We're torn on Lost Soul Aside. On one hand, it's a very intricately made action game, full of interesting combat dynamics backed by an impressive degree of player expression. But on the other, it's a pseudo RPG with a really poor story, crappy characters, and a forgettable world. Right now, it's looking like a cautious recommendation for action afficionados, but we'll have to see how the rest of the package shakes out. [Review in Progress]

One of the most iconic Xbox franchises ever lands on PS5 with somewhat of a graphical thud. On its second remaster, Gears of War: Reloaded won’t impress visually. However, with a campaign that still has something to offer despite its dated design, and an excellent multiplayer mode on top, this is a welcome introduction to the Gears of War series. 20 years later, the game that started it all is still more than worth playing.

It’s very cool to see Space Adventure Cobra repurposed in this format, and we daresay The Awakening’s going to breed a fresh generation of franchise fans – especially as it includes tons of original footage from the TV show. While the in-game art style doesn’t quite measure up to the anime and the gameplay has some rough edges to it, there’s a surprisingly good rhythm to the action at times, and some clever use of the eponymous adventurer’s arsenal.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is hard to fault. We can take or leave the story, the platforming is occasionally frustrating, and levels can outstay their welcome sometimes — but that's basically it. This is otherwise a brilliant 2D action platformer that looks gorgeous and plays even better thanks to kinetic, satisfying combat that feels superb when you get in the flow. If this is any indicator of SEGA's other upcoming franchise revivals, we're in for some good times ahead.

It doesn’t do anything that'll have you absolutely amazed, but the time you spend getting to know your surroundings here will be a worthy venture as your store expands and gets more products.

One of the most faithful remakes ever, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater has made a stealth classic feel modern all over again. Its light but meaningful gameplay updates enhance interaction and feel, while a visual overhaul allows it to rub shoulders with the PS5’s graphical elite. By staying so loyal to its source text, Metal Gear Solid 3 is now just as incredible today as it was over 20 years ago.

Sword of the Sea certainly won't have the same impact that Journey did all those years ago, but in so many ways, it feels like a direct evolution of that legendary experience. It's a beautifully smooth game, set across a series of gorgeous environments that are a joy to explore. While its more game-y elements do feel a tad forced, they're not enough to distract from what is a sumptuous adventure.

Despite all of its new bells and whistles, Heretic + Hexen is unapologetically itself — which is to say, a fairly rudimentary, sometimes monotonous, oftentimes unfair blast from the past — and although it certainly won’t be every modern player’s cup of tea, those who have an existing or budding appreciation for its retro, “you had to look up cheat codes for this game in a magazine back in the day” appeal will find themselves beyond sated. There’s also a gallery full of assets and concept art for your perusal, which is a nice inclusion.

All in all, Hello Kitty Island Adventure will be a must play for Sanrio fans due to its great adaption of the source material, but there's also plenty here for fans of casual gamers to enjoy. Although lacking in some areas, its still a good addition to any cosy gamer's collection.

Mafia: The Old Country doesn’t have enough gameplay ideas to carry its relatively short running time. While the fundamentals here are fine, an overemphasis on insta-fail stealth sequences and floaty shootouts makes for a forgettable campaign, even if it takes place within a stunningly detailed world. The performances are extraordinary but the story itself is predictable, leaving you with a phenomenally acted crime tale that you may admire in the moment but will struggle to remember once the credits roll.

The collection provides a huge array of titles with iconic, timeless gameplay, and a brand new title that deftly reinvigorates the franchise. If you like shmups, this one is a must.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is more enjoyable as a visual and auditory experience than it is to actually play. Even with new modes and a smooth 60fps mode the new Enhanced edition provides, the Ninja Theory sequel fails on two fronts: bad puzzles and repetitive combat. Despite that, you’ll never play anything else quite like Hellblade 2; the game’s very unique approach to the sensory side of video games is exquisite. It just about warrants playing entirely because of that.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound brings the series back to its roots with incredible style. The core gameplay feels fantastic, with satisfying, fast-paced combat and platforming that'll put your skills to the test. With a wealth of challenges to meet and things to find, there's a real richness to each level that gives it plenty of replay value. The wonderful art style is the icing on the cake, and aside from one or two small nitpicks, fans should be very pleased with this throwback adventure.

The game will probably only last you a couple of hours or so, but that time is filled with lots of fun moments and amusing gags. It's not something that'll stand up to many replays, but it's an entertaining curiosity while it lasts.

