It’s a game that can feel unfair and frustrating; most of it would work better if you had full control of movement and momentum. SMB Forever is ultimately a victim of its own legacy – the first game demonstrated that a Meat Boy game can, and should, be much better than this. [Issue#2, p.73]

That difficulty continues when it comes handling your character. You can only shoot forwards unless you’re sliding, but when you slide you move very quickly, which usually results in you ending up in a trap or missing your shot completely. For some players these challenges will be an incentive to get stuck in, but for others, that difficulty plus the lack of instruction will give them good reason to keep avoiding roguelikes. [Issue#2, p.83]

Soak in a lovely warm atmosphere and get your phone camera ready, because this engrossing wildlife-saving adventure is full of good vibes. [Issue#3, p.133]

Death Crown is fun at first but rapidly shows the limitations of its own simple mechanics. [Issue#3, p.127]

Pre-level prep (companion and buff choice) affords a sense of ownership over the entire experience and, while shooter veterans will have absolutely no trouble sailing through the levels, the tradeoff is a userfriendly atmosphere that makes repeated playthroughs a joy rather than a slog. It’s not the size of your game that matters; it’s what you do with it that counts. [Issue#3, p.139]

Sunless Skies is difficult, but rewarding. You just have to persevere. And leave yourself a decent inheritance. [Issue#3, p.139]

The main quest is the most disappointing of any Chapter so far, yet remains enjoyable. The world around it is a strong, if often unambitious, addition to Tamriel. [Issue#3, p.154]

A PS3 title that received an impressive amount of TLC for its PS4 remaster only gets basic tweaks for PS5. The design and humour show their age. [Issue#3, p.126]

The best Star Wars game in over a decade gets a revamp on PS5, and becomes a Forceful contender. Minor issues aside, Fallen Order shouldn’t be missed. [Issue#3, p.134]

Not knowing what lies ahead and trying to make sense of how this ravaged world came to be is the main draw, especially since much of the worldbuilding is reserved for diary pages2 that are easily missed. The Eternal Castle [Remastered]’s openly abstract approach may frustrate some, but any mechanical shortfalls are more than made up for by the vibrant pixel art, lo-fi sound design, and all-round chilling atmosphere. [Issue#4, p.77]

There are a few ways to get out of your series of unfortunate events, and while it’s relatively simple when you know how, the solution will take you an hour or two to stumble upon (and the hardest ending is truly devious). The game’s a bit of a one-trick pony, without much to come back for besides trophies, but really good fun while it lasts. [Issue#4, p.88]

While improvements are slight, they’re enough to provide the definitive version of arguably the best Doom yet. What the hell are you waiting for? [Issue#4, p.90]

The narrative and aesthetic may boast a late medieval vibe, yet it combines with the tone and language’s modernity to create a silly juxtaposition that shouldn’t work but does. The only real area where The Procession To Calvary falls down is in some obtuse puzzle solutions that aren’t always immediately obvious. Couple this with an emphasis on backtracking,2 and there’s a slight sense of padding in an adventure that can be finished in one sitting. That said, what’s here is an adventure game quite unlike any other, one where sense and logic are out the arched window. [Issue#5, p.77]

In its light-hearted depiction of the dangers of capitalism, Embr is both intensely good fun and also slightly unsettling. Balancing the two moods is tricky, but it does it well, and this is an excellent companion to other chaotic multiplayer games. [Issue#6, p.90]

The thrill of making a last-minute escape through a portal, the satisfaction of making multiple kills via one, the tension of jumping into a portal blind, the simple joy of taking enemies down without using one at all… no wonder the beta proved so popular that the servers were overwhelmed. The fact that the in-game currency and cosmetics are politely tucked into the shop tab rather than being thrown in your face at every opportunity is the icing on the cake (which isn’t a lie). [Issue#6, p.93]

All-Star Brawl never gets beyond that uncomfortable phase that you normally have to push through with a new fighting game. Instead, that horrifying state of confusion in which you don’t quite know what you’re doing is all you can expect from it. It might be enough to keep younger kids satisfied, but they’re also not going to recognise the characters, so it feels like a bit of a bust. This is not the Smash Bros competitor we’d hoped for. [Issue#8, p.84]

Playing Tangle Tower is a lot like sticking your favourite episode of Poirot or Jonathan Creek on. It’s a light-hearted, comfy murder mystery with plenty of twists along the way. [Issue#8, p.94]

While this sounds a lot, Airborne Kingdom’s pace is very relaxed. You can find all necessary resources in the world below, beautifully designed to resemble the shards of Moroccan ceramics. Thanks to simple building mechanics and manageable console controls, we found our way around quickly. [Issue#8, p.90]

Charming aesthetics veil a thought-provoking science-fiction adventure that puts you at the centre of the soon-to-be universe. Plus, there's a breakdancing crab. [Issue#11, p.88]

Wants to be a faithful throwback to the beat- ’em-ups of old with a unique 3D polygonal 3 spin. Unfortunately, the transition to another dimension is far from smooth. [Issue#11, p.89]

All the more tiring intricacies and slightly railroady objectives melt away in the light of the dastardly fun Sandbox mode, however. As well as perfecting your Lair more freely, you can undergo a variety of challenges to see how well it holds up when the Forces Of Justice attack, testing out your traps and the open-ended building design. Sandbox mode is often the highlight of this kind of game, and Evil Genius 2’s is as solid as you’d want. [Issue#10, p.86]

Battlesector offers a solid campaign, but little else. Showing the Devastation Of Baal’s aftermath, it isn’t newcomer-friendly, but it’s good for Warhammer fans. [Issue#10, p.87]

Mechanically engaging, and with stylish visuals and a catchy soundtrack, Hermitage: Strange Case Files is an enjoyable dose of mystery that’ll appeal if you’re looking for a visual novel with a little extra. [Issue#9, p.86]

The visuals are impressive as they feature a hand-drawn world with the clean yet colourful feel of a European graphic novel, accompanied by comic-book-style cutscenes that add to the overall charm. If you’re a completionist or trophy hunter, Treasures Of The Aegean is sure to spark the thrill of adventure as there’s a wealth of relics to find and a rich history to discover. [Issue#9, p.86]

A poignant, tender tale about death. Dashes of comedy, a whimsical fantasy world, and memorable boss fights make this an indie game of the year contender. [Issue#9, p.91]

Winning by deceit, not simply pointing and shooting, takes real skill. If you’ve got the patience to master it for yourself, First Class Trouble is for you. [Issue#9, p.92]

By far the biggest flaw, however, is the lack of fully translated text. There’s no translation for what’s written on key items for solving puzzles, such as the compass, so you’re left doing a quick Chinese language lesson or brute-forcing your way through. It’s a shame, as Paper Dolls has promise, but it’s an ectoplasmic mess in its current state. [Issue#12, p.75]

The visuals and sound design are stripped back without feeling clunky or lazy, and suit the steady pace and good humour. It would be nice to see its equally bizarre predecessor Forget Me Not: My Organic Garden (currently exclusive to PC and mobiles) join this on PS4 for the full experience. [Issue#12, p.85]