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The Relic: First Guardian arrives with plenty of ambition, presenting itself as a dark action RPG that borrows from the Soulslike formula while trying to carve out its own identity. Set in the ruined world of Arsilthus after the destruction of the titular Relic, we step into the role of the First Guardian and set out to recover the scattered fragments before corruption completely consumes the land. It’s an intriguing setup, and the world itself certainly looks like it has an extensive history behind it, but the storytelling rarely capitalises on that potential. Instead of drawing us into its mythology through memorable characters or compelling narrative moments, much of the lore is fragmented across notes, voice recordings and item descriptions, leaving the main plot feeling surprisingly detached for much of the adventure. Continue reading “The Relic: First Guardian review (PS5)”

The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu feels like one of the more original takes on cooperative horror we’ve seen in quite some time. Rather than leaning on firearms and frantic action, ACE Team combines extraction mechanics with seventeenth-century exploration, sending players into a cursed South American jungle where greed and madness are just as dangerous as the creatures lurking between the trees. The overarching story remains fairly understated, unfolding primarily through journals and environmental storytelling rather than lengthy cutscenes, but the setting itself does an excellent job of carrying the experience. Every expedition into the jungle feels like another desperate gamble for treasure, and the constant uncertainty over what is real gives the adventure an identity that’s genuinely distinct from most modern co-op horror games. Continue reading “The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu review”

Truxton has been absent for decades, but Truxton Extreme proves that some arcade legends don’t need to reinvent themselves to feel relevant again. Instead, Tatsujin modernizes the classic vertical shooter formula with fully 3D visuals, a few smart gameplay additions and enough content to make this more than a straightforward nostalgia trip. While the story exists primarily to frame the action, it does add more personality than many shoot ’em ups attempt, following three volunteer pilots who sacrifice their humanity to become cybernetic defenders against an alien invasion. Comic-style storytelling and localized dialogue give each protagonist their own motivation, even if the narrative ultimately serves as a brief intermission between explosive battles rather than the main attraction. The only real drawback is that progression through the campaign can feel unnecessarily restrictive, requiring chapters to be completed in a specific order before the full story opens up. Continue reading “Truxton Extreme review (PS5)”

Brave Escape joins a growing list of cooperative games that refuse to let players rely on individual skill alone. Instead, success depends entirely on communication, trust and timing as two players work together to guide Colin and Floyd through a series of increasingly demanding platforming challenges. The premise itself is deliberately lightweight, serving mainly as an excuse to send the duo through a wide variety of dangerous environments, but it never really needs anything more elaborate. The focus is firmly on cooperation, and the game quickly demonstrates that even straightforward mechanics can become remarkably engaging when every obstacle requires both players to think and act together. Continue reading “Brave Escape review (PS5)”