Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II review (PS5)

There’s always been something uniquely compelling about the Adeptus Mechanicus within the wider Warhammer 40,000 universe. Their obsession with sacred machinery, cold logic and ritualistic augmentation gave the original Mechanicus a personality few strategy games could match, and Bulwark Studios wisely avoids throwing that identity aside in pursuit of scale. Instead, Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II expands the conflict outward, framing its tactical battles around a larger planetary war between the Mechanicus and the awakening Necron dynasty of Vargard Nefershah. The result is a sequel that feels broader in scope while still retaining the oppressive atmosphere and techno-religious flavor that made the first game memorable. Continue reading “Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II review (PS5)”

Activision Collection 2 / Mega Cat Studios Collection 3 review (Evercade)

Evercade’s latest duo of cartridges ends up feeling like a conversation between gaming’s past and present. Activision Collection 2 dives headfirst into the formative years of console gaming with a lineup of Atari 2600-era classics that helped define early home entertainment, while Mega Cat Studios Collection 3 showcases modern indie developers deliberately embracing those same limitations and aesthetics to build something new. Together they make for an intriguing package, not just because of their contrasts in age and design philosophy, but because they reveal how much retro gaming can merge both preservation and reinvention. Continue reading “Activision Collection 2 / Mega Cat Studios Collection 3 review (Evercade)”

Port roundup: SUMMERHOUSE, Slots & Daggers and Codename: Black Crow

Retro throwbacks, experimental hybrids and minimalist creative sandboxes continue to pop up within the indie scene, but bringing those experiences to consoles isn’t always a straightforward transition. This latest batch of PS5 ports ranges from the quiet, meditative building of SUMMERHOUSE to the compulsive slot-machine chaos of Slots & Daggers and the deliberately punishing retro-action philosophy behind Codename: Black Crow. What connects them isn’t genre or tone so much as a shared commitment to very specific creative visions, even when those ideas occasionally clash with the expectations of modern console audiences. Continue reading “Port roundup: SUMMERHOUSE, Slots & Daggers and Codename: Black Crow”

Yerba Buena review (PS5)

After experimenting with the narrative-heavy format of Hitchhiker, German developer Mad About Pandas takes a more gameplay-focused approach with Yerba Buena, though storytelling still remains central to the experience. Set in a stylized version of 1970s San Francisco, the game follows Barb, a young woman trying to find her place in the city after recently arriving there. Her ordinary life is quickly disrupted when her friend Russell is abducted by a biker named Bear, who accidentally drops a strange device called the Oscillator during the chase. From there, Yerba Buena spirals into increasingly surreal territory, gradually revealing that Barb is merely an NPC inside a deteriorating videogame world plagued by glitches, corrupted systems and conflicting layers of reality. It’s an unusual setup that embraces its own absurdity, but the way the mystery steadily unfolds keeps the story engaging throughout its ten-hour runtime. Continue reading “Yerba Buena review (PS5)”

Necrophosis: Full Consciousness review (PS5)

Necrophosis: Full Consciousness arrives on PlayStation 5 as a bundled edition of Dragonis Ares and Adonis Brosteanu’s surreal horror adventure alongside its additional Subconsciousness chapter, and it immediately establishes itself as one of the more visually distinctive releases in the genre. Set in a decaying universe where flesh, bone and cosmic ruin have become inseparable, the game leans heavily into Lovecraft-inspired imagery and oppressive atmosphere. Rather than delivering traditional horror through combat or jump scares, it opts for a slower and more contemplative descent into existential dread, using grotesque environmental storytelling and poetic narration to create a world that feels equal parts unsettling and fascinating. While that approach won’t satisfy players looking for a more conventionally frightening experience, it does help Necrophosis carve out a unique identity. Continue reading “Necrophosis: Full Consciousness review (PS5)”