By building on the original and adapting some of the best arcs from the manga, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is pretty much a must for fans. As far as arena brawler goes, this is one of the better ones, although we still think combat can be a bit flat and woolly at times. But, with a wealth of single player content and so many characters to choose from, this is a worthy sequel to an already solid game.

Tales of the Shire has a great premise, but will unfortunately leave most players wanting more. Its charms will potentially appeal to Hobbit fanatics, but with there being much better cosy games on the market, it's relying heavily on its Tolkienian license to distinguish itself.

Ready or Not is a unique cooperative shooter. It’s not casual fun in the way Helldivers 2 can be. That means it certainly won’t be for everyone, and the solo experience doesn’t hold a light to playing with friends for us. However, those elements mixed in with a harrowing and outright disturbing tone make Ready or Not one of the most immersive co-op experiences available on PS5 right now.

Wheel World is a delightfully tactile indie title, and a real celebration of cycling. It feels fantastic to play and it's lovely to look at, but it's held back by a finicky finale and poor performance on PS5. We're hoping that a couple of meaningful post-release patches will address our complaints, because at its core, Wheel World is joyous.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is enjoyable enough without its performance troubles, but with them, they’re a major drag on the overall game. Wait for them to be ironed out in post-launch patches and you’ll find a decent, if formulaic experience.

Each character has a unique move set, like Gon’s fishing rod and Razor’s volleyball spikes. There’s genuine variety to the roster too, from the quick and nimble Killua to the tricky Misoka (this author’s personal favourite). But with just 16 characters at launch, the three-on-three gameplay format feels seriously stretched, and you’ll be seeing a lot of repeated faces even during a simple arcade run...There’s not much to the game either. The story mode, which glosses over the events from the anime, basically acts as an extended tutorial, and will take you less than an hour or so to beat. Outside of that you’re left with Time Attack, Combo Trials, and the Heavens Arena, which is basically just a renamed survival mode.

The controls are the big downside here, then, because it’s practically impossible to recreate the “feel” of the arcade original on a pad.

With beautiful Studio Ghibli-esque aesthetics, The Wandering Village is a city building sim with real soul. Beneath it all, there is a really beautiful metaphor at play with a wider message regarding the relationship between a civilisation and its environment.

Shadow Labyrinth is an admirable big swing that places Pac-Man in a strange new space. Unfortunately, while there are some fun elements taken from the arcade classic and a few neat ideas sprinkled in, the majority of the game is a by-the-numbers Metroidvania that doesn't quite come together. It feels like a game built to please Pac-fans and hardcore players that lap up the likes of Hollow Knight, but the end result is something that underserves both. It's not bad, but with so many incredible 2D Metroidvanias these days, this one doesn't quite do enough to measure up.

You can't really go wrong with Unfinished Business if you enjoyed its underrated predecessor, but expectations need to be kept in check. This standalone follow-up is disappointingly rough around the edges, and although its comically violent combat remains satisfying, it's not varied enough to elevate the entire action-heavy campaign. Still, we're never going to say no to more Rogue City. Teyon still manages to capture the campy 80s spirit of RoboCop here, and that'll drive most players to the top of OmniTower.

EDENS ZERO is a competent adaptation and a very basic — but often fun — action RPG. Generic in its design and held back by some seriously rough visuals, it's the kind of game that's barely going to appeal to those outside of the established fandom, but there is a charm in how breezy it is to actually play. The bottom line is that if you're looking for an easygoing anime-based adventure, you could do worse than EDENS ZERO — although it does take a few hours for things to feel mechanically interesting.

But it’s hard to knock the games too hard for retaining original experience intact in this respect, as the remasters improve pretty much everything else. This collection leaves you with what is now the definitive way to experience Patapon and Patapon 2.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 is another fantastic skateboarding title that revives some all-time classics, albeit with some caveats. It's a shame that 4 couldn't be more faithfully restored, but what is included still makes for a fun arcade skating experience that fans of the series shouldn't skip — especially considering the brand new levels and other neat secrets. It may not be the greatest remake, but it's further proof that there's life yet in this timeless series.

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is a fantastic way to revisit one of the most influential games ever made. Lightyears ahead of its time, some of its systems haven't aged well, making it frustrating at times. Still, with a compelling story and solid gameplay, and packed full of art and assets from development (not to mention scans of classic magazine write-ups, as well as a complete Prima strategy guide), it's well worth the time of any enthusiast.