Drop Duchy's mix of gameplay elements work together well but there's quite a steep learning curve if you want to really get everything out of the game.

As a visual novel, Kamikaze Lassplanes doesn't grab me. Once I got past the absurd premise of transforming women into planes that you would pilot, the remainder feels safe within the genre. There's a war going on but there's enough downtime to make you forget until the next shooter section comes into view. I do think the shoot-em-up stages are genuinely decent. Whilst it lacks variety in weapons, the core shooting feels good and the stage design isn't too devious. Unfortunately, it's not turning this into a game I'd recommend.

The Confinement does accomplish what it sets out to do. The movement is consistent and sharp, although the camera movement feels overly sensitive. Even with it reduced to it's most basic level, I have enough to swivel myself into the right positions. The levels are short and easy to understand which does lead to a game that can fly by. The story barely impedes the pacing but I can't say it offered me much intrigue either. It's a fun enough jaunt I feel like it's missing more variety in level design or biomes just to make it feel like more of a journey.

It's not Trash Goblin's fault that Trash Goblin is the way it is. It's your fault. It's all our fault. Games shouldn't try to be jobs. I think we should have realised that a while ago.

Let Them Come: Onslaught does a fine job with the somewhat oversubscribed Survivors-like genre. Good presentation, addictive gameplay. It's not the best example of the genre but it's a pretty decent one.

Find My Frogs is a lovely little confection of a game. Yes, it’s brief and you’ll likely be done inside an hour as we were, but we defy you to be anything but charmed by it by the time you’re done. Plus the night time lighting is gorgeous. Get to it.

This is not the return to the series fans were hoping for. Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a slight experience with a story that feels poorly connected to the older classics. Elalith's actions undermine the decisions taken in previous games and, if that's not enough, the gameplay is very basic. It does have some interesting visual sections, but these also scale back the interactivity. As a result, it doesn't feel cohesive and strikes me more of a piece of merchandise than a game.

Starfield is a great port of the previously Xbox and PC only spacefaring RPG from Bethesda. And it’s pretty damn solid. The sheer scope is staggering and us PS5 owners should be kept busy for a long time. Yes, there’s a few issues with bugs that persist from the original 2023 version, but we can only hope they’re resolved post-launch. Sidequest overload is probably more of an issue than being overencumbered if we’re honest. Still great, so get to it.

Beyond Words takes the classic Scrabble formula and pushes it through a Balatro-esque roguelike structure and it does a decent job with that concept, even if it can drag on a bit and success relies on luck some of the time.

There's a lot of Superheroes for your money in MARVEL MaXimum Collection. They're not all bangers but having thirteen titles to dig through is a lot. The usual quality of life features persist, as do some cheats which will help players get through the more challenging entries. The online play for the arcade titles is welcome, although performance hasn't been great at release. I'm always going to yearn for more archival content but, what they have here has been well preserved.

Crimson Desert is the very definition of a cult classic. It shows lofty ambitions whilst Pearl Abyss are effectively going with what they know. There's some exemplary exploration and world design on display but the quest design feels incredibly basic. It's always bringing some new mechanic or system into view but that dilutes the game's focus. I've had some fun with it but it's been heavily clouded by an incredibly slow start, awkward controls and some truly awful bosses.

New Super Lucky’s Tale is largely the same game as was released on PS4 in August 2020, only with 4k and 120Hz implementation. It’s still good, but the tilt controls on the challenge levels feel slightly off now. That might be down to the DualSense, but it makes the tilt levels feel like an even more unforgiving gauntlet than they already were. This being released in 2026 has us wondering if we’ll ever see NSLT2. Don't worry though, New Super Lucky's Tale is still worth playing and if it leads to a sequel eventually, it's all good.

Grind Survivors looks and plays pretty good but after a while it just starts to feel like a grind and when that's literally the whole point, you can't help but ask why they've focused so much on that aspect.

