Deer & Boy, which we first saw at Gamescom last year, arrives as the debut project from Lifeline Games and immediately positions itself within a lineage of cinematic platform adventures that includes games like Limbo, Inside and Planet of Lana. Yet despite those obvious inspirations, it carves out an identity of its own through the relationship between a runaway boy and the young deer that joins him on a journey through forests, industrial zones and increasingly surreal landscapes. The premise is simple, and many of the story’s larger themes reveal themselves fairly early on, but the emotional sincerity behind the adventure helps it remain engaging throughout. Continue reading “Deer & Boy review (PS5)”
The Drifter review (Switch)
The Drifter arrives on Nintendo Switch carrying a formidable reputation after its acclaimed PC debut, but it doesn’t take long to understand why it generated so much enthusiasm. Developed by Powerhoof and Dave Lloyd, this thriller-infused point-and-click adventure takes familiar genre foundations and injects them with an unusual sense of urgency. Rather than settling into the leisurely pace often associated with classic adventure games, it throws players into a relentless mystery involving murder, conspiracies, strange forces beyond easy explanation, and a protagonist who seems unable to stay dead. The result is an experience that feels closer to a tense pulp thriller than a traditional point-and-click adventure. Continue reading “The Drifter review (Switch)”
DLC roundup: Dave the Diver, Highway Police Simulator & theHunter: Call of the Wild
DLC releases often face the difficult task of expanding a familiar experience without losing sight of what made the original game work in the first place. From unexpected new adventures to focused gameplay extensions, the latest batch of expansions shows three very different approaches to adding value: MINTROCKET takes Dave the Diver into a colourful new direction with In The Jungle, Highway Police Simulator shifts gears with more intense S.W.A.T. operations, and theHunter: Call of the Wild ventures into a new environment filled with fresh challenges. Continue reading “DLC roundup: Dave the Diver, Highway Police Simulator & theHunter: Call of the Wild”
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales review (PS5)
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales sees Square Enix and Claytechworks stepping away from turn-based traditions to deliver an action RPG that proudly wears its inspirations on its sleeve. Set across a thousand-year journey through multiple eras, the adventure follows the earnest orphan Elliot and his fairy companion Faie as they attempt to uncover the truth behind a curse threatening the kingdom of Huther. While the opening hours lean heavily on familiar fantasy tropes and a straightforward battle between good and evil, the time-travel premise gradually adds more intrigue, allowing the story to explore how actions ripple across generations. The result is a narrative that starts conventionally but gains momentum as new eras, characters and mysteries emerge, helped by a cast that remains consistently likable throughout the adventure. Continue reading “The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales review (PS5)”
Flesh Made Fear review (PS5)
Flesh Made Fear arrives at a time when retro-inspired survival horror is more popular than ever, but rather than merely borrowing visual cues from the genre’s golden age, Tainted Pact commits fully to recreating the experience. Drawing heavily from the design philosophy of the original Resident Evil era, the game casts players as a member of the Reaper Intervention Platoon, sent into the isolated town of Rotwood to stop a rogue scientist whose grotesque experiments have transformed the area into a nightmare. The premise is familiar territory, yet the game embraces that familiarity with confidence, building a pulpy horror narrative that rarely surprises but remains entertaining throughout thanks to its eerie atmosphere, environmental storytelling, and collection of audio logs and documents that flesh out the mystery surrounding Dr. Ripper. Continue reading “Flesh Made Fear review (PS5)”