Well Played

• PC
• 9 / 10
• Australie

Playing through Gibbous – A Cthulhu Adventure made me realise how much I miss this type of adventure game. It does a fantastic job of taking the world of Lovecraft and turning it into something unique and memorable, thanks to a gorgeous art style and well-written characters. If you’ve got a point-and-click itch that needs scratching, then Gibbous may be the remedy you’ve been waiting for.

• SWITCH
• 6.9 / 10
• Australie

Titties

• PS4
• 5.5 / 10
• Australie

While I did get an adrenaline shot of nostalgia from playing American Fugitive, the comedown was pretty rough. While certain elements reinvigorate the old formula, the game is too marred by design and systemic issues to take things to the next level as an ode to the epic GTA series. Save yourself some money, and grab this puppy when it’s on sale if you’re REALLY interested.

• PS4
• 3 / 10
• Australie

I desperately wanted Dollhouse to surprise me. The film-noir style is briefly eye-catching and the feature that allows you see through your enemy’s eyes is a winner of an idea on paper, but that is truly is where the upsides end. With a severe lack of variation and originality, it feels like a checklist of horror game clichés that it is trying to tick. With a huge range of quality horror titles around at the moment, I can’t in good faith recommend Dollhouse to anyone who is after a good, or even half-decent scare.

• PC
• 8.5 / 10
• Australie

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Close to the Sun before I jumped into it, but the game’s 7-10 hour campaign had me hooked from start to finish. While the gameplay isn’t anything to write home about, the story, characters, atmosphere and visuals are all first class. I hope the developers have plans to bring this title to consoles, as this game deserves to be played by horror and story fans of all platforms.

• PS4
• 9 / 10
• Australie

Ghost Giant is hard to talk about without spoiling too much of the story or gameplay, but I can say unequivocally that it is magical. It takes great advantage of the VR platform too, with the only real issue being that not everyone has a VR to experience it. This might be my new favourite Zoink game.

• PC
• 8 / 10
• Australie

We. The Revolution is up there as one of the most unique experiences of the year. While its scope may turn off people looking for a more focused game, you simply couldn’t ask for a better representation of the time period — even when it strays from what the books say for the sake of a consistent narrative. If you’re after a political thriller that’s actually a goddamn political thriller, then We. The Revolution is your best bet.

• PS4
• 7 / 10
• Australie

I feel The Wizards is a solid game with a lot of great ideas and bigger potential. It doesn’t have the scope of something like Skyrim VR, but it isn’t as short or as shallow as most of the first-wave VR content has been. The spell casting is incredibly intuitive and I had a blast mixing up my strategies in battles in some beautiful worlds. However, the game could use a little more variety and depth even if it is just a bit more. Inconsistencies in presentation can always be polished up and improved with future iterations and I feel this has been a great learning experience for the developer. There isn’t a lot of stuff coming to PSVR in the next couple of months and I feel if players are looking for something to tide them over until the next big game, The Wizards is a solid choice. It’s a fun game that I think will be even better in a sequel, if it ever comes to that. I look forward to playing what Carbon Studios summons next.

• PC
• 8 / 10
• Australie

Luckily, I found just what I was looking for in developer Bildundtonfabrik’s love letter to surrealist fiction like Twin Peaks. A combination of phenomenal visuals, razor-sharp writing and an awesome soundtrack are (unfortunately) hindered by the game’s short length and mixed levels of puzzle polish. Then again, a short but sweet experience could be just what the point-and-click genre needs to get back onto its feet. In a world now devoid of high-profile point-and-click games, Trüberbrook is more than qualified to become a cult classic some time down the road. If Bildundtonfabrik can put out more games like this, they stand to become very popular right at this intersection.

• PS4
• 2 / 10
• Australie

It’s hard to fathom what Bigben were thinking when they signed off on such a project. Sure, Olympic volleyball hasn’t had video game representation for a long time (if at all), but the level of polish and content included doesn’t do the sport justice. I feel sorry for Black Sheep Studio (the developer), because they obviously did what they could with what is likely a shoestring budget, but why anyone would pay $100 AUD for this is beyond me. Usually I’ll find a way to weave a positive aspect into the review, giving it some sort of condescending pat on the back, but there’s almost nothing here worth praising aside from giving hardcore volleyballers a chance to play their favourite sport on modern

• PS4
• 6.9 / 10
• Australie

Dick Wilde 2 isn’t the longest or deepest ride around, but it’s a fun way to get a few shots off after hours. While the options to handle one instrument or two and cross streams with a friend add some much-needed spice, I was still left wanting something a little more adventurous.

• PS4
• 6.5 / 10
• Australie

THKM is a violent and stylish game that allows you to live out your top-down vigilante killing spree fantasies. Diving, slow-mo and shooting feel awesome when strung together well, even if it does start to wear a little thin before the credits roll. The game suffers from a lack of variety, and occasionally the challenge borders on simply being unenjoyable, but I’m sure you’ll find many that relish the style of gameplay and THKM may just become a cult hit because of it.

• PS4
• 5 / 10
• Australie

Measuring in at five foot eight, the idea of being as tall as a high-rise is pretty damn alluring to me and although you do truly feel like a Goliath, that is not enough for me to enjoy this game long term. With the multiplayer only being a quick flash of fun and the single-player lacking personality and ultimately falling flat, I only see Override as a means to scratch the couch co-op itch.

• PC
• 5 / 10
• Australie

Kursk is a great idea, executed mediocrely. The story of the disaster is told very well, with great respect to the zeitgeist of the turn of the millennium. If that’s what you’re after, and you don’t mind dealing with some very janky controls, Kursk could be right up your alley…provided you can pick it up for a smaller price.

• PS4
• 8 / 10
• Australie

• PS4
• 8.5 / 10
• Australie

The lack of a single-player campaign does little to tarnish Black Ops IIII, which given the strength of its three varied modes is still an incredible amount of value. Blackout does an excellent job of directly copying its contemporaries while being objectively better than them, Zombies is Zombies, and the multiplayer is some of the strongest the series has seen in many years thanks to some meaningful changes that have genuine impact without rocking the boat too much. I’ll see you back here next year, where we see if Infinity Ward can keep the good feeling going.

• PC
• 7 / 10
• Australie

It’s pretty clear that Infliction is a passion project and although it’s a bit rough around the edges, I had a lot of fun while playing it. It’s not the scariest game I’ve ever played, but it does a pretty decent job of keeping you on the edge of your seat and pouring over every scrap of paper in the game to try and piece together the story. I also love that it’s clearly influenced by classic horror films like The Exorcist and Jacob’s Ladder, just to name a few. The fact that Infliction was mostly created by one person is very impressive and if you enjoy supporting small Australian studios, I recommend picking it up and giving yourself a good scare.

• PS4
• 8.7 / 10
• Australie