It is a testament that, despite thirty years of Resident Evil, with over thirty unique titles under the franchise belt, Capcom is still able to wring out the value and deliver on quality . Resident Evil Requiem is one of the finest examples of both survival horror and third-person action, all rolled into one experience that expertly combines the best of both worlds into a concise, moreish package.

The Coin Game is all the fun of the fair and carnival wrapped up in a tidy package. It’s startling quite how many games there are to play here, many of them are great, some are middling and just like real life, some are barely worth a second look. Yes, the hub world isn’t the tidiest, but it’s hardly a deal breaker. The simulated tat on offer here isn’t going to landfill like it would in the real world, plus you’re only spending £15.99 into the bargain. There’s hours of play here if this is your thing and the added bonus is no FNAF style nonsense into the bargain. A perfect rainy day game then.

Against some odds, Marathon is a compelling extraction shooter that offers some really satisfying combat. I do think having only one contract at a time slows progression down but there's plenty of other meters to work towards. Solo play has a tension to it which I really enjoy, although the game seems to be built more around squads. With just a few maps available at launch, I only hope that the game evolves and grows over time. I love the aesthetic and, generally speaking, it's doing quite a few things right.

Hidden Cats in Spooky Village ramps up the scare factor with buckets of gore and disturbing imagery. Nah, we’re kidding, it’s the same cute cats in folk horror locations and is a solid addition to the hidden cat pantheon that Silesia and Nukearts are excelling at. Some cats can be tough to find due to being really tiny but generally it’s not a huge problem across twelve generous levels.

Devil Jam is one of the better auto-battling roguelites that we've seen on PSN and it has a bit more personality than most of them too. It's just a little bit too repetitive for its own good.

Toxic Commando feels just like World War Z and that ship sailed a while ago for us. It's an adequate shooter but just lacks excitement. And originality. It's got none of that.

As the final entry to the series, Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered does its best to polish up a game that doesn't always hit the mark. The voice acting remains fantastic and is delivered with all the gravitas I'd come to expect. The pacing can be hit by Raziel's constant need to monologue but the helpful breadcrumb trail should prevent players from getting lost. Above all, it's a nicely put together package with a wealth of cut content and extras.

Sumerian Six is a solid real time adventure with all manner of fun gadgets and a mean difficulty streak. The PS5 port isn’t particularly optimised though with UI scaling being a particular problem as well as a camera that’s clearly more set up for mouse control as opposed to a DualSese. It’s still fun despite that, just be aware that playing on a 4K display is your best bet as it’s virtually impossible to see if you play on 1080p unless it’s a few feet in front of you.

Vampire Therapist manages to be a thoughtful delve into psychiatry whilst still remaining manageable for newcomers. Sam is a likeable character and the rest of the cast have plenty of energy to bring to the table. I do wish the locales were more varied and two mini-games don't carry any real consequence. The heart of the game is the conversations with clients and they are very well written. It's worth recommending for that insight alone and the peek behind the curtain.

There may be fans of City Hunter, the manga comic, but we'd be surprised to find any fans of this game's original PC Engine version so this expensive port is hard to recommend, especially because of the game's awful level design.

Disco Simulator's approach to management is incredibly simple. Whilst you can tinker with a few facets, the two resources that matter can be easily acquired. Turning a profit requires little effort and reputation does tend to be handed to you. What remains is a game with very few stakes and, as such, I wasn't encouraged to change my gameplan. That led to something that felt tedious pretty quick.

Under The Island is a lovely pixel art adventure in the grand style of SNES and GBA era Zelda adventures. Yes, there’s some issues with pathfinding on occasion and some of the collectibles appear to be bugged, but you’ll no doubt enjoy this as we did. Get to it and start exploring under the island. Sorry not sorry.

