Sammy Barker

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Sammy Barker·Aug 11, 2025

Critic60/100

Agreement—

Mafia: The Old Country doesn't have enough gameplay ideas to carry its relatively short running time. While the fundamentals here are fine, an overemphasis on insta-fail stealth sequences and floaty shootouts makes for a forgettable campaign, even if it takes place within a stunningly detailed world. The performances are extraordinary but the story itself is predictable, leaving you with a phenomenally acted crime tale that you may admire in the moment but will struggle to remember once the credits roll.

Push Square

Sammy Barker·Jul 19, 2025

Critic60/100

Agreement—

But we still like having these games readily available on contemporary hardware. The CRT filters included are outstanding, and this being a Digital Extremes joint, you get tons of bonus materials, like the original arcade flyers to flick through in their entirety.

Push Square

Sammy Barker·Jun 5, 2025

Critic80/100

Agreement—

With out-of-this-world anime production values and a revamped structure that brings a better pace to the overall experience, Zenless Zone Zero is only going from strength to strength. With the introduction of its new district – featuring a pretty fun tycoon management-style minigame – and ever-increasing stakes, the coming year looks bright for HoYoverse’s hyper-cool urban outing.

Push Square

Sammy Barker·May 22, 2025

Critic60/100

Agreement—

Deliver At All Costs' greatest strength is its ability to reinvent itself, but its missions lack tension and its story is a bit of a misfire. If you really enjoy that isometric era of GTA games, then you'll find fun in this physics-heavy escapade – but expect bumps and blemishes, because this is far from the perfect package.

Push Square

Sammy Barker·May 15, 2025

Critic90/100

Agreement—

Yet another timely reminder that Capcom has been the king of its craft for decades now, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 superbly digs into the Dreamcast era of the Japanese publisher's iconic output.While its commitment to arcade conversions means you're missing some of the single player modes from the various included titles' home console ports, there's simply so much quality content on offer here that it's hard to complain, with the likes of Capcom vs. SNK 2 and Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper having legitimate claims at being some of the greatest fighters ever made.

Push Square

Sammy Barker·May 9, 2025

Critic60/100

Agreement—

It’s cute and colourful, then, and something you can zone out with while you listen to a podcast or watch something else. But it won’t live long in the memory, even if its urban backdrop and light-hearted style offers an appreciated change of pace.

Push Square

Sammy Barker·Apr 21, 2025

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves won't blow you away like Street Fighter 6 or Tekken 8, but as a more rudimentary fighter, it's got guile. Its layered fighting system and vibrant, well-animated characters make for an entertaining overall package that's been 26 years in the making.While the gimmicky guest fighters feel out of place and the supposed RPG-inspired single player mode is insultingly basic, if you're looking for a fine alternative to the more established fighters already on the market, this is more than up to the task.

Push Square

Sammy Barker·Apr 8, 2025

Critic80/100

Agreement—

MLB The Show 25's refinements to Road to the Show and Diamond Dynasty make this another superb baseball sim. The on-field gameplay may feel largely familiar, but it's already so well executed that it staves off any feeling of samey-ness. Some great new modes and another enjoyable set of documentary-esque storylines round out a package that's still quite comfortably at the top of its game.

Push Square

Sammy Barker·Feb 25, 2025

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Two Point Museum successfully transposes an effective gameplay formula to another theme, with this game in particular packing some serious variety due to the different types of institutions you can build. It's laugh out loud funny, moreish, and there's an enjoyable difficulty curve. But if you've never been particularly fond of this type of tycoon title, don't expect to find anything here that will change your mind.

Push Square

Sammy Barker·Jan 8, 2025

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Wuthering Waves is launching on the PS5 at the perfect time, as its new quests are action packed and its improvements over the likes of Genshin Impact are obvious to appreciate. Its story is unfortunately infested with the worst of gacha game writing, so you'll need a strong stomach to get through the abundance of proper nouns. But stick with it and you'll find a beautiful, anime-inspired experience with quality combat, rewarding team building, and hundreds of hours of excellent exploration.

Push Square

Sammy Barker·Dec 25, 2024

Critic90/100

Agreement—

Infinity Nikki, even in this early phase of its lifespan, is utterly essential – assuming you can stomach the twee, whimsical tone to it all. Its cosy vibes will prove an acquired taste, but its attention to detail and commitment to keeping the player engaged during every minute of exploration is impeccable. Moreover, its visual presentation is up there alongside the best you'll find on PS5 – an extraordinary achievement for a free-to-play game that also miraculously runs on mobile. Some control quandaries and an abundance of proper nouns prevent it from achieving perfection, but these are minor blemishes on an otherwise outstanding experience.

Push Square

Sammy Barker·Nov 4, 2024

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Frustrating at times but fearlessly inventive, Slitterhead is an absolute must-play if you're looking for an original take on the survival horror genre. Serving as a spiritual successor to fan favourites like Siren, Gravity Rush, and Soul Sacrifice, this haunting tale about a body-hopping spirit – who uses humans as fodder to put a stop to the eponymous enemy – is a scintillating albeit occasionally undercooked debut from Bokeh Game Studios. Repetition and an overall lack of refinement do bring it down, but you'll be hard-pushed to find a more imaginative experience this year.

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Sammy Barker·Oct 30, 2024

Critic80/100

Agreement—

Horizon Zero Dawn is very much one of Sony's standout projects of the past ten years, and this superb remaster by Nixxes puts it among the best looking games on the PS5. While the side-quests and supporting content don't quite match up to sequel Forbidden West, the more focused story is arguably better than its successor, and it's presented almost flawlessly in this remastered format.

Push Square

Sammy Barker·Oct 14, 2024

Critic40/100

Agreement—

There’s actually the glimmer of a good idea here. If the shooting sequences were better executed and the car handling better honed, you could end up with an interesting alternative take on the arcade racer that serves its license well. But while there’s some reasonable presentation on display, the package doesn’t deliver on its ambition at all.

Push Square

Sammy Barker·Oct 13, 2024

Critic70/100

Agreement—

Undisputed doesn't pull its punches, and it's a tidy first attempt. While the game lacks the polish of a true champion, there's the meat of something special here. Career mode has all the elements of a great, but it's a bit dry in its current guise and could use a little more spectacle and variety. Meanwhile, the actual core boxing feels fantastic, but repetitive commentary and a lack of in-ring drama let it down. This is a release that's not quite ready to contend for a belt yet, but it's not a million miles off.