Ryan Pretorius
The narrative can occasionally seem confusing, and some story beats take a little longer than I’d have liked to get going, but it all comes together in the end to form an addictive loop of shoot, loot, upgrade, repeat.
Like a Dragon: Ishin! has finally arrived and I am more than happy to report that it brings exactly what all fans of the long-running franchise want to the table: more Yakuza.
When all is said and done, WWE 2K23 is an incredibly feature-rich, highly customisable, and thoroughly enjoyable time for fans and non-fans alike.
It’s one of those experiences that you can spend half a day within without feeling the time melt away, made even sweeter with the optional co-op. There’s a little bit of something for everyone lured in by the promises of the Chimera – the first-person shooter elements of raiding harmoniously co-exist alongside the more open sandbox Outpost creation features.
The addictive blend of over-the-top action, intense combat, beautiful and diverse surroundings, and the need to satisfy my curiosity in experiencing everything Hell-A had to offer kept me well entertained.
You don’t have to be a puzzle game god to enjoy Humanity. The folks over at Enhance and THA Limited have imbued this game with the power to attract and convince even the most uninterested party to grab a controller and just give it a try. Humanity is, quite simply, a damn good time.
When I say I did not have a great time roaming around Middle-earth, it’s coming from a place of genuine disappointment and frustration – rather than as a result of any preconceived notions.
Exoprimal is an excellent competitive multiplayer experience with a bright future ahead of it and my first pick as far as dino slaying games are concerned – it’s just a pity that the drawn-out delivery of gameplay, a limited map pool, and high rate of repetition (especially early on) dampens the overall experience.
Immortals of Aveum, while not exactly doing anything revolutionary in the grand scheme of things, is still a good time. The original setting, core gameplay, and solid combat mechanics are the true stars here, outshining the few issues threatening to put a damper on the overall experience.
I’m sure many will come to Sea of Stars as a direct result of the nostalgia factor and artistic appeal, ultimately staying for the easy-to-grasp combat and enjoyable gameplay. The story might not be particularly revolutionary, and a few side characters may rub you the wrong way, but the sheer fun factor rises above all other potentially detracting elements to deliver a truly memorable experience.
Enchanted Portals is a soulless, disappointing attempt at capturing the magic and ingenuity that filled Cuphead to the brim. Its bland gameplay, frustrating controls, and erratic difficulty spikes (for all the wrong reasons) don’t hold a candle to the mostly pleasant visual elements on display here.
The Crew Motorfest manages to be an incredibly entertaining racing sandbox experience, despite the expected presence of Ubisoft’s monetization and trademark sterility. While some questionable design choices drag the title’s overall quality down a notch, my time in digital Hawaii was largely a memorable and enjoyable one.
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged crosses the finish line with ease and style, providing an immensely enjoyable and high-quality experience that settles for nothing less than constantly firing on all cylinders.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 isn't as solid as most modern remasters but the sheer amount of legendary content alone might be worth the price of admission.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a considerably shorter experience than Yakuza fans expect, but the energy and charm of the series is still here for a captivating detour until Infinite Wealth.
Persona 5 Tactica's stylish, addictive gameplay and delightful chibi characters almost make up for the fact that the Persona 5 brand is starting to wear itself thin.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is positively bursting at the seams with memorable moments, side content, well-written characters and an engaging storyline of epic proportions.
Minor technical issues and frustrations aside, Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is genuinely one of the most faithful and well-executed remasters I’ve seen in a very long time – an exceptionally potent nostalgia trip and a fresh experience all at once.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake delivers excellent overhauled visuals and refined gameplay touches - most of all, it's simply a better version of Hazelight's emotionally powerful family adventure.
WWE 2K24 takes everything that made 2K23 so wonderfully addictive and cranks it up ever so slightly, featuring just enough new material to entice fans to dive right back into the ring.