Ship’s Cat is a game of two halves, the first being what you might expect, the second being something else altogether. The fact this is cobbled together by a solo dev and ends up being as impressive as it is, is quite something. Yes, the bugs halt progress a little, but with a patch already submitted to Sony, the prospects for Ship’s Cat are good going forward.

In a genre that is full of Vampire Survivors clones, Centipede Gun offers something a little different and while it can feel a little underdeveloped, we did enjoy it while it lasted.

Hidden Cats in Christmas, while subject to an unfortunate delay slipping to February is another solid hidden cat game. The formula keeps on getting refined by Nukearts, but we fear we’re getting a little fatigued with hidden cat games on the whole. This is still good though and it’s good value.

Lovish's compact levels and responsive controls certainly scratch an itch. Whilst the 8-bit aesthetics aren't new, the execution is well done. The pace is kept up really well and the variety is strong. It's a shame the lives don't manifest into an actual failure state but there's enough danger in the levels to consider already. The story shows some heart, although it is thin. Despite that, it's a game full of ideas and ingenuity.

Romeo is a Dead Man has the style and swagger of a much better game. The combat is nothing you've not seen before, the level design is uninspired, dated and often frustrating, and the story isn't as funny or clever as it thinks it is. But, still, there's fun to be had and the game can be compelling. It just needs to get out of its own way more often than not.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master doesn't quite go the whole hog with an homage to Japanese tuner culture. The handling feels solid, even if there is a lack of feedback. The selection of cars is pretty strong and the world is decently sized. The story is something that passed me by but the manga presentation does give it some flavour. If anything, it also shows up the rest of the gameplay by reverting a more familiar, but polished look. That said, it's bright and delivers a fun open-world racer.

I think Dark Auction does pull some punches. Whilst it aims to ask difficult questions about a post-war generation, it approaches it softly or prefers to avoid the bigger picture. It can feel like a backdrop when the whole cast have familial ties to a failed dictatorship. Despite that, the investigative nature of each auction is well done and it's presented in a smart, stylish way. Digging into the past of the other bidders is a methodical process that can be rewarding.

Roguematch: The Extraplanar Invasion is a good combination of match three mechanics with dungeon crawling aspects, but is hamstrung a little by the harsh difficulty you’ll encounter in the second chapter. Some mechanics aren’t that well explained, but when the game is as addictive as chocolate coated peanut butter crack pieces, you’ll let it slide as we did.

There was enough about I Hate This Place to keep us engaged right to the very end, but the longer we played it, the more it annoyed us. It feels dated, confused and amateurish in everything it tries to do, and it's such a shame because you can tell there was heart and vision behind it. It just needed more time, talent or maybe both.

A fair amount of content for a fair price. That's all you can ask for with a DLC and it's nice to see World War Z still getting content six years after its release.

Fighting Force is still fun, in a dated and clunky kind of way. Fighting Force 2 is still awful, in every way.

Cats Around Us: Giant Cat is another Silesia hidden cat game, but rather slim pickings. Fleshed out a little bit by the jigsaw puzzles you have to do to unlock three out of four levels, but this is generally a weaker entry into the sneaky feline pantheon.

Tonally, BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW doesn't quite land. I'm always wary about bullying storylines and they can pull punches that make the abuse seem a little hokey. Anne is not the most reliable narrator so it can be hard to trust her words. The social media aspect is decently attempted but the inclusion of a real influencer can make the ending feel very contradictory. It's a visually stunning game but it lacks a cohesion from chapter to chapter and the chase scenes can lead to some early frustration.

We gave The Perplexing Orb: Bounce N' Roll the benefit of the doubt when we reviewed it but this sequel isn't just similar, it's basically the exact same game. With all the same problems as before and even less of a lifespan. It's a bit of a rip-off and we just can't support it.

It's one thing having rogue-likes do the shooting for you but this brick-breaker has zero interactivity apart from letting you pick your perks. And while that can be the most addictive part of some of these sort of games, it's not really enough to carry a game by itself.

