Well Played

• PC
• 4 / 10
• Australie

Did Nightdive overreach when dusting off Shadow Man for their next IP refreshment treatment? I found slipping back into their Turok efforts to be fairly painless, both with regards to controls and quality of life. With Nightdive’s efforts seemingly being to preserve and revitalise classic 90s titles, Shadow Man Remastered sucks more life out of the uninitiated player rather than energise IP enthusiasm.

• PS4
• 8.5 / 10
• Australie

• PS5
• 8.5 / 10
• Australie

• PC
• 7 / 10
• Australie

Godstrike fulfils that baseline need all boss rush games do – the thrill of overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. Its primary mechanical hook of entwining health and battle time into powerful abilities creates fantastic, tense battles. However it’s the smaller things that hold the experience back. A distinct lack of characterising flair for the bosses through story or music hurt their memorability, and the unrelenting difficulty amongst the chaos, while exhilarating to overcome, is still (at times) overbearing. Regardless of its rough edges though, Godstrike is enjoyable as a quick hit of intense action.

• PC
• 8 / 10
• Australie

• SWITCH
• 6 / 10
• Australie

Thought-provoking stories can definitely be told through video games without a bunch of added bells and whistles; walking sims have proven that time and time again. Unfortunately, if bells and whistles are added to a narrative-heavy game, they can detract from the story if they aren’t done right and that’s exactly what’s happened here. Lost Words has a genuine story to tell, but its core gameplay does a lot to stand in the way. The ideas here are admirable, but instead of adding to the experience, the word mechanic does damage to an otherwise endearing experience.

• PS5
• 8.5 / 10
• Australie

• PS4
• 5 / 10
• Australie

Honestly, I don’t take any pride in disliking Collapsed. One of the loading screens simply reads ‘Thank you for playing’, which tells me that the developers put in time and effort to make it worth your time, which makes it all the more heartbreaking to tell you that it isn’t, in fact, worth your time. The overall package just doesn’t compel you to continue playing and in a genre that’s built on replayability, that’s a cardinal sin. If you’re raving mad about post-apocalyptic cyborgs then you might find a glimmer of fun here, otherwise, I might suggest trying a different roguelike.

• PS4
• 7.5 / 10
• Australie

While it never truly challenges with insanely difficult or precise platforming (except in the patience testing Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy-inspired bonus level), Journey of the Broken Circle manages to remain a consistently enjoyable experience thanks largely to its surprisingly impactful narrative and simple yet solid gameplay. It’s a pretty, peaceful and solid three to five hour journey worth embarking on.

• PS5
• 8 / 10
• Australie

• SWITCH
• 2 / 10
• Australie

Taxi Chaos is the epitome of emulation without understanding. You can become inspired all you like, but it’s through understanding why they inspire you that you can truly make something your own. Unfortunately, Taxi Chaos isn’t even its own. It is an imitation that borders on obsession. The time, money and energy would have been much better spent on the studio’s families. Considering how little of a budget this game clearly had, they were probably overworked and underpaid.

• SWITCH
• 7 / 10
• Australie

• PS4
• 8.5 / 10
• Australie

• PS4
• 8.5 / 10
• Australie

• XONE
• 7.5 / 10
• Australie

I am now thoroughly convinced that lycanthropy and ecoterrorism are perfectly natural bedfellows. The Werewolf: The Apocalypse universe is one brimming with potential, and Heart of the Forest in general does a fantastic job of leaning on its lore while presenting a captivating personal tale. There’s a palpable sense of choice in how Maia’s story unfolds, and the gamey elements are light but work well in the context and make it feel like an active experience. It’s true that occasionally the quality of the writing dips and there are far too many typographical errors, plus a second playthrough doesn’t come recommended if you don’t want the illusion spoiled, but for fans of the genre this is a solid little bite-sized experience worthy of a look in.

• PS5
• 9 / 10
• Australie

• PS4
• 8.5 / 10
• Australie

• PS5
• 7.5 / 10
• Australie