There is something immediately appealing about the way FZ: Formation Z approaches its revival of a largely forgotten arcade shooter. Originally released by Jaleco in the mid-eighties, the game returns through developer Granzella Inc. with a remake that feels determined to preserve the identity of the original while also modernising nearly every aspect surrounding it. The core hook remains intact: transforming freely between a humanoid mech and a jet fighter while navigating side-scrolling stages filled with enemy formations, environmental hazards and screen-filling bosses. It is a simple concept on paper, but one that still feels surprisingly fresh thanks to the way the game constantly asks players to think vertically as well as horizontally. Continue reading “FZ: Formation Z review (PS5)”
Blueberry review (PS5)
Blueberry presents itself as a narrative platformer about a life reconstructed through memory, but what quickly becomes clear is that MELLOW Games is less interested in traditional level design structure and more focused on emotional architecture. Published by Hidden Trap, the PS5 version frames its central metaphor – the Tower of Life – as both a literal climb and a psychological ascent through fragmented identity, where childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age are not just stages, but tonal shifts in memory, perception, and emotional distortion. What emerges is a game that attempts to translate trauma into playable structure, even when that structure occasionally strains under its own ambitions. Continue reading “Blueberry review (PS5)”
IT: Welcome to Derry review (4K)
The first season of IT: Welcome to Derry arrives on 4K UHD as a full-scale expansion of the modern IT universe, repositioning the mythology of Derry, Maine in 1962 and reframing Pennywise’s shadow as something that permeates not just childhood fear but also military paranoia and systemic social tension. Building on the foundation established by earlier film adaptations and Stephen King’s novel, the series leans into a broader ensemble structure: children once again sit at the emotional core, but the narrative deliberately widens its scope to include adults, military operations, and Indigenous knowledge systems that attempt to contextualise the entity beneath the town. The result is a season that feels conceptually ambitious, sometimes even drifting toward reinterpretation rather than strict adaptation, but consistently anchored by the central horror premise of disappearances, escalating violence, and an unseen intelligence feeding on fear. Continue reading “IT: Welcome to Derry review (4K)”
WILL: Follow The Light review (PS5)
Narrative adventures often live or die by their ability to make players care about the journey rather than the destination. WILL: Follow The Light sets out with an intriguing premise, casting players as lighthouse keeper Will as he leaves behind his isolated post after a devastating disaster leaves his hometown in ruins and his son missing. What follows is a deeply personal search that gradually expands into an exploration of grief, regret, family bonds and the emotional distance that can develop between generations. The narrative tackles weighty themes with sincerity, and while its strongest moments arrive later in the adventure, the journey toward them can sometimes struggle to maintain momentum. Continue reading “WILL: Follow The Light review (PS5)”
Poppy Playtime Chapter 5: Broken Things review (PS5)
Poppy Playtime Chapter 5: Broken Things arrives at an interesting point in the franchise’s evolution. What began as a relatively simple mascot-horror experiment has gradually expanded into a larger narrative about Playtime Co., its unethical experiments, and the monstrous creations left behind. This latest chapter pushes players deeper into the factory’s hidden laboratories and research facilities while finally beginning to address some of the long-running mysteries surrounding The Prototype. The result is a chapter that feels more focused on delivering answers than simply raising new questions, though it still leaves plenty unresolved by the time the credits roll. Continue reading “Poppy Playtime Chapter 5: Broken Things review (PS5)”