Microids and Ocellus Studio return to Palombia with Marsupilami 2 – Salsa Palombia, a sequel that doesn’t radically rethink the colorful 2D platforming formula established by Hoobadventure, but does make some welcome changes where they matter most. The story itself is little more than an excuse to get the three Marsupilamis moving again, as a mysterious musical curse sends Palombia’s animals into a chaotic dance and puts the Mummy Queen and her minions at the centre of the trouble. There isn’t much narrative development beyond that initial setup, and anyone hoping for a deeper adventure built around the characters will probably find it disappointingly thin. Fortunately, this is very much a game where the platforming is expected to do the heavy lifting, and for the most part it succeeds. Continue reading “Marsupilami 2 – Salsa Palombia review”
Mind Diver review (PS5)
Mind Diver is the kind of detective game that immediately makes a strong impression simply because it approaches its premise from such an unusual angle. Developed by Indoor Sunglasses and published by PLAYISM, it casts you as a so-called Mind Diver, using experimental technology to enter the subconscious of Lina as she desperately tries to piece together what happened to her missing boyfriend Sebastian. Lina’s memories are deteriorating, leaving gaps in key moments from her past, and restoring those moments gradually reveals both the circumstances surrounding Sebastian’s disappearance and the history of their relationship. It’s a compelling setup, although the game is ultimately at its best when it focuses on the people at the centre of its mystery rather than the broader science-fiction concepts surrounding them. Continue reading “Mind Diver review (PS5)”
iRacing Arcade review (PS5)
The iRacing name carries some very specific expectations, so attaching the word “Arcade” to it is an interesting proposition from the outset. Developed by Original Fire Games and iRacing, this is a much lighter and more immediately accessible take on motorsport than its famous simulation-focused sibling, trading detailed setups and intimidating realism for stylized visuals and straightforward racing. On PlayStation 5, it feels like a natural fit for players who want to jump behind the wheel without first having to study the intricacies of competitive motorsport, although its simplicity sometimes comes at the expense of the depth and variety needed to keep the experience exciting over the long term. Continue reading “iRacing Arcade review (PS5)”
Michael review (4K)
Michael is the kind of music biopic that arrives with an almost impossible task ahead of it. Michael Jackson’s life was extraordinary, hugely influential and undeniably complicated, and Antoine Fuqua’s film chooses to focus primarily on the years that transformed him from the gifted young lead singer of the Jackson 5 into the world’s biggest pop star. Beginning in Gary, Indiana in 1966 and following Michael through his childhood and early solo success, the film frames his difficult relationship with his controlling father Joseph as its central source of dramatic conflict. It’s an accessible and often entertaining approach, but also a noticeably safe one. Michael largely celebrates the legend rather than interrogating him, and while that makes for a crowd-pleasing experience filled with familiar songs and iconic moments, it often feels more like a lavishly produced greatest-hits collection than a truly probing portrait of the man behind the music. Continue reading “Michael review (4K)”
The Blood of Dawnwalker review (PS5)
The Blood of Dawnwalker is an ambitious first game from Rebel Wolves, and fortunately, much of that ambition pays off. Set in a plague-ravaged 14th-century Europe where vampires have seized control of the fictional Vale Sangora, the game puts players in the role of Coen, a young man transformed into a creature caught between humanity and vampirism. After his family is kidnapped, he has thirty days and thirty nights to gather allies, undermine the vampire lord Brencis and decide how much of his remaining humanity he is willing to sacrifice. That premise already gives Dawnwalker a strong identity, but it is the way the game builds its characters, lore and consequences around it that makes this more than just another open-world action RPG. Rebel Wolves clearly understands that the best RPG stories are not necessarily about saving the world, but about making the player care about the people living in it, and Dawnwalker succeeds remarkably well in that regard. Continue reading “The Blood of Dawnwalker review (PS5)”