Well Played

• PS5
• 3.5 / 10
• Australie

I will say that over the decades I have been gaming, several games have tested me, but I’ve always risen to the challenge; I almost put a hole through my TV before beating Isshin the Sword Saint, I bested Portal 2’s co-op mode one-guy-two-controllers-style (little known fact), and I still sometimes wake up in a cold sweat from nightmares of King Dice in the original Cuphead. The only reason I persisted with Enchanted Portals is out of pride for my gaming credentials, but I urge you to not pick up this cursed gauntlet. Regardless of skill, Enchanted Portals is extremely likely to break you, because unlike the title it blatantly apes, the tools you have to beat your foes feel uninspired and inadequate. The challenge can certainly be surmounted with enough trial, error and extreme levels of patience, but it’s also just as honourable to walk away, and definitely a lot more fun.

• PC
• 5 / 10
• Australie

If you’re someone who enjoys third-person survival horror action titles such as Resident Evil and are looking for something to play over a weekend, then Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle’s 10ish-hour campaign may scratch that itch. There are some good ideas here, such as the Frost Grip, but the lack of execution and polish, and some poor core mechanics, means that this is best saved for a bargain price and a rainy day.

• PS5
• 7.5 / 10
• Australie

I like Firewall Ultra a lot, but I want to love it. It plays things mostly safe by sticking with what worked in the original on a gameplay level. You can absolutely expect the same intense and highly coordinated tactical gameplay, with some smart enhancements, including utilisation of the Sense controllers’ unique features, implementation of intuitive but non-intrusive eye-tracking technology, and using the power of the PS5 to push the visuals to another level. However, as it’s been five years since its predecessor, and I expected a lot more modes and game types from this new iteration. PSVR 2 is already lacking in exclusive AAA content, and when the content they have is lacking, it’s almost demotivating to expect anything more from Sony soon, since this was supposed to be their big post-launch high-profile title. Additionally, the one element that made the original game so unique and special is now absent from the game, and while this is likely something out of the developer’s control, it does not make the pill easier to swallow. First Contact does have an excellent history of supporting its games (as niche as they are), and with a vocal Firewall community, I suspect many of the issues I have laid out will be addressed and eventually turn Firewall Ultra from a game I really like into a game I really love. Let’s start with a TDM mode, shall we?

• XSX/S
• 8.5 / 10
• Australie

Starfield’s space, and how it uses it, is never cleanly defined. A game as clumsy as it is charming, as fiddly as it is intuitive, as banal as it is inspired – Starfield is many things at once, with its competing ideas and mechanics hanging together by vibes and a dream. For all of my criticism, it’s undeniable how much Starfield captured my imagination and even now I want to jump back into my ship and head back out there. Bethesda’s signature magic has been scattered across the stars here, its light swallowed by some far reaching recesses, but also finding thrilling new ways to refract through space.

• PS5
• 9.5 / 10
• Australie

• PS5
• 8 / 10
• Australie

Fang finds comfort in what she cares about the most, both her talent in song and those that have her back. Considering the choices you may make, these two factors always remain at the forefront, and it’s a life lesson we can all take away from it as we look upon our own society as it stands. It could have been broader in its tale, perhaps even a little longer, but I enjoyed watching Fang’s story unfold. Despite Goodbye Volcano High’s technical limitations in places, I’m sure many others looking for a chill but reflective story of love (worm) drama will too.

• PS5
• 9.5 / 10
• Australie

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon can be hard to love, especially if you’re coming off of FromSoftware’s slow but inevitable march toward more approachable design philosophies. This is a game not entirely divorced from its studio’s recent context but is unwavering in its sortie to be holistically true to the core themes, mechanics, and nature of the Armored Core franchise. It is not unkind in its brutality, often giving you an overwhelming set of tools to achieve any given goal but neither is it all that concerned with ensuring you keep up with its cold, detached world. Rubicon will in turn make you cold to its violence, revelling in refined mechanics and considered systems that remove you from your actions until the game is ready to bring all of that weight to bear with gravity, mass, and fire-red blood.

• XSX/S
• 8.5 / 10
• Australie

• PC
• 8 / 10
• Australie

This is a game where you play with cards – but it is not a ‘card game’. This is a narrative adventure where your outcomes and relationships manifest by way of interactions, and the cards will absolutely influence such a thing. It is divination by its very definition – seeking knowledge of the future by supernatural means. That future is yours to mold by the choices you make and the connections you shape.

• PS5
• 8.5 / 10
• Australie

Rarely can you say that moving house is fun, but SMG Studio’s co-op party sequel manages to introduce more than enough new ideas and added content to have you pushing aside your weekend plans to pack and stack

• PS5
• 7.5 / 10
• Australie

• PC
• 7.5 / 10
• Australie

• SWITCH
• 8 / 10
• Australie

• PS5
• 8.5 / 10
• Australie

The roguelite format is perfect for VR. The short, run-based gameplay loop and incremental upgrade systems let you jump in, have a great time and jump out at a moment’s notice, which is exactly what I’ll be doing with Synapse for the foreseeable future. The smooth and responsive gunplay and outlandishly satisfying telekinetic abilities make combat a power fantasy that will be extremely hard to beat. The minuscule weapon selection and garrison of goons hurt the overall package, sure, but when you take the gameplay and add a visual style that’s kind on the eyes and serves a practical purpose, you have a VR shooter that any self-respecting PSVR2 owner needs to have in their library.

• PC
• PS4
• PS5
• SWITCH
• 7.5 / 10
• Australie

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals spends a little too much time washed out in white noise to truly deliver on its promise, but when tuned just right it sounds like little else. A coming-of-age story for people who should have already come of age is a beautiful and poignant launching pad, and despite getting bogged down in hard rules and lore, Night School Studios still display a grasp on horror aesthetics and storytelling worth the price of admission. The signal is a little fuzzy, but this is a game still worth listening out for.

• SWITCH
• 7 / 10
• Australie

• PS5
• 7 / 10
• Australie

Final Fantasy XVI is a largely impressive fantasy epic that succeeds in creating a mainline, mass-appeal entry into the (checks notes) spectacle fighter genre. This game didn’t make me want to explore the wider Final Fantasy series aside from giving XIII’s linear hallways another chance. It did, however, make me feel equipped to better engage with Bayonetta or DMC. Heck, if you’ve ever been interested in the grandeur or chaos associated with these titles, onboarding with Clive is the way to go. If you’ve always wanted to see what Final Fantasy is all about but found the anime influences grating or the turn-based combat too slow, this is the entry made for you. However, whether this mass appeal will appease rusted-on FF fans remains to be seen, and all things considered, it’s likely this game was perhaps not made to contend with their established favourites.

• PS5
• 4.5 / 10
• Australie

The unforgivable shortcomings in Layers of Fear are a shame, because the core tools that the game is built with could be used to forge something pretty alright. The series’ issues with mental health and representation are foundational and in dire need of more evaluation than additional DLC can provide, but there’s a genuinely interesting examination of player and space here that is crying out for a better framing. Layers of Fear has all the pieces, but Bloober Team seem content to toss those bricks around an empty block instead of building something of value.