Sammy Barker

“Familiar yet different, Arknights: Endfield's introduction of automation takes this open world gacha in an unusually compelling direction. While its eye-rolling reliance on proper nouns and lore make its sci-fi plot less compelling than it could be, a strong battle system and outstanding PS5 optimisation give this live service the best possible start.”

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“Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is without a doubt the most ambitious and polished sim on the PS5 – but it's not without its faults. Slow loading, visual inconsistencies, an underwhelming sound mix, and plenty of bugs pull this otherwise exceptional experience back down to earth.But if you can accept its shortcomings and you're open to learning about aviation, this an obscenely impressive package, with a seemingly never-ending array of activities to engage with. Digital tourists will adore its attention to detail, while aviation obsessives will simply get a kick out of sitting in the cockpits of their favourite aircraft.”

“An agonisingly in-depth archive of Mortal Kombat's importance to the industry, this is the kind of kompilation the franchise has always deserved. While its absent online features do put a small dampener on the bundle at launch, the sheer scale of this kollection and the quality of its supplementary materials make it a must buy – even for kurious passers-by who may find themselves discovering the franchise for the first time.”

“We think we could forgive its simplicity if the handling was better and the price was lower, because there is fun in the outrageous nature of some of the tracks.”

“Roguelites are all about repetition, and Full Metal Schoolgirl has that "one more go" factor that makes the genre so darn compelling.Its tongue in cheek premise resonates in these wild times, and its gameplay – with a bit of tinkering – blends character action with third-person shooting in a fresh and interesting way.You just need to be prepared for a bit of frustration and a pinch of jank: this isn't a straight-A student by any stretch, but its robotic heart's in the right place.”

“When you consider how far Train Sim World 6 has come since its original introduction, it's staggering. But compared directly to its predecessor, this new version doesn't change a lot.The new Riviera route is breath-taking, and we really appreciate the addition of passenger announcements and the random events that can impede your journey.But if you're not immediately attracted to any of the new lines, we'd recommend you focus on the free Starter Pack and wait for some of the upcoming expansions, which will include all-new countries like Japan, Portugal, and Czech Republic.”

“Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian succeeds through the strength of the sum of its parts. Its story and dialogue are a bit obtrusive at points, but the simple loop of fashioning items to flog them to forge even better ones is compelling. With strategic turn-based combat and breezy presentation, this is an overall enjoyable RPG time sink – even if its character designs and anime tropes may immediately turn some players away.”

“By truly dividing the gameplay between two very distinct presets, EA Sports FC 26 is trying to appeal to everybody. The more methodical Authentic toggle will attract offline Career mode tinkerers, who want to work hard for those scrappy 1-0 wins. Meanwhile, the snappier Competitive option is built for online sweats, who want to force their opponents into submission by burying them in goals. Both feel good in their own ways, and when paired with several new features and refinements, you get a flexible game of football that should please everyone – well, aside from those who simply can't jive with the franchise's over-reliance on monetisation.”

“Earthion is an outstanding achievement – a blissfully retro shmup experience with just enough modern sensibilities to make it appeal to an all-new generation of players. With sublime pixel artwork, a scorching score, and a creative campaign that keeps you on your toes, this is an absolutely outstanding effort from 90s dev Ancient.”

“Still, with the campaign running for around four or five hours, this is a breezy experience that repurposes many of the main elements from the horror genre for kids. The art direction is a bit bland and it certainly won’t entertain anyone above the age of 15, but as a spooky experience for young’uns there are some scrappy spooks on offer here.”

“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.”

“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.”

“But we still like having these games readily available on contemporary hardware. The CRT filters included are outstanding, and this being a Digital Extremes joint, you get tons of bonus materials, like the original arcade flyers to flick through in their entirety.”

“Some of this would be forgivable if the game was being flogged at a budget price, but it’s pretty expensive for what you get.”

“With out-of-this-world anime production values and a revamped structure that brings a better pace to the overall experience, Zenless Zone Zero is only going from strength to strength. With the introduction of its new district – featuring a pretty fun tycoon management-style minigame – and ever-increasing stakes, the coming year looks bright for HoYoverse’s hyper-cool urban outing.”

“Deliver At All Costs' greatest strength is its ability to reinvent itself, but its missions lack tension and its story is a bit of a misfire. If you really enjoy that isometric era of GTA games, then you'll find fun in this physics-heavy escapade – but expect bumps and blemishes, because this is far from the perfect package.”

“Yet another timely reminder that Capcom has been the king of its craft for decades now, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 superbly digs into the Dreamcast era of the Japanese publisher's iconic output.While its commitment to arcade conversions means you're missing some of the single player modes from the various included titles' home console ports, there's simply so much quality content on offer here that it's hard to complain, with the likes of Capcom vs. SNK 2 and Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper having legitimate claims at being some of the greatest fighters ever made.”

“It’s cute and colourful, then, and something you can zone out with while you listen to a podcast or watch something else. But it won’t live long in the memory, even if its urban backdrop and light-hearted style offers an appreciated change of pace.”

“Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves won't blow you away like Street Fighter 6 or Tekken 8, but as a more rudimentary fighter, it's got guile. Its layered fighting system and vibrant, well-animated characters make for an entertaining overall package that's been 26 years in the making.While the gimmicky guest fighters feel out of place and the supposed RPG-inspired single player mode is insultingly basic, if you're looking for a fine alternative to the more established fighters already on the market, this is more than up to the task.”