A pitch-perfect party game for you and those who’ve come home to roost after flying the nest (or those who never actually left). Not as frantic as Overcooked but still a truck-full of fun. [Issue#176, p.76]

An evolutionary update with unconvincing AI makes for a tough sell, but updates are scheduled. The improvements create genuine moments of greatness. [Issue#176, p.80]

It’s pretty unforgiving, in that restoring health can only ever be done via scarce consumables, and firearms and their ammo are also incredibly rare. Nonetheless, each mission is a tense delight. You’ll mostly walk to conserve stamina and avoid drawing attention, yet rasslin’ zombies is unavoidable, and you’ll want to be done before the town bells ring. Throw in humans both friendly and unfriendly – who will sometimes even fight among themselves – and you have a wonderfully oppressive, unpredictable world. And, yes, you get to slather yourself in guts. Yay! [Issue#176, p.78]

Overall the writing, though at times clumsily reference-heavy, generally feels emotionally sincere, and playing through character conflict with this charismatic cast2 gives us (an extra) life. If you’re burned out on mainstream VNs, this is a perfect palate cleanser. So, got any quarters? [Issue#176, p.78]

When you finish a level, you get the option to replay what you did in one fluid motion, which ends up a little stiff thanks to the gridmovement and somewhat limited moveset. But you quickly get the hang of how to use each move, and soon you’re reacting quickly to each challenge rather than taking a while to figure out your next move. When you hit that rhythm, John Wick Hex sings, but it doesn’t delight as much as the movies. [Issue#176, p.78]

Back in 1995, Trials was unparalleled in its adaptability, even when it came to its story– you choose a party of three out of six possible characters to take on a journey to restore the sacred Mana tree and hopefully stop wars breaking out between different factions. Some parts of your characters’ backstories will overlap, leading to shared experiences. However, despite new additional lines, interactions between characters can feel random, and the dialogue doesn’t hold up for a modern game. The English voiceover, too, strongly varies in quality. A win for fans, Trials Of Mana nonetheless proves not every game ages well. [Issue#176, p.74]

Is it enough to make you forget you spent ten minutes trying to load a gun, or ignore the way the characters look like they were made in 1998, or forgive a story that delivers the emotional impact of Question Of Sport repeats? No. [Issue#176, p.74]

It’s rarely original, occasionally frustrating, and often clumsy in execution, but when it clicks there’s a meditative vein to Stranded Deep’s grind that will make time spent indoors sunnier. [Issue#176, p.74]

What really makes the game is Map Editor mode, where you can create your own maps and share them online. This is much more worth your time than the main mode. Many of the creations already available show great inventiveness with limited assets – things like cross-time football games or ‘Little Yharnam’, a Bloodborne-themed map. Hidden Through Time is basic, but at a low price (£6.49), it’s worth fooling around with if you’re still fond of Wally. [Issue#174, p.92]

The visuals are an improvement on My Hero One’s Justice, but there’s still a lack of English dub, despite the series’ popularity. This is a game made for fans, and it’s clear Byking’s staff are fans themselves. Plus Ultra! [Issue#174, p.92]

Fun in short spurts, patchy in quality, this is a club not everyone will want to get into, even if they have the password. [Issue#174, p.92]

Three-quarters of the way through, the experience becomes much more enjoyable, as you get a new mode of transport2 that expands and speeds up your exploration. This doesn’t last long enough, though, and the game ends as it begins; on a slow, confusing note. [Issue#174, p.86]

Given its focus on just one thing, Overpass doesn’t feel particularly realistic or weighty, and you can certainly get more excitement from conquering GTA V’s Mount Chiliad. Still, it does what it does without fuss, faffing, or frills, so take it or leave it. We’d probably leave it. [Issue#174, p.86]

Setting you up with key scenarios from across this period of Chinese history, there’s plenty to play through. The only problem is that with the zoomed-out approach to the map, the detail has become more passive. Unlike in the last game there’s no direct control of battles, no debate system, and no smaller-objective story mode. It’s an interesting evolution, though one that leaves you bored on the throne more often than not. [Issue#174, p.86]

Transposes the turn-based shooter into a futuristic setting competently, but ultimately is far from essential. For genre completists only. [Issue#174, p.93]

While PS VR ought to be a natural medium for Space Channel 5, it’s hard to see Ulala as more than a nostalgic opening act for the rest of the competition. [Issue#174, p.87]

The improved handling makes for a much more playable game and career mode is satisfying and slick. It’s a little stretched feeling and overly-familiar, but still a class act. [Issue#174, p.82]

Most of the boss fights been given a fresh do-over, with interesting new phases and twists that make them feel a little more special being introduced. These challenge you to think about a fight in ways beyond doing the most damage to your opponent. More than ever, Persona 5’s mechanics are used to further the narrative, whether that’s a high art plagiarist making fake copies of himself to fight you, or smart-aleck Akechi always throwing three bullseyes in a row at the new darts spot in town. It’s bigger, better, more. [Issue#174, p.84]

Team Ninja has given the soulsborne genre a unique twist enabling you to match demon power with demon power. This journey through Japanese history is no walk in the park, but it always delights and surprises. [Issue#174, p.76]

A love letter to the classic series written in blood, Doom Eternal is a fast-paced and utterly thrilling way to paint the town (and Mars, and ethereal realms) red. [Issue#174, p.89]

Like Snake, it’s simple and addictive in all the right ways. We’d have liked more maps to choose from, but what’s here is an arcadey joy that’s a delight to get lost in. [Issue#175, p.78]

Fans need to brace for some disappointment, but that shouldn’t distract from a game that delivers a modern and tonally on-point reworking of Resident Evil 3. [Issue#175, p.73]

With a sense of being transported to another world that many games struggle to achieve, this is a beautifully surreal journey. [Issue#175, p.81]

Often dated and simplistic, there’s no denying MW2 delivers a cinematic spectacle. The real fun comes from Museum mode and re-running with unlockable gameplay mods. [Issue#175, p.79]

Body-swapping for new powers never gets dull. HyperParasite is a creative roguelike with major progression issues, but heaps of derisive charm and tight twinstick shooting. [Issue#175, p.77]

A stripped-back, branching narrative with nice production values that is nowhere near as slick overall as the likes of Erica. You’d better be here for a B-movie. [Issue#175, p.71]

Some of the puzzles can get quite tough, but you can use the hint button, which can suggest where you should look next, highlight screens that still have things to uncover, or allow you to completely skip puzzles if you want.2 Hidden-object diehards might find it a bit lacking, but it’s a fun romp that strikes a decent balance between searching and puzzles that’s more than worth spending an evening or two with. [Issue #175, p.76]

Ifbyou can stand the jank and that esoteric intro section, this is one train you definitely don’t want to miss. [Issue #175, p.76]