Aaron Bayne

“Highguard has potential, but it's not quite being met yet. As it stands today, this is a fun yet bloated shooter that lacks the spark you'll find in other games in the genre, like The Finals. It'll play to the tactical players out there, and it seems that Wildlight is committed to improving the game. But with a game mode that crams every type of shooter into a single experience, Highguard is a jack of all trades and master of none.”

“Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - From the Ashes is a simplified yet cinematic story expansion that focuses on the best of the IP, without bogging you down with too much clutter. Its new third-person mode gives the game a whole new feel, and we wouldn't play it any other way. While Massive missed the mark with its Na'Vi enemies, it's a delight to spend more time in this giant multimedia sci-fi world.”

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“For those who appreciate a great movement system in a VR game, Reach is worth checking out for that alone. It’s lacking the same vibe as Synapse, with a dull story and repetitive environments, but if you give it time, there’s fun to be had here.”

“However, if you're just looking for a few more hours with your favourite quipping archaeologist, then The Order of Giants offers up just that, with a fun storyline, great visuals, and some fantastic puzzles.”

“With an incredibly dense lore and labyrinthine level design, Hell Is Us is a captivating experience. The game takes its solid (but tough) combat and chin-scratching puzzles and elevates them with a century spanning mystery that goes deeper and deeper. Its hands off approach means there is a huge emphasis on the world, and thankfully Rogue Factor does not disappoint. It's not going to be for everyone, but for those that love a good lore-filled mystery, this is a PS5 must-play.”

“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.”

“We’re sure that if you’re a fan of the base game, you’ll likely get some enjoyment here, as there are some genuine moments of tension, and we loved getting to hear wee tidbits about the Beira D disaster. However, what it does more than anything else is make us want to go back and play the base game.”

“FBC: Firebreak stings a little, because it has so much of what we're looking for in a co-op shooter. It's got the killer world and aesthetic, it's got quirky powers and role based kits, it's got tight first-person gameplay, and doesn't require you to grind things out for dozens of hours. However, despite all of that, Firebreak's just fine, and ironically lacks the fire that we expect from Remedy's output. It's a fun, casual time, but you'll play it, you'll finish it, and before long you'll forget about it and wish you had been playing Control 2 instead.”

“MindsEye is a broken, boring mess of a game that has somehow been allowed out in the world. It has little glimmers of something semi-entertaining in there with its cutscenes and story, but it's bogged down by a vapid large scale map that is at odds with its aggressively linear campaign, and padded out with a dull repetitive gameplay loop that is nothing short of archaic.”

“Splitgate 2 is an interesting sequel. In a lot of ways, it fixes the issues we had with the original; it looks nicer, runs better, gameplay is far improved, there's a lot of content on offer, and the portal mechanic is good fun to learn. It's a great pick for those casual sessions with your mates, but we still can't help but feel underwhelmed by it all. The maps are fine, and the cosmetics are dull as dishwater. If you removed the portal mechanics - which were arguably more freeing in the first Splitgate - you'd be left with a competent, but ultimately uninspired shooter.”

“As we rolled credits on The Midnight Walk, any issues we had technically or otherwise had long since faded away. Instead, what stood out to us was the game's haunting world filled with pensive storylines, impactful visuals, and an emotionally weighty score.If you're expecting an engaging survival horror gameplay experience, you won't find it here. That may have been what we were looking for as we first played the game - especially considering the VR format. But what we got instead was memorable, moving, and evocatively melancholic. The Midnight Walk is not a game we'll forget anytime soon.”

“Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 is an intriguing introduction to a mysterious new world. With its characters and setting at the forefront, this rose-tinted view of the mid-90s is welcoming, nostalgic, and perfectly blends this tale's more enigmatic side. It is incredibly slow at times and it doesn't answer an awful lot, but truth be told, we're dying to have those questions addressed in the latter part of the story. Tape 1 has teed it up, so it's down to Tape 2 to secure the home run.”

“Ninja Gaiden 2 Black reminds us of our younger years, essentially playing through a cheesy action movie with over-the-top violence, cool looking vistas, and a ridiculous story. In parts, it’s fun to play something you can just enjoy for what it is, without the need to delve into overly deep combat systems.”

“Alien: Rogue Incursion is a solid first attempt from Survios to capture the iconic sci-fi franchise. If you're a fan of the series like we are, then you'll be giddy as you first get to hold your own pulse rifle; you'll shiver as your motion tracker's pulsating tone gets higher; and you'll revel in the disgusting details of the H.R Giger-inspired Alien nests. It is let down at points with repetitive and lacklustre combat, trivial performance issues, and its hard cliff-hanger ending does leave you with far more questions than answers. But you'll be hard pressed to find standout VR moments quite like the ones sprinkled throughout this fun campaign.”

“Ultimately, Skydance's Behemoth feels like it's still in its beta phase. The enormity of its Behemoths works excellently in VR, but at almost every turn, the game bogs you down with bugs, repetitive gameplay loops, and underdeveloped level design. Sadly, it also lacks the same sense of place that the developer's previous work has, with its Forsaken Lands feeling painfully dull for the most part. There are moments when the magic shines through, but Behemoth is a massive missed opportunity overall.”

“We're sorry that we ever doubted that Vertigo could pull off a Metro VR game. The Dutch devs have masterfully captured the essence of this cult series, and amplified its best traits with myriad VR specific mechanics. While we had some issues with its story and would have liked a tad more setting variety, its highs are so high we'd happily go through it all again. With the visuals, the atmosphere, and the controls all melting into the experience, Metro Awakening is easily one of the most immersive VR games we've ever played.”

“Phasmophobia is a highly replayable co-op experience that expertly manages to blend friendly fun with deathly scares. There's a complexity to its ghost hunting as you gather evidence and test your nerves, and it's made all the better as you bicker, debate, and scream with your friends. A slow levelling system stalls that sense of progression, and finicky controls mean the PSVR2 version of the game is a bit of a letdown. However, if you're looking for a unique kind of co-op experience for you and your friends, Phasmophobia is one of a kind.”

“The Lake House is a brilliant serving of Remedy horror goodness, acting as a cocktail of two franchise identities, to deliver something that is narratively intriguing and visually distinct. It's a tight-knit experience packed with expanding lore and clever scares, and a keen reminder of Remedy's pedigree. It's an interesting link in the wider world of Remedy games too that leaves us sad to see this chapter end, but ever curious to how it will all continue.”

“For those keen to revisit this PSVR classic, the remake is still a fun zombie shooter, with solid gunplay, brilliant graphics, and a decent wee package of content. It's also launching at a reduced £25/$30, making it fairly inexpensive. However, if you're new to the series and want to dive straight into the series at its best, we'd recommend its superior sequel over this.”