Daily Mirror

“In the end, Shadows of the Damned was a game always deserving of being exhumed, hence why I’m relieved the remaster job performed here isn’t anything less than stellar. Garcia and Johnson’s spikey comradery still shines through all these years on, as does the entire game’s rock-and-roll attitude when it comes to gunplay, environments, bosses, and story. Throw in the cleaned-up visuals and silky smooth framerate, and Hella Remastered has instantly become the best way to play this bona fide cult classic. Name me another third-person shooter where your ammunition is literally made up of crunched-up bone pieces. Odds are you can’t, and it’s this roguish attitude that sees Mikami and Suda51’s first hellish collab comfortably stand apart from the action game greats of today.”

“Unknown 9: Awakening is an ambitious single-player action game that takes some bold swings with regards to its stealth combat, character arcs, and universe building. And though it’s sad that the lack of budget and inability to get out of its own way with lore often means it doesn’t always deliver on them, there’s still enough ambition and creative choices made here that players craving a linear cinematic story in the vein of Uncharted should at least check it out. Stepping into enemies to kill off others is repeatedly fun, the globe-trotting venture is big in scope, and Haroona herself has many attractive qualities. As the first piece of a wider universe, Unknown 9: Awakening has its merits; I just hope that its many rough edges are sanded off in time for a potential sequel.”

“Overall, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a genuinely well put together remake, but it’s one that by nature of its approach can’t help but stay caught between two eras. If you’re a newcomer wanting to play for the first time or a returning veteran with priors, there’s no doubt that this is the definitive version. That said, by nature of being so faithful to the 2006 version – aside from the significant graphical upgrade, new voice lines, lighting, better mechanics, and such – enough slight drawbacks slowly pile up to prevent it from becoming the ultimate perfect package it perhaps could have been. The emphasis on backtracking still annoys, as does the incredibly simplistic boss fights, yet there’s no denying that, faults and all, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster solidifies Capcom as the king of the modern remake.”

“In the end, Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club successfully bridges the gap between classic and modern visual novel formats with ease. Because while, on the surface, it appears to share a lot in common with the revitalised Famicom Detective Club duology for Nintendo Switch from a few years back, there’s also some slightly new changes made to its mechanics and presentation that makes it ripe for relative newcomers to the genre. While it’s true that some lines of enquiry outstay their welcome and the correct dialogue action isn’t always made blatantly evident, the story of “Who is Emio?” didn’t disappoint me by the time the final credits rolled.”

“Cygni: All Guns Blazing might not entirely reinvent the idea of what a vertically scrolling twin-stick shooter can be, but it does do an excellent job of offering genre fans something slightly different by playing with depth, shield/gun prioritisation, and some seriously punishing, yet rewarding, sections. Yes, you’ll likely be done with the story in just a few short hours, and the narrative largely comes off as melodramatic, but Cygni: All Guns Blazing still sits comfortably as an impressive visual treat compared to its peers and one of the most cinematic genre entries I’ve played in recent years.”

“Dungeons of Hinterberg could have easily buckled under the weight of its many systems, locations, and most important of all, dungeons. Perhaps against all odds, then, the team at Microbird Games has done a wonderful job keeping its debut game’s various plates spinning with exceptional flair, creating a truly memorable world in the Austrian-inspired Hinterberg that is fun to explore, thrilling to be in, and packed with some of the most inventive (yet never stressful) dungeons I’ve played in a third-person The Legend of Zelda-like such as this in ages. True, while combat isn’t especially spectacular and it would have been nice to see Luisa’s customised gear better represented on her person, Dungeons of Hinterberg is still absolutely one of my personal indie game highlights of 2024. It's a cosy slay-cation worth taking.”

“WWE 2K24 is the best entry in the series since it returned in 2022, with Visual Concepts continuing to improve on what makes the series great.”

