Paul Hunter's Reviews
Princess Peach: Showtime! is a cute, colourful and creative adventure befitting of one of Nintendo's most iconic characters. It's incredible that Peach finally has a game series to call her own, and what a fantastic start it's off to. The transformations are awesome, but it's the varied and compelling gameplay that really steals the show.
Rise of the Ronin may not push the boundaries of the open-world genre, but it’s an enjoyable game with superb combat, deep mechanics and a great cast of characters. Highly recommend it if you enjoy samurai games like Ghost of Tsushima or past Team Ninja games like Nioh and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty.
Alone in the Dark offers a compelling world filled with interesting characters and engaging puzzles, brought together with its great ambiance and immersive audio. Combat is sloppy and could use refinements, although it wasn't enough to deter me from thoroughly enjoying this eight-hour descent into madness.
Outcast: A New Beginning is silly and entertaining—such a refreshing relief from the usual serious open-world fare. It's been a while since I've laughed this much playing a game, whether it's the satirical hero Cutter Slade or the ridiculous personalities of the Talan. When combined with the many fun open-world activities and joyful weapon modification system, this game gets an easy recommendation.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake takes you on an unforgettable journey that simply should not be missed. The enhancements, including the new local co-op option, the revamped graphics and the re-recorded orchestral soundtrack make this already exceptional indie masterpiece even better.
I've been thoroughly enjoying my time with Piczle Cross: Story of Seasons and it's an easy recommendation for anyone who's enjoyed Nintendo's Picross series or is a fan of Story of Seasons. Virtually anyone can enjoy this game given the myriad of accessibility options that lets you customize the challenge exactly to your likely.
Berserk Boy is an easy recommendation for action-platforming fans with its smooth mix of pinpoint platforming and acquisition of new powers, bolstered by excellent anime-style graphics and a bouncy soundtrack. It's an action-packed adventure with nostalgic charm that's already a standout indie title of 2024.
Ultros is a gorgeous hallucinatory escapade that dazzles visually as much as it impresses gameplay-wise. From the mesmerizing alien ship backdrop to the methodical combat to the taxing-yet-rewarding gardening mechanic, this game is full of surprises. If you're looking for a wholly original Metroidvania game with innovative new roguelite elements, Ultros is quite the trip.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is an excellent remake that enhances everything from the visuals to adding new worlds to the inclusion of two-player co-op. The bite-sized levels are perfect for short play sessions and especially well-suited for kids.
In an era of derivative games offering similar experiences, Cocoon is a much-needed breath of fresh air. The mind-bending worlds within worlds concept is something I've never experienced before and racked my brain—with the payoff being worth the effort. It's a beautiful game with new ideas and I loved every minute of it.
Helldivers 2 has single-handedly reinvigorated my love for live service games. The lighthearted yet intense gameplay feels like a throwback to multiplayer games from the PS3/360 era where the focus was on fun first and monetization second. Everything is on point with this game, from the immersive environment aesthetics to the great arsenal of weapons to the diverse enemy factions to yes, even the friendly-fire hilarity.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is a game about conflict but the game itself seems conflicted about what it wants to be. There's an excellent story to be had with the motion capture and voice acting among the strongest I've ever seen. Gameplay, while thrilling in some aspects has a few wrinkles that dampen the experience. Overall, I had a good amount of fun playing the campaign, but so far the live services component lacks in several key ways.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown with surely satisfy longtime fans while welcoming newcomers to the series with its superb blend of action and adventure. The gameplay is fast and precise, the graphics are attractive and crisp, the map is huge and chock full of secrets, and the excellent story is the icing on the cake. 2024 is off to an incredible start all thanks to Ubisoft and The Lost Crown.
I haven't had this much fun playing a Mario game since Super Mario World on the SNES. So much creativity went into making Super Mario Bros. Wonder whether that's all the new power-ups, the incredible level designs or the game-changing Wonder Flowers. The game is a blast playing solo but the fun is magnified several times over when you play co-op with family and friends.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the most ambitious game RGG Studio has ever produced both narratively and depth of content-wise. There are easily 100 hours of enjoyment to be had playing this game, and aside from the rather slow intro, it's all blissful fun. When looking back at the last decade of gaming, Like a Dragon may just be the most consistently great franchise over that period.
The Last of Us Part II is a masterpiece, and this Remastered version is the ultimate way to experience the groundbreaking title. Graphically I didn't notice too many improvements, but the PS4 version was already visually stunning and the same holds true for the upgraded PS5 version. The Lost Levels, developer commentary and No Return roguelike modes are impressive additions, while the Guitar Free Play and Speed Run Mode just sweeten the deal.
Yohane the Parhelion: Blaze in the Deepblue is an excellent Metroidvania-light game with pleasing visuals and rock-solid gameplay. Whether you're a fan of the Love Live! Sunshine universe or simply want to experience Inti Creates' next great action platformer, this game gets an easy recommendation.
This was a tough game to review as I always like to highlight a game's pros and cons, but I really struggled to find anything enjoyable here. TeamKill Media poured their heart into Quantum Error, but the game should not have been released in the state it's currently in.
Jusant is an amazing adventure that has left a lasting impression on me. The story is impactful, the climbing mechanic is challenging and satisfying and the presentation is simply divine. In a year full of excellent games, Jusant is a standout title that should not be missed.
The Grinch: Christmas Adventures is one of the better licensed titles I've played in recent years, although it's still struck by the curse of rather limited content. With only 18 levels the game can be completed in about four hours, but the good news is the collectibles and ability unlocks add replayability.