Tag: Hands On - Page 2
Hands On Digimon Survive Has Potential, But It Feels Padded So Far
Visual novel RPG is slow to start
Digimon Survive is out right now for PS4, but you may have noticed that we don't have a review here on Push Square yet. This is unfortunately due to issues outside of our control, but having sunk roughly six hours into the game, we thought that it would be best to bring you some hands on impressions ahead of the...
Hands On Rollerdrome Feels Utterly Phenomenal to Play
We preview the first six levels
There's a real sense of speed, motion, and style fuelling Rollerdrome that can only be matched by the early Tony Hawk's Pro Skater games of the PS1 era. The second game in the space of six months from British team Roll7 feels sublime to play, asking you to kill enemies with a touch of swagger in between performing...
Hands On Saints Row Is That Same Dumb Fun, But Better
Like a boss
It almost feels like the initial, divided reaction to the new Saints Row title was for an entirely different game considering how similarly it plays to past entries. We recently had the chance to play the latest open worlder for a whole four hours, and we can report this is the same Saints Row you know and — quite possibly — love...
Hands On The Crew 2's PS5 Patch Feels Better at 60fps, But There's a Catch
It's stinging our eyes
The Crew 2, due in part to outstanding ongoing support from publisher Ubisoft and developer Ivory Tower, remains relevant four years on from its original release. In fact, you could argue the game is getting better, with the latest season adding events inspired by Formula Drift World Champion Chris Forsberg – it’s...
Hands On Destruction AllStars' Improvements Tease PS5's Live Service Future
Glimpses of a new era
We’ll let you in on a secret: we had a wager running at Push Square Towers regarding when Sony would pull the plug on Destruction AllStars. This may prove difficult reading for the team at Lucid Games, so it’s important to stress that our internal book was entirely tongue-in-cheek – after all, we’d never purposefully...
Hands On Assassin's Creed Origins PS5 Patch Reminds Us That It's One of the Series' Best Games
A cut above Odyssey and Valhalla
It might be cool to hate on Assassin's Creed these days, but there's no getting away from the fact that the series is more successful than ever before, raking in absurd amounts of dosh for Ubisoft. What was once a stealth-focused sandbox franchise is now a proper open world RPG property, with Assassin's Creed Odyssey...
Hands On Roller Champions Has a Strong Core, But Struggles to Maintain Momentum
Dropped the ball?
Roller Champions is the newly released free-to-play multiplayer game from Ubisoft, presenting players with a brand new digital sport to master. On a surface level, it combines roller derby with basketball, though it folds in its own rules to make for a fresh experience. It's a perfectly good idea, and there are most definitely...
Hands On Two Point Campus on PS5, PS4 Is a Tycoon Title That's Too Cool for School
School's out for summer
What a time to be alive! This author grew up on the Bullfrog era of tycoon titles, meticulously managing theme parks and hospitals on a 14” CRT from the edge of his bed. That spirit is very much alive with the Aardman-inspired Two Point series; the excellent Two Point Hospital already reminded patients not to die in the...
Hands On MultiVersus Leans on Fantastic Cast of Characters in Entertaining Smash Clone
Nostalgiaverse
MultiVersus, as its name implies, is a game in which characters from disparate worlds come together to duke it out. To what end, we're not sure, but it makes for a wildly entertaining platform fighter nonetheless. If you grew up watching Tom & Jerry, for example, hearing the cat's iconic scream as he's flung from the arena is...
Hands On Sifu's New Difficulty Settings are a Superb Addition
Something for everyone
When Sifu first launched back in February, its steep difficulty curve wasn't necessarily criticised, but it was enough to put a lot of potential players off. Indeed, even if you go take a look at our review — which dropped prior to release — the comments section is full of people questioning whether they'd be willing to...
Hands On Matchpoint: Tennis Championships Could Be the Ace We've Been Waiting For
We 15-love it so far
When you really stop and think about it, tennis and video games will forever be tied. Pong, one of the earliest arcade success stories, may be simplistic – but it’s effectively tennis in everything but name. Ever since this author got Anna Kournikova’s Smash Court Tennis on the PS1 (remember her?!), we’ve been huge fans...
Hands On Sniper Elite 5's PS5, PS4 Sandbox Design Has Us Hyped
Lone ranger
With open worlds larger than ever, we appreciate the developers designing denser sandbox levels. Ever since the excellent GoldenEye on Nintendo 64, we’ve been a fan of the sandbox format: the idea that a single stage can be approached in a dozen different ways, whether it’s stealth, full-on combat, or a combination of both. Hitman...