Street Racer Collection packages four ports from the much travelled Street Racer series. For the most part, it does a solid job of conveying how the game tried to compete and change things up in a developing genre. In terms of the game selection, having two 16-bit efforts leads to a lot of content duplication and the controls aren't uniform across them. The DOS and portable versions at least feel like separate games and offer a glimpse into a series progressing over time. I had fun with it and you do get plenty of options to tinker with the experience.

Dark Atlas: Infernum has most of it's horror implied rather than seen. Whilst I do enjoy the implications, the game itself lacks a connection to the world at large. Natalia is a suitably distressed mother but the English voice acting is a touch overdone. Crucially, the checkpoints aren't best placed and, if you take intended experience of having monsters accompany you, that may lead to a lot of repetition.

Static Dread: The Lighthouse is a fun take on the Papers, Please formula with a distinct Lovecraftian flavour. Across its fifteen days you’ll stare into the maw of madness as it makes everyone around you lose their collective minds. We had a lot of fun and look forward to playing it a load more. To call it a job simulator does it a disservice as it’s anything but tedious. Get to it.

Hidden Cats in Istanbul is another solid hidden cat game, though very much hewing to the same template as the last one set in Rio. It’s still good though.

Kill It With Fire 2 is more of the same, following on from 2021’s FPS puzzle game. But by trying to iterate, we fear the premise has been stretched too far. We still had fun to some extent, but when there’s plenty of other more fun games to play at the moment, this doesn’t engage as the dev probably hopes it would.

Ultimate Zombie Defense is a bad port of an average PC game and it gives you almost no incentive to keep playing it.

Don't get your hopes up if you're looking for a great skateboarding game. This isn't it. But it is a very good game that has a lot of skateboarding in it.

Project Motor Racing clearly wants to emulate the likes of Project Cars but simply doesn't have the breadth of content or options to live up to that expectation. It's tricky handling model can be a handful on controller and I just don't quite get the oomph from the throttle that I'd like. That said, I did enjoy trying to figure that out. It's surprisingly tense and sharp to require that much focus behind the wheel. The career mode lacks some flexibility and, on the technical side, there's a lack of polish that can make things look and feel dated.

MARVEL Cosmic Invasion is a love letter to the great comic-based beat 'em ups of the '90s but, very importantly, surpasses all of them. Which it absolutely should given we're in the 2025 but it's nice to see them do it nonetheless.

If nothing else, Hannah has a confident style. I love the Dutch angles and the big, intimidating world. She controls well enough but the restrictive camera really impedes the platforming. That said, it's not a difficult game but it will frustrate. The puzzles will lightly jog your memory but nothing felt especially taxing. I wish the story was better presented. Finding segments out of order or missing them entirely can make gaining a complete narrative difficult to achieve. For all the ambition, it lacks polish and care.

Lumines Arise is a fun refinement of the formula, completing a loose trilogy of sorts with Tetris Effect and Rez Infinite. It supports PSVR2 just as they do, but somehow feels less reliant on them to get the full experience. For us, Lumines is a handheld joint, so perhaps a PlayStation Portal is your best bet in that regard. It’s still excellent though with the new Burst feature being a welcome addition. No callbacks to the original PSP game feels like a missed opportunity though, especially given twenty years have passed since the first game.

This publisher may have released more shoot 'em ups on the system than any other but this might be their most interesting. If you're up for a shooter that genuinely changes up the classic mechanics of the genre and pulls it off, Schildmaiden MX is definitely worth a look.

Whilst it tries to do something interesting with it's pro-trucker story, time on the road is filled with irritants. The behaviour of the other road users is erratic and obeying the laws of the road only seems shorten your driver's chances for survival. The long hauls only seem to showcase a large, bland map with very few points of actual interest. Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection is a something of a dull mess that doesn't quite stack up.

