Includes PushSquare
Last reviewed: K-Pop Idol Stories: Road to Debut · yesterday
there's no denying that Age of Mythology’s gameplay can feel simplistic, which is ironic, considering how influential the series has been. Having played a bunch back in the day, the missed campaigns are appreciated, but we can’t see ourselves regularly returning to the well.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard isn't quite BioWare back to its absolute best, but it is the most cohesive and emotionally engaging RPG that the studio has delivered since Mass Effect 3. Its shift to crunchy action combat is an improvement over Inquisition's middle-of-the-road approach, and although the game feels a little light on meaningful player choice, the storytelling pulls no punches when it actually matters. This is a gorgeous and gripping adventure, backed by a cast of endearing heroes and deliciously devious villains.
Pillars of Eternity II is a 9/10 RPG tragically trapped inside a 7/10 game. The quality of the writing and the world-building is second to none, and the tried and tested combat mechanics are meticulously tuned, but the outrageous loading times and other technical issues are too upsetting to ignore. It's like sitting in a fine Italian restaurant, sipping a glass of wine and nibbling on breadsticks, enjoying your date, and then the waiter comes over and drops a dead dog on the table. Wrong table, mate. I ordered the carbonara. Now get that dead dog out of my sight.
The cast of characters is wonderful. Everyone has their own quirks and personalities, but they are all engaging, and we love preparing drinks for them and hearing their stories.
The title’s as straightforward as side-scrollers come, but its chunky pixel art and biting chiptune soundtrack make it an entertaining distraction for an hour or two.
It might lack some polish, but Journey to the Savage Planet is an enjoyable jaunt across a strange, open-ended landscape. This is a game you play in order to explore its intriguing environment and interact with the wildlife -- combat is fairly dull, attempts at humour rarely land, and the story almost feels like an afterthought at times. If you're looking for an easy-going sci-fi action game, this just about does enough to satisfy.
The campaign alone is worth playing, but Hardcore Mecha's extras give the package a real boost.
There are video games designed for the fans, and then there's Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind. The expansion is sure to satisfy die-hard fans as it explores what happens after the events of the game's ending in the most convoluted way possible, leaving its casual audience behind in the process.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot's inconsistent quality holds it back from being a great Dragon Ball game, but ultimately, its high points do outweigh its problems -- especially if you're a fan.
It’s basic puzzling action that has been done time and time again, so it’s perhaps even more disappointing when you take all of its flaws into account.
It looks lovely and it plays fine, but without its headline feature it winds up largely uninspired.
Overall, the title is ridiculously restricted, and while there are different endings encouraging multiple playthroughs, you’ll have seen all that it has to offer in hours.
You probably won’t be thinking about it later this year once all of the big games have released, but it’s still worth a bit of your time.
The world setting of the Dusk Trilogy is one of the bleakest of all the Atelier games but that doesn't mean that it's a depressing story. The enthusiastic and endearing alchemists persevere through this dark world to create a warm uplifting tale that's sure to put a smile on your face. All three games will see you exploring, crafting, and battling monsters but there are plenty of differences between each game that keep things really engaging and a real pleasure to play though.
If you've ever enjoyed the likes of Super Meat Boy or N++, it's worth giving this stylish action title a try.
AO Tennis 2 is a winner, raising the baseline for all tennis titles on PS4. There are still minor quirks to its gameplay, but it's well-presented and fun, making its enriched Career mode dangerously addictive.
Blazing Chrome's success comes from taking inspiration from the best 16-bit run-and-gun games -- with everything from the detailed pixel art, to the fierce two-player action feeling like a glorious homage to Contra III: The Alien Wars.