Robert Ramsey

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Robert Ramsey·Jun 28, 2022

Critic70/100

Agreement—

DNF Duel is an approachable, explosive fighting game. Although it doesn't quite stand out from the crowd in terms of having an instantly recognisable style, it's great fun to actually play. Crazy combos, a cool character roster, and a nice selection of game modes makes for an appealing package. Once we've been able to put the title's online offerings to the test, we'll be updating this review with a score and additional details.

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Robert Ramsey·Jun 28, 2022

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Wild Arms is like a dusty old book in video game form. It's a bit crusty by today's standards and its style of storytelling seems outdated, but there's an undeniable charm to how it's presented, and the creative spine of the experience still holds up. Despite some tedious gameplay elements and a battle system that doesn't truly click until hours into the adventure, Wild Arms remains a classic PS1 title. It's a memorable journey across a uniquely desolate fantasy world.

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Robert Ramsey·Jun 23, 2022

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Of course, it was Tekken 3 that truly took the series above and beyond, but it's still easy to see why Tekken 2 was a big deal back in 1996. In its visual style and its excellent soundtrack, Namco had established an identity for something quite special.

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Robert Ramsey·Jun 21, 2022

Critic60/100

Agreement—

What we're trying to say is that Redout 2 won't be worth the effort for a lot of people. It is rewarding, sure, but to be brutally honest, part of us thinks that you should just boot up WipEout Omega Collection instead and save yourself the trouble.

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Robert Ramsey·May 12, 2022

Critic60/100

Agreement—

If you can stomach its disappointingly dull quests, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is a solid enough action RPG. Some pretty visuals and a cosy JRPG vibe do a lot to mask its flaws.

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Robert Ramsey·May 5, 2022

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Trek to Yomi is a decent samurai action game, elevated greatly by its superb presentation. Clocking in at only a few hours, this is a brief but ultimately satisfying tale, stitched together by some simple but very effective environmental design, and a combat system that rewards careful play. It's not quite side-scrolling Ghost of Tsushima, but it is an impressively atmospheric love letter to samurai cinema.

Push Square

Robert Ramsey·Apr 29, 2022

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Samurai Bringer is an addictive and dynamic roguelike that we heartily recommend.

Push Square

Robert Ramsey·Apr 5, 2022

Critic40/100

Agreement—

Parts of Chrono Cross really haven't aged well, but it's still a charming, characterful JRPG that evokes feelings of the genre's golden age on PS1. It's a game that deserves better than The Radical Dreamers Edition, which, at least at launch, is a dreadfully poor remaster. Crippled by frame rate issues, it beggars belief that a title from 1999 could run this badly on modern hardware. Unless you're desperate for the nostalgia, we strongly recommend waiting to see whether Square Enix releases a patch to improve the package on PS4 and PS5 before buying.

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Robert Ramsey·Apr 1, 2022

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Aside from the near total lack of side content, The Kaito Files has everything that you'd expect from a Yakuza-style experience. Its shorter length actually works in its favour, allowing for a well paced story that doesn't get caught up on overplayed plot points or filler missions. As RGG Studio's first crack at a proper expansion, it's a roaring success.

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Robert Ramsey·Mar 29, 2022

Critic80/100

Agreement—

It's easy to see why Crusader Kings III is so revered on PC. It's a brilliantly deep and dynamic strategy title that simply never stops giving — but you'll need to commit to learning its near countless intricacies before diving in proper. A dangerously addictive game once you're invested.

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Robert Ramsey·Mar 24, 2022

Critic70/100

Agreement—

The Ascent's a solid, if somewhat repetitive shooter, propped up by eye-popping environments and a reasonable amount of RPG depth. If you can stomach some grindy mission design and the occasional buggy interaction, then there's explosive fun to be had here.

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Robert Ramsey·Mar 3, 2022

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Fighting game fans can't really go wrong with King of Fighters XV - a sequel that doesn't shy away from the technical depth of its predecessors. It's obviously still early days, but it feels like SNK has improved upon King of Fighters XIV in all of the ways that matter. Better visuals, expanded mechanics, and, perhaps most importantly, smooth online netcode make for fighter that's hard to fault - even if it's lacking the cutting edge of its peers.

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Robert Ramsey·Feb 22, 2022

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Cyberpunk 2077 on PS5 is the game that PlayStation fans should have been playing in 2020. While it still falls short when measured against the immense expectations that surrounded its release, everything that Cyberpunk gets right is so much easier to enjoy when the game isn't crippled by technical issues. The main story's a thrill ride, the combat's a blast, and Night City is an incredible open world setting. And the best part is that CD Projekt Red finally has a stable foundation to build upon. It took 14 months to get here, but the future of Cyberpunk 2077 actually holds a lot of promise.

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Robert Ramsey·Feb 14, 2022

Critic50/100

Agreement—

Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires is a definite improvement on its predecessor - but that's not saying much. The return of set maps and straightforward objectives is welcome, and in typical Empires fashion, there's so much potential for interesting player-driven storylines. There is an addictive hack-and-slash loop at work here, and it's tempered by some decent tactical tweaks. But to fully enjoy it, you've got to wade through a mire of shockingly ugly visuals and boring battlefield design.

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Robert Ramsey·Feb 6, 2022

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Sifu doesn't pull any punches. It's a consistently challenging and demanding beat-'em-up, but persistence pays off. You'll be hard pressed to find a more rewarding game on PlayStation - especially one that's so visually striking and polished. Some quibbles with combat mechanics aside, Sifu is a knockout.