Sektori is a return to a style of twin-stick shooters that we don't see nearly enough of these days. Addictive, exciting and set to a banging soundtrack, this is what we've been missing. It's just let down by being a bit too tough for its own good

Cat God Ranch is an odd thing. We suspect the concept was solid when it came to the project brief but the execution leaves something to be desired. Mechanics aren’t well explained at all and you’re guaranteed to hit a solid difficulty wall after a while. Yes, the animals are all very jolly and vocal, but can’t carry this beyond the initial couple of hours. The problem is the game mechanics aren’t clear and bafflement is likely to be your default state rather than enjoyment. For now, avoid this.

Once Upon a Jester is certainly worth playing. Whilst the interactivity is light, the humour and writing do a wonderful job of creating a heart-warming story. It's twee, cheeky but tactfully performed. The on-stage stuff can hinder the pacing but, even within those segments, there's a playful tone that can produce some smiles.

While this is the shoot 'em up port we most wanted to see (alongside Gradius V at least), it's also such a straight, unambitious port that it doesn't really do justice to such a beloved game. Sure, the original magic is still there but they've done very little to enhance or modernise it, beyond a quick and dirty upscale.

Hidden Cats in Rio de Janeiro is another solid hidden cat game. In a similar vein to the Tokyo installment, this is good and offers a decent package for less than a coffee from Starbucks. Get searching and find all them felines.

You can certainly see some variety in locales and enemy design but the combat becomes very stale. Twins of the Sun's loose melee swings don't really pack a punch. It's not a difficult game but certainly feels better playing as a duo. The wave-based encounters draw a lot of attention to those flying solo, even if the game is very lenient with health pick-ups. This is competent but it lacks a tighter feel.

Instruments of Destruction is a decent indie stab at a spiritual Blast Corps sequel. It’s really quite good, though the Build and Destroy mode isn’t so great, though that’s more down to the UI. Time to get moving!

Halls of Torment is pretty good and this DLC is an affordable way to add some more content. The new level and characters aren't the best though.

Republic of Pirates isn't the most deep of experiences. The campaign's rigid structure will show you all the ropes of building your island colonies. The ship combat feels mostly like a sidenote. As a result, it's not complex enough to give you serious control issues. The interface is mostly fine and the basic presentation does sprinkle in some much needed character. It's a leisurely experience with little jeopardy and that might be enough for beginners.

The Order of the Snake Scale is a small and cheap effort that struggles to serve up mystery or tension. Whilst the music can be atmospheric, most areas are lifeless and combat is sparse. It's an adventure game but the steps you take to progress the story feel strangely disconnected. The tank controls lead to an awkward fumble and the first-person view, whilst making it easier to navigate, is an ugly thing to look at. It's playable but far from cohesive.

Painkiller takes the original fan-favourite FPS and turns it into one of those modern squad shooters where there's a lot of fun to be had for a day and then the content dries up fast. It might be worth seeing what support this game gets before you jump in.

If you can get past its PS1-era looks, which do have their own charm, there's a lot of fun to be had with it. Especially if you're a fan of auto-battling roguelites like we are.

Xenotilt is cool and impressive but it doesn't explain itself very well and the visuals can sometimes overwhelm the gameplay.

I do think Forgive Me Father 2 nails the atmospheric presentation. I don't care much for the Priest's gruff narration but the visuals are impressively stylised. The music helps reinforce it and the gunplay is solid. The campaign has a steady pace that rarely lets up and multiple endings and difficulty settings allow for plenty of return visits. I do wish movement was sharper but the arsenal shows a good variety of weapons.

Fast and Furious Arcade Edition is a vacuous void of a game that while it might work well in an arcade environment, but is so sadly lacking in this home port. The AI rubberbanding is among the worst we’ve ever seen in our memory, if not ever, to the extent that no matter how well you drive, the opposition will be on you regardless. Don’t waste your time and money buying and playing this, instead pick up Burnout Paradise on the PSN store as you’ll get more from that for less money. Avoid this at all costs.

