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Last reviewed: Palworld · today
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.
Planet Zoo is, ironically, a relatively toothless park building game. It doesn't have the delicious chaos of the Jurassic World Evolution games or the thrills of building your own rollercoaster and then hoping it'll stay on the tracks in Planet Coaster. But it's a pleasant and charming game. There's an airy joy in creating a peaceful home for animals to live in, and the earnest conservationist slant of Planet Zoo is hard to fault.
An accessible and ultimately enjoyable brawler, J-Stars Victory VS+ may not hold the attention of dedicated fighting fans for long, but it's sure to provide plenty of entertainment for those that are interested in the included manga and anime franchises. A solid character roster coupled with some eye-catching combat is what this beat-'em-up is all about – even if it could afford to take some more risks, given the wealth of source material on offer.
[T]his is still Devil May Cry 4 at its core, so the same questionable design decisions that were in effect back in 2008 still remain. That being said, the remaster's still a great buy for its budget price tag, and a must-own for any hack and slash fanatic.
It's a superior game that plays brilliantly, and certainly stands in a league of its own in the Arkham line-up for the most part, but it simply doesn't leave your jaw agape like Arkham City seemed to manage with such ease and finesse.
[I]f you skipped this game last generation or have been going straight since its last outing, it's well worth turning to a life of crime and stealing away this shooter for your PS4.
We really wanted Wander to be brilliant, but unfortunately, it comes across as half-baked, lacking in things to do, and underwhelming in almost every area. The developer, Wander MMO, had some grand ideas for this title – but for the most part, it's been poorly executed. There is potential here for a compelling experience – perhaps after some significant patching – but for now, it doesn't quite reach the developer's lofty, risky goals.
Badland: Game of the Year Edition translates to PlayStation platforms well. The understated but attractive aesthetic runs smooth and fast on all platforms, and there's tons of content. The challenge does get a little stiff, however, and the experience was clearly designed around short play sessions. It's unlikely to hold your interest forever, then, but for the short time that it does it's a splendid game.
Magicka 2 makes a good transition to the PS4 – the controls map nicely to the controller and it all looks nice on a big television. It's an oddity in that it really shines when you have two or more players, but is much less fun when playing alone. Overall, there is much to commend in this magical blaster – just make sure that you bring a friend.
Sparkle Unleashed is a solid puzzle game with a few new ideas – but not enough to truly feel fresh. We can't criticise the controls or gameplay here, but the feeling of familiarity that pervades the whole experience lets it down. If you want a timewaster to fill a few minutes here or there, then this is well worth a shot. Otherwise, you can give this one a miss.
As expected, House of Wolves sticks with the pack when it comes to story missions, strikes, and new multiplayer maps, but it still represents a point in Destiny's life where Bungie has tried to push things forward, attempting to leave behind the mistakes of the past in the process. Both Prison of Elders and Trials of Osiris are welcome additions to the formula, and are the real reasons to invest in the DLC – even if the asking price remains a little too steep and the title's core problems persist.
The Escapists is excellent at what it does, there's no doubt about that, and it's cornered a market that nobody else dares to touch. It's generous with content, it's deep, and, at times, it's extremely satisfying. Still, it can be very tedious, and as such, unless you're actually in prison and have time to kill, there are probably better ways to spend your limited gaming hours. If the premise intrigues you then by all means give it a go – otherwise, you may want to refrain from spending your time behind bars.
The return of zombies was an exciting part of the previous release, but the continuation of that and the lack of any standout maps makes Ascendance a less interesting prospect than its predecessor. That doesn't mean that it's bad, though, and fans will lap up the fresh environments. However, the next pack will need to go above and beyond if it wants to keep people excited ahead of Black Ops 3 in November.
Nom Nom Galaxy has an odd premise that's been blended into a surprisingly interesting sandbox experience. While some of the gameplay ingredients don't necessarily work that well together – with the combat in particular leaving a bitter aftertaste – you'll at least be able to cleanse your palate with another draft of its fun base building and resource management, and that'll keep you coming back for more servings.
Its story of unlikely friendship isn't up to par with The Fox and the Hound, just as its attempt at black humour never hits Harold and Maude, but Lost Orbit knows how to give one hell of an adrenaline rush. Speed runners, risk takers, and thrill seekers will all be sorely disappointed to miss out here – but everyone else can pass.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt sets a new standard for open world RPGs. Its shockingly cohesive world is as beautiful as it is demanding, and it's packed full of mature content that throws you from one emotional response to the next. Its storytelling is superb, its combat is grippingly refined, and its often unforgiving nature only lends itself to a brilliantly rewarding experience. In an industry that's flooded with so many by-the-book open world titles, Wild Hunt stands out as a true labour of love from a developer that's uncompromisingly passionate about its creative freedom. Geralt's incredible adventure is nothing short of a masterpiece.
We weren't particularly sold on the first two episodes of Life Is Strange, but we could see the kernel of potential that was hiding beneath the surface. Episode 3 – Chaos Theory is where that promise finally bursts to the forefront, delivering an almost perfect balance of tense storytelling, organic dialogue, and improved gameplay – all while setting up a potentially brilliant follow-up episode. This series is finally delivering what we always thought it could, and that makes us hella happy.