Although the effort to make the series fresh and accessible is admirable, it’s backfired. Fans will be disappointed, newbies will wonder what all the fuss is about. [Issue#3, p.144]

What elevates it from charming little indie to sitting alongside Celeste2 as a future classic is that beneath its cosy aesthetic is a beautifully written story that will resonate deeply with anyone who’s ever faced self-doubt or impostor syndrome. There’s also a wonderful reminder, aided by the many places you can just sit down, that sometimes you just need to take a break, even from the things you’re most passionate about. [Issue#3, p.135]

With only six missions, it’s a fun way to spend an evening or two with a pal (especially if you grabbed it on PS Plus last month), but not something you can return to too often. Replaying the game after swapping roles is fun, and offers some insight into just why you were struggling on that section, but otherwise even the semi-unpredictable portions don’t change enough to make dancing with the same partner again that interesting. But it’s good fun while it lasts, and certainly doesn’t overstay its welcome. [Issue#3, p.135]

Unfortunately, the attempt to touch on darker themes is also rather ham-fisted, but the concept of exploring the mental effects of being the chosen hero and pressures such a role entails is really intriguing. All in all, Minute Of Islands is promising but a bit muddled. [Issue#3, p.135]

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

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]

There’s also a lot of grind, which obviously can get tedious. You find yourself repeatedly tracking Alpha Aphids to mine resources2 in order to craft certain upgrades to progress the story (often arbitrary given that these aren’t abilities you’ll strictly find yourself using). But in the end, despite the suite of upgrades on offer, it’s never enough to make Stonefly feel particularly fun or intuitive. [Issue#3, p.139]

This science-fiction journey won’t be to every modern player’s tastes, but it translates almost flawlessly to PS4, providing you can stomach the weird controller latency. Overall, this is full of fresh sights and sharp dialogue. [Issue#3, p.127]

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

While Jay and Silent Bob diehards may get some enjoyment out of this, possibly with the aid of certain cigarettes, most people will struggle to do so. It’s often difficult and frustrating, more down to a rigid determination to mimic 30-year-old game design than by intention. Even when things are going smoothly, it’s all too simplistic to have much fun with. It’s memorable for the wrong reasons. [Issue#3, p.127]

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]

Just like the super-satisfying weaponry, Rift Apart shoots on all cylinders to set a new bar for PS5. We’ve never had a game like this before. [Issue#3, p.120]

At times it can feel like you’re being led, but rerunning the story reveals more details, secrets, and reasons to love Resident Evil Village. Close to Resi perfection. [Issue#2, p.66]

The story and treatment of its themes hasn’t aged well, but the shocks land and the sense of being lost in a haunted mansion offers a palpable sense of isolation. [Issue#2, p.77]

Slighty improved over the PS4 edition, and featuring the fun Infiltrator DLC, Terminator: Resistance Enhanced never makes use of PS5’s power. A missed opportunity. [Issue#2, p.88]

Though it’s obvious this wasn’t intended to be a true sequel, Below Zero’s frozen trimmings still make it a worthwhile expedition. Be patient to get to the good stuff. [Issue#2, p.84]

Nice idea, shame about the game. The 5 shop’s quite fun but the fantasy world is frustrating and boring – if anything, shouldn’t it be the other way around? [Issue#2, p.89]

It’s almost refreshing to revisit a nononsense PS2 JRPG, and its cynical edge feels fresh. Persona diehards will find this an interesting artefact. [Issue#2, p.72]

Does exactly what it sets out to do – deliver a worthy new R-Type – very well, yet a little more ambition (and accessibility) could have gone a long way. [Issue#2, p.87]

Dripping atmosphere and making great use of PS5 tech, its roguelike elements don’t quite come together, as great to play in the moment as it is. [Issue#2, p.78]

It doesn’t take long to brush up against the rough edges… nor does it take long to forgive them. Now get killing and stealing! Er, for the people. [Issue#2, p.91]

It’s not much cop as a detective game, but this spin-off from the Yakuza series is still a terrific yarn that’s held up by its charming sense of place and character. [Issue#2, p.86]

It’s a shame, because Wonder Boy is fantastic to look at, and the original soundtrack is sweepingly sumptuous. This title opens up a dialogue as to whether these games should mechanically look to the past, or partly adapt to modern gaming conventions in order to make for a more pleasing experience. [Issue#2, p.83]

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]

Skate City offers the standard suite of skill-based skate challenges, though more alluring is the thoughtful presentation surrounding it all. Want to enjoy the serener side of skateboarding? Tail slide into this. [Issue#2, p.83]

It often leans harder into its retro inspirations than is perhaps completely necessary, but Battle Axe is still a fitting tribute to the golden era of coin-operated arcade romps. [Issue#2, p.73]

Ultimately this lacks variety and depth, despite the cute idea. [Issue#2, p.73]

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]