Rise of Industry 2 review (PS5)

Rise of Industry 2 arrives on PlayStation 5 as a sprawling, unapologetically detailed industrial simulation – the kind of game that asks you to love spreadsheets, planning grids and logistics for the fun of it. It launched on PC in June and has now made the jump to consoles, bringing its dense systems and 1980s USA setting with it. If you enjoyed painstaking optimisation in other tycoon titles, you’ll recognise the appeal immediately: map out factories, route trucks, balance utilities, and haggle for contracts until the numbers sing. That said, its PC-to-console transition doesn’t magically remove the game’s biggest hurdle – the complexity and steep learning curve that define the experience. Continue reading “Rise of Industry 2 review (PS5)”

Void Crew review (PS5)

On PlayStation 5, Void Crew continues the recent trend of chaotic co-op adventures where communication and improvisation matter just as much as reflexes. Developed by Hutlihut Games and published by Focus Entertainment, it thrusts up to six players into deep space missions where malfunctioning systems, unpredictable threats, and the mistakes of your own crewmates are as dangerous as enemy fire. The premise of fighting back against the mysterious Hollow is little more than a backdrop, but the moment-to-moment teamwork is where the real narrative emerges. Continue reading “Void Crew review (PS5)”

Yooka-Replaylee preview (Gamescom)

Playtonic’s Yooka-Laylee has always been seen as a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie, and now the duo is returning in Yooka-Replaylee – a reimagining that doesn’t just polish up the original, but meaningfully rebuilds it into something far larger. With PM Studios publishing, Playtonic is positioning this as the definitive version of their modern platforming adventure, complete with new content, mechanics, and refinements that reflect years of feedback. We went hands-on with the game at Gamescom, and came away impressed with how much more ambitious this is than a standard remaster. Continue reading “Yooka-Replaylee preview (Gamescom)”

The Fame Game: Welcome to Hollywood review (PC)

The Fame Game: Welcome to Hollywood positions itself as a full-motion interactive movie, where you play Jonathan, an extra-turned leading man on a Hollywood soap opera, juggling ambition, romance, and choice. There are seven romantic options, multiple endings, and a storyline that promises you’ll rise (or flop) depending on your decisions. The premise is certainly bold in its cheeky, FMV dating-sim style, and for some players that’s enough to lean into the glitz. Yet the veneer of glamour often struggles under the weight of shallow characterisation and narrative design that too rarely achieves emotional payoff. Continue reading “The Fame Game: Welcome to Hollywood review (PC)”

Deepest Trench review (Xbox)

Deepest Trench on Xbox is a co-op adventure that plunges players into the darkness of the Mariana Trench, but the promise of an intense and atmospheric descent quickly gives way to a more uneven reality. Developed by Favor Games, the title sells itself on mystery, teamwork, and survival in a hostile underwater environment. On paper, that blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, and local co-op has potential. In practice, however, the game struggles to keep its head above water, with presentation, controls, and pacing issues weighing it down as much as the ocean depths it portrays. Continue reading “Deepest Trench review (Xbox)”