Lovish, the latest 8-bit-styled action-adventure from LABS Works and publisher DANGEN Entertainment, wears its inspirations on its sleeve – and for better and worse, that nostalgic DNA defines both its strengths and its quirks. On PlayStation 5, the game captures the spirit of classic single-screen platformers in a wonderful way, but it also reminds players why many retro mechanics were eventually refined or abandoned. Continue reading “Lovish review (PS5)”
Indie roundup: Hextreme Void, Gridz Keeper & Tiny Biomes
Indie games continue to thrive in the spaces between and within genres, blending familiar mechanics with fresh twists and modest ambitions that often prioritise clever design over spectacle. This latest roundup spans everything from hands-off brick-breaking reimagined as a roguelite optimisation loop, to stripped-back logic puzzles wrapped in post-apocalyptic dressing, and a more expansive tile-rotation journey across elemental biomes. While each of these PS5 titles approaches progression, challenge, and presentation in very different ways, they share a common focus on distilled gameplay ideas and accessible experiences. Continue reading “Indie roundup: Hextreme Void, Gridz Keeper & Tiny Biomes”
Dread Meridian review (Quest/PCVR)
From its frozen opening steps across the blasted wasteland of Oglanbyen, Dread Meridian seeks to pull VR horror out of the cliched trenches and into the uncharted cold of cosmic dread. The premise – Daniella’s desperate search for her twin amid Lovecraft-tinged madness – carries the promise of evocative storytelling and immersive worldbuilding tailored for VR. When the game locks into place – the oppressive winds, the haunting audio murmurs, and the palpable silence between footsteps – it hits emotional beats that many VR horror fans crave. This is a setting that feels alive with unseen threat, and exploration here frequently rewards curiosity with eerie environmental storytelling rather than cheap frights. Continue reading “Dread Meridian review (Quest/PCVR)”
UFOPHILIA review (PS5)
UFOPHILIA arrives on PlayStation 5 carrying an intriguing premise: a first-person dip into UFO investigation that merges procedural mystery with atmospheric horror. As you step into the shoes of an obsessive investigator, the game’s commitment to ambiguity and inevitability shapes its narrative tone – you’re not chasing jump scares so much as a creeping, persistent dread that something unseen is observing you. The core narrative loop, cycling through mission selection, evidence gathering, spawn zone identification, and the eventual alien encounter, builds a unique identity, though its execution occasionally blunts the tension it aims to cultivate. Continue reading “UFOPHILIA review (PS5)”
Speedball review (PS5)
Rebellion’s Speedball for the PlayStation 5 arrives as more than a simple nostalgia bite: it’s a deliberate attempt to transplant a beloved arcade-sports classic into a modern competitive context, with all the promise and pitfalls such a project entails. The original Speedball and Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe were staples on the Atari ST and Amiga in the late 1980s and early ’90s, thriving on one-button joysticks, ferocious pace, and a visceral blend of futurism and sport – traits that defined a youthful era of gaming and left many players craving a worthy modern successor. Rebellion has consciously invoked that legacy here, embracing the high-octane, blade-edged aesthetic that fans remember, but the result on PS5 ultimately feels like a thrilling prototype rather than a fully realised evolution. Continue reading “Speedball review (PS5)”
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