There are minor irritations – some bosses have annoying stun-locks, enemies sometimes don’t load in properly, and platforming can be iffy at times. But trying again comes with minimal punishment. Like the twisted religion testing The Penitent One’s faith, the game’s willing to forgive – if you’re willing to try again. [Issue#168, p.78]

Superbly voice acted, and with great-looking animation and environments, AI: The Somnium Files is a decadent production giving you one of the best videogame detective mysteries this generation. [Issue#168, p.78]

Visual Concepts’ tireless scouting for new stuff hasn’t affected its immaculate eye for detail. [Issue#168, p.78]

More guns, more planets, more skills, more… more. If you liked the previous ones, this gives you plenty of the same to enjoy. Borderlands 3 is the very definition of the bigger and better sequel. [Issue#168, p.76]

Generic in places but ultimately redeemed by brilliant combat and some clever roguelike elements, this Dark Souls copycat is a (mostly) worthy contender. [Issue#167, p.87]

A visual treat and fun to play, Oninaki’s only failings are the fault of its retro nature – if that’s what you’re here for, you’ll find few faults. [Issue#167, p.93]

For keen players, this expansion does what it’s supposed to – it doesn’t just add more space and monsters, it introduces new mechanics and nuances. Tough going for casual hunters, though. [Issue#167, p.84]

A short, spooky sail into seas that could be schlockier. For all its faults, we’d still recommend getting the gang together for Movie Night mode, and our hopes are still high for the rest of the anthology. [Issue#167, p.90]

A cycle trip down childhood memory lane that will put a smile on your face. A terrific thesis from the ex-Media Molecule team on charming co-op fun. [Issue#167, p.86]

An incredibly flawed RPG that we can’t stop playing. Whether you choose to unite or drive apart the island, playing this one feels like curling up under a moth-eaten but still cosy blanket. [Issue#167, p.82]

Interactive storytelling done right. A superb setting and impressive central performance heighten a relatively simple plot, demanding multiple playthroughs just so you can see everything. [Issue#167, p.88]

Impactful gunplay bolstered by a telekinetic twist, and a mystery you’ll be turning over for a long time afterwards. Welcome to the Oldest House, Director. [Issue#167, p.79]

Yes, the presentation is lacking in some areas, and the comic-aping cutscenes feel cheap, but this is one glitch in the system we’re happy not to fix. [Issue#167, p.92]

s. There’s certainly room to experiment and tinker. Yet for all the fun you’ll have in Wreckfest’s sandpit circuits the constant technical hurdles hold it back. [Issue#167, p.92]

There’s not a lot to the game besides pointing at enemies and blasting them, and it’s showing its age. But it’s so weird it’s hard to look away from, and tearing through it is a short but sweet blast. [Issue#167, p.92]

Even if you only want to do the main missions and enough side-content to level up sufficiently, you’ll get at least ten to 12 hours of play. What’s interesting is the endgame, providing daily and weekly challenges, and allowing you to replay missions for extra XP. Solo this will become tiring, but with a friend? Any excuse to kill Nazis is a good excuse. [Issue#166, p.79]

A superb VR idea mercilessly crushed under the jackboot of mediocrity. Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot has neither the standout quality to be good, nor the memorable identity to be bad. [Issue#166, p.82]

This early bird seizes more than just earworms. A perfect all-ages-adventure with a slew of button-tapping musical numbers. Play it with your young chickadees. [Issue#166, p.85]

A contemplative seafaring adventure that tickles the brain in more ways than one. Occasionally the tide is choppy but you should stay the course nonetheless. [Issue#166, p.88]

It isn’t bad but we’re sad that there’s not more to it. Mutations are pretty gnarly and this VHS vision is pleasingly neon but unfortunately there’s little to this roguelike beyond its ’80s infatuation. [Issue#166, p.90]

Who’d have thought smacking a ball back and forth could be such fun? This is one of the freshest multiplayer games we’ve played. [Issue#166, p.93]

