With The Cecil: The Journey Begins, Material Evidence and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (for PS5) we’re checking out three very different releases in today’s release roundup.
The Cecil: The Journey Begins review (PC)
The Cecil: The Journey Begins is a classic example of an indie horror game that launches with a lot of ambition but stumbles a bit under the weight of its own potential. Developed by Genie Interactive Games and published by Wandering Wizard and Snail Games, the game introduces players to John and Sarah as they arrive at the Cecil Hotel – only for John to wake up alone and imprisoned, with Sarah missing. It’s an engaging horror setup that immediately taps into the tension of isolation and the eerie unknown, but the narrative momentum doesn’t always hold. While the opening act establishes a mysterious tone and promises deeper revelations, the later parts meander, with scenes and elements that feel more like filler than meaningful content.
The gameplay draws clear inspiration from survival horror classics, blending exploration, light combat, and puzzle-solving. At its best, The Cecil nails the haunted hotel atmosphere, with dimly lit hallways and grotesque enemies that keep the player on edge. When things click, especially during key moments like meeting standout characters or navigating clever puzzles, the experience is genuinely immersive. However, the moment-to-moment gameplay often falls into repetitive item hunts and backtracking that stretch out the game without evolving its mechanics meaningfully. Coupled with simple puzzles and a lack of variety in combat encounters, some sections feel more like a chore than a chilling thrill ride that keeps you on edge.
Visually, the game does show sparks of creativity, particularly in environmental design, but technical limitations hurt the experience. Texture quality is inconsistent, and performance is a recurring issue. Even with fairly high-end hardware, we saw erratic frame rates and frequent stuttering that detracted from both immersion and playability. Save-related problems compound these frustrations, as do glitched inventory interactions. These issues aren’t universal, but the need for optimization and updates is undeniable.
Despite its flaws, The Cecil: The Journey Begins does show heart. The setting is compelling, the lore has promise, and there’s an evident passion behind the project. Fans of psychological and atmospheric horror may still find enough here to warrant a playthrough – especially if future patches address the performance and usability issues. But for now, the experience is uneven: an intriguing journey trapped in a game that needs more time to realize its full potential.
Material Evidence review (PS5)
Material Evidence, developed by 9Ratones and published by Ratalaika Games, is a 2D twin-stick action shooter that blends gritty crime themes with fast-paced combat. The game introduces players to a trio of playable characters, each caught up in interconnected stories set in a world of gang violence and revenge. While the storytelling doesn’t go particularly deep, the setup adds a bit of flavour to what is ultimately a gameplay-first experience. The inclusion of multiple characters helps keep things varied, even if the overarching plot mostly takes a backseat to the action.
The core of the game lies in its hectic and often unforgiving combat. Material Evidence throws players into the action without a tutorial, relying on instinct to survive melee brawls and intense gunfights. The twin-stick mechanics feel effective for ranged combat, but up-close encounters can be clunky and frustrating, especially when overwhelmed by heavily armed enemies. The ability to slide, kick down doors, and pick up enemy weapons injects some welcome variety, but poor ammo management and difficulty spikes can lead to moments where skipping a level feels like the only option – a workaround that unintentionally highlights some of the game’s design flaws.
Despite the gameplay’s rough edges, there’s an undeniable appeal in how much chaos you can cause as you blast through gang hideouts. The game offers a wide arsenal of around 30 weapons to help you do so, which keeps things engaging as you adapt on the fly to whatever you can scavenge. There’s a certain strategic rhythm in deciding when to shoot and when to conserve ammo as well, especially with enemies hiding behind doors and reacting aggressively. It can feel satisfying in the moment, though the inconsistent level design and enemy balancing sometimes undermine the fun.
Visually, Material Evidence opts for a barebones pixel art style that, while not especially eye-catching, does the job well enough for a budget indie title. Technical hiccups like awkward stair navigation occasionally break immersion, but otherwise the environments and animations hold up. The audio fares better in terms of impact – gunfire sounds hit hard, even if the music itself fades into the background with a more utilitarian feel. As a short, budget-priced experience, Material Evidence delivers some rough-edged fun, but it’s held back by uneven mechanics and a lack of polish.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review (PS5)
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has finally arrived on PlayStation 5 after the Xbox version launched last year, and it still delivers a cinematic adventure that captures the essence of the franchise while adapting it for modern gameplay. Set between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, the story takes Indy across the globe on a hunt for a powerful ancient secret. The narrative leans into familiar tropes with confidence, offering a mix of action, puzzles, and historical intrigue that fans will appreciate – even if it doesn’t tread much new ground.
The game’s first-person perspective immerses players in Indy’s world, with traversal, puzzle-solving, and whip mechanics all tightly integrated into gameplay. The whip is used cleverly, functioning not just as a weapon but also as a tool for navigation and stealth. On the PS5, these mechanics feel responsive, and the DualSense controller adds satisfying tactile feedback during exploration and combat. While melee and gunplay feel solid overall, the first-person perspective occasionally hampers precision in platforming segments compared to the like of Uncharted.
Visually, the PS5 version impresses with richly detailed environments and smooth performance, especially on PS5 Pro. Locations like temples and tombs are filled with atmosphere, and lighting plays a key role in building tension and mystery. Some facial animations fall short during cutscenes, and a few textures don’t quite match the high bar set by the environments, but these are minor blemishes in an otherwise strong presentation. The audio design is another highlight, with strong voice acting and a soundtrack that channels the series’ iconic musical legacy at times.
While it doesn’t revolutionize the genre, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a satisfying and authentic-feeling return for the legendary archaeologist. MachineGames successfully balances nostalgia with engaging gameplay, and the PS5 version enhances the experience through strong performance and immersive features. It’s a pulpy, whip-cracking ride that’s well worth taking – especially for those eager to step into Indy’s boots and didn’t have the chance on a PC or Xbox.
Press Play Media 