac-Man World, the question on many fans’ minds was whether Pac-Man World 2 would be getting the same treatment. Three years later, Now Production and Bandai...
Mini Review Rise of Industry 2 (PS5) - Bodacious Industry Sim May Be Worth Your Investment
Steel yourself
Rise of Industry 2 is a business management game and the successor to the original Rise of Industry from 2019. This new instalment is quite different to the original and has been developed by SomaSim instead of Dapper Penguin Studios. Set in the 1980s (much later than the original), you run your own industrial corporation which you...
Naoe's not the time
Only accessible after you've completed the main story of Assassin's Creed Shadows, Claws of Awaji is a post-game expansion that'll take you somewhere between five and ten hours to complete, depending on how thoroughly you explore the island setting. In terms of narrative, the DLC wraps up several loose ends that were left...
Mini Review Henry Halfhead (PS5) - A Whimsical and Playful Curio
Half life
Henry Halfhead spells it out in the name, really; you play a character named Henry, and he's the top half of a head. In this fun little biographical adventure, you take control of this guy, following his life all the way from a curious baby all the way through to adulthood. The other thing to know about Henry is that they have the...
Mini Review Neon Noodles (PS5) - Cyberpunk Factory Puzzler Doesn't Quite Satisfy
Food for thought
Neon Noodles is an assembly line puzzle game set in a dystopian future where it's your job to mass-produce various items of food. While that may sound a fairly tasty premise on the face of it, unfortunately the game itself doesn't quite have the sauce. The game is essentially about organising grid-based automations to fulfil...
Mini Review LEGO Voyagers (PS5) - A Short and Very Sweet Co-Op Experience
LEGO on an adventure
LEGO Voyagers might be one of the most adorable co-op games you can play, and it manages that with just a few plastic bricks. Only playable in co-op with a second participant (it has Friend's Pass functionality, by the way), this is a short puzzle platformer in which you play a pair of tiny, living LEGO pieces, on a mission to...
Mini Review Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection (PS5) - A True Look at What Could Possibly Go Wrong
When do the nine lives run out?
Like a cockroach continuing to return from sales situations that have killed many better series, Bubsy In: The Purrfect Collection packs all of the bobcat’s “classic” games into a bundle, including the various console versions for each release, and even a refurbished version for its worst game. Also included are...
New mystery, same old Indy
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants is a fun little slice of Indy action. Set within the maze-like tunnels beneath the Vatican City, Indy, working with a priest and his pet parrot, is trying to uncover a millenia-spanning mystery regarding giant warriors. The DLC, which runs for about three hours or...
Mini Review Hirogami (PS5) - Origami Adventure Looks Great But Lacks Depth
Folding at home
Papercraft-styled games remain a surprising rarity, despite the cult success of Tearaway and its PS4 remake. It’s been five years since the adventures of Iota/Atoi, so Kakehashi Games' Hirogami serves as a welcome reminder of the striking impact of playable paper art. It’s a slight and breezy experience, but one with an...