The unveiling of Superstar X-Factors had long-term fans of the series cowering, but happily they inject welcome freshness into a stalwart that had grown a tad stale. [Issue#166, p.86]

I’m Hungry could’ve been PS VR’s answer to Overcooked. Sadly, all it offers is an empty grind and stomach-churning monotony that does not leave us hungry for more. [Issue@166, p.87]

Eventually, the game starts to drag as more drawn-out brawling dungeons get shoehorned into the plot, and the novelty of its rendition begins to wane as you realise how repetitive it all is. [Issue#166, p.92]

There’s very little in the way of modernity here but played solo or in co-op Blazing Chrome manages to faithfully ape the classics of yesteryear. Just don’t expect anything new. [Issue#166, p.92]

This game is best played up close – as you would with a computer monitor – and not half a room away on your sofa. While we don’t doubt that with its tight strategy gameplay and weekly challenges it’s a compelling title on its native platform, here it leaves much to be desired. [Issue#166, p.92]

With a light and airy story, a number of insubstantial game modes and a limited roster of characters, this is a package that has about as much substance as the twin protagonist’s battle suits. It’s one for Lady Satsuki’s Elite Four, assorted devotees and few others. We’d rather be watching the series. [Issue#166, p.84]

Without a doubt, Wargroove has captured the genre on PS4. [Issue#166, p.84]

It also has some excellent riffs on Streets Of Rage, Shinobi III, and R-Type. The pixel art and lo-fi soundtrack are gorgeous throughout, both in-game and out. This bills itself as “part 1” of an episodic experience, but it’s a short, satisfying, and cheap experience on its own. [Issue#166, p.84]

With up to four players, it’s a unique structure for multiplayer action. As it’s a stealth horror game communication is key, and it’s best played with people you know. [Issue#166, p.89]

Weaves Lovecraftian mythos into an interesting setting. But it frequently veers into being dull and repetitive, which isn’t what you want from dreamlike horror. [Issue#165, p.89]

A personal journey through troubled waters that won’t strike a chord with everyone. The scenery sweetens the deal if you’re debating buying a ticket for this voyage. [Issue#165, p.86]

A fantastic reboot that reworks Samurai Shodown’s best ideas into an accomplished Street Fighter V-alike. It can’t truly escape the trappings of its own heritage, but fans will adore SNK’s return. [Issue#165, p.82]

We keep rubbing our eyes, hoping that the game it clearly wants to be materialises. Unfortunately we can’t overlook its many flaws. [Issue#165, p.97]

Simply the best-ever reproduction of this high-speed, high-tech motorsport. It’s very familiar, but nonetheless noticeably superior to the 2018 game. Essential. [Issue#165, p.85]

Takes what was great about the first and adds to it without diluting it. It’s possibly a little too simple – the boss battles aren’t much of a challenge – but that just makes it all the more relaxing. [Issue#165, p.94]

Crash has cruised back to prove he’s still the best. PS1’s premier kart racing game is also the finest on PS4. With free updates to come, we’re staying on the grid. [Issue#165, p.79]

The only thing holding it back is the whiff of old age. This is a two-year old PC game ported to PS VR, and visually and technically it’s no Blood & Truth. But if you can overlook the low-textures and simplistic storytelling Sairento VR remains a sharp slice of neon-ninja fun. [Issue#165, p.96]

As arcadey as its races often are, there’s enough realism here to ground proceedings in a strangely compelling manner. Example? How about blowing out a tyre2 and the game forcing you to complete the race as you hobble along in eighth place like a six-tonne knackered shopping trolley. Fugly and frantic, this is a unique racer. [Issue#165, p.96]

Etherborn is superb if you’re looking for a game to relax with. It’s certainly not without its challenges but the difficulty is wholly benign, allowing you to appreciate the carefully crafted world and its gravity-shifting environments. [Issue#165, p.96]

If this had been the whole game, it might have been something special. Unfortunately, it throws all the previously mentioned elements in too, none of which are given the time, care, or attention that they need.2 Thus you have sections that are poorly explained or feel almost superfluous, choices with consequences that don’t always make sense, a judge who for some reason wants to control the whole of Paris, and characters who it is very difficult to become attached to. [Issue#165, p.84]

