As much as we enjoy our first taste of Xuan-Yuan, it’s definitely rough around the edges. We experience framerate drops whenever we go near rivers, hitboxes not being where they should be, and some oddly endearing animation jank. But as long as you’re fine with that, you’ll have a good time hacking through it. [Issue#8, p.84]

This PlayStation debut is a straightforward remaster of the original, faults and all. But we still love it. [Issue#8, p.84]

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]

It’s not a masterpiece, but Backbone is still worth your time – just make sure you go in with your expectations for the quality of its story held in check. [Issue#8, p.91]

The main game is a beautifully balanced blast of team-shooter perfection. Who needs a story when the action is this good? It’s only let down by unnecessary PvP. [Issue#8, p.82]

Some JRPG-typical dramatics and muddled combat aside, Arise is a feast for any JRPG fan – beautiful, intuitive and earnest. The best in the series to date. [Issue#7, p.86]

Low on innovation, big on fun… and slimy microtransactions. Despite the shameless 7 money grab of certain modes, there’s lots for basketball fans to love. [Issue#7, p.91]

Fans will love another outing with Tak and the gang. Despite improved combat, worse stealth and stripped back exploration can overshadow it. [Issue#7, p.88]

Lost In Random’s unique and compelling qualities go deeper than the wonderful art design. Trust us, roll the dice on a purchase, and you will not be disappointed. [Issue#7, p.84]

A sprout that hasn’t quite managed to bloom. With expressive animation and beautiful art 7 direction there’s lots to enjoy, but gameplay languishes in the shade. [Issue#7, p.80]

Something special. A quick jaunt that lingers in the mind thanks to breezy movement, picturesque locales, and a story that offers plenty of tasty food for thought. [Issue#7, p.79]

Set-piece-driven micro-stories and interesting puzzles shine in this evocative first-person horror. Poor gunplay and linearity aside, it’s a haunted headtrip worth taking. [Issue#7, p.85]

A slower-paced FIFA creates absorbing action that feels like a step forward for the series, but the dominance of FUT is becoming less and less inspiring. [Issue#7, p.76]

The best entry in the series so far, cursed with uneven storytelling and rare yet unmissable technical issues. Despite these flaws, Yara is well worth a visit. [Issue#7, p.70]

You’ve also got new tools for making deliveries, such as a cargo cannon, a robot helper, and even an on-foot only, very steep bridge. Nothing here really ousts the base game’s structures, which is for the best as it means the shared network of nearby players continues to stand strong. Some of it may make the game a little easier, but none of it’s really necessary. That holds true for many PS5 upgrades. Death Stranding is better here than it was on the last-gen console, and it might be worth a revisit to see how the land has changed, but it’s not a must-see replay. [Issue#7, p.74]

As you approach the titular peaks, your brain will feel the burn more often than those boxes. But if you’re stuck on one puzzle, there are always others in each set to try. And in a final stroke of genius, the PS5 version offers Activity cards with short video solutions to all 200-plus puzzles if you feel the heat. With a moody score lending a distinctive, haunting ambience,2 this is one of the most satisfying, generous puzzle games in yonks. [Issue#7, p.90]

As for collection bonuses, there’s an encyclopaedia for each that gives you important details about the enemies, items, and powers in each of the three good games. There’s also a rewind function. Basically, you can go back a bit if you’ve messed something up, or if you took a wrong turn and can’t be bothered to backtrack. The Castlevania Advance Collection is 75% absolutely excellent, and that’s more than enough for us. Now, can we get the DS collection too? [Issue#7, p.90]

While everything is perfectly playable, for a game that absolutely nails the toy’s aesthetic it’s almost remarkable how removed the gameplay feels from the fiery, fast-paced action that has come to embody the brand. Never mind hot, these little wheels are lukewarm at best. [Issue#7, p.90]

Such a fresh-feeling combat system always has you thinking two steps ahead, especially in scenarios when multiple styles of foe are clashing. They’ll fight each other in these instances, but if you’re running low on, say, Katana blades, a Lightning Rod might be your best option. Souls-ish elements do rear their head via alternate routes that make up for harsh checkpointing, encouraging you to get back in the fight (regardless of how tough that encounter is). Discard initial assumptions; Ultra Age is a surprisingly fun slice-fest.[Issue#7, p.78]

Each area, from a forest dwelling to the city to a seaside port, is friendly and fun to explore. Even ghosts just require a little help to move on.2 Conflict comes in the form of problems that everyone is happy to collaborate on fixing. Solutions usually involve your camera in unusual ways, such as directing a lighthouse with your zoom during a storm. It’s a journey you’ll remember, and by the end, you’ll have a camera roll full of memories to look back at. [Issue#7, p.78]

With patience, you should find an accomplished metroidvania in FIST, especially in its rich visuals and varied levels. But if you prefer more carrot than stick in your games then, like Rayton, you may not be a happy bunny. [Issue#7, p.78]

Feeling excellent in the hands, it’s a shame that the repetitive missions almost entirely feel like side-quests, seemingly hampered to fit the multiplayer vision. [Issue#7, p.75]

Although the framerate has taken a step backwards, everything else is as good as, or better than, before. A rally racing experience that doesn’t disappoint. [Issue#6, p.83]

Held back by some clunky controls and combat, this is a joy to play and a deserving, if somewhat less novel, successor. A truly mind-full delight. [Issue#6, p.84]

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]

From great art to fun combat and a truly unique idea for something that isn’t a sports 8 game, Dodgeball Academia scores a lot of goals. Get on this court. [Issue#6, p.91]

Haven Springs will work its charm on you. Alex Chen is easy to root for and her story is well worth playing for Life is Strange series fans and newbies alike. [Issue#6, p.78]

The PS4 original is enhanced in clever ways on PS5, and what you do on Iki island builds on the lore and ideas of the main game in clever ways. A must-play on PS5. [Issue#6, p.80]