Author: Press Play Media

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam takes the established formula of its predecessor and drops it into one of the most difficult settings imaginable for a large-scale tactical shooter. The Vietnam War is a very different proposition from the familiar battlefields of World War II, and Expression Games makes good use of that difference without turning the game into something unrecognisable. There is no traditional single-player campaign or narrative to speak of, with the focus instead firmly placed on the shifting stories that emerge from each 50-versus-50 battle. Playing as either the US Armed Forces or the North Vietnamese Army gives each side its own strengths and tactical possibilities, with American air power, helicopters and patrol boats contrasting nicely with the NVA’s ability to construct tunnel networks and attack from unexpected directions. It is a smart way of approaching the conflict because neither faction simply feels like a reskinned version of the other, although the limited launch roster of factions, weapons and maps does leave Vietnam feeling more like the beginning of something than a fully realised successor. Continue reading “Hell Let Loose: Vietnam review (PS5)”

Sizeable is the sort of puzzle game that understands exactly what it wants to be. There is no sprawling narrative, elaborate progression system or grand adventure here. Instead, Business Goose Studios offers a collection of compact three-dimensional dioramas in which the simple act of making things bigger or smaller becomes the key to uncovering their secrets. Each scene has three pillars to locate before moving on, with a hidden turtle providing an extra reason to poke around every corner. It is an uncomplicated premise, but there is something immediately appealing about being dropped into these tiny worlds and being encouraged to simply experiment with them. Sizeable is less interested in telling a conventional story than it is in giving each diorama its own little personality, and that works particularly well for the relaxed experience it is aiming for. Continue reading “Sizeable review (PS5)”

Kynseed is the kind of life sim that seems determined to make sure there is always something else to do. One moment we are tending crops or feeding animals, the next we are fishing, mining, crafting, helping a villager, exploring a dungeon or worrying about which business we should invest in next. That breadth is immediately appealing, especially because PixelCount Studios does not force us into a single definition of success. Instead, our life in Quill gradually becomes whatever we want it to be. The premise may initially suggest a familiar farming adventure, but the generational structure, folklore-inspired setting and unusual Kynseed mechanic give it considerably more personality than the average farm-and-family simulator. Continue reading “Kynseed review (PS5)”

Grizzy and the Lemmings – Crazy Party is about as straightforward a proposition as a party game can get: take the chaotic antics of the animated series, throw a bunch of Lemmings onto a selection of colorful boards, add a sizeable collection of minigames and let everyone fight over jars of Nutella. The comparison with Mario Party is impossible to avoid, because the basic structure is immediately familiar, but that is hardly a problem when the formula is this well suited to its source material. On PS5, Balio Studio has created a cheerful couch multiplayer experience that understands exactly what its audience is looking for. It does not attempt to reinvent the party game, but it does a surprisingly good job of making the Grizzy and the Lemmings licence feel like more than a coat of paint. Continue reading “Grizzy and the Lemmings – Crazy Party review (PS5)”