Irony Curtain succeeds as a love letter to classic point-and-click games. Its sharp satirical core is perfectly realised, and, most importantly, it’s laugh-out-loud funny! [Issue#165, p.84]

What can’t be overlooked, however, is the lack of fan service; there’s no classic art or game history to unlock. Ultimately, Toki is a chimp off the old block. [Issue#165, p.84]

A nostalgia trip for Castlevania fans, a flawed but enjoyable adventure for others. Prepare to look up a guide every now and then to find your way, though. [Issue#165, p.87]

By sticking to classic Final Fantasy elements – an expansive world, and a deftly-told story that weaves in themes – Shadowbringers is one of the best MMO expansions we’ve ever played. The main drawback is that you have to play through the previous ones to access this new content, or pay extra for a story skip. But with all side-quests in Shadowbringers syncing to your player level, and a New Game+ allowing you to replay old quests on the horizon, this might be something we’ll see further in Final Fantasy XIV’s future. [Issue#165, p.92]

Some may enjoy a thoroughly planned itinerary but the brochure led us to believe this fine establishment would allow us to go with the flow just a little more. [Issue#164, p.88]

So-so gameplay is buoyed by a fantastic script and great acting, offering an unofficial stopgap for R&M fans waiting for season four. [Issue#164, p.97]

Great when it’s delivering gripping, cinematic moments. It’s just a shame that the bits when you’re controlling a slightly menacing AI aren’t the highlights. [Issue#164, p.91]

A great Yakuza spinoff that stumbles over its well-meant but clunky detective gameplay. More doing, less talking, and a sense of humour could’ve elevated it. [Issue#164, p.83]

Expect the usual Everybody’s Golf experience, and we’re afraid you’ll be disappointed. Instead, wood you kindly expect some great VR golf that’s impressively deep and very addictive. [Issue#164, p.94]

Elsweyr is something of a drab comedown from Summerset’s embarrassment of floral riches, but there are compelling quests, and you can’t dislike anything with dragons. [Issue#164, p.93]

Especially commendable are Cricket 19’s best-in-show customisation options. While only England, Australia, and Australian domestic sides are licensed, all non-licensed sides – and there are loads – can be immediately overwritten with fan-created versions. Giving you ‘real’ names and kits for the exotic likes of Barbados Tridents, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, and, uh, Denmark. Oh to have such touch-of-a-button editing functionality in PES. [Issue#164, p.89]

With historical challenges, new sticker/ number/helmet decal editors and a brutal Pro Career for the full experience, there’s plenty to keep fans happy. But it isn’t doing enough to appeal more widely than that, and even its target market will lament the technical steps backwards from MotoGP 17. [Issue#164, p.89]

It’s a short, by-the-numbers thriller that’s enjoyably creepy even with the limits of the production on full display. [Issue#164, p.89]

This PS4 release includes two new difficulty levels, with Easy making enemies less daunting thanks to increased damage output. Hard, meanwhile, should satisfy any cravings you have for a challenge when gunning for Diamond rank. And unlockable outfits add extra character to a whimsical 2D platformer that already had enough to spare. [Issue#164, p.90]

Each campaign offers enough of a twist on the core loop to keep things interesting, either with environmental effects such as a health-sapping chill in the air or otherwise by switching up the rules of engagement. Acquainting yourself with each class’s specialities, especially as you equip better weapons and unlock new abilities, is a treat as well. However, there’s little to recommend to those who are not already fans of the genre and eager to roll some dice. [Issue#164, p.90]

This is the best Atelier yet, and a prime point for newcomers to jump in. [Issue#164, p.90]

A convoluted narrative muddies the waters too with a series of dubious decisions that affect the ending, and the game fast outstays its welcome with a stack of tenuous puzzles. It’s impossible not to feel like there’s something special hidden between the chases, but for a game with such a wilful director, all it actually needed was an editor. [Issue#164, p.96]