Gnomdom is a nice cosy little puzzle game with a fun setting. Family friendly puzzles and nice presentation make this an easy game to recommend.

Platypus Reclayed is an unexpected remaster that has worked wonders with the original game's visual style and, following a patch, now offers up some enjoyable shooting too.

UBOAT really offers something tactical and tense. There's a lot to think about and the campaigns are long and varied. Unfortunately, it's curtailed by a console port that struggles to stay ship shape. Even if the technical bother eventually gets ironed out, the controls feel too much of a handful. Putting the time in does reap some rewards but I sense this is a game much more at home on mouse and keyboard.

BALL x PIT offers up a truly original mix of genres and does it all in a way that genuinely impresses.

Trials in the Sky 1st Chapter is an excellent remaster. Yes, you’ll probably want to switch off the US voiceovers and some of the plot exposition can be a bit cliched and longwinded, but the combat and mechanics are solid. Graphically sumptuous with lovely music, we look forward to many hours more from FC.

Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 manages to depict the intricate workflow of scrapping a ship. It's a slow, gradual process that requires an awful lot of time from you. Contracts and valuable cargo do help establish a routine and success can be monetarily lucrative. Unfortunately, it moves too slowly and feels too much like work to really maintain my focus. It's repetitious and doesn't deliver many surprises.

Two decades on, the Sonic Wings series needed a shot in the arm but this isn't it. With it's bland gameplay and drab visuals, there aren't many reasons to recommend this flawed shoot 'em up.

Cats & Seek: Kyoto is another hidden cat game from Silesia Games, developed by noobzilla. It’s cute to a tee and for a tiny bit more than a mcdonalds milkshake, will keep you amused for ninety minutes at a push across its two levels. So rather sparse, even for a hidden cat game. At least you get a jukebox and a jigsaw into the bargain.

Gloomy Eyes expands on the VR movie of the same name by using the same assets to loosely follow the same plot beats. The camera and movement throughout the pre-rendered landscape aren't the most streamlined but there's still fun to be had. The narration is a highlight.

King of Meat has a lot of charm and confidence to it and some of the humour is on point, but this mix of platforming and combat never really impresses in either area and the whole thing has a 'free to play' energy despite having a £25 price tag.

Baby Steps is a compelling, frustrating mix of wandering and storytelling. Nate is unlikeable and the humour plays off his inability to accept help or advice. Traversal is surprisingly accessible but leaves plenty of room for skill and challenge. The lack of a map really messed with my sense of direction and the later game really tried my patience. It's an accomplished effort that I think is worth playing, if you've got the patience for it.

I really struggle to get into a flow state with Extinction Rifts. The ingredients are there with short and sharp levels that challenge your ability to remember and react. Unfortunately, there's just enough downtime between encounters to make maintaining a combo tricky. Aesthetically, it's got some colour but lacks style and bombast. There's a solid idea here but it's not polished or truly focused.

If you remember Puzzle Quest, or just like tile-matching games, this is the definitive way to experience the game.

I think Adventure of Samsara's brand of search action is well tuned. The combat feels deliberate but takes a backseat to the exploration. Once the movement suite is unlocked, the pacing livens up and discovery can feel very rewarding. I'm not enamoured with the pixel art but the cutscenes have an enchanting level of animation to them. Despite the tenuous links to the old game, this feels like a solid addition to Atari's catalogue.

While it was interesting to play such a rare shoot 'em up, Mamorukun ReCursed! feels a bit clunky, quite dated and not actually all that impressive. It's a capable enough game but not the best example of the genre.

Aside from the graphics, which are nice and cartoony, everything else about this roguelike auto-battler is a little off. The tweaks they've made to the usual formula just feel like a barrier to fun but when you get past all of that, there's some entertainment on offer here.

