Latest Reviews
Review Zombie Driver HD (PlayStation 3)
Rot gear
Guts, guns, and gasoline: it’s a match consummated in the underworld. At least it should be, but EXOR Studios’ matter-of-fact PlayStation Network racer Zombie Driver HD gets its wheels in a spin in some crucial areas. It results in a braindead isometric zombie slayer which sadly lacks the bite of its subject matter. You fill the...
Review Sumioni: Demon Arts (PlayStation Vita)
Not worth the Monet
Sumi-e is a form of ‘ink wash painting’ popularised in Asia approximately 1,400 years ago. It’s a striking art form that aims to capture the soul of its subject rather than attempt photo-realism and has been used to great effect in videogames before, with Okami being a notable example. Developers are always looking for...
Review Dokuro (PlayStation Vita)
Undead good
Are you itching for a smart and interesting puzzle platformer? One with an undead theme and a hero faced with the challenge of rescuing a princess from his evil master? Then Dokuro's got you covered. Having witnessed the Dark Lord capture a beautiful blonde monarch, your envy and renewed moral standing compels you, a mere skeleton...
Review Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (PlayStation 3)
Crikey! This game is flippin' tidy, mun!
Nowadays, large-scale RPGs seem to be everywhere, and with such a rich choice of games available, it’s hard to discern the classics from the rabble. It can also be easy to exaggerate the quality of the very best in the genre, due to long development processes and the length of the adventures on offer. But...
Review Beats Trellis (PlayStation Mobile)
Pocket producer
Beats Trellis may sound like the name of a hip rhythm action game, but it’s actually a barebones digital audio workstation. Designed by Sony Computer Entertainment’s research and development department, the digital download allows you to compose simple audio motifs on the move. It’s designed in the style of Ableton and Reason,...
Review Corpse Party: Book of Shadows (PlayStation Portable)
Shock till you drop
With a title like Corpse Party: Book of Shadows, it’s immediately clear that you’re going to be in for a bumpy ride. The sequel continues the sadistic, horribly twisted atmosphere of the first game perfectly well – but it doesn’t bring much new to the table. It’s admittedly more of an expansion to the first game than a...
Review Gun Commando (PlayStation Mobile)
All outta gum?
It’s been a good 20 years since DOOM blasted its way onto the scene and laid the foundations for the rise of the first-person shooter. Some people may look back on its arrival with dismay given how stagnant the genre has become, but its legacy cannot be denied. Developer Green Hill Studios hopes to capitalise on that with its latest...
Review The Cave (PlayStation 3)
Cavern club
The first adventure game ever to be released was a text title created by computer programmer and caver enthusiast, William Crowther. It's fitting, then, that Double Fine’s latest bid to revive the forgotten genre is also set in a cave. But this is not Crowther’s 1976 exploration game – it's a modern experience, complete with Ron...
Review Beats Slider (PlayStation Mobile)
A new riff on an old classic
We don’t know about you, but we’ve always been hopeless at those pesky slider puzzles. Rather than try to solve our alphabetical one as a child, we decided to rearrange our understanding of the order of letters. It’s proved a nightmare in later life, we have to admit. Still, trust FuturLab – the developers of...
Review Haunt the House: Terrortown (PlayStation Mobile)
Phantom menace
The latest in Sony’s PlayStation Mobile initiative, Haunt the House: Terrortown sees you adopt the role of an ethereal being named Ghost and challenges you with the task of scaring people for, well, no apparent reason really. Ghost’s story begins in a clock tower that serves as the game's central hub. With the mysterious music,...
Review escapeVektor (PlayStation Vita)
The great escape
Part of what makes escapeVektor so charming is how wonderfully simplistic it is. The title's Pac-Man-esque gameplay sees you navigating minimalistic mazes in order to open up an exit, all the while avoiding deadly traps that threaten to thwart your progress. It's a really basic idea, but despite its lack of complex mechanics, the...
Review Uncharted: Fight for Fortune (PlayStation Vita)
Poker face
Uncharted: Fight for Fortune was always going to feel like a letdown compared to the epic adventure of Uncharted: Golden Abyss. Billed as a classic card game, the title lacks the explosive attraction of its parent franchise. But can the cheap and cheerful digital title succeed on its own merits, irrespective of the property that it's...
Review Panic! (PlayStation Mobile)
Ooze cruise
Panic! is a birds-eye 'stop-the-slime-from-consuming-the-townsfolk' puzzle game. As part of Sony's recently released PlayStation Mobile initiative, it is compatible with both the PlayStation Vita and PlayStation-certified mobile phones. The narrative relays that a deadly alien slime has attacked the Earth, and you, in your assumed...
Review Fuel Tiracas (PlayStation Mobile)
Twitchy thumb syndrome
Fuel Tiracas is wonderfully compelling. You'll approach it with the intent of a quick five minute session, but will no doubt end up pouring the best part of an hour into it. And it's all because of the game's pesky leaderboards. You'll want, no, need to shave a few seconds off your personal best in order to climb the high...
Review Samurai Beatdown (PlayStation Mobile)
Sword dance
A samurai swiping down monsters in time to a beat – why, it sounds just like a mini-game in Nintendo's Rhythm Heaven series. Samurai Beatdown's endless runner-style approach differs, however, as your noble warrior dashes through brightly coloured, detailed environments that benefit immensely from the PlayStation Vita's screen. Both...
