Press Start Australia's Scores

  • Games
For 808 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 57% higher than the average critic
  • 5% same as the average critic
  • 38% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 4.4 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 79
Highest review score: 100 Bayonetta + Bayonetta 2
Lowest review score: 30 Back in 1995
Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 6 out of 808
822 game reviews
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Wild Hearts' unique Karakuri mechanics and skill systems do just enough to offer a new take on the tried-and-true monster-hunting genre. While there is some inconsistent performance across all platforms, Wild Hearts bewildering bestiary of unique creature more than makes it worth a look.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Death Stranding: Director's Cut is easily the best way to play the game. The additions are numerous and bound to help players make their journey across America much more palatable. If you’re someone who gave up on Death Stranding because you found it to be too frustrating or long-winded, the Director’s Cut additions could be enough to lure you back. If you’re someone who’s played the game to death already, there’s probably not a whole lot of reason to come back given how little extra content there is.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a welcome return to form for a franchise that's felt stagnant as of late. It strips Dynasty Warriors back to all of its best fundamentals with a fresh approach to narrative and progression that delivers on the promise and core power fantasy of this franchise.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Evil West is a relic of a bygone era, one that any fan of high-octane action games should experience. An all-round excellently paced main campaign, ridiculously fun combat, and flexible character progression make for one of 2022's best games, and one of the best third-person shooters in recent years.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Indiana Jones and the Great Circle delivers both high calibre adventure, story and performance in spades, to the point it feels as though it’s wading into “uncharted territory” for its publisher. The decision to bop a Nazi should be a foregone conclusion, however the lack of balance in stealth and combat systems kept me in limbo, and left Indiana Jones and the Great Circle just a stone stele’s throw from true greatness.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Card Shark succeeds at establishing wild stakes within its wonderfully weird take on 18th century France. It serves up a memorable cast, a story that rewrites history in a fantastical way, all the while arming the player with tricks of the trade that’d make Penn and Teller blush. For a game that’s more about playing your opponent than your cards, Card Shark is a memorable adventure.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Slitterhead offers a refreshing and unique experience that pays homage to Bokeh's pedigree while still establishing its own identity. Despite some minor flaws, the game makes great use of its weird but wonderful narrative and ingenious possession mechanics to bewitch you from the beginning. With such a distinctive sense of direction and style, Slitterhead is an incredibly strong debut that firmly establishes Bokeh as a studio to watch.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Despite having to wait almost six years, PRAGMATA is another win for CAPCOM. It's unique, experimental, and there's nothing quite like it in the medium right now. It does feel like there's some missed potential in the narrative department, but I suspect many will enjoy PRAGMATA for how experimental it is and for how it succeeds in ways you wouldn't expect.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak isn't just a great JRPG, but it's also a great jumping in point for anyone wanting to dive into Trails for the first time. Despite some initial complexities and some uneven pacing, Trails Through Daybreak is engrossing from start to finish, and has me keen to see what else this storied franchise has to offer.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Auteur designer Yoko Taro successfully blends his oddball knack for storytelling, defying typical video game conventions in doing so. This leads to an unforgettable story, but how it's told and demands repeat playthroughs is bound to be lost on some part of NieR: Automata's audience. Regardless, NieR: Automata blends intense action and RPG components into an atmosphere and game that's well worth experiencing, even on the Nintendo Switch.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess succesfully brings together elements of the tried-and-true strategy and action genres to offer up something truly unique. While there will be debate about how worthwhile the replay value is here, Path of the Goddess leverages some incredible enemy and objective variety to keep things fresh from beginning to end.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    While it's focuses and tones differ considerably from Onimusha: Warlords, Onimusha 2: Samurai's is a bold departure from its predecessor that largely pays off. While it's not without its flaws as a game, this stellar remaster represents the best way to play what is easily one of the best Onimusha games, and I can't recommend it enough.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred is fantastic albeit safe expansion to the already excellent Diablo IV. It's continuation of the story benefits from tighter pacing and a novel concept, all of which is bolstered by a unique new class and distinct region to explore. Coupled with some great new endgame content, and Vessel of Hatred is bound to please Diablo casual and hardcore players alike.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Like A Dragon: Ishin, offers both a familiar Yakuza experience in an entirely unique setting. Some technical issues and arbitrary systems can't hold back a compelling narrative, excellent combat, and a compact open-world packed to the brim with engaging content. Like A Dragon: Ishin shouldn't fly under your radar during this busy period, and is well-worth diving into for both series veterans and newcomers alike.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Super Mario Party Jamboree lives up to its name in practically every way. It's equal parts lavish and boisterous, offering up a selection of boards with novel and fun gimmicks that make it a constant joy to come back to. Adding a wide variety of ways to play, including heaps of customisable rules, only sweetens the deal. Without a doubt, Super Mario Party Jamboree is Mario Party at its best.