Well Played

• PS5
• 8.5 / 10
• Australie

And so it is something of a bittersweet experience to play the Master Collection. Its comprehensive preservation of Metal Gear reaches deeply into the franchise’s release history and collates decades of value into a well-crafted and thoughtful collection. Appropriately modernised presentation bundles these games into a cohesive package, the individual titles putting their best foot forward thanks to the foundational work of Bluepoint Games and the renewed sense of duty Konami has found to one of its flagship franchises. There’s an ideal world in which this collection would have been all inclusive, perhaps a better value-for-money proposition and one that truly honoured, and grappled with, the legacy of Kojima. But for now, I’m just glad to not be in a world without Snakes.

• SWITCH
• 9.5 / 10
• Australie

It is somewhat difficult to believe that in a year as good as the one we’re having right now, Nintendo manage to swing in at the last moment and release another GOTY contender, but that’s exactly what’s happened. I would say, though, that the success of Mario Wonder shouldn’t be viewed in the context of a single year, or even console generation. Rather, Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s achievement stretches back to the SNES days, when the last truly great 2D Mario games were released, and when those games stood at the pinnacle of visual presentation and game design. Since then, the 2D Mario outings have lived in the shadow cast by the superb 3D Mario outings, but no longer. Super Mario Bros. Wonder provides an experience so brimming with personality, innovation, creativity and charm that it thrusts the 2D perspective back into the centre of the way we think about Mario games, and if Nintendo sticks with this formula and builds on it, 2D Mario games are never going to have to play second fiddle ever again.

• PC
• 7 / 10
• Australie

Cavern of Dreams is a charming N64-inspired platformer with plenty of heart. Its controls and movement may not be as fluid and reliable as they arguably should be (especially in its early hours), and its lack of much in the way of story is a bit disappointing. Yet despite the shortcomings, it remains fun to play. The act of exploring and tracking down collectibles is a tried and tested gameplay loop, and thankfully, Cavern of Dreams provides wacky worlds littered with secrets to uncover, as well some surprisingly engaging challenges. If you’re nostalgic for the era of early 3D mascot platformers, or perhaps just want a short and sweet six to eight hour adventure to sink your teeth into, then spelunking in the Cavern of Dreams is not a bad option.

• PS5
• 7 / 10
• Australie

• PS5
• 9.5 / 10
• Australie

Certain games are so exceptional that when I try to explain to people why I loved playing it so much and why they should as well, my words fail me, and I end up gushing for minutes on end without really saying anything of substance. While I hope my written work conveys my thoughts more clearly, Cocoon is one such game, so I apologise if you strike up a conversation about it with me. A near-perfect example of level and game design that makes the player feel consistently clever without ever holding their hand, Cocoon is a landmark achievement in the genre that deserves a spot right beside the very best.

• PC
• 8 / 10
• Australie

From combat and traversal to the story and characters, everything in Gunbrella revolves around the device that gives the game its name, and for good reason. Using its multiple functions to zip around the world, turning cultists into jelly is fluid and fun, and the game just gives you all the tools necessary from the very beginning. The slightly uneven story gives you a reason to care, without being overbearing, and the few twists that it offers will be more than enough to keep you interested. Throw in a gorgeous pixel art style and a tight six-hour playtime and you’ve got yourself a very solid action platformer that’s worth heading out into the rain for.

• SWITCH
• 8.5 / 10
• Australie

• PS4
• 7.5 / 10
• Australie

• 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