There’s an undeniable charm to be found in conversing with a cake NPC, fighting bizarre bosses, and travelling through the Horse Dimension, but there’s a solid game underlying the comical presentation. Four difficulty settings will ensure you find the level of challenge you’re after, and a PVP Arena mode will let you challenge your friends to switch things up. [Issue#164, p.96]

The trilogy ends with Dracula’s Curse, which adds four playable characters and multiple routes, taking us even closer to the metroidvania approach we love. Arguably the best game in this collection, it demonstrates why director Hitoshi Akamatsu is one of the unsung heroes of the 8-bite, erm, -bit era. [Issue#164, p.96]

A simple, accessible, and fun action RPG that’s particularly good fun in co-op. Generic as they come, but what’s here is well balanced, detailed and smooth in motion. [Issue#164, p.92]

It’s not perfect but Blood & Truth is one of the more complete experiences for PS VR. Some control issues are eclipsed by high production values and a playful use of PS VR’s capabilities. [Issue#164, p.86]

Reasonably priced but with only glimmers of personality. A fairly standard selection of multiplayer modes are livened up by the horde and generally a lot more fun than a lacking story campaign. [IssueE163, p.60]

Surprisingly for a kart racer, Team Sonic Racing succeeds in bringing something new to the conversation, though it loses some of the spark Transformed had in the process. Mileage may vary. [Issue#163, p.84]

A PlayStation comeback that’s welcome yet undercooked, almost as though it was released three months too early. Keep track of patches and rejudge in August. [Issue#163, p.87]

Classic Id gunplay is attached to an old-fashioned, noisy but danger-free open world. There’s fun to be had but it’s limited and we’ve seen and blown apart these goons before. [Issue#163, p.81]

It’s neither long nor difficult, but that’s a large part of the appeal. Breeze through this with a smile on your face and murder in your heart. [Issue#163, p.97]

A beautiful pseudo-historical tale about family ties in all their forms, with a last act the rats have clearly had a nibble at. But the journey is still worth making. [Issue#163, p.88]

Gorgeous visuals, accessible combat, and a gleeful sense of humour make this one of the most unabashedly fun fighting games around – and it’s packed with content. [Issue#163, p.93]

Fun but fraught, muddled but entertaining, Fade To Silence is one of the most ambitious games of the year so far, which unfortunately doesn’t always play in its favour. [Issue#163, p.96]

Despite this the core grind of American Fugitive fails to both tap into the random chaos of classic GTA and the thrill that should come from being a convict on the run seeking answers. It’s a game that sadly can’t outrun the spectre of its own inspiration. [Issue#163, p.86]

Unfortunately, this is a 2D platformer that incorporates semi-realistic physics, and is an excellent case study in why those two things don’t always mix. While we enjoyed the puzzle design overall, one particular quandary really ground our gears. [Issue#163, p.86]

While the games vary from must-plays to weak curiosities, this collection lacks the *cough* options of newer retro collections like SNK 40th Anniversary Collection. While we get difficulty adjusts, mid-game saves, and a PDF book, there’s none of the playfulness of SNK’s release. Still, it’s enough to keep your mind off leaked Stranger Things season 3 spoilers. [Issue#163, p.86]

Sub-par writing holds it back from greatness, but My Time At Portia is still a slice of life well worth tasting. And remember, you can start fights with strangers. [Issue#162, p.83]

While more could have been done to spruce things up, what’s here is a superb mix of courtroom tension and outright comedy. [Issue#162, p.97]

For all its intricacies, Outward is surprisingly easy to enjoy, but preparation is key if you want to explore everything that this RPG has to offer. A game worth exploring. [Issue#162, p.80]

Swing and a hit. Contemporaries such as NHL 18 have caught up with Sony’s big bopper of late, but The Show’s myriad modes and authentic feel keep it among the elite. [Issue@162, p.92]

Although the length is typical for a PS VR title (it lasts a just few hours), the depth of emotion this game can evoke during that time certainly is not. Ghost Giant raises the bar, not the dead. [Issue@162, p.88]