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Despite not overhauling the companion-led gameplay at the core of Planet of Lana, this sequel does a tremendous job at expanding its universe, giving greater depth to its characters, and delivering another gorgeous, cinematic adventure that tugs at the heartstrings.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Though I’ll call it imperfect but patchable, Crimson Desert is still impressive enough to be within striking distance of the juggernauts of this genre. At the very least, this represents one of the first few must-plays of the year. Perhaps contradictorily, Crimson Desert is a lush and generously-sized oasis of awesome that needs to be seen to be believed on PC. Here's hoping the console versions are up to snuff as well.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Master Detective Archives: Rain Code is a captivating and refreshing take on the mystery genre. It uses a zany story, uniquely expressive characters and a perfect blend of mystery and adventure to stand out amongst its contemporaries. While some performance limitations stop it from looking its best, Rain Code’s strong and effortlessly stylish presentation more than makes up for it. It’s a satisfying and immersive experience that anyone who’s a fan of visual novels, courtroom dramas or both themselves to check out.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Like the two titles that preceded it, Two Point Museum isn’t just a business simulation game; it’s a game that allows you to take things at your own pace and enjoy the ride, while having a laugh in the process. The sky is the limit when it comes to your imagination, and as long as you can find a way to keep the cash flow coming in, your museums will continue to grow and thrive under your management. This is the kind of game you could easily sink hours into without realising, and come out on the other side feeling just as good as when you dived in.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The Outer Worlds is the kind of inspired take on a genre that could only come from a team as passionate and talented as Obsidian. It's not perfect, but it's creative, succinct, compelling and funny in all the right ways. I sincerely hope that this signals the beginning of a new, ongoing franchise because the people and stories of the Halcyon Colony will stick with me for a long time to come.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Moving Out is one of the best games that the couch co-op party game genre has seen and I implore you to play it, especially during the current times that we're going through. There was a moment where my girlfriend and I were quickly hurrying to carry our last few pieces of furniture to the truck, but kept running into obstacles (a level full of rakes), and what started as small giggles quickly evolved into uncontrollable laughter. It's these kind of moments that makes games like this a success, and Moving Out delivers greatly in this regard.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The PC version is absolutely the definitive way to play the game, while environments can be a bit flat in terms of detail and the draw distance leaves a lot to be desired, it’s gorgeously animated, has a beautiful art style, jaw-dropping models, and steady performance. Not once did I have a technical issue aside from one that I assume was related to Steam, it was a joy to play from start to finish and is the version this review is based on.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is a delicious serve of JRPG comfort food. It’s got depth that kept me experimenting with new party setups, challenging enough situations to really test them, and an overall story that’s keeps things interesting from start to finish with a beautiful visual style and music to match.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    While more iterative than it is innovative, Splatoon 3 is without a doubt the best entry in the series yet. Despite lacking new multiplayer modes at launch, there's a clear commitment to content and quality, with each aspect of the package being pushed to its logical extreme through smart and meaningful additions. This is the most feature-complete and tightly designed Splatoon to date, and you'd be missing out if you choose to pass it up.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Planet of Lana is a profoundly moving title that couples its clever, companion-driven puzzle-solving with an irresistibly gorgeous presentation to create what is, so far, the year’s prettiest, heartrending indie.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... is a fantastic celebration of a game that, even after a decade, feels unmatched in how it tells its incredibly unique story. The visual overhaul is excellent, and the combat better than ever. However, some archaic quest design acts as a deft reminder that this is a game from ten years ago. Without a doubt, though, this is the best way to experience NieR where it all began.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The Star Named EOS tells a wonderful, bittersweet story through a unique gameplay lens that marries point-and-click puzzling with some light photography to great effect. If you've got a couple hours to spare getting lost in this hand-drawn and beautiful little game, you're in for an absolute treat.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Somewhat short, but oh-so-sweet, Synapse is an unflinching thrill ride of a shooter with an intoxicating one-more-go structure and unmatched badassery in its dual-wielding telekinetic shooter action. It's more than just a great showpiece for the PS VR2's capabilities – this is easily the coolest I've ever felt playing a video game.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is pure blockbuster entertainment in much the same way as the MCU films. It might not push any boundaries in the genre, but it's a damned good Guardians game with a ton of heart and a clear passion for the property that shows. Eidos Montreal has clearly understood the strengths of its team and how they fit in with what fans love about the franchise to make the right calls. The result is an enjoyable ride and the most Marvel Marvel game around.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, is a defining example of what you can do with musou games in the right situation. Not only does it shine Breath of the Wild’s enjoyable characters in a new light, but it also provides a new lens to experience Hyrule through. It’s an experience that is as much musou as it is Breath of the Wild, but integrates ideas from both, and melds them in interesting ways that’s guaranteed to please fans of either game type. If you’re a fan of Breath of the Wild, or musou games in general, Age of Calamity is well worth your time and attention, even if the Switch sometimes struggles under its ambitions.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.

