Latest Reviews
Review Strider (PlayStation 4)
Escape from the city
Frantic, split-second action is what the Strider franchise is all about, and with developer Double Helix's newest entry into the beloved series, fans will be glad to hear that the hectic feel of the older games has been recreated well. The question is: can ageing hero Strider Hiryu maintain the pace with newer sidescrollers?...
Review Earth Defense Force 2025 (PlayStation 3)
Alien ant harm
The biggest bugs in Earth Defense Force 2025 are not the iconic silver-backed ants that grace its outrageously ostentatious box art. The latest entry in Sandlot’s cult co-operative shooter series is a technical disaster, running a gamut of performance blunders larger than its colossal robotic adversaries. However, franchise fans...
Review Master Reboot (PlayStation 3)
On and off
An intriguing narrative and a clever setting can go a long way in a sci-fi adventure game, but it’s a difficult thing to pull off. As such, Master Reboot – a Myst-esque excursion by BAFTA Cymru award winning developer Wales Interactive – struggles to combine its great ideas into a compelling whole. The title comes close at times,...
Review Toukiden: The Age of Demons (PlayStation Vita)
SlayStation Portable
Toukiden: The Age of Demons tells the tale of a world engulfed in war between rampaging demonic hordes – known as Oni – and humanity's last hope of survival: Slayers. This overarching narrative paves the way for gameplay that's undoubtedly similar to Capcom's popular Monster Hunter franchise – but with the addition of a...
Review Dustforce (PlayStation Vita)
Deep clean
Have you ever wondered why there’s not a game about dusting? Ponder no more, because developer Hitbox – with the aid of publisher Capcom – has released Dustforce, a platformer built around the idea of everyone’s least favourite household chore. While the premise isn’t full-on Freddie Mercury in that one Queen video, this slick...
Review The Wolf Among Us: Episode 2 - Smoke And Mirrors (PlayStation 3)
Bite me
When the first episode of Telltale Games’ fairytale-infused noire-esque thriller The Wolf Among Us first latched its jaws onto the PlayStation 3 last October, we were completely blown away by how well its comic book source material translated. Thankfully, the agonising four month wait for the story to continue has now concluded – but has...
Review Ys: Memories of Celceta (PlayStation Vita)
Never forget
The Ys series has a peculiar past consisting of large gaps between sequels, a slew of different developers creating non-canon side projects, and an overall lack of localisation in Europe and North America. However, despite all of this turmoil, its refined mechanics and generally dependable quality has earned it a loyal following all...
Review The Last of Us: Left Behind (PlayStation 3)
Girls just want to have fun
There was a lot to like about The Last of Us’ core campaign. Naughty Dog’s survival horror opus was not only successful in pushing the limits of the ageing PlayStation 3 from a pure hardware perspective, but it also exceeded expectations from a narrative stance, too. Where other developers stumble, the Californian...
Trippin’ balls tremendously
You could look at TxK and pass it off as a simple indie game that harks back to the arcade shooter days of old. However, dismissing it as such would not account for the history and significance behind it. Jeff Minter, the game’s creator, has been in the industry since 1982, and is arguably best known for his 1994...
Review Doki-Doki Universe (PlayStation 4)
Everybody do the robot
We’re a funny lot, the human race. Capable on the one hand of compassion and understanding, we’re also simultaneously prone to bouts of some much less desirable traits. Doki-Doki Universe from HumaNature – a team made up of some of the creators of 16-bit classic ToeJam & Earl – takes you on a tour of, well, human...
Review Outlast (PlayStation 4)
Corpse on camera
Outlast is the first title from Red Barrels, a Canadian developer founded by industry veterans. It also happens to be an absolutely cracking debut. Originally released on the PC in September of last year, the survival horror has shuffled onto the PlayStation 4, where it’s available as a free PlayStation Plus download at the time...
Review Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (PlayStation Vita)
Addicted to despair
Hope's Peak Academy: a social melting pot for Japan's best students, and home to a horrific killing game that provides teenagers with the motives for murder. This is Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, a title that's part visual novel, part point-and-click adventure, and part courtroom craziness. But is this sinister scenario worth...
Review Surge Deluxe (PlayStation Vita)
Index addiction
There’s something deadly about the combination of addictive gameplay and online leaderboards. It’s something that we sampled in Rock Band, where grown men would blast out Hannah Montana songs in the hopes of nailing those few extra notes. Surge Deluxe is equally moreish, without ever serving as a gateway to twerking. As such, if...
Review Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition (PlayStation 4)
Polished treasure
Rather than force you to sit through a string of paragraphs longer than the average historical textbook, we’ll get straight to the point: Lara Croft’s next generation debut looks the part on the PlayStation 4. Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition may be little more than a cleaned up retread of last year’s dirty day-trip to...
Review Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse - Episode 1 (PlayStation Vita)
Not broken, just bent
Kickstarter has been the proud parent to many creations over the past few years, the latest of which is the fifth instalment in the legendary point-and-click adventure franchise, Broken Sword. Split into two parts for some bewildering reason – with the second episode due out in the first quarter of this year – Broken Sword...
Review Zombeer (PlayStation 3)
Brain dead
Games that aim to make their audience laugh are a very hard thing to pull off. After all, not everyone’s funny bone has the same comedic sensibilities, and that makes it a difficult line to traverse. As a result, for every Portal there are three stinkers like Deadpool waiting in the wings. Moonbite and Padaone Games are the latest...