Hands On eFootball PS5, PS4 Feels Better Than FIFA 22 After Major Update
But is still a glorified demo
You’re not going to believe this but eFootball feels better than FIFA 22 after its latest update. Konami’s disastrous soccer sim was the butt of all jokes when it launched last year, with turgid gameplay and some hilarious graphical glitches. But the publisher released its long overdue v1.0 patch thi
Hands On Returnal's New Co-Op and Endless Modes Reinvigorate a PS5 Great
Back in the loop
It's no secret we're big fans of Returnal here at Push Square. Its rogue-like elements certainly aren't to everyone's tastes, but we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of Selene's time-looping escapades on Atropos. It's an extremely compelling adventure, not to mention satisfying when you overcome some serious challenges along the way...
Hands On LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Massively Builds on Predecessors
The Force is strong with this one
The last LEGO Star Wars game to grace PlayStation was The Force Awakens, and that feels like a long time ago. Like most of its predecessors, and even later entries from TT Games, it's a very safe platformer that sticks to the established blueprint. As fun as they can be, the LEGO games have been making almost no...
Hands On Is GTA 5 PS5 Worth It?
One night in Los Santos
Aw sh*t, here we go again! Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of the greatest selling games of all time, shifting over 160 million copies in the decade or so since it debuted. First released on the PlayStation 3 in 2013, the game was a mainstay on software sales charts throughout the entire PS4 generation, and now it’s launched on...
Hands On Tiny Tina's Wonderlands Feels Like the Tightest, Most Polished Borderlands Yet
A familiar fantasy, but still magic
It’s been almost a decade now since the release of Borderlands 2’s Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep DLC, which reframed the looter shooter as a Dungeons and Dragons-style tabletop campaign DM’d by the titular Tiny Tina. Acclaimed as that mini-campaign was, it’s a little unusual to see Tiny Tina’s...
Hands On Don't Sleep on Machine Strike, Horizon Forbidden West's Chess-Like Board Game
Putting all the pieces together
While Horizon Zero Dawn was a wonderful debut entry from Guerrilla Games — a studio that was entering all-new territory with an open world action RPG — it did have its flaws. Built up towns were one of them; they looked cool from a distance, but had little to do once you got inside. Horizon Forbidden West goes to...
Hands On Cyberpunk 2077's PS5 Version Actually Feels Like a Finished Game
It only took 14 months
When CD Projekt Red announced that it was going to host a Cyberpunk 2077 livestream following months of silence on the game's future, we felt a small jolt of hope. But when the developer kicked said livestream off with a hugely underwhelming 'next-gen' demo, we knew that we'd have to play the newly released PlayStation 5...
Hands On They Made Destruction AllStars on PS5 Good
Like, for real
When it released last year, Destruction AllStars ultimately disappointed. Lucid Games’ chaotic crash-‘em-up was not a dud – in fact, between its diverse cast of well-animated characters and compelling use of the DualSense controller, there was much to like – but it just didn’t feel quite right. It was hard to put into words,...
Hands On Atelier Sophie 2 Seems Like a Very Promising JRPG Sequel
The story continues
Atelier’s Mysterious Trilogy was recently re-released on the PlayStation 4 but Gust has obviously decided that it isn’t quite finished with that story. Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream takes place in between the first and second games, and we were recently given access to the opening couple of hours on...
Hands On OlliOlli World Is a Bold and Brilliant New Spin on the Skateboarding Series
JollyOlli good
Before getting our hands on the PlayStation 5 version of OlliOlli World for this preview, we refreshed ourselves on the basics in OlliOlli 2: Welcome to Olliwood. We quickly remembered the challenging but intuitive controls, the ridiculously addictive allure of besting your scores on each level, and the clean, understated...
Hands On God of War PC Is a Great Way to Play a PS4 Classic
RT-Axe on
In 2018 Sony Santa Monica shipped God of War, a soft reboot of the fan-favourite action-adventure trilogy that traded the Greek pantheon for Norse mythology. Featuring an emotional narrative that focused on the relationship between the rough-edged Kratos and his young son Atreus, God of War reinvigorated the series without straying too far...
Hands On The Matrix Awakens Is an Unreal Demonstration of PS5's Power
The truth, nothing more
There are some who would argue that the PlayStation 5 has yet to have its true next-gen moment. Exclusives like Demon’s Souls and even Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart look phenomenal, of course, but are they really a significant step-up from the PS4? Sony, in many ways, made a rod for its own back with its generational...
Hands On Kid A Mnesia: Exhibition Is a Truly Haunting Tribute to Everything Radiohead
You won't forget it
It’s almost quaint to think that Radiohead’s Kid A and Amnesiac albums were considered such esoteric, difficult listening twenty years ago. With the benefit of hindsight they are simply part of the natural progression in sound from The Bends to the beloved OK Computer, doubling down on that album’s themes of alienation and...