In Progress & Unscored

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    • 79 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    It’s easy to argue that Star Wars: Squadrons doesn’t offer quite enough. Players get what is essentially an eight-hour tutorial which acts as a prelude for the game’s multiplayer, a limited but fun offering of modes with some potential for great staying power. [Review in Progress Score = 70]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Card Shark succeeds at establishing wild stakes within its wonderfully weird take on 18th century France. It serves up a memorable cast, a story that rewrites history in a fantastical way, all the while arming the player with tricks of the trade that’d make Penn and Teller blush. For a game that’s more about playing your opponent than your cards, Card Shark is a memorable adventure.
    • 75 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit provides a fresh and unique gaming experience, which feels hard to come by these days. The kart is cleverly designed and well put together, responding to every precise movement. Whilst the core gameplay might get a little repetitive, the technology has a bright future, and it's guaranteed to provide fun for the whole family.
    • 72 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Nintendo Switch Sports feels familiar, yet still remains fun after all these years, especially when played with groups of friends. Whilst the offline offering is a little bit basic, we're hopeful that what's on offer online will take advantage of the easy to play, hard to masters gameplay mechanics. [Review in Progress]
    • tbd Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Grounded 2 is shaping up to be another win for Obsidian Entertainment in the survival space. Despite some difficulty worries, this early access launch is a confident showcase of Obsidian's newfound familiarity with the survival genre.
    • 67 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    I’ve had a great time levelling and fighting with my Necromancer so far, and am super excited to be able to play the game with friends when the game is released for everyone very soon. As long as the monetisation strategy doesn’t get in the way of the game being fun to play, I think this could be a game I get hooked on for a while.
    • 63 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Outside the co-drivers, I enjoyed my time with Drive Rally. While the career mode is bare bones, the actual rally driving is wonderful. It strikes a balance between being approachable and having the depth to keep you playing and improving. Well worth a look if you miss the glory days of 90s era rally games. [Early Access Provisional Score = 75]
    • 86 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Cyberpunk 2077 is staggering, overwhelming, and even surprising at times in its spectacle. Although my first dozen hours with the game has been marred by easy-to-fix problems, Nighty City, along with all it offers and all that call it home, makes for an intoxicating escape. Here’s hoping the next one hundred hours are as utterly compelling.
    • 75 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    It feels like it’s still got some room to grow in certain places in order to reach its full potential, but, unlike real world F1 in 2024, it’s pretty damn fun. [Early Access Provisional Score = 80]
    • 73 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Wrath of the Druids is a great addition to Valhalla’s already well-bolstered package. Visiting Ireland, learning about its rich history and mythology is something I’d never thought that I would be interested in. But Wrath of the Druids is so engaging that it’s hard not to recommend to people who enjoyed Valhalla. Just don’t expect it to reinvent the wheel, but instead, bring a few more.
    • 76 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    All in all, Vaas: Insanity paves the way for some stellar downloadable content for Far Cry 6 that is already more conceptually interesting than anything in Far Cry 5. Vaas' experience, while perhaps telling us a little bit too much about the ambiguous villain, co-opts the idea of a rogue-like competently to offer a new twist on the formula, but lead by a familiar face.
    • 82 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    Marathon is a special game that, like Destiny before it, is firmly rooted in the team’s focus on shared communal experiences, immaculate gun feel, and just straight-up vibes. I hope it finds enough of a foothold to exist in the live-service space longer than some of its contemporaries, because if death is the first step in Marathon, I can’t wait to see what the next one is.
    • 77 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    As a sequel to the Modern Warfare reboot, Modern Warfare 2 feels like both a celebration of the series’ original trilogy as well as “the team” at its core. The party is spoiled somewhat by inconsistent pacing, technical issues, and incongruous mechanics, shoehorned in from what will ultimately be the game’s multiplayer suite. Through it all, the referential nods to Call of Duty of old stitched the experience together for me. [Campaign Review = 70]
    • 85 Metascore
    • Critic Score
    As a next-gen update then, Control does a decent job of taking advantage of both the power and unique features of the new generation of consoles, especially if you happen to be playing on a PlayStation 5. While the ray-traced effects might not make this a must-replay, it’s still a far better and (crucially) more stable experience than the game has ever been on consoles, not to mention the joy of playing with the 60fps option instead.

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