“It isn’t lost on me, though, that Asgard’s Wrath 2 is very much the exception to the rule as opposed to the norm. VR games with this much budget and creativity behind them almost barely ever come around; hence why – despite an overwhelming amount of stuff to do and the relatively complex menus and control scheme needed to back it up – the game’s scope ends up working for it rather than against it. If you’re seeking a Skyrim-level RPG primed to keep you busy in VR, look no further than Asgard’s Wrath 2.”

“Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 amps up the core fighting found in its predecessor, but the roster choices are absolutely baffling in this sequel.”

“If you expected spruced-up versions of these titles, you'll leave disappointed. But if you're after a way to play one of the best video game series ever made on modern platforms wrapped up in a nice package, you won't be disappointed.”

“If you’re looking for a fun, frivolous-yet-high-stakes couch or online co-op game, round up your favourite fools and give Ship of Fools a go.”

“AEW: Fight Forever nails what it's going for in evoking Nintendo 64 classics, but neglects a lot of modern features that even wrestling games in the PS2 era were nailing. If you're an AEW fan looking for an arcade-y pick up and play wrestling title to fill the void left by AKI's classics to play with some friends then you'll find what you're looking for with Fight Forever. But if you want an wrestling simulator in the vein of WWE games you'll need to wait a while longer.”

“I hope Mad Head Games gets another chance to build upon these ideas in a future sequel. But for now, as it stands, Scars Above is still a perfectly serviceable and surprisingly challenging shooter primed to indulge Sci-Fi fans.”

“Any future remaster should take notes from Metroid Prime Remastered. This isn't some lazy cash-grab; you can feel the care and passion to deliver the definitive version of an all-time classic throughout every part of this package. Retro Studios has left it alone, not adding any unnecessary fluff you see in other remasters like Ninja Gaiden Sigma. The developer only improved upon the things that really needed it, like the controls and graphics. Metroid fans are truly eating good these days – first Dread, and now this fantastic remaster. While Metroid Prime 4 seems to have a troubled development, Metroid Prime Remastered gives me faith that the fourth entry is in the right hands. Let's just hope we get remasters of this quality for Echoes and Corruption next, please!”

“With Dragonflight, Blizzard has done an exceptional job at breathing life into a game that had been floundering. This is thanks to a fun campaign that anyone can enjoy, an adventurous spirit at the heart of the world, satisfying dragonriding, as well as a location full of stories and secrets to unearth. This is as good a jumping on point for the game as ever, and it's likely the best there will be for some time. After such a tumultuous time for the MMO, this feels like a clean break – a new beginning and a recapturing of the spirit that made the release back in 2004 so captivating. If you're a lapsed player, or even a new one, scared by the sheer weight of 18 years of backlog, Dragonflight sheds most of that. It truly feels like the triumphant return for World of Warcraft and I can't wait to see what's next.”

“That said, there are times when it lacks a bit of polish, or the voice acting and dialogue writing feels a little amateurish, despite it featuring hit voice actors like Dominic Armato (voice of Monkey Island's Guybrush Threepwood). Even so, Lucy Dreaming is 10+ hours of laughs combined with head-scratching puzzles and great storytelling, and you owe it to yourself to give it a go.”

“PGA Tour 2K23 is by far the best game in the series, with all its gameplay changes improving its accessibility. Being able to pick from a diverse range of professional male and female golfers for the first time is fantastic. The new gaming mechanics and deep customisation is a real testament to the developer's endeavours to give the fans an experience like no other.”

“The extensive depth available within combat is fantastic, allowing players to partake in a thrilling fast-paced experience. It's not all plain sailing as the game feels way too linear with not much exploration available and the recurrence of similar enemies can make combat feel repetitive at times. But Valkyrie Elysium is a great return for the series elevating the overall experience from past games.”

“Life is Strange Arcadia Bay Collection is a faithful remaster with its new visual enhancements greatly improving the overall experience. The Nintendo Switch version is a great way to experience these classic titles for the first time, especially with all the episodes in one place.”

“Not only that, but this is the definitive example I will use when it comes to smaller studios producing absolute gems. If you don't have the time to play this game, I highly recommend clearing your schedule at the earliest opportunity and digging into this masterpiece.”