While there’s not much to Avalanche’s mechanical uprising, running-and-gunning bad robots with buds is a blast. The arresting Scandinavian vistas are worth visiting. [Issue@162, p.93]

Leaving aside the moments when you find yourself running aground at possibly the worst possible time, this is absolutely a voyage you’ll want to undertake for yourself. [Issue#162, p.81]

Falcon Age tells an admirable story in a careful and considerate way, but Ara’s virtual world is simply too sparse to engage you for long, no matter how hard you fall for that fabulous falcon. [Issue#162, p.94]

Changes to the handling and upgrade system show a series maturing, but the focus on story means we get fewer missions. Offline and online, Iron Rain is fun, disposable nonsense. New to EDF? Start here. [Issue#162, p.90]

A once-in-a-generation release that changes absolutely everything, and resets what a ‘game’ can be. Dreams is essential and should be on every PS4. Especially yours. [Early Access Review score = 100]

Everything a Burnout fan could want is here, but it’s let down by poor AI. If you have the patience, however, Dangerous Driving is a worthy addition to PS4’s bare racing roster. [Issue@162, p.96]

It’s difficult to recommend… unless you’re a glutton for punishment or Satan himself. [Issue#162, p.82]

The shooting is less responsive, because Space Junkies doesn’t allow you to use PS Move controllers. Instead, you aim by pointing the DualShock – something that can work in slower-paced VR shooters like Resident Evil 7, but just isn’t suited to frenetic head-to-head combat, especially when the game’s crossplay links you up with PC players using full motion controls. [Issue#162, p.82]

There are great ideas at play, you’ll laugh from time to time, and it’s definitely a story you’ll want to follow to the end. However, where the Danganronpa games are deliciously dark and furiously inventive, Zanki often leans on sexual innuendo to entertain when it really doesn’t need to, like a fire juggler who keeps making boob and willy jokes. [Issue#162, p.82]

A huge open-world horror, stealth-action, adventure melting pot that manages to tap into everything we love about Sony’s games while finding its own voice buried beneath the horde of ideas. Days Gone has been worth the wait. [Issue#162, p.74]

Not as inventive as Wes Anderson’s films, as bizarre as Twin Peaks, nor as quirky as Double Fine, Trüberbrook is merely a casual, occasionally surprising, but always gorgeous adventure. [Issue#161, p.90]

RICO fancies itself as the sterotypical hard-bitten police officer who gets results but refuses to play by the rules. In reality, it’s more like Paul Blart: Mall Cop. [Issue#161, p.96]

Faithful to its roots, perhaps even to a fault, T&E’s new adventure is still a welcome dose of childhood to those of a certain age. [Issue#161, p.97]

A cracking collectathon for master and aspiring builders alike. Simplistic mechanics make for a relaxing, though no less engaging, experience with plenty to see and do. [Issue#161, p.82]

Left Alive is most disappointing because it had such potential to revitalise the stealth genre. Instead you get something far behind even the titles it tries to emulate. [Issue#161, p.85]

Another success for Capcom. Devil May Cry has received a fresh injection of demon blood, and is as SSStylish as ever. A treat to look at, and a treat to play. [Issue#161, p.86]

Though fugly and unrefined, a clutch of decent missions and ever-engaging shootouts mean The Division 2 is just about worth signing up for. Only just. [Issue#161, p.93]

The likes of Spider-Man and Just Cause are many knots ahead of this one. Even when you upgrade to get more skills, everything feels oddly stiff. Movement lacks momentum, and fights are either trivial or annoying as you’re peppered with gunfire. World Seeker is an entertaining take on an anime open world game, but this ship’s a fixer-upper. [Issue#161, p.83]

Eventually this becomes a satisfying process, but it can take a while to get to grips with. [Issue#161, p.83]

More often than not you can mosey on over, scooping up power-ups and territories on the way. Servants’ special attacks are flashy and their character artwork lovingly rendered, but there’s little to recommend to those not already likely to stare longingly at Cú Chulainn’s ruddy great big spear. [Issue#161, p.83]