Review Twisted Lands: Shadow Town (PlayStation 3)
Twist and shout
Twisted Lands: Shadow Town is a hidden objects game by Alawar Entertainment, ported from mobile platforms to the PlayStation 3. While it’s been available on the PlayStation Network for a few months now in Europe, it’s just arrived in North America. The big question is: should it have taken the long journey over the Atlantic in...
Review Forest Legends: The Call of Love (PlayStation 3)
Tree hugger
With a name like Forest Legends: The Call of Love, we were expecting one of those racy Japanese sex games here. In fact, this particular author was practically salivating over the prospect of playing such a filthy experience. Needless to say, when this downloadable PlayStation 3 adventure turned out to be a point-and-click escapade, we...
Review Adam's Venture Chronicles (PlayStation 3)
Can you Adam and Eve it?
If there’s one thing that’s missing from Uncharted, it’s puzzles that test your knowledge of the Bible. We’ve all thought it at some point: Nathan Drake just doesn’t believe in God enough. Don’t worry too much, though, as the folks behind Adam’s Venture Chronicles have spotted a gap in the market, and there are...
Review Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z (PlayStation Vita)
It's under 9000
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z is a strange beast. It sports some gorgeous looking locations, catchy tunes, and Akira Toriyama's fantastic art style, but those who were expecting a somewhat traditional fighting game in the same vein as the Budokai series or even the Tenkaichi series will be left rather surprised with this team-based...
Review Mahjong World Contest (PlayStation Vita)
Top tiles
Mahjong World Contest is a mahjong solitaire variant with two twists: there’s a three star rating based on objectives, and clearing the board isn’t necessarily your overall goal. These tweaks augment a degree of tactical thinking to a rule set that arguably lacks the original Chinese game’s strategy – and it’s better for it,...
Review BIT.TRIP Presents: Runner 2 - Future Legend of Rhythm Alien (PlayStation Vita)
Marathon man
Commander Video must be the envy of every eight-bit gym attendee. The intrepid athlete at the heart of – wait for it – BIT.TRIP Presents: Runner 2 – Future Legend of Rhythm Alien never seems to tire of jogging from left-to-right, making our Wendy’s weighted legs shudder at thought of such strenuous exercise. Still, with the...
Review OlliOlli (PlayStation Vita)
Cool boarder
Once at the apex of industry excitement, the extreme sports genre’s popularity has faded faster than the artwork on an abused skateboard. Now a pastime for Hanson imitating teenage misfits, the days of earnestly discussing kickflips over a curry in the office canteen have long faded. British indie Roll7’s hoping to turn back the...
Review The Walking Dead: Season 2, Episode 1 - All That Remains (PlayStation 3)
Bite me
When episodic outfit Telltale Games’ macabre The Walking Dead adaptation first shuffled its way onto the PlayStation Network way back in 2012, many people were apprehensive following a string of licensed tie-ins that didn’t quite hit the mark. Perhaps this is part of the reason why Lee and Clementine’s five episode first season proved...
Review The Raven: Legacy of a Master Thief (PlayStation 3)
Poirot Click
Adventure games and mystery novel plots go together like butlers and random acts of homicide. There’s nothing better than a good whodunit, especially when you’re part of the action, neck-deep in clues and yelling at innocent bystanders in the hope that one of them knows something. The Raven: Legacy of a Master Thief is a decent...
Review Streetkix Freestyle (PlayStation Portable)
A kick in the balls
Soccer may not be the most popular sport in the United States, but the same can’t be said outside of the country. Around the world, not only is football enormous, but it’s a lifestyle for many. As a result, the beautiful game has its own street iteration, boasting a number of mind-boggling ball tricks. Streetkix Freestyle...
Review Don't Starve (PlayStation 4)
The hunger game
Nature is beautiful. We observe it from pictures and videos from the safety of our home. We get up close to it on vacations through tour guides and hikes. And sometimes, we even interact with it by camping in the wilderness, preparing with ample supplies and experiencing only a sliver of what it must be like to rough it for real. But...
Review Assassin's Creed Liberation HD (PlayStation 3)
Assassin's speed
Retelling the rather erratic adventures of Aveline de Grandpré, Assassin's Creed Liberation HD leaps onto the PlayStation 3 after its moderate success on Sony's handheld console – and visually, it's just about what you'd expect. The game's events are now witnessed through a much clearer lens, with some drastically improved...
Review Sorcery Saga: Curse of the Great Curry God (PlayStation Vita)
Keep calm and curry on
What would you do if a big chain curry restaurant opened up in town threatening to take over your family owned curry business? You’d pursue the legendary magical curry recipe, of course – which is exactly what protagonist Pupuru and her fuzzy sidekick Kuu get up to in Sorcery Saga: Curse of the Great Curry God. In order to...
Review King Oddball Ends the World (PlayStation Vita)
Rock royalty
After an extended royal tour of pretty much every mobile platform on the planet, King Oddball Ends the World has rolled onto the PlayStation Vita. Offering projectile flinging fun in the vein of Angry Birds, this puzzle game looks to usurp the throne from the long time ruler and avoid being thrown into the dungeons for treason. With a...
