With a fantastic lineup, interesting fresh mechanics like the minions, and a bounty target being placed on the player performing best, Bounty Battle was in a good position to succeed, but it’s frankly hampered by being clunky and not much fun to play. A real shame. [Issue#181, p.86]

Acquiring the lanthorn provides more of a twist as this enchanted instrument can move around more objects, such as a snakey platform beneath your feet or blocks triple your size. It’s this kind of magic that adds to this enchanting little world very much inspired by a bedtime storybook. And if all that doesn’t tap into your inner child, a section featuring slides certainly will. [Issue#181, p.86]

Reasons for playing, then? Nostalgia. Appeasing all those ‘best RPGs you’ve never played’ listicles. And as a reminder of why character– new ideas and memorable places – is so important to a grand adventure. [Issue#181, p.86]

Translating the series’ brawling to turn-based fights with modern twists, this walks the line between laugh-out-loud comedy and gripping crime drama with ease. More Kasuga, please. [Issue#182, p.144]

What you’re left with is a game that delivers a greatlooking futuristic London, and not much of anything else. It suffered a hefty delay, and the series transitioned from Ubisoft Montreal to Ubisoft Toronto. Something has been lost here, and we can’t help but feel that the commitment to making any character playable is the core issue. That’s been made possible, but just because Ubisoft could, that didn’t mean the developer should have. [Issue#182, p.147]

Successfully encourages and rewards both patience and quick reactions, and punishes laziness. It’s a VR gameplay loop that you’ll gladly run through again and again. [Issue#182, p.157]

While this bug-infested horror doesn’t quite inspire us to grab the fly swat, we can’t recommend this in its current state. However, its few bright spots draw us like a moth to a flame. [Issue#182, p.152]

Taking us back to the ’90s in a mostly good way, Pacer is a solid WipEout clone with enough new ideas to slowly reveal its own personality. [Issue#182, p.161]

The technical improvements are so minor, especially on the base PS4, you honestly might as well just play the PS3 version from ten years ago. Both are lots of fun. [Issue#182, p.138]

The Dark Pictures Anthology has yet to truly impress but, for the price, there are worse fates. However, reader beware, you’re in for more than your fair share of screaming puritan jump scares. [Issue#182, p.158]

A consummate package of shooting, slide tackling and swearing, but with some familiar current-gen frustrations. The saving grace could be FIFA 21’s free PS5 upgrade. [Issue#182, p.137]

With three new enemy types and one (very challenging) boss in the mix, as well as three new perks to earn by completing the optional Slayer Gater challenges, it’s a familiar yet distinct experience. But it’s still best to play through Doom Eternal before trying this. [Issue#182, p.155]

Special Edition raises the character-action bar even higher than the original, with high frame rates and Legendary Dark Knight mode seriously wowing. [Issue#182, p.139]

If only it had Dirt 2’s crash damage, this would have scored a perfect 10. Even without it, this is a superbly playable, varied, and visually gorgeous racer. [Issue#182, p.141]

While its intriguing concept is slightly let down by simple puzzles and empty maps, Carto still offers a weekend’s worth of cosy fun for players of all ages. [Issue#182, p.154]

While far from pushing PS5 to its technical limits, this is definitely one of the most delightful launch titles. Dial ‘D’ for ‘different’ to learn how you can begin your own Snaktooth adventure. [Issue#182, p.134]

Tasi’s story is a well-balanced nightmare littered with delicious scares. While, like her ill-fated aeroplane, it doesn’t quite stick the landing, it should still sate your desire for atmospheric terror. [Issue#182, p.150]

Overall, this is a brief game, though you can replay missions to max out your skills or find secret statues. That these unlock old-school modifiers like Big Head mode at least shows the game’s got a sense of humour. [Issue#182, p.136]

The bottom line is simple: while TT Isle Of Man: Ride On The Edge demonstrates how hardcore, unforgiving motorbike sims can be amazing on PS4, Ride 4 is simply dull. Authentic and capable, certainly, but dull nonetheless. [Issue#182, p.136]

There’s less focus on building up a single party than in some games in the series. There are so many characters you’ll often switch them around without having time to outfit everyone to perfection. But it’s fun to see everyone come together for this finale, and being an ensemble piece means that four games in, this is an epic-feeling send-off. [Issue#182, p.136]

A range of mission objectives keeps things interesting, and there are nice moments when the action is used to tell the story.2 It’s fairly simple (it’s based on a kids’ cartoon), but this twist on the genre is easy to understand, and fun to stick with until the credits. [Issue#182, p.160]

It looks fantastic, with animation delivering the TV-standard realism EA always aims for2 while offering gaming cues for eagle-eyed players to spot; using the stick skills to shuffle keepers out of position for a slap shot will leave you wide-eyed and fist-punching the air. See, that Nicolas Cage opener paid off. [Issue#182, p.160]

You’ve played this before, 25 years ago on PS1. The ideas are ancient, the implementation poor, and when a dubiously named hero is the only fun you get from a shooter in 2020 it’s time to avoid. [Issue#182, p.160]

It’s a unique genre mash-up that doesn’t utilise the best-quality ingredients, but its two core elements complement each other well enough to result in a winning recipe. [Issue#182, p.156]

Regarding this catastrophic failure of infrastructure, a wearying, cynical malaise of ‘Eh, what can you do about it?’ pervades Rania’s early forays into the city and proves just a little too real for us. The game’s own answer to this question is ‘carry out individual acts of kindness’, as with each one Rania makes Nivalis a slightly less miserable place for at least one person she encounters on her rounds – and sometimes that’s enough. [Issue#182, p.156]

You’ll quickly learn which foods you’re comfortable making under pressure, but the harder challenges push you out of your comfort zone. With over 350 levels, there’s masses to do. And while hitting buttons to make food is pretty much all you do, each challenge feels unique. Though we don’t think we’ll ever be able to eat sopapillas again. [Issue#182, p.156]

A fantastic superhero story. Miles is an easy lead, and the tight design puts him to spectacular use (and is visually jaw-dropping on PS5). It’s a must-play. [Issue#182, p.131]

If you love racing sims and the WRC, you’ll get a lot out of this; but for the second year running, if you can only pick one rally game, Dirt 2.0 is the better choice. [Issue#180, p.75]