Review DmC: Devil May Cry (PlayStation 3)
Devil may care
You've got to feel for DmC: Devil May Cry developer Ninja Theory. Tasked with the challenge of rebooting Capcom's classic combat series, the Cambridge-based developer has come under fire from franchise fans for its urban redressing of protagonist Dante. Armed with a top of the range faux hawk and a figure hugging sleeveless shirt, the...
Review Super Crate Box (PlayStation Mobile)
In the box seat
Super Crate Box is a dangerous game. Previously released on Flash, iOS, and Steam, it's a twitch platformer-cum-shooter that preys on compulsion. If you dare to open the box on a lazy day, don't expect to close it again for an hour. And developer Vlambeer knows it. You run about a single screen level trying to grab as many crates as...
Review Aqua Kitty: Milk Mine Defender (PlayStation Mobile)
Make mine milk
Well, our knowledge of the origins of milk has been put out to pasteurise. It turns out that it doesn't just come from mammals; it's also a resource that swirls around deep inside Earth, as precious as – but presumably twice as tasty as – oil. Aqua Kitty: Milk Mine Defender has you descend deep below the sea to defend the brave...
Review Fuel Overdose (PlayStation 3)
Burnt rubber
What's not to love about the indie game scene and its current revival? From the phenomenal success of Angry Birds to truly brilliant tales like Journey and The Walking Dead, it's nice to see that inspiration and clever ideas can sometimes trump vast amounts of money and celebrity voice actors. As such, we were really looking forward to...
Review Page Chronica (PlayStation 3)
Fairy stale
Page Chronica is the kind of game that you’ll find yourself rooting for. Like a book with a bad cover, you’ll wade through the title’s grungy exterior in the hope of uncovering something magical inside. But sadly, for all of the release’s impressive ideas, it fails to deliver on its compelling literary hook – and it results in...
Review Dragon Ball Z Budokai HD Collection (PlayStation 3)
High tension definition
The Budokai series first launched on the last generation of consoles. It spawned three games, each sporting their own take on the epic Dragon Ball Z story. Dragon Ball Z Budokai HD Collection repurposes the first and third titles from the franchise – but are they enough to capture your attention in the HD era? Let’s get...
Review Big Sky Infinity (PlayStation 3)
Space invader
Side scrolling, twitch-based space shooters are a staple of gaming, and have been for years. As such, finding something unique can be a struggle. But despite this, developer Boss Baddie has been quietly expanding on the genre with its Big Sky titles on PC. And now the latest iteration Big Sky Infinity has hit the PlayStation 3 and Vita...
Review DOOM Classic Complete (PlayStation 3)
Rock solid
Boasting the full versions of Ultimate DOOM, DOOM 2: Hell on Earth, and Final DOOM, there's no doubt that DOOM Classic Complete is a comprehensive package for those looking for a nostalgia trip. But is the famous franchise still the daddy of first-person shooters? For better or for worse, the graphics of DOOM Classic Complete are the...
Review Persona 4 Golden (PlayStation Vita)
Vita's Golden Hand
Persona 4 Golden is a stunning game that’s arguably the most essential release in the PlayStation Vita’s catalogue thus far. An upgrade of the already outstanding PlayStation 2 title, developer Atlus has extended the adventure with new content, characters, and story. This is the definitive version of an incredible RPG, and you...
Review Black Knight Sword (PlayStation 3)
Nightmare before Christmas
Black Knight Sword is a hard game to describe. Its gameplay is nothing new – it’s essentially a side scrolling action game mixed with a lot of platforming. But in motion, the title paints a completely different picture – this is the stuff of nightmares. Saying Black Knight Sword is creepy is an understatement. Its...
Review Skylanders Giants (PlayStation 3)
Bigger and better?
Considering the success of the original Skylanders, it's no surprise that a sequel has already hit store shelves. Activision's accessory-laden adventure game commanded eye-watering sales figures during its last term at retail. But can a series that’s so heavily dependent on peripheral purchases thrive in its second outing?...
Review Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two (PlayStation 3)
The paint runs thin
The first thing you’ll notice about Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two is how sterile everything looks. Gone are the murky, almost depressing locales from the Nintendo Wii original, replaced by wholesome environments, which – at most – feature a little bit of damage here and there. In terms of grunge, this is more Bon Jovi...
Review The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series (PlayStation 3)
Everyday we're shufflin'
Lee Everett’s failed the one golden rule of murdering folk: don’t get caught. As such, he's on his way to prison when civilisation collapses around him. It’s through Lee that you experience the harsh horrors of this new and unrecognisable world, and it’s not long before he, and by extension you, becomes responsible...
Review Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (PlayStation 3)
Smiles prower
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed starts to make sense the moment that you reach the excellent Afterburner stage. Sumo Digital’s slick sequel initially introduces itself as yet another Mario Kart derivative – but it eventually blossoms into so much more. By fusing the best of Hydro Thunder, SkyDrift, and over two decades’...
Review Mass Effect (PlayStation 3)
Back to the future
Launching five years after its original Xbox 360 debut, Mass Effect has finally landed on the PlayStation 3, completing the series' sci-fi trilogy on Sony's console. However, the title's late arrival places it in an awkward position, destined to be judged against the sequels it spawned. Has the classic aged gracefully? Not...