Hands On FromSoftware Puts Its All into Elden Ring
Rise, Tarnished
Elden Ring feels like everything FromSoftware has been doing for the past 12 years all at once. Sure, you could probably describe its latest title as open world Dark Souls and be more than halfway there, but to do so would ignore the obvious undertones of Bloodborne and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice that help make this new title stand...
Hands On Is the GTA Trilogy Really That Bad on PS5, PS4?
A number six with extra dip
In response to the headline: honestly, no. As is so often the case when there’s an online backlash, the reality isn’t quite as bad as the memes would lead you to believe – but make no mistake, the GTA Trilogy deserves better, and Rockstar has its work cut out rectifying this sorry state of affairs. This is a...
Hands On All Hallows' Dreams: Ghost Train Is a Frightfully Fun Halloween Event on PS4
Dreams' latest community collab is a treat
Dreams provides players with a toolset with which to make more or less anything they please, but as with any creative medium, a blank canvas can be the most daunting thing of all. It's why one of the game's best ongoing features is the community jam, which provides everyone with a theme, and a deadline to...
Hands On FIFA 22's Underrated VOLTA Arcade Is Football Fall Guys
Minigame madness
Hated, adored, never ignored. The motto may predominantly be used by Man United fans who argue that, win or lose, the club is rarely out of the headlines – but it also applies to FIFA Ultimate Team. Look, here’s a mode that draws the angst of hardcore gamers all around the world – and yet franchise fans absolutely adore it...
Hands On Conquering the Capital in Train Sim World 2's Latest London DLC on PS5
London's calling
After almost two years of pandemic enforced solitude, this author was practically pining for the hustle and bustle of London last weekend: the rising heat of the London Underground, the oft-ignored ‘Stand to the Right’ signs next to the rubber staircase banisters, and the shrill sound of the train’s brakes pulling into Euston...
Hands On Tales of Arise Sword Art Online DLC Is Pricey but Pretty Cool
Is it worth buying?
It's a crossover that we didn't see coming: Tales of Arise recently got a premium DLC pack that lets you fight against Kirito and Asuna from Sword Art Online. The unimaginatively titled 'Sword Art Online Collaboration Pack' is currently available to buy from the PlayStation Store — but is it actually worth the rather steep...
Hands On It'll Take More Than Sam Allardyce to Save eFootball on PS5, PS4
Own goal
Of all the years for Konami to cock up Pro Evolution Soccer, now renamed eFootball, this is arguably the worst one. FIFA 22, for all of the franchise’s overarching flaws, feels fantastic: the ball physics are greatly improved, the heavily advertised HyperMotion Technology makes for a much more fluid experience, and even goalkeepers have...
Hands On Don't Sleep on Voice of Cards - It Could Be a Special RPG
No, it's not really a card game
The awkwardly titled Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars was revealed during the latest Nintendo Direct, and if you're anything like us, you quickly realised that it was some kind of card game (it's in the name!) and then stopped paying attention. Look, we want our role-playing games to whisk us away to gorgeous...
Hands On FIFA 22 Feels Like Real Football for Once
Balled over
As far as this author is concerned, FIFA has never felt quite right. For a franchise sold as a soccer simulator, there’s a case for EA Sports getting done under the trade descriptions act – it’s never really resembled real football, more an analogue of the sport like the distinctly arcade Rocket League. But based on over six hours...
Hands On Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Is Mass Effect in Comic Book Clothing
Kree whiz
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy doesn’t just wear its Mass Effect influences on its sleeve: it prances them about like Chris Pratt in the opening exchanges of the franchise’s first movie. The similarities to BioWare’s space-faring soap opera are so plentiful that they’re almost impossible to ignore, but following the success of...
Hands On Jett: The Far Shore Is at Its Best Without Baddies on PS5
Expect some turbulence
Amid all the highly exciting games revealed alongside the PlayStation 5, it'd be easy to forget smaller titles, such as Jett: The Far Shore. The sci-fi action adventure game has always looked very intriguing in trailers, but until now, precisely how it plays has been something of a mystery. Fortunately, we've played it on PS5...
Hands On Riders Republic Is Obnoxious But Awesome on PS5
Totally rad
Opening the map in the PlayStation 5 version of open world extreme sports outing Riders Republic is a mesmerising moment. You’ll see hundreds – perhaps even thousands – of player icons, swarming down mountains in a synchronised fashion. Building on the foundations of Steep, this is a connected sandbox where every player exists in...
Hands On Life Finds a Way in Jurassic World Evolution 2 on PS5, PS4
John Hammond would certainly be proud
If you’re an old-school PlayStation fan, then Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis probably holds a special place in your heart. The park builder launched in 2003 and was a huge hit on PS2, offering a simulation experience set within the universe of Steven Spielberg’s legendary film franchise. It took nearly 15...
Hands On GTA Online Meets Mario Kart in Crazy Kart Krash Adversary Mode
Just Peachy
A big part of GTA Online’s enduring appeal is just how versatile it is. Some of the Best Jobs in the game include Slasher, a Dead by Daylight rip-off, all the way through to Overtime Rumble, which is basically Monkey Target with sports cars. Rockstar must have been paying attention to recent virtual cosplayers who rocked up to the LS...
Hands On Lock-On Magazine Is a Love-Letter to the World of PlayStation
Shame it's now sold out
Print media is dead. It's a fact which has been clear for some time, at least in the realm of video games. The internet has rendered the majority of magazines irrelevant, because print can never hope to keep up with the fast-paced nature of the games industry, nor can it be expected to challenge a media which is capable of...
Hands On Back 4 Blood Wears Its Inspiration with Pride
Counter Strike x Left 4 Dead x Cards
Back 4 Blood could be a video game adaptation of the classic Avengers: Age of Ultron quote: "Fine, I'll do it myself." With countless villains failing to put an end to the superhero task force, Thanos takes it upon himself to show them how it's done. And after a long list of Left 4 Dead clones fell short of...
Hands On Arcadegeddon Shows Serious Potential in Early Access on PS5
'geddon a bad rap
Arcadegeddon was announced during Sony's last State of Play broadcast, but we get the feeling that a lot of people already forgot it exists. This third person shooter is a brand new IP developed and published by Illfonic, and it's available right now on PlayStation 5 in early access. It would be all too easy to write it off; a game...
Hands On Streets of Rage 4 DLC Packs a Punch with New Characters and Modes
Mr. X Nightmare is a dream
In many ways, Mr. X Nightmare is the best kind of DLC. Streets of Rage 4 is already a very fun beat-'em-up, but this add-on pack just makes it even better with its various additions to the experience. If you're a fan of the game, this is a no-brainer — especially as it's at such a low price point. We've had a look...
Hands On Media Molecule Flexes with Megapenguin Rehatched's Opening Levels in Dreams
Collaborative project's primer is fantastic
We'll openly admit to being a little late to the party on this, but we've just played Megapenguin Rehatched in Dreams and have to tell you about it. As we reported a couple of weeks ago, Megapenuin Rehatched is a collaborative project within Media Molecule's creation game. The idea is brilliant: the...
Hands On Samurai Warriors 5 Has the Potential to Be a Special Musou Game
Destiny intertwined
It's crazy to think that the last mainline instalment in the Samurai Warriors series — Samurai Warriors 4 — released almost seven years ago. There have been a few spinoff titles since, but after so long, it's clear that Koei Tecmo wanted to do something relatively new with the franchise. And so we have Samurai Warriors 5,...
Hands On The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles Is a Victorian Spin on a Classic Formula
It's elementary
With The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, two entries in the series are finally being brought to the West. Capcom's courtroom visual novels are a real treat with their melodramatic legal battles, charming characters, and zany writing. While PlayStation users became acquainted with the franchise via the Phoenix Wright Trilogy, the...
Hands On OlliOlli World's Striking New Identity Sticks the Landing on PS5, PS4
Kickflippin' fab
Goodness, OlliOlli World is a delight. Yes, we know it’s a cliché, but when it comes to Roll7’s upcoming skateboarding sequel there’s no other word to describe it. It simply oozes personality, and based on our recent hands-on preview, the team are on track to deliver their best game to date. For the uninitiated, OlliOlli is...
Hands On Vibrant JRPG Tales of Arise Looks to Tantalise Newcomers and Franchise Fans Alike
We play Bandai Namco's latest RPG
It’s been several years since we’ve seen a mainline Tales game. After 2017’s Tales of Berseria, we now find Tales of Arise launching on 10th September 2021, commemorating the JRPG series' 35th anniversary. While Tales of Arise received a lengthy delay last year, it’s close to completion and in preparation,...
Hands On Forget the Chaos Memes, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Has Potential
Jack in
When the dreadfully named Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin was revealed during Square Enix's E3 showcase, we didn't know what to think. Right out of the gate, it looked like the kind of grimdark, PS2 or early PS3-era action game that wore edginess like a badge of pride. Add the fact that main character Jack said the word "chaos"...
Hands On NEO: The World Ends With You Brings a Stylish Afterlife to PS4
Put a pin in it
A little-known but well-loved entry in Square Enix's JRPG pantheon, The World Ends With You is a unique experience with gorgeous art from Kingdom Hearts director Tetsuyo Nomura. The game looked at concepts like social media influence and memetic learning way before those things were as pervasive as they are today. Nomura's designs,...