Hidden Cats in Tokyo is the latest from Silesia Game and their frequent collaborators NukeArts. Across its fifteen levels you’ll find all manner of hidden felines and additional objects, though the less said about finding up to a hundred people in a couple of levels, the better. There’s a plot but it’s largely rhubarb, though you can at least skip that and get to finding the cats. The art is often cute and on occasion, exquisite. This is worth a play anyway.

Welcome to Basingstoke is a daft post apocalyptic rogue-like that’s ostensibly set in the north Hampshire town, though it’s just so dark. As in difficult to see. The only time you can play reliably is at night. Never mind that Basingstoke is fifty miles from London, it has tube stations. Given the devs are from London, you’d assume a little familiarity with that. In-game tracking for class unlocks is a bit inconsistent too, as well as the stealth melee kills trophy being broken at the time of writing.

Earthion feels authentic but evolved. If Mega Drive players would have been blown away by this shoot 'em up if it had been released back in the '90s but it still impresses now.

Hirogami offers a lovely aesthetic and soundtrack that the platforming can't quite match. It's full of ideas with each animal form having a great sense of purpose but switching between isn't always snappy. The fixed perspective can make judging depth tricky and the necessity for hitting level goals can present some players with a late roadblock. At times, it's wonderful but it's not firing on all cylinders.

Inside ZOE Begone! there's a good idea but it doesn't really come together as a game and feels like it's a few patches away from being its best self.

For a small developer and a small price tag, Pic-A-Block delivers dozens of brain teasing slide-puzzles. It's not deep but it can make you feel occasionally clever. I would've liked a few more options around colour palettes and undoing moves but it's fine and functional. I find the music relaxing and, provided you're playing in short bursts, it's not going to outstay it's welcome.

Hook CE is a nice package comprising one hundred and sixty levels. The first game is definitely the weaker of the two and it shows in that this is very much a game of two halves. It's good though.

Rally Arcade Classics presents a solid handling model coupled with some bite-sized action that can feel rewarding. The chase to complete the tour mode can devolve into a grind and it's a pity there aren't more rally locations. It definitely has issues that hamper the flow, for example the not-so-quick restarts. Despite this, it's compelling enough to bring me back. The vehicles offer a decent selection whilst trying their best to stay within the arcade confines. It mostly succeeds but the star-based structure can lead to some repetition.

9 Lives to Defend is a fun cat-themed take on the popular auto-shooter genre and it does a good job but never quite lives up to the 'bullet heaven' tag.

core.sys isn’t a Windows system process in this context, more a nice neat little puzzle game with a hacking subtext. Yes, it’s a little brief and ends rather abruptly but its also fun with it. The PS4/PS5 crossbuy is an added bonus so you can double dip for the platinum super quickly if that’s your bag. Otherwise, enjoy this nice little bite-sized effort over a couple of days.

While it may lack excitement and variety, what you get here is the ultimate Boulder Dash experience and if you're old enough for that to mean anything, this is a one-stop shop for fans of the series.

Cyber Clutch: Hot Import Nights is a very slim package. Whilst the car count is high, the track variety is not and the campaign will whisk you through them in short order. Whilst the racing can be competitive, it lacks some excitement. Handling is mostly fine but some of the narrower sections can really pinball vehicles around. The aesthetics are there but the lack of fidelity makes for a muddy, harsh appearance. Even the vehicle tinkering underwhelms.

Flame Keeper is very obviously a Switch port shunted to PS5. We’d almost suggest it reeks a little of shovelware in that regard. The core gameplay loop can come over a bit boring if we’re honest, certainly not suited to extended play. The RNG is also harsh on occasions, especially when you end up reliant on it deigning whether you get an extra life on death or not. It’s just OK, but our enthusiasm had run low by the time we beat the final boss.

This compilation offers up eight shoot 'em ups from one of the main innovators of the genre and is a must for fans of Toaplan and shoot 'em ups in general. It's also insanely difficult most of the time but has enough quality of